The Franklin County commissioners decided Tuesday against a proposal by Sheriff Dennis Pike to hire a new secretary and waive an employee’s probationary period.

The commissioners moved to wait until Scott Nichols starts his term as sheriff to fill the vacancy for a secretary at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. Nichols beat Pike in the November election.

Normally, the department has two secretaries, but one of of the posts is vacant.

Commissioner Clyde Barker said it would not be fair to hire new staff when Nichols may make changes after he takes office Jan. 1.

Barker said he was concerned that work was piling up without two secretaries working, but the commissioners decided not to hire a temporary employee, because it would be difficult to train one in the short period of time available.

The commissioners also denied a proposal to waive the probationary period of a sheriff department’s employee.

Pike asked to waive the probation period for an employee who left the sheriff’s office after 24 years to work in the dispatcher’s office.

The commissioners decided the probationary period was still valuable to the office and the employee.


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