The Ways and Means Committee approved requests from several county departments to fill vacant positions and allow subsequent backfills, with salary ranges and funding sources stated during the meeting.
The approvals matter because they authorize hiring in positions tied to court services, public health, social services and public works that the county said are included in the 2025 budget or otherwise funded.
Requests approved by voice vote included:
- District Attorney Ian Jones: permission to fill one full-time assistant district attorney position, salary $100,000 with benefits estimated at $29,0002,000, funded 100% by county and included in the 2025 budget.
- Public Health Director Tyler Shaw: permission to fill one full-time junior accountant (salary $40,0005,000; benefits $16,000
8,000; funded 100% with state funds) and one full-time public health educator (salary $47,0001,000; benefits funded 64% county/36% state); both positions included in the 2025 budget.
- Commissioner of Social Services Don Horne: permission to fill two full-time account clerk typist positions, each with an estimated salary of $36,0002,000 plus benefits; funding was described as 38% county, 10% state and approximately 502% federal; positions included in the 2025 budget.
- Resource Management/County Administrator Chris Knapp: authorization to fill a part-time temporary lifeguard position, funded 100% by the county for summer operations.
- Public Works Superintendent Thomas Windus: authorization to fill multiple Department of Public Works positions including a senior sign maker, a janitor (bargaining unit grade 9 step base 7) and a junior account position (unit grade 11); the senior sign maker salary estimate was discussed during the meeting.
- County Clerk Robert Christman: permission to fill a full-time senior recording clerk (salary $38,0007,000, county-funded) and a part-time motor vehicle cashier/examiner (about $22,000 annually).
Committee members asked whether specific positions were in the budget and sought clarifications about duties and responsibilities for titles such as senior sign maker. In one case the emergency management deputy position filled earlier in the meeting drew comment that the normal sequence of approval had been missed; staff confirmed the position was budgeted. All motions were carried by voice vote; the transcript does not include a roll-call tally for each item.
The approvals enable departments to proceed with recruitment and backfill processes outlined in departmental procedures.