Commissioners authorize former clerk's intermittent return to train new hire

Auglaize County commissioners on Jan. 13 authorized County Administrator Preston to offer intermittent employment to former clerk Esther Leffel so she can assist in training the office’s incoming clerk.

The motion was made by Commissioner David Bambauer and seconded by Commissioner Douglas A. Spencer after the Board returned to open session at 10:06 a.m. The minutes record that the motion passed unanimously. Earlier, at 9:59 a.m., the Board had moved into executive session to discuss hiring a candidate; Administrator Preston was invited to attend and the Board recorded roll-call votes in favor (Spencer—yes; Bambauer—yes; Bergman—yes).

The minutes do not record the identity of the new clerk or the start date; the Board approved the Jan. 8 meeting minutes and reviewed the new hire start date and required paperwork during the same session. The authorization on Jan. 13 allows Administrator Preston to make an intermittent offer to Leffel for training purposes but does not record a formal hiring vote for the incoming clerk.

The action follows the Board’s broader personnel and administrative business that day, which included approval of a slate of resolutions and a series of administrative briefings from the county administrator. The minutes show the authorization and next procedural step is execution of the intermittent employment offer by the administrator.