Council approves making surveyor's drainage secretary full time, asks commissioners to pick up benefits this year

Randy, the county surveyor, asked the Noble County Council on July 6 to reinstate the drainage secretary as a full-time position. He described the role's historical full-time status, recent workload increases (multiple hearings and extensive paperwork) and a funding plan that would cover remaining pays for the calendar year.

Randy told the council the office had identified available salary funds by not filling a third engineering position and calculated that moving the drainage secretary to full-time for the remainder of the year would cost about $18,739.38 for the remaining pay periods. He specifically requested that the council pick up the employee's benefits for the remainder of the year rather than waiting until Jan. 1.

Councilors questioned Randy about long-term funding, whether the commissioners had been briefed and how the county would advertise and fill the position. Members agreed the commissioners should be involved because benefits are typically funded by the commissioners' budget process, and several councilors said approval by commissioners would be a necessary step for benefit coverage.

The council moved and carried a motion to make the drainage secretary a full-time position on the council side and asked staff to begin advertising. The action was recorded as carried with the caveat that the commissioners would need to approve benefits funding. The council separately acknowledged a surveyor administrative assistant classification (factored at roughly $46,861) and noted that pay adjustments remain subject to budget approval.

Randy said the full-time drainage secretary will allow critical hearings and reconstruction projects to proceed on schedule; staff will advertise the position and coordinate with finance and commissioners to finalize benefits and permanent funding next budget cycle.