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Richland County approves Health Department staffing increase to 14.4 FTEs ahead of flu and school seasons
Summary
The Board approved shifting and increasing Health Department full-time equivalents to 14.4 FTEs to allow staff to take on more hours; Health Department reported hires, a posted Correctional RN opening and a renewed contract with NDSCS.
The Richland County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to allow the Health Department to increase its active staffing level to 14.4 full-time equivalents (FTEs) within its 2024 budget. Kayla Carlson told the Board the department was budgeted for 15.1 FTEs for 2024 but currently has about 13.2 filled FTEs due to two vacancies; she asked permission to reallocate FTEs so staff could expand hours rather than immediately filling both vacancies.
Commissioners asked whether increasing FTEs would affect benefits; Carlson said benefits would be slightly affected because they are prorated. The motion to approve 14.4 FTEs passed unanimously.
Carlson also updated the Board on Health Department operations: preparations for flu season and back-to-school immunizations; a Billing Specialist hire who will start Aug. 16; an internal fill of the Tobacco position; a recently posted Correctional RN position with one applicant so far; and a renewed contract with North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) covering Aug. 2024–May 2025.
Why it matters: the authorization lets the Health Department reassign paid hours to existing or interested staff during a period of higher demand for immunizations and other services while remaining within the department's overall budget.
