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The Chilton County Commission passed a resolution for all of its employees to begin being classified as Tier 1 during its meeting on Sept. 8.

The change will not affect those already considered Tier 1, but will only adjust everyone previously Tier 2 to Tier 1.

By making the change, it was explained that as part of Tier 1 employees will be able to retire after 25 years on the job.

“I’m excited about it, and I know our employees are going to be excited about it,” Commissioner Jimmie Hardee said.

The opportunity for an earlier retirement means sacrificing some immediate income with an increased percentage going toward retirement.

During the work session prior to the meeting, County Engineer Tony Wearren said that he runs into questions about the tier system a lot when interviewing potential employees.

According to Wearren, one of the advantages people have come to like about working for a governmental entity is that one can retire after 25 years and go do something else with their life.

“I see so many young people not having retirement and 20 years down the road looking back and wishing they would have done it,” Hardee said. “For them and their families, they want to be able to retire not when they’re dead.”

The county is the latest entity to shift their employees to Tier 1 after the Clanton and Jemison city councils had already approved such resolutions.

“It had been brought to our attention by several employees, and we talked to a lot of the department heads,” Hardee said. “If we’re going to require long-term employees and commitments to this county, we’ve got to offer them something. This is a step in the right direction.”