Lake County Commission approves personnel and recognizes employees

Lake County Commissioners approved personnel action and recognized some of the county’s employees during their meeting on Tuesday.  

Commissioners approved the status change of Sheriff’s Deputy Grant Lanning to the newly created Patrol Sergeant position within the Sheriff’s Office.  Sheriff Tim Walburg said that three people from within the Sheriff’s Office expressed interest in the position.  Walburg said that Lanning has been with the Sheriff’s Office for seven years, and recently obtained his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.  Commissioners approved Lanning as Patrol Sergeant at a pay rate of $23.50 an hour, effective May 4th.

Commissioners also approved the hiring of a new Deputy Sheriff for the Sheriff’s Office.  Aric Dierkhising will start his position with the Sheriff’s Office also on May 4th at a pay rate of $22.25 an hour.  

Also on Tuesday, commissioners approved the retirement of the County Highway Department’s Office Manager Debbie Rowley.  Rowley’s retirement is effective on June 12th. The commission authorized Commission Administrative Officer Shelli Gust to start posting the job opening. 

As part of Lake County’s recognition of National County Government month, commissioners recognized four employees for their years of service with the county.  The commission recognized Register of Deeds Shirley Ebsen for 30 years of service, State’s Attorney Paralegal Jennie Thompson for 20 years, Sheriff Tim Walburg for fifteen years of service, and Brian Gilman, a custodian with the County’s Buildings and Grounds Department, for ten years.  

Commissioner Kelli Wollmann said that for the past eight years, the county has provided tours of the courthouse and information for Madison elementary students in April in recognition of National County Government month.  With no school this year, she said that she is planning to prepare something to post on the school’s website.