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Clay County OKs hiring for public health and withdrawal-detox staffing
Summary
The Clay County Board of Commissioners approved adding one full-time LPN, two full‑time RNs and one full‑time administrative support position to staff public health and the new withdrawal management detox facility; commissioners discussed RN recruitment challenges and use of variable-hour staff.
The Clay County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve hiring for open positions in public health and at the county's withdrawal management detox facility, including one full‑time licensed practical nurse, two full‑time registered nurses and one full‑time administrative support position.
County public‑health lead Kathy McKay told commissioners the positions are budgeted and were included in the department's 2025 request. "They're positions for 1 full time LPN, and our staffing level for LPNs' I I don't think you had it in your information sheet' but the staffing is for 13 full time LPNs," McKay said. She said the department has four full‑time RNs and four variable‑hour RNs now and that recruitment for RNs remains difficult.
McKay said the county wants RNs for supervision but asked permission to temporarily hire LPNs to cover open RN shifts if RN recruitment fails. "If we're not able to get an RN, it would be helpful to have an LPN. We need to have a nurse on every shift," she said, adding that RN leads would be available by phone for clinical decisions.
Commissioners discussed staffing capacity at the detox facility and the plan to use variable‑hour staff to maintain coverage. Commissioner Bair made the motion to approve the hires; Commissioner Kravanoff seconded. The board approved the motion by voice vote.
The approved request adds the positions to be filled under the county's 2025 budget. Commissioners asked staff to return with operational data and utilization figures at a later date so the board can review deployment and outcomes.
The board also requested an informational update that will include daily census, staffing levels and any changes to the recruitment plan once additional data are available.
Ending: The new hires are budgeted and authorized; county staff said they will report back with utilization and recruitment updates once additional data are available.
