Kossuth County supervisors approve transfer of Mackenzie Kolash to sheriff’s office at step 2 pay

Kossuth County supervisors voted unanimously March 25 to transfer county employee Mackenzie Kolash from the county attorney’s office to the sheriff’s office as the department’s office manager and set her pay at the Step 2 level, with a scheduled move to Step 3 on her one‑year anniversary.

The transfer, presented to the board by Kyle (department head), came after an internal hiring process that drew roughly 39–40 applicants; Kyle told supervisors that about 30 candidates were interviewed and that Kolash, a current county employee with nearly 10 years’ experience using Shieldware software in other counties, was the top candidate. Kyle said Kolash has been employed by the county since February and would begin in the sheriff’s office March 31.

The board’s action matters because it moves an existing employee between departments and establishes the salary step for the new office, affecting payroll and the sheriff department’s staffing. Kyle told the board he consulted the county personnel handbook, which requires department heads to bring transfers to the board for approval.

Supervisors discussed whether a transferring employee should move into the hiring position’s step schedule or retain prior pay, and several supervisors said the handbook’s language about transfers and anniversary dates is unclear. Supervisor Wachter moved to approve the transfer at Step 2 and to advance Kolash to Step 3 on her one‑year anniversary (noted as June 17). Supervisor Garvin seconded the motion. After discussion about handbook language governing transfers, the board took a roll call vote and approved the motion unanimously.

Board discussion recorded that Step 2 for the sheriff’s office is $50,000 and Step 3 is approximately $53,039; Kyle said the salary increase does not require a budget amendment because the position was budgeted at the approved range. Kyle also said Kolash’s prior experience with Shieldware and related duties justified placing her at Step 2 rather than Step 1 so she would not be set back after nine months with the county.

No formal amendment changing the handbook language was adopted at the meeting; several supervisors asked staff to draft clearer handbook language for future transfers so expectations about pay and anniversary dates are explicit.

The board’s personnel action was approved and is effective with Kolash’s start in the sheriff’s office on March 31; the motion includes the one‑year anniversary step increase to Step 3 on June 17 as discussed.