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Nelson County to interview candidates after court administration offers temporary coverage for Clerk of Court office
Summary
Nelson County commissioners heard that the Northeast Judicial District court administration can staff the vacant Clerk of Court and Recorder office at no additional cost to the county (aside from forfeited reimbursement). Commissioners voted to proceed with interviews set for Sept. 29, 2023.
Nelson County commissioners on Sept. 25 were told that the Northeast Judicial District court administration can temporarily staff the county’s vacant Clerk of Court and Recorder office through its existing structure at no additional cost to the county, though commissioners flagged concerns about losing a county job and how Recorder duties would be handled.
Chairman Cody Johnson called the special meeting to order. Roll call showed Commissioners Aaron Mork and Mike Haugland present in person, with Cameron Swenson and Steve Forde joining via Microsoft Teams. The commission first approved the meeting agenda as amended after a motion by Commissioner Aaron Mork and a second from Commissioner Mike Haugland; all members voted yes.
Also present for the discussion were Judge Don Hagar, Kelly Hutton, Northeast Judicial District court administrator, and Becky Nelson, deputy court administrator. Court administration informed the commission that it could cover the Nelson County Clerk of Court’s Office using district staff. The administrators said the arrangement would not require additional county spending but would mean the county would forgo the usual reimbursement for those services. Commissioners noted positives — chiefly short-term cost savings — and raised concerns about the potential loss of a county position and what the arrangement would mean for duties on the Recorder’s side of the office.
After discussing options, the commission decided to continue with interviews for the open Clerk of Court and Recorder position. Interviews were scheduled for Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. The meeting was then adjourned following a motion by Commissioner Mike Haugland and a second from Commissioner Aaron Mork; the vote was unanimous.
The county did not provide additional details in the meeting about the amount of the forfeited reimbursement, any timeline for a permanent hire, nor which specific Recorder functions would be reassigned; those items were recorded as not specified in the meeting minutes.
