Personnel matters dot the agenda

by April Scheinoha Reporter The Pennington County Board approved various personnel matters at its meeting Tuesday, June 11. County Board accepted the resignation of Tiffany Tureson, full-time dispatcher. Tureson has been hired as a patrol officer for the Thief River Falls Police Department. In a separate, related motion, commissioners approved internally posting for Tureson’s former position. If no internal candidates choose to apply for the position, the position will then be opened to the public. Commissioners approved hiring Stephanie Schwartz as a part-time dispatcher. Her hiring is contingent on fingerprinting. County Board approved equipment operator Brian Wellman’s transfer to the position of sign technician, effective June 12. Both positions are located in the Highway Department. In a separate, related motion, commissioners approved posting Wellman’s former position internally for five days. After that time, the position will be advertised to the public. County Board approved changing its agent of record to Integrity Employment Benefits LLC for long-term disability, life and dental insurance offered through the county, effective July 1. County Coordinator Kevin Erickson said county employees, not the county, pay for those supplemental benefits. The change won’t affect employees’ insurance rates. Those services are currently offered by two separate insurance companies. Erickson noted that Integrity currently provides such services to other counties and possibly the City of Thief River Falls. County Board approved spending $800 for a tamper valve to be replaced after business hours. Dakota Fire Protection will replace the tamper valve on a sprinkler system after hours at the Law Enforcement Center. Commissioners previously approved paying $2,300 for such work, but it has since been discovered that there is only one water shutoff valve. Morgan Bernier, buildings and grounds supervisor, said Dakota Fire Protection expected that the water would be shut off between four and five hours to facilitate the repair. The older part of the LEC, including the kitchen and holding cells, will be impacted. To minimize the impact, the repair will happen after 5 p.m. sometime within the next couple of weeks. Bernier expected to coordinate the repair with jail staff and the City of Thief River Falls. The next County Board meeting is scheduled Tuesday, June 25 at 10 a.m. at the Justice Center.