The Beltrami County Board approved the hiring recommendation of the HR hiring committee and authorized hiring Jordan Hickman as the county's human resources director with a placement at step 9 of the pay grade and PTO set at the 20-year level.

Staff described a national search and two hiring panels, with multiple interview rounds. Administrator Tom (staff) said the committee interviewed multiple candidates, re-opened the search after an initial offer fell through, and conducted additional interviews. The hiring committee recommended Hickman based on his stated experience: a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in political science, roughly 11 years in county government earlier in his career, and subsequent experience as a director in another public-sector organization.

Commissioners debated compensation levels in light of county budget constraints and internal equity. Commissioner Sumner and others expressed reluctance to approve the top-of-scale placement given current fiscal pressure and concerns about bringing an external hire in at a higher rate than many current employees. Commissioner Carlson and Commissioner Gold defended the committee's recommendation, citing the candidate's experience and the board's past practice of hiring experienced candidates at higher steps.

Commissioner Carlson moved to approve the hiring recommendation at the committee's proposed step and PTO level; the motion was seconded. On the roll-call vote recorded in the meeting transcript, Commissioner Carlson voted yes and Commissioner Gold voted yes; Commissioner Sumner and Commissioner Winger recorded no votes. The recorded tally in the minutes was 3-2 in favor; the additional yes vote is recorded in the meeting roll call but not identified by name in the transcript excerpt.

Staff provided an estimate of compensation figures on the record: the requested salary was described as about $138,000, and staff noted an additional pay increase of about $6,000 would apply if the candidate declined county health insurance. The board approved the hire 3-2; the new director will begin after hiring formalities and onboarding.