Commissioners permit four-week training overlap for retiring surveyor's office employee

County officials told the Board of Commissioners that Jackie Searls, an employee in the surveyor's office, will retire in April. Because the surveyor’s office is a single-person operation with specialized duties (tax, drainage, survey records), county staff asked for permission to recruit and bring a new hire on in advance so the outgoing employee can provide direct training.

Shannon told commissioners the office believes an eight-week overlap would be ideal; commissioners voted to approve a four-week overlap for hands-on training with an additional consulting arrangement to be available afterward if needed. Commissioner Stan Stubenhagen said a shorter overlap reduces precedent-setting risk while preserving continuity; other commissioners and staff noted there is limited cross-training elsewhere in county government and that the position’s duties are specialized.

Shannon explained recruitment will begin so a candidate can start in time for the approved four-week overlap before Jackie’s April retirement date. The commissioners asked staff to monitor the hire and to return with any needed appropriation requests if additional temporary pay is required.

Quote: "I think an important aspect of this ... is that that's a one-person office there. It's not like you can offload any of that work onto anybody else in the interim period," a commissioner said during the discussion.

Next steps: staff will recruit, seek confirmations where required, and if the new hire needs a longer hand-over, staff return to the board with any budget adjustments or contracting terms for post-retirement consulting by Jackie.