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Commissioners debate hiring recommendation for sheriff's office amid nepotism concerns
Summary
The Public Safety Commission forwarded a recommendation to hire an applicant related to the sheriff; commissioners raised nepotism and process concerns and did not finalize county-level approval at the March 16 meeting.
The Daniels County Public Safety Commission presented a recommendation March 16 to hire a deputy sheriff who is related to the county sheriff. PSC members said the under sheriff processed the application and recommended hiring; the PSC then forwarded the recommendation to county commissioners by a 2–1 vote.
Commissioners and PSC members discussed safeguards intended to reduce nepotism risks, including the PSC serving as an independent intermediary for discipline and hiring oversight. PSC members stressed that the applicant met qualifications and that delays in hiring had been prolonged by limited advertising reach.
Several commissioners raised objections and said approving the recommendation could generate significant public backlash given the family relationship; one commissioner said the county had ‘‘enough problems with nepotism as it is’’ and declined to advance the hiring without further outreach and broader recruitment. PSC members noted an email from Commissioner Kurt recommending moving forward and said the PSC had formally seconded the motion before voting.
The commission did not adopt a county-level hiring action at the March 16 meeting. PSC members and county staff discussed expanded advertising strategies and outreach to neighboring states and online channels to broaden candidate pools. The PSC and commissioners agreed to continue discussions and encourage formal advertisements before any final county hiring decision is made.
