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Polk County approves fourth executive assistant position after supervisors debate staffing and compensation
Summary
The board approved a position modification to add an executive assistant in the Board of Supervisors office. Supervisors questioned whether a compensation study or broader review accompanied the change; HR said classification will be reviewed and duties reassigned within existing classification.
Polk County supervisors approved Resolution 31 to add an executive assistant position in the Board of Supervisors office after extended questioning about compensation, duties and the timing of the change.
Supervisor Angela Connolly pressed for details on whether the new position had undergone a compensation study and whether expanding from three to four executive assistants was consistent with recent county staffing guidance. “For decades, we went from 2 to 3, and now we're gonna have 4 executive assistants to the board,” Connolly said, asking whether the county had completed a compensation study or review.
County Administrator Frank (identified in the meeting as taking the question) and Josie Lewis from Human Resources responded that the action is a modification of an existing classified position and that job classification and compensation processes are in place. Josie Lewis said when a request is for an existing position to add an FTE, the county uses the current job description and assigns duties through the supervisory chain; HR will re-evaluate classification and compensation on a 12-month look-back.
Frank said the additional assistant is intended to expand functions — including grant support — and described the change as meeting a short-term need to improve efficiency in the Board Office. Connolly and other supervisors said they felt the board should have been more aware of organizational changes; staff said weekly updates had been distributed and information made available.
The resolution was moved, seconded and approved by roll call with one “no” vote recorded. County staff did not indicate the specific salary for the new FTE during the discussion; HR stated classification and compensation review would occur following implementation.
Supervisors directed staff to ensure transparency about organizational changes and to continue communication about classification and compensation for the Board Office positions.
