County commission agrees to hiring freeze exception

St. Joseph County Administrator Teresa Doehring will move forward with the goal of filling a key position.

During their Tuesday meeting, members of the county board of commissioners OK’d Doehring’s request to fill the impending vacancy of head of buildings and grounds for St. Joseph County.

Incumbent Tim Hochstetler is planning to retire March 31.

Doehring said she explored a number of options with the intent of trying to not fill the position, but the role is too critical by nature and its duties too difficult to sufficiently delegate, she said.

Doehring’s request for an exception to the county’s hiring freeze was approved unanimously.

She said the recruiting process to secure Hochstetler’s replacement would begin immediately.