Committee approves temporary duplicate director role for veteran services to ensure overlap before Dec. 31 vacancy

The Personnel Committee on Aug. 6 approved a request from the county administrator to create a duplicate director of veteran services position that would exist through the end of the year to allow overlap and succession planning before the current director’s appointment ends Dec. 31. The county administrator said the duplicate position is intended to allow the county to hire and onboard a new director before the current director leaves and that the duplicate role will be eliminated once the incumbent vacates the original post. Committee members discussed oversight of the hiring process; the county administrator and personnel chair said Mallory, Carissa and Bob will participate in the first‑round interviews and the county board will be involved in later interviews and the appointment ratification. A committee member confirmed that the director role must be filled by a veteran. The county administrator and personnel staff said they had begun outreach to veteran organizations — including sending letters to American Legion posts and VFW posts — and noted they maintain a list of approximately 48 veteran organizations for recruitment. Committee members asked about salary placement within the county salary plan after one member noted a grade range shown on the request of “$66.06 to $95.08” (units not specified in the request). The county administrator said the number represents the grade range on the salary plan and that actual placement within the grade depends on experience and the county’s adopted salary plan; the administrator said the specific current pay for the incumbent director was not provided on the spot but could be supplied later. The motion to create and fill the temporary duplicate director position passed by unanimous voice vote with five members present.