Procedure for placing help-wanted ads questioned by county clerk

Linn County Clerk Chasity Ware asked county commissioners to clarify policy on placing help wanted ads. (Wix file photo)

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff

lcjeditor@icloud.com

MOUND CITY – Linn County Clerk Chasity Ware brought up a question on Tuesday, Feb. 17, about employment ads in the newspaper and which departments were responsible for the cost. 

Ware said that when they received an invoice and she was asked how it needed to be paid, her first thought was that it should be billed under each department. But after further investigation about how they have been paid in the past, it turned out that they were paid out of the courthouse budget.

Ware said if that’s the way it needs to be done, that’s fine, but she added that she had a problem with that. If a department has an availability for a position and it goes in the newspaper, then it should be paid by that department.

She said she saw where the discrepancy is, but felt like when there are multiple positions open the tendency is to run them each time and run them together.

“I’m not sure whose responsibility it is to pay for those,” Ware said, “but we had two months of ads that were in the newspaper over $600.

“And when we called the newspaper to confirm who had approved for this to continue to be ran, they said they were told it was to be run until further notice. I don’t know who gave them (permission) to do that because I have been doing that for two weeks. We ran it for two weeks and it’s done. “

“I just want clarification about whose responsibility it is to pay for that and how, moving forward, you would like that to be taken care of,” she said. “I believe that there are currently five positions available that are all in different departments.”

Commission Chair Alison Hamilton said it is probably coming out of courthouse because it is connected with human resources.

Commissioner Jim Johnson said that it would probably be hard for each department to budget for that, like the sheriff’s office. He would obvious have the most employees so he’s going to spend the most on ads.

Johnson said he didn’t have a problem with it coming out of courthouse but the time frame for ads should be controlled.

Johnson asked who was responsible for making sure and ad came out after the position was filled.

Ware said that when, for example, the sheriff’s office runs an ad tthere are four positions open, she doesn’t know that. When one position is filled, she doesn’t know that there are still three openings.

“I do think there needs to be some clarity and conversation and communication between the departments,” said Ware.

“I agree we need to have a different protocol on that because even as a commission, we’ve said to the clerk, run it until its filled,” said Hamilton.

“In two months that was $600,” said Ware.

“That’s a lot of money, right,” said Hamilton. “So maybe we shouldn’t say that. Maybe we shouldn’t be allowed to just say run it until I say.”

Hamilton and Ware discussed what was in the employee handbook about the protocol for running ads for two weeks. They decided to make sure there was something in there.

“But at this time, you guys are good with it continuing to be paid for out of courthouse?“ asked Ware.

Discussion was held on whether an ad should be run every week for firefighter positions. 

Johnson said the thought there should be closer control over what the openings are.

“We’re putting it out there, but we’re not filling those positions so something’s not working,” said Ware.

Hamilton asked Ware to come back and tell the commission what they spent on ads in 2025 on newspaper ads for employment.

Information Technology (IT) Director Chris Martin gave his monthly report. The following  projects were worked on:

• So far in 2026 there have been 237 support tickets open and 218 have been closed.

• Seven-after hour emergency callouts 

• Set up 11 new computers, Martin said hat is kind of normal for the first of the year.

• Installed a cold weather kit on the generator for the tower northwest of Mound City just off Kansas Highway 7 generator. When it gets down to 20 degrees, that generator sort of suffers to start if it’s needed. The kit was on before the last cold snap and it started just fine.

• Working on replacing a sensor in the health department generator. We believe it is an oil pressure sensor that is telling it to shut down. The company wanted around $1,500 just to show up and install it. They’re supplying the part and we are going to do it ourselves. Once that part comes in, we hope it will be this week, we will get the part put in.

• Installed a new camera in the jail kitchen. It needed more coverage so we put in a 360 degree camera to cover every corner. Martin said it was well covered before but it’s just that much better now.

• Completed phase one of the law enforcement encryption project. So we did 48 of the county’s radios. 

• Replace the 911 mounting equipment and corrected a headset issue at the sheriff’s dispatch.

• Found an issue with one of the jail HVAC units on the roof. They contacted the company and they were able to get it replaced. Something was wrong with the motor in the fan.   

• Replaced the wireless access point for emergency management.

In other business, the commission:

• Heard from Hamilton that the Mine Creek Gravel Battle will be coming to Linn County on March 28 and they have asked to use the courthouse parking lot as one of their stops. She said that the county is going to allow them to use them parking lot at the courthouse.

  
  

• Learned from County Counselor Jacklyn Paletta that she is having trouble getting information on the economic development committee. She brought this up since it is on the agenda for next week and she intends to be able to report on it but says the information is elusive.

  
  

• Approved the bill of $9,672 for repair of a track loader.