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Clay County commissioners approve hires for public health and withdrawal-management detox facility
Summary
The Clay County Board approved hiring one full-time LPN, two full‑time RNs (with LPN substitution if RN recruitment fails), and one full‑time administrative support position for the county’s public health and withdrawal‑management detox facility. The positions are budgeted for 2025.
Clay County commissioners voted Tuesday to approve hiring staff for the county’s public health programs and its withdrawal‑management detox facility, moving to fill a full‑time licensed practical nurse position, two full‑time registered nurse positions, and one full‑time administrative support position.
The hires were presented by Kathy McKay, Public Health director for Clay County, who said the new positions are budgeted in the county’s 2025 request and are intended to staff the new facility at higher capacity. McKay said the facility’s LPN staffing level is planned at 13 full‑time LPNs; RN staffing currently includes four full‑time and four variable‑hour RNs, and the two requested RNs would raise the full‑time RN roster.
McKay told commissioners that recruitment for RNs has been difficult and asked for permission to temporarily fill an RN vacancy with an LPN if RN recruitment proves unsuccessful. She said an RN would remain available for oversight via variable‑hour staff or by phone for clinical decisions, and the LPN substitution would be an interim staffing measure until recruitment or attrition allowed refilling with an RN.
Commissioner questions addressed current staffing and capacity. McKay said the facility continues to serve fluctuating client counts and can operate using variable‑hour staff; she confirmed the county needs a nurse on each shift and that LPNs would be paid at a lower pay grade than RNs.
Commissioners moved to approve the hires. Commissioner Breyer made the motion; Commissioner Kravanoff seconded. The board voted by voice and the motion carried.
Commissioners also requested a future update on facility operations and data once additional staff return from leave, and expressed interest in a fuller briefing on changes in service levels since the new facility opened.
Requests and votes at the meeting were procedural voice votes with the board chair calling for “aye/oppose”; the board recorded the motion as approved.
Ending
The approved positions are budgeted in the county’s 2025 personnel plan. Hiring and any temporary LPN‑in‑lieu‑of‑RN arrangements will proceed under county hiring procedures and relevant clinical supervision requirements.
