Clay County board declines to fill communications coordinator through 2026

Clay County commissioners voted to deny a request to hire a replacement communications coordinator Tuesday, opting to keep the position vacant through the remainder of 2025 and all of 2026.

Mark (county staff) told the board the incumbent had tendered her resignation and recommended leaving the role unfilled to reduce personnel costs while the county addresses a high proposed 2026 budget. "I'm going to recommend that we do not fill this position and we leave it open for the rest of this year and all of next year," he said.

Several commissioners expressed support for the temporary vacancy as a cost-control measure while saying they valued the work the outgoing coordinator and current staff have done. Commissioner Ebinger said the move could spare cuts to field positions: "When department directors like you come forward with doing something like this, this is gonna save us from having to be in a position of cutting field positions," he said.

Board members and departmental leaders said remaining staff will absorb the coordinator duties for the period. The motion to deny the request to hire carried by voice vote, recorded as unanimous.

The board will revisit the department’s staffing and budget during next summer’s budget process before deciding whether to refill or repurpose the position.