County takes steps to explore reclassification and pay-grade change for family court administrative assistant

Kootenai County staff told commissioners on April 3 they will work with human resources to explore reclassifying an administrative assistant assigned to family court services and to consider a pay-grade increase for Fiscal Year 2026.

Lisa Cheesbro, identified as specialty court administrator, said the position (employee number described in the meeting) has expanded significantly since the prior job description; the employee moved from part-time in 2020 to full-time in 2021 and now supports the manager, court assistance officer, guardianship monitor and domestic-violence coordinator. "We are asking for permission to go to HR to explore a reclassification or a pay grade increase," Cheesbro said.

Commissioners asked how the job had changed and whether the county would offset any increase. Cheesbro said she and HR had preliminarily rewritten the job description and planned to present the substantial changes to HR for consideration. Commissioner Eberline encouraged a financial impact analysis and noted that the department planned to reallocate funds from another line item for FY26 if HR recommended a change. No motion was required; the board directed staff to proceed with HR review.

The board did not discuss or approve any individual personnel actions or changes to pay at the April 3 meeting. Commissioners emphasized they would not discuss individual employee performance in open session and would limit the discussion to position and job-description changes unless an executive session was requested.