Alpena County committee backs filling Program Assistant vacancy and making director a 40-hour position

The Alpena County Personnel Committee on July 1 recommended filling a Program Assistant vacancy in the county’s Home Improvement and Public Conservator offices and approved adjusting the director’s work week to 40 hours while keeping salary calculated at the current hourly rate.

Home Improvement Director and Public Conservator Nicki Janish told the committee the workload between the two programs "has grown drastically" and asked that the Program Assistant role be reorganized to include a longer work week and higher pay to attract stable employees. Janish also requested that employee-related expenses be split equally between the Home Improvement and Public Conservator budgets because both programs are now equally busy. County Administrator Jesse Osmer said a formal 2026 budget request will go to the budget subcommittee and that he will look into funding options for 2025.

Commissioner Bill Peterson moved and Commissioner Todd Britton supported recommending approval to fill the Program Assistant vacancy at the proposed rate/hours; the roll-call vote recorded AYES from Commissioners Lucille Bray, Bill Peterson, Todd Britton and Chair Brenda Foumier, with no NAYS. The committee also voted, on a motion moved by Peterson and supported by Britton, to recommend adjusting the Home Improvement Director/Public Conservator to a 40-hour-per-week position with salary calculated at the current hourly rate; the same AYES were recorded and both motions carried.

The committee recorded Action Item #2 regarding the director hours and Action Item #1 (separately) recommending the Program Assistant vacancy be filled at 40 hours per week starting at $20.00 per hour. Administrator Osmer will pursue budget follow-up and the request for 2026 will be submitted to the budget subcommittee.