Commissioners delay county engineer hire, ask HR to begin negotiations and report back

The Chair of the Harrison County Board of Commissioners said the board would take no immediate action on selecting a county engineer and directed the county human resources director to begin negotiations with the preferred candidate and report back prior to the next meeting. The matter had been discussed during a closed executive session earlier in the meeting and was identified as item number 8 on the agenda.

A commissioner proposed, "So I would make a motion that we authorize HR to start negotiations with the candidate or or the the engineer candidate," emphasizing that negotiations could allow the candidate time to complete notice requirements with his current employer. The commissioner added the negotiations could "give him 2 weeks to turn in his stuff" and suggested HR return with a formal recommendation for the board to consider on a future agenda.

The chair clarified that preliminary talks with HR would not be legally binding on the board or the candidate and that the candidate or his current employer could still opt not to proceed. "She can report back to us with her proposed action," the chair said, framing the next step as a staff recommendation rather than a completed hire. The board agreed there was no need to take formal action at that meeting and asked HR to bring its recommendation before the full board at the next scheduled session.

The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and carried. No formal hiring vote or appointment was made during the session.