County to share director

St. Joseph County is expected to share an equalization director with Cass County.

What will likely be the third position shared by the neighboring counties is expected to be approved Thursday by the Cass County Board of Commissioners. The five-member St. Joseph County Board unanimously endorsed the proposal Tuesday.

Cass County administrator Louis Csokasy told St. Joseph County leaders the position will likely be filled by early May. A salary for the new position will be established by officials from both counties in April.

Csokasy said Cass County has contracted its equalization director services with a Kalamazoo-based company since 1998. The likely deal with St. Joseph County will facilitate the county’s goal to bring the job back in-house, a measure for which Cass County officials have allocated $147,000.

St. Joseph County Board chairman John Dobberteen said current equalization director Judy Nelson is welcome to apply for the post. Nelson, a 30-year county employee, has spent the last 17 years as equalization director.

Nelson, 66, is paid more than $69,000 a year.