A plan to hire an administrative assistant for the Brown County Commission moved forward Tuesday as commissioners OK'd advertising to hire somebody for what would be a newly created post.
The motion also set Jan. 18 as the application deadline.
Commissioners included $75,000 in their 2013 budget to hire an assistant, including salary, benefits and and computer/office expenses.
As he did when the extra money was added to next year's budget, Commissioner Tom Fischbach on Tuesday voted against advertising for the post. He said any extra county money needs to be spent on repairing roads. Commissioners Duane Sutton, Mike Wiese and Nancy Hansen voted in favor of advertising the new job. Commissioner Burt Elliott was absent.
Wiese said he and other commissioners have heard from members of the public who are opposed to creating the job. He said they understand that some people see a commission assistant as unnecessary, but he thinks hiring somebody to do the job will bring considerable efficiencies. Whereas the commission itself approves county policy, the assistant will have administrative duties, he said.
Sutton said that as large as the county budget is and considering that technology is ever changing, it's wise for the commission to hire a helper.
While the job description is still being finalized, some of the duties the person hired will have will include:
- Being a contact person for human resources concerns raised by county workers
- Coordinating technology between county departments that need to work together
- Assisting the commission in tasks such as crafting a long-range plan
- Public relations and working with the media
- Researching issues and topics for part-time commissioners
- Coordinating with other local, state and federal officials when the groups need to work together
The 2013 budget weighs in at $24.59 million.
In other action Tuesday, the commission:
Bulletf=Zapf Dingbats s=8 no Approved spending authority of as much as $300,000 in case departments go over what was allotted in 2012 budgets. The bulk of the extra money, Sutton said, will go to the highway department, which could be about $200,000 over budget this year.
Some departments also will be over budget because commissioners told department heads to create budgets without pay raises, then eventually approved 25-cent-per-hour raises for most employees, Sutton said.
The extra money for the 2012 budget will come from surplus cash, unexpected revenue and grants, he said.
This year's approved budget is $23.61 million without any extra spending authority.
- Approved an agreement with the Northeast Council of Governments paying the agency $22,432 for work in 2013. The group applies for grants on the county's behalf.
- Twice met in closed session to discuss personnel matters, including once with fair board members.
- Learned from Jan Weismantel, highway superintendent, that crews are working on County Highway 5 near Hecla and County Road 20 south of County 5.
- Approved a right-of-way occupancy application from Northern Electric to do work along County Road 10 near Frederick.
- BApproved an agreement with the state under which federal money from the Help America Vote Act will be used for new software and equipment for a new electronic voting system. No county money should have to be spent because of the change, said Auditor Maxine Fischer.
- Learned from Sutton that five interviews will be done this week to hire a temporary, full-time worker for the county welfare office. The office is short-staffed because of health issues.
- Approved previous meeting minutes, routine personnel changes, claims and step increases for employees.
- With the Aberdeen City Council gave final approval of rezoning of 2208 S.W. 135th St. from agricultural to mini-ag.
