Board approves amended contract for interim county administrator, including retirement eligibility

The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to the interim county administrator's employment agreement that extends the term through Dec. 31 and makes the interim administrator eligible for the county retirement program.

The motion was introduced during the administration portion of the agenda and included two friendly amendments clarifying that the employment term would continue month-to-month and that dual employment of an interim and incoming administrator would continue up to 30 days past hiring of a permanent administrator. After friendly amendments were accepted, the board approved the contract amendment by roll call.

Commissioners asked for minor wording corrections to the draft and for a definable timeline on dual-administrator employment; the mover accepted those changes on the record. The chair said the change primarily "makes Gary eligible for the county's retirement program like all the other county employees." The amended agreement passed by roll call.