Jackson County supervisors approve multiple personnel actions, hire new chief deputy assessor

The Jackson County Board of Supervisors on July 14 approved several personnel actions, including hiring Susan McAleer as chief deputy assessor and a pay increase for a senior engineering technician.

Becky Chaffin, the county’s human resources director, asked the board to approve hiring Susan McAleer as chief deputy assessor at an annual salary of $88,373 effective July 13, 2026, and to authorize the county auditor to issue biweekly paychecks for the position. The board moved, seconded and approved the hiring by voice vote.

Chaffin also presented a certificate of appointment for a change within the auditor’s office and sought approval for 2nd deputy auditor Nicole Strathman to serve from July 1, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2029 (the remainder of the auditor’s term). The board approved that appointment by voice vote.

The board approved increasing senior engineering technician David Chaplin’s pay from 90% of the pay grade to 100%, setting his hourly rate at $31.56 effective July 26, 2026, and authorizing the auditor to issue biweekly paychecks for the increase.

Following the hiring vote, Susan McAleer was introduced to the board. She said she started the previous day, had worked in the Scott County assessor’s office for nearly eight years, and told supervisors she was “looking forward to joining the team here in Jackson.”

The actions were routine personnel approvals that local officials said are intended to fill vacancies and keep key county functions staffed. The board recorded the motions and carried them by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.

What’s next: the personnel changes take effect on the dates announced; the auditor’s office will implement payroll and appointment paperwork as authorized by the board.