Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Columbia County commissioners approve multiple hires and pay step increases
Summary
Columbia County commissioners unanimously approved a package of hires, promotions and step increases on Jan. 15, 2026, affecting Children & Youth Services, the county jail and court staff; action items were taken by voice vote with no recorded dissent.
Columbia County commissioners unanimously approved a slate of personnel actions at their Jan. 15, 2026, meeting, including hires, promotions and step increases affecting Children & Youth Services, the county jail and court employees.
Commissioner Brewer called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and moved to approve the minutes of the prior meeting; Treasurer Creveling seconded and the motion carried with all approving votes. The board then considered a personnel package presented by staff asking approval of hires, promotions and step increases across departments.
Treasurer Creveling moved to approve the personnel package that included hires and starting rates for Children & Youth Services caseworkers — for example, Cody Hess and Gabe Klembara listed at $22.91 per hour — a promotion for Kirsten Yoder to Caseworker 1 at $22.91 per hour, and multiple corrections officer step increases with the listed effective dates and rates. The packet also noted Tammy Rhodes (medical staff, jail) at a two-year step of $25.14 for 2025 and $26.15 for 2026. One entry (Domenic Garufi, FT CO, Jail) appeared in the agenda text without a listed hourly rate; the transcript did not specify that amount.
After approving that package by voice vote, the board moved to a second personnel item covering elected officials and court employees. Commissioner Karschner moved to approve that item; Treasurer Creveling seconded and the motion carried. The board recorded, among other items, a six-year step for Adam Bennett, Probation Officer (Adult), effective Jan. 13, 2026, at $24.51 per hour.
Votes at a glance — actions recorded in the meeting minutes included approval of the prior meeting minutes (motion by Commissioner Brewer, seconded by Treasurer Creveling; all approved), approval of personnel package A (motion by Treasurer Creveling, seconded by Commissioner Brewer; all approved), approval of personnel package B (motion by Commissioner Karschner, seconded by Treasurer Creveling; all approved), and adjournment (motion by Commissioner Kovach, seconded by Treasurer Creveling; all approved).
The meeting was brief and procedural; Chief Clerk David J. Witchey attested to the minutes at adjournment. The published minutes contain the full list of hires, step dates and pay rates.
