Committee backs proposal to create deputy administrator role and send to full board

Richland County administrators proposed creating a deputy administrator role assigned to an internal employee to provide project leadership and continuity during the administrator’s absence; the standing committee voted to forward the proposal to the full county board.

The county administrator said the deputy would be an additional assignment on top of current duties (about 10 hours per week) and would lead one or two major projects and serve as point person during vacations. The administrator proposed a stipend of $20,000 per year, calculated as 60% of the administrator’s salary pro rata for the proposed hours. The committee discussed whether to add the position to the county wage scale or treat it as a stipend; staff said part‑time roles were not included in the recent full wage scale rollout and that the committee could request wage‑scale inclusion.

Members asked whether internal candidates exist and whether a clear chain of command would be established; several members said the county had previously used interim deputies and that having a designated deputy would provide decision continuity. Committee members agreed the position could be selected from existing staff and asked staff to include the proposal on the full board agenda to clarify duties, pay method and selection process.

The committee voted to forward the proposal to the full county board without specifying a named appointee or changing the wage scale at this meeting.