Hand County to advertise shared clerical role for auditor and assessor; commissioners approve highway staffing resolution

Commissioners authorized advertising for a shared full-time clerical position to serve both the county auditor and assessor offices after staff described growing workloads and statutory reporting requirements that have increased clerical demands.

County auditor described the need as operational, saying the request was "not a luxury" but a necessary response to increased statutory and federal reporting and requests. Commissioners discussed part-time versus full-time options, training needs for property and elections work, and budget implications. The motion to advertise for a shared full-time position passed by voice vote; staff will draft and post the job advertisement, leaving pay flexible in the ad to allow negotiating based on experience.

Separately, commissioners approved Resolution 2025-16, which sets specific advertising and staffing parameters for the highway department (staffing levels and the authority to advertise specified positions without bringing each posting back to the commission). Staff said the resolution does not remove the commission's hiring oversight but creates an advertising mechanism to speed recruitment for critical highway posts.

What—s next: the auditor and assessor will finalize an advertisement and return with applicants; highway staff will implement hiring advertisements as authorized under the new resolution.