Sheridan County approves postings for road superintendent and two sheriff positions amid staffing squeeze
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Summary
At its Dec. 8 staff meeting, Sheridan County approved posting a road/bridge superintendent job and two sheriff’s positions (one patrol deputy, one detention deputy). Officials cited recruiting challenges and competition from neighboring counties as reasons to fill budgeted vacancies.
Sheridan County commissioners at a Dec. 8 staff meeting approved posting multiple county job openings and heard extended discussion about recruitment pressures facing the sheriff’s office and public-works department.
Ken Miller reported the public-works division needs to fill a vacant road/bridge superintendent position. An unidentified commissioner moved to approve advertising the superintendent position; the motion was seconded and commissioners voted in favor, with the board recording "aye" votes and no roll-call names given. Commissioner (speaker 7) urged staff and HR to review the job description carefully before advertisement.
Later in the meeting the county sheriff (identified in the transcript as "Lee Lydamania, county sheriff") asked for approval to post two positions that had been budgeted in the current fiscal year: one patrol deputy and one detention deputy. A commissioner moved to approve posting both vacancies; the motion was seconded and commissioners voted "aye," and the chair declared the motion passed.
Sheriff Lee Lydamania described sustained recruitment difficulties, saying competitors are offering "12 to $14,000 more in a year" for comparable positions and warning of potential departures and retirements that could expand vacancies. He told commissioners the detention division currently has four approved positions to fill and could face up to six openings over time; patrol has at least one immediate vacancy. The sheriff asked the board to proceed with posting the budgeted positions so hiring can continue.
The actions taken were procedural approvals to advertise and recruit for budgeted vacancies; no changes to authorized headcount or to the county’s budget were recorded in the transcript. Commissioners emphasized ensuring job descriptions and HR processes are aligned with the county’s hiring goals before postings go live.
The meeting paused with a planned return time noted in the transcript; no additional formal actions on hiring were recorded in the available segment.
