Two finalists for St Joseph County Human Resources Director

The second of two candidates for the position of St. Joseph County human resources director is expected to confirm an interview date this week.
County administrator Pat Yoder said the two finalists were chosen from a group of four people interviewed for the post. A total of 26 people applied for the job, which has been vacant since Elishia Arver left late last month for a job in the private sector.
The job, he said, presents challenges that require a degree of understanding government operations and union contracts.
Yoder, who is overseeing human resources duties in the interim along with finance director Joni Smith and Arver’s former assistant, said he plans to bring up during today’s committee-of-the-whole meeting the idea of retaining Arver as a consultant for future contract-related issues, should circumstances warrant.
Arver’s salary was $72,000 annually, which took into account her duties as deputy county administrator. Yoder said her replacement will serve as human resources director only, and not deputy county administrator.