County board hires PAA to run administrator recruitment process

The Sawyer County Board approved a contract with Public Administration Associates to conduct the recruitment for a new county administrator. The board voted in favor after hearing a presentation on the proposed timeline, cost and optional assessment tools.

John (PAA), a representative of Public Administration Associates, told the board the firm could open recruitment within days of committee approval, run a month-long application period, present ranked candidates to the committee in early May, and arrange finalist assessment interviews later that month. He said the firm offers an optional emotional-intelligence assessment for finalists and that the county may choose whether to include it.

Supervisor Buckles moved to hire PAA; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded.

County staff said they had already begun preparatory steps with PAA, including collecting internal assessments and manager input, and that actual advertisements would begin after committee sign-off on documents such as the job description and salary range. The board did not set a final decision date at the meeting but expects a candidate-selection timeline consistent with the schedule PAA described.

The contract includes a modest fee reduction if the first two committee meetings are held virtually and an additional reduction if the optional emotional-intelligence evaluation is declined.

No formal conditions or amendments to the PAA contract were adopted at the meeting; the board approved the engagement to proceed with recruitment work.