Pine County approves multiple personnel backfills, updates solid-waste technician job descriptions, hires property appraiser

The Pine County Board of Commissioners approved a package of personnel actions May 20 that acknowledged recent resignations, authorized backfills, revised solid-waste technician job descriptions and grades, and approved the hiring of Lake Newson as a property appraiser effective May 27.

The board accepted resignations in departments that included the property appraiser—s office and the sheriff—s office, authorized backfills for those positions, and ratified separations in public works and land resources. The board also approved new job descriptions and grading for Solid Waste Technician 1 and Solid Waste Technician 2 to allow staffing flexibility between household hazardous waste (HHW) and transfer-station duties and to formalize added duties such as limited skid-steer operation for technician 2 roles.

Personnel committee material in the meeting packet said the change combines previously separate job descriptions so employees can work across the HHW site and the transfer station, and clarifies that two existing positions will be reclassified to Solid Waste Technician 2 rather than creating two new positions. Commissioners and staff discussed timing for backfills; the land resources manager position will be held open until after construction season because workload in the auditor-treasurer—s office and seasonal construction demands will affect backfill timing.

The board moved a property-appraiser hiring off the consent agenda so the personnel committee could recommend the candidate first; the board then approved hiring Lake Newson as property appraiser, grade 8 step 1, at $26.14 per hour, effective May 27.

The motions were approved by voice vote. Commissioners emphasized the need to maintain operations during peak construction and road seasons and to ensure job descriptions reflect operational needs rather than creating unnecessary new positions.