County staff request reclassification of health services employee; board voices support but no formal vote recorded

Mr. Hawkins told the Polk County Board of Commissioners on March 26 that county health services is requesting the reclassification of an employee, Todd Hackman, from management analyst 1 to the health services quality and analytics coordinator position, with an effective date of April 1 if approved.

Hawkins said the duties Hackman is performing align more closely with the coordinator job specification and described Hackman’s work as “phenomenal.” Hawkins also asked the board to approve step increases beyond the normal initial 4% change; he estimated the full fiscal-year cost at approximately $18,000, "including PURGE contributions" as stated in the meeting transcript.

Commissioners present pushed back that the request represented an atypical adjustment to standard fiscal and classification procedures but said they had asked questions and received explanations. The meeting record contains explicit supportive remarks: the chair said, “This is the right move for the position,” and another commissioner said, “I'm in support.”

The transcript does not record a motion, second or formal vote on the reclassification during the March 26 meeting. The request was presented to the board and discussed; county staff indicated the health services budget can accommodate the change. Any formal action, including a motion, vote, or administrative approval, does not appear in the transcript excerpt provided.

If the board takes formal action at a later date, the county’s personnel and budget records will show any approved effective date and the final fiscal impact.