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Columbia County commissioners unanimously approve hires, raises and promotions
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Summary
At their April 2, 2026 meeting, Columbia County commissioners approved a slate of personnel actions — including temporary step increases, a reclassification and a promotion to EMA/Resiliency Director — and adjourned after routine business.
Columbia County commissioners met April 2, 2026, and unanimously approved multiple personnel actions covering county staff and elected-office employees.
The items approved included two six-month step increases for jail medical staff Stephanie Nearhoof and Gavin Doucette (effective Jan. 21, 2026, at $24.39 per hour); a reclassification for Meghan McHenry to part-time exempt Training Coordinator (effective March 29, 2026, at $25,390.00); and the promotion of Christopher Anderson to emergency management/resiliency director (effective March 23, 2026, at $64,728.15).
The board also approved hires and step increases for elected-official offices and court employees: Montana Henrie, secretary, Domestic Relations (hire effective April 6, 2026, at $17.17 per hour); Joshua Hartman, part-time deputy, Sheriff (hire effective April 13, 2026, at $19.11 per hour); Adam Bennett, transfer from probation officer to deputy, Sheriff (effective April 13, 2026, at $23.27 per hour); Debra McHenry, Assistant Deputy, Register & Recorder (four-year step, effective April 19, 2026, at $20.51 per hour); Michelle Feitner, administrative assistant, Courts (four-year step, effective March 7, 2026, at $26.53 per hour); and Michael Beyer, Chief Deputy, Sheriff (four-year step, effective April 4, 2026, with listed pay $66,660.93).
Procedural notes: Commissioner Kovach moved to approve the minutes of the prior meeting; Commissioner Karschner seconded and the motion carried. Commissioner Kovach moved approval of the personnel Item A; Commissioner Brewer seconded, and the board approved it. Commissioner Kovach later moved to approve Item B and to adjourn; Commissioner Karschner seconded the Item B motion and Commissioner Brewer seconded the adjournment; both motions carried. The transcript records that each motion was “all approved”; no roll-call vote tallies or recorded dissents appear in the transcript.
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Brewer at 2:00 p.m. in the Commissioners Conference Room at 700 Sawmill Road. The minutes were attested by Chief Clerk David J. Witchey.