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Board approves $42,000 leadership-development contract for jail staff to address retention and culture
Summary
Pine County approved a one-year, $42,000 contract with Hegley Incorporated to deliver leadership and team-development services for jail administration, sergeants and correctional line staff; county officials said the work aims to improve retention and reduce turnover-related costs.
The Pine County Board of Commissioners approved a one-year, $42,000 professional services agreement with Hegley Incorporated to provide leadership development and team-building for the county jail’s administration, sergeants and correctional staff.
Rod Williamson, the county jail administrator, told commissioners that of 33 jail staff members, 22 have less than three years’ experience and 10 have been employed for less than a year. He said the contract’s training and coaching would strengthen communications, clarify expectations and help retain newer employees. Williamson said the program is tailored to correctional environments and that past work by the consultant with other Minnesota county jails produced “better engagement, keeping the right employees.”
Consultant Steve Hegley described his approach as bringing leadership, communication and relationship skills used in corporate settings to corrections, emphasizing that jail leadership patterns have shifted away from “leadership by fear and intimidation” toward models that attract and retain younger staff. Hegley said improved engagement and compliance can lower legal and operational risk.
The one-year contract is structured as monthly payments totaling $42,000 ($3,500 per month). Williamson said the jail will absorb the first year’s cost within the existing jail budget and propose the program as a budget item for the following year. The board approved the contract by voice vote; no member recorded opposition.
During discussion, commissioners asked about the program’s intensity, schedule and opportunities to shorten the contract once staff achieve targeted outcomes. Hegley and Williamson said the work is intensive at the start—weekly in-person interaction with sergeants and frontline staff—then moves to periodic follow-ups as internal capacity grows. Williamson said the county would use unfilled positions and reduced overtime to cover the program cost in the current year.
The board directed staff to finalize the contract and authorized the chair and county administrator to sign the agreement.
