Cass County Administrator Roger Fraser’s extended absence from the county offices has left the members of the board of commissioners pondering what to do next.

Fraser’s condition was a major topic of discussion during the board’s last meeting, which took place Friday at the county annex building in Cassopolis.

The board approved preliminary action to consider naming an interim county administrator, to take over the responsibilities of the office in the current administrator’s absence.

Fraser, who was hired as county administrator in the winter of 2013, has been on leave since the beginning of July, said Board Chair Bernie Williamson. The administrator told Williamson he had taken ill during a vacation earlier in the month, prior to the Fourth of July weekend.

Fraser was admitted into the hospital for an undisclosed illness the next week, and has since filed for short-term medical leave, Williamson said.

“He’s ill enough that he has applied for an extended absence,” Williamson said. “We don’t know how long it will be — we’re taking it a week at time.”

Though county employees have maintained their day-to-day duties in the administrator’s absence, the board is taking action to find someone to assist Deputy Administrator and Finance Director Angie Steinman oversee the operations of the county government in Fraser’s absence, the board chair said.

“We’re not doing anything drastic, but we’re working to find an interim administrator, to make sure that the things that need to be done get done,” Williamson said.

Williamson and Vice Chair Robert Ziliak plan on meeting with Information Systems Department Director Kerry Collins later this week to discuss him taking over as administrator in Fraser’s absence. Collins has served as interim county administrator in the past, and said he was willing to talk to the board about taking the position, Williamson said.

The board is considering holding a special meeting in the next couple weeks to have a more in-depth conversation about the position, Williamson said.

Efforts to reach Fraser were unsuccessful as of press time Tuesday.