Following an excellent annual evaluation with a ranking of 4.458 points out of a possible 5, Barry County Administrator Michael Brown was recommended for a three-year contract from Jan. 1, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2019. The unanimous vote by the committee of the whole included a recommended raise from Brown’s current $102,315.20 salary to $103,338.35 in 2017.
Brown was rated by commissioners from 1 to 5 on leadership, financial management, motivation, professional development, communication, delegation, planning, prioritizing, employee relations, initiative, interaction and coordination with others.
Earning 4, 4.5 or 5 rankings almost across the board, Brown's highest marks came for his financial acumen. One commissioner gave him a 5 in every category. In the comment sections, Brown was praised for his abilities in every area evaluated, with special note of his communication skills and respect for all those he deals with and high marks for doing “an excellent job” in financial management.
Commissioners said he is “a superior county administrator,” his “work and effort is appreciated,” and “Barry County is lucky to have him.”
“I continue to enjoy the work I do and working for Barry County,” Brown said, adding he “greatly appreciated” the evaluation.
In other business Tuesday, the commissioners recommended:
* appointing Dr. John Bechinski, D.O. to replace Dr. Phillip Croft as Medical Examiner for Barry County effective Dec. 16. Croft, Barry County’s M. E. for nine years, is resigning from Sparrow Hospital Forensic Pathology Group.
* approving an audit engagement agreement with Walker, Fluke and Sheldon to do the Barry County Road Commission’s 2016 audit for a fee of $9,000.
* interviewing citizen applicants to fill 2017 appointments on a half dozen boards on Jan. 3. Brown said organizational meeting will be held first that day, followed by the committee of the whole meeting. The applicants are all lined up and with Jan. 3 interviews and recommendations, the commissioners can approve them on Jan. 10.