Committee approves sheriff—s request to upgrade a court services deputy to jail sergeant

The Ottawa County Finance and Administration Committee voted to forward to the Board of Commissioners a request from the Sheriff—s Office to upgrade one court services deputy position into one jail sergeant, at an additional annual cost of $28,790.

Sheriff Eric DeBoer (identified later in the meeting) and department staff told the committee the change responds to a span-of-control and coverage issue in corrections: sergeants cover 12-hour day shifts, and when a sergeant is absent for vacation or on weekends the correctional operation has relied on overtime or senior deputies to fill supervisory duties. The sheriff said the county has very young staff and relying on a senior deputy as the acting supervisor increases liability.

Officials said the request is effectively a one-for-one trade (removing the court services deputy slot and enhancing it to a jail sergeant) and that this year the cost will be covered by vacancy savings in the sheriff—s budget; next fiscal-year funding would need to be budgeted. Multiple commissioners said they expect department heads to manage within budgets where possible and that the board will review budget changes as part of the ordinary process.

The motion passed by roll call vote and will be forwarded to the full Board of Commissioners.