Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission declines criminal investigator, approves election specialist expansion and tables HR assistant amid budget concerns
Summary
Riley County commissioners debated several personnel requests. After discussion, the board denied a proposed criminal investigator position, approved an expansion for an election specialist, and tabled a human-resources/administrative assistant request pending further budget review.
Human Resources Manager Michelle Reid and county attorneys presented three staffing requests on June 29: a criminal investigator for the county attorney's office, an HR/administrative assistant to support HR and the county administrator, and an election specialist pay/grade expansion.
Office staff argued the criminal-investigator position would fill a long-standing gap in case follow-up and electronic-evidence preparation. The county provided an estimated salary and benefits package for a criminal investigator: a starting pay near $67,413 with benefits bringing the total to about $95,760, staff said.
Commissioners noted the position's operational merit but expressed concern about adding recurring personnel costs while the county faces a budget gap. The board voted to deny the criminal investigator request. Commissioners instead approved an expansion for an election specialist position (no net new budget request for 2027 because staffing costs were absorbed within existing allocations as presented by the clerk). The proposed HR/admin assistant was tabled for later consideration so staff can model the budget impact and the soon-to-be-hired county administrator can help set priorities.
Next steps: staff will provide updated budget impacts and carry the HR/admin assistant request as a placeholder for future deliberation; personnel changes approved will be implemented per payroll and HR procedures.
