County staff requests new WIC program specialist classification; reclassification of two medical clerks discussed

County staff on July 2, 2025, asked the Polk County Board of Commissioners to create a new job specification for a WIC program specialist within the public health department and to reclassify two existing medical clerks into that position.

"Today, I'm here to request that we create a new job specification, specifically a WIC program specialist within our public health department," Mr. Hawkins said during his presentation to the board. Hawkins said the county would retire the current medical clerk classifications (including chief medical clerk) and reclassify one medical clerk named Alma Chavez into the new role; he added that a second medical clerk would transfer into the classification with no additional fiscal impact because she is already on the same wage schedule.

Hawkins said the change would be effective July 1 if approved and estimated the full-year fiscal impact at approximately $2,200, including PERS contributions. "So if this is approved, it would be effective July 1, and we'd be looking at a fiscal impact of approximately $2,200 for the full year, including PERS contributions," Hawkins told the board.

Commissioners asked how the new position would relate to the WIC coordinator and other operations. Hawkins said the WIC coordinator would continue to direct program activity; the WIC program specialist would take direction from the coordinator as needed but also answer to the public health administrator. He added that the WIC coordinator is primarily housed in the public health department and conducts outreach at the FCO location, where the specialist would likely also work.

The transcript records the presentation and questions but does not record a motion or vote on the job specification. No executive session was requested.

The board did not record any further direction or action on the item during the meeting.