LaMoure County commissioners vote to terminate last‑hired deputy in Clerk of Courts office

LaMoure County commissioners voted unanimously Oct. 21 to terminate the last‑hired deputy in the Clerk of Courts office after officials said state reimbursement and workload did not justify keeping two deputies.

Commissioner Jason Weigel raised the staffing concern during the board’s regular meeting, saying “there is not enough state reimbursement or workload for two deputies.” He made a motion to terminate the last‑hired position effective at the end of the week; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote: Weigel — yes; Wald — yes; Flath — yes; Klein — yes; Heidinger — yes.

The meeting record states that Human Resources recommended a department reduction and that the county does not currently have a formal reduction policy; the minutes note that in many cases the last person hired is the first let go. The minutes do not provide the departing employee’s name or a dollar figure for expected savings.

Auditor Jan Hamlin and county staff were recorded as present at the meeting but the transcript does not identify additional discussion of alternatives, a formal appeal process, or whether severance or continuation of benefits will be provided. The minutes direct that standard personnel procedures and local hiring steps will follow existing county practice.

The termination is a formal personnel action taken by the board; the minutes show the motion and roll call but do not record further instructions or a sunset date for the staffing change. No public comment on the staffing action is recorded.