Employment agreement

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners and human resources director Elishia Arver have reached an employment agreement that will see the 5 1/2-year employee remain in her current position.

The deal was made official during Tuesday’s board of commissioners meeting.

Arver had turned in her letter of resignation earlier this month to county administrator Pat Yoder. Arver said she was offered and had accepted a job as controller and manager of Maple Lawn Medical Care, a senior-care facility in Coldwater.

Based on what Arver was being offered by the Branch County-operated care facility, Yoder helped work out an agreement resulting in an 18 percent raise and more vacation time for Arver.

Specifically, she made $60,890 a year and will now be paid $72,000 annually, as her new job title will include the role of deputy county administrator.

In addition, Arver’s number of vacation days will increase from 15 to 25 annually, Yoder said.

The revised salary and vacation days were consistent with what Arver was offered by Branch County, which owns the nursing and rehabilitation facility.