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Judge urges hiring‑freeze exception; commissioners approve contingent internal staffing move
Summary
After a court staff resignation, the Superior Court judge asked commissioners for help; the commission approved moving a part‑time employee to a full‑time court post contingent on county council granting a hiring‑freeze exception.
Superior Court Judge Greg told Fayette County commissioners that a recent staff resignation has left the court short‑staffed and posed risks to operations and public safety.
"We are principally a criminal court... 82% of the criminal cases in this county go through my court," the judge said, arguing the staffing levels are necessary for court operations. He proposed moving a current part‑time employee, Jenna King, into the recently vacated full‑time position; because King already has household health insurance, the judge said the county’s employer insurance cost would not increase materially and the move would be near budget neutral.
Commissioner Dale moved to permit the internal movement and to allow the court to backfill the resulting part‑time vacancy; the motion carried. The approval was explicitly contingent on the county council granting a narrow exception to the existing hiring freeze for the court position. Commissioners and the judge discussed that the move alone would not circumvent the council’s freeze and that the council’s approval is a separate step.
The commission recorded the motion as unanimous. If the council grants the requested exception, the court will proceed with the internal reassignment and a competitive hiring process for the part‑time replacement. The commission asked the judge to contact the county council and to return documentation if the council approves an exception.
