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Board approves hiring senior assistant prosecutor to fill vacated position
Summary
The board approved hiring an assistant prosecutor at the four‑year (senior) step to fill a recent vacancy after the prosecutor presented a candidate with 14 years’ legal experience who can step into the caseload; the board authorized the county administrator and chair to finalize an agreement with the courthouse employees union.
The Barry County Board of Commissioners voted June 23 to hire an assistant prosecutor at the four‑year step to fill a recently vacated position in the prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutor Julianne Ekfor Pratt explained the candidate brings 14 years of legal experience—two years as a prosecutor in another county plus additional civil and criminal litigation experience—and has tried misdemeanor and felony cases in district and circuit courts. Pratt said the candidate’s prior work with discovery, briefs and legal research means he could "literally walk into Jessica Payne’s position that she just vacated," reducing the onboarding burden on the office.
Pratt told commissioners the pay difference to place the candidate at the four‑year step instead of a lower step is roughly $2,800 and that the candidate currently earns about $94,000 in the neighboring county. She argued the county would pay little if any additional budgeted cost since the four‑year step was consistent with what the prior incumbent was earning.
Commissioners asked about years of experience for the departing attorney and the internal pay scale; Pratt answered that the departing employee had about 19½ years of service and reiterated the candidate’s qualifications and references. The board moved to approve the hire and authorized the county administrator and board chair to discuss a letter of agreement with the Barry County Courthouse Employees Association.
The motion passed on roll call.
