BLUE EARTH– Faribault County swore in their new commissioner, Gertrude Paschke, before holding their regular County Board meeting on Tuesday. Bruce Anderson and Bill Groskreutz, who were reelected last November, also took the oath of office prior to the start of the regular meeting.

Personnel changes and housekeeping items were the main topics on the agenda during the first meeting of the year.

Human Resources director Amanda Shoff went before the commissioners to address the changes.

“On Jan. 2, of this year, the Personnel Committee met to review the operational needs of the Sheriff’s Department,” Shoff said. “During the meeting, the committee discussed a proposed enhancement of the current administrative coordinator role to encompass the responsibilities of an administrative coordinator/dispatch supervisor.”

Shoff went on to explain the proposed change is necessary because of the retirement of sheriff Mike Gormley and the resulting redistribution of duties.

“Erin Beske, the current administrative coordinator, will assume additional responsibilities, including the direct supervision of all dispatch personnel and oversight of emergency management operations.”

Chief deputy Scott Adams was at the meeting and told the board that Beske was well qualified for the increased duties.

“Erin has dedicated nearly 26 years of service to the county in various capacities,” Adams commented. “She had demonstrated her extensive experience and commitment.”

“The Personnel Committee determined that this adjustment would provide vital support to the sheriff and chief deputy roles moving forward,” Shoff added. “Furthermore, this reclassification aligns the position with the grade level of the county’s other two supervisory roles.”

In other business, the board also:

— Set the regular meeting dates for regular board meetings in 2025. They will be held the first and third Tuesday of every month beginning at 9 a.m. in the County Board Meeting Room.

— Appointed individual commissioners to certain committees for 2025.

— Set the per diem for lay committee members at $50/half day and $100/full day in 2025. The mileage rate was set at current IRS guidelines.