An assembly of Cass County commissioners and other elected officials have joined up with several prominent leaders from around the area in the search for the next county administrator.

Board of commissioners Chairperson Bernie Williamson discussed the minutes of the recent meeting of the newly formed administrator search committee during the board’s meeting last week in Cassopolis. The committee had met just a few hours prior to the commissioners, where they took some preliminary steps in finding a replacement for former County Administrator Roger Fraser, who was fired by the board in early December.

The members comprising this search committee are commissioners Williamson, Skip Dyes and Clark Cobb, as well a trio of other elected officials, including Cass County Sheriff Joseph Underwood, Probate Judge Susan Dobrich and Treasurer Linda Pruett.

Also participating in the meetings are Dowagiac City Manager Kevin Anderson, Van Buren/Cass District Health Department Director Jeffery Elliott and Michigan State Extension District 13 Coordinator Julie Pioch.

One of the major points of discussion during their meeting Thursday was the potential use a consulting group to help facilitate the early stages of the search, Williamson said. This group would have a limited role in the process in order to cut down on costs, but would help process applications from people interested in the position.

“It would be the receiving groups for applications, and also a buffer that will allow individuals who are interested in applying for the position not to be revealed too early in the process,” Williamson said. “If someone sent an application to us, a FOIA request would make them visible to employers and others in the community, and they may just be testing the waters and may not want to be revealed yet.”

Commissioner Robert Wagel disagreed with the notion of spending the money to hire such a firm, saying that clerk’s office could handle the job applications securely.

Committee member Elliott presented the rough draft of a job description for the position that gave a comprehensive list of responsibilities that fall under the administrator’s purview, Williamson said. Anderson plans on turning that draft into a more concise form for a potential job posting, Williamson added.

Another suggestion mentioned during the committee meeting was having potential job applicants interview with county department in addition to the board of commissioners, Williamson said.

“We can kind of observe them in their element, and see how they interact, how people feel about them, how they function and the questions they ask,” the chairperson said.

Commissioner Roseann Marchetti suggested that any job posting for the position help “market” the county to applicants, she said.

“We don’t have a good reputation folks,” she said, going on to list some strengths of the county. “We have a dedicated workforce. We have a firm financial footing. Both of those things are important.”

The search committee will reconvene 9 a.m. Thursday inside the Kincheloe Room of the Cass County Annex Building.