Conservation district hires Jamie Burke; commissioners approve two-year county single-health coverage

Mark Lehman, chair of the Crawford County Conservation District, told the Crawford County Board of Commissioners that the district had hired Jamie Burke to replace a retiring employee and that her contract will begin June 1, 2026. The board voted unanimously to add Burke to the county health insurance plan for a two-year period, with the Conservation District paying the full single-coverage premium.

Why it matters: The arrangement allows the Conservation District to offer continuity of benefits while the position transitions into a longer-term structure; the board recorded the vote as Motion 26-208 and approved the addition without recorded dissent. Lehman told commissioners the district plans for the county to provide coverage initially and transfer the position to federal employment “in a couple of years.”

Details and context: Lehman explained the district’s preference to start Burke as a county employee and later transfer her to the federal level. He said the Conservation District would pay the single insurance premium and that "any additional coverage will be at the expense of Ms. Burke." The motion to add Burke to county health insurance was made by Commissioner Tom Moody and seconded by Commissioner Carl Wood and carried with Yeas: Commissioners Moody, Blair, and Wood.

What’s next: The coverage is for a two-year period as approved by the board; no further action on the hire was recorded in the minutes. The board did not record additional conditions, and the Conservation District retained responsibility for the premium payment as described.