An administrator for Allen County is a dead issue, Commissioner Dick Works said Tuesday morning.
He and commissioners Gary McIntosh and Rob Francis heard department heads disparage any thought of an administrator. They also lauded County Counselor Alan Weber for doing some of what an administrator might, and, observed County Clerk Sherrie Riebel, “always having an answer for my questions.”
McIntosh brought up the possibility of a county administrator earlier this month and last week went to Fredonia to hear from Kris Marple his role as Wilson County administrator.
McIntosh said an administrator would put a more public face on county government, deal more thoroughly with human resource issues and be helpful in providing research and advice for commissioners.
Sharon Utley, county treasurer, said that perhaps Weber should take on more duties and that in some instances he already had unofficially, though “he’s just not getting paid for it.” Weber gave no indication he wanted to take on more duties.
“We’re very lean here and run an efficient operation,” said Works, of commissioners as administrators and department heads in efforts that otherwise would fall to an administrator.
“Gary (McIntosh) can look at it (an administrator) if he wants to, but for me it’s a dead issue. We’ve talked about an administrator in previous years” and the idea never achieved any traction, he said.
UTLEY noted that the county’s budget is so tight that current employees had not received raises of consequence for several years. How would an administrator’s position be funded, she asked. And what if a secretary and additional vehicle were needed, others asked.
“The county clerk (Riebel) does the human resources work for the county and we have department head meetings most months to work out problems and keep on top of things,” Utley said.
An advantage of an administrator, McIntosh said — with Marple’s confirmation — is to provide continuity when new commissioners are elected, as occurred in November 2008 with he and Francis.
“We have staggered terms so we’re always going to have one or two incumbents after every election,” Utley said.
Works started his sixth four-year term in January.
“The concept (of an administrator) might be good, but it would be a large amount of money when employees have been denied raises for several years,” said Sheriff Tom Williams.
McIntosh didn’t respond to criticism other than to say he thought citizens deserved from commissioners an inspection of ways that might improve the functions of county government.
Marple told McIntosh last week a main role of his was to be a bridge between Wilson County officials, including commissioners, and the public.
“The commissioners’ job is to step up and fill any voids,” Works responded. “That’s what we’re expected to do.”
“We are the county’s administrators,” Francis said of the commissioners.
COMMISSIONERS approved a bid of $5,200.64 from David Hale to redo the front counter in the treasurer’s office to improve flow between employees and customers, as well as make the area more secure.
Utley reported that through the end of February 59.9 percent of property taxes had been collected, which was slightly better than a year earlier when the percentage was 59.4.
