Polk County Commissioners approved two personnel reclassifications on July 17: a district clerk deputy position was reclassified to a court clerk to address increased jury-trial workload, and maintenance staffing was rearranged to convert a full-time maintenance laborer to part time while upgrading a part-time custodial maintenance worker to full time.

County staff said the district clerk’s office elevated a deputy to court-clerk duties because the pace of jury trials increased and a backlog stemming from the pandemic remains; the annual pay difference between the deputy clerk and the court clerk was stated as $3,031. Staff said discretionary funds and vacant positions can cover the fiscal impact for the current year.

The court also approved a personnel adjustment in facilities: Grady Woods requested changing a vacant full-time maintenance laborer to part time and upgrading an existing part-time custodial maintenance worker to full time to meet custodial workload demands. The change was described in the meeting as resulting in net savings to the budget and made effective retroactively to July 14.

Both measures were moved and seconded on the record and passed by voice vote.

Ending: County staff will implement the reclassifications and adjust payroll to reflect the approved changes.