WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
A request to waive the county’s hiring freeze appears to have divided the St. Joseph County Board of Trustees.
During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, county commissioners had contrasting opinions about whether to honor a request from district court administrator/magistrate Tabitha Wedge to hire a replacement deputy clerk for the court’s civil division.
Following extensive debate on the $60,000-a-year position, commissioners agreed to put the matter on the agenda for their board meeting Tuesday next week.
Debate arose when commissioner Ken Malone recalled the extent to which the courts responded last year to the county’s request for departments to tighten their budgets. Where all other departments worked hard to help the county’s financial state, the courts did not make any cuts, Malone said.
He appeared to have the support of commissioner Dan Czajkowski.
Commissioner Kathy Pangle said commissioners should not hold a grudge against Wedge and the courts will need as much help as they can get when jury trials resume.
