Supervisors approve certificate for part-time deputy, two county hires

The Jackson County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a certificate of appointment for a part-time sheriff’s deputy and approved two personnel hires recommended by county staff.

County Auditor Lisa Smith asked the board to approve a certificate of appointment for part-time deputy Shane Nixon, whose probationary certificate period had expired after nine months. "He has been with the sheriff's department for 9 months, which is the term of a probationary certificate for deputies," Smith said before the board approved the certificate for the period May 9, 2025 through Jan. 1, 2029.

Smith and board members also reported they interviewed candidates for an administrative assistant position in the auditor’s office and offered the job to Nicole Stratman. The board approved hiring Stratman effective May 26, 2025 at an hourly rate of $27 per hour, increasing to $30 per hour upon successful completion of a six‑month review, and authorized the auditor to issue biweekly paychecks.

The board approved one more hiring for the sheriff’s office: staff reported filling a PRN correctional vacancy and the board approved hiring Grama Deeston (name transcribed in the meeting record; spelling varied in the transcript) effective May 13, 2025 at an hourly rate stated in the record. The auditor was authorized to issue biweekly paychecks for that hire.

All three personnel motions passed by voice vote with no recorded dissents. Board members asked brief procedural questions about pay scale comparisons and noted the need to finalize hiring paperwork.