ALPENA — Alpena County’s decision to offer a lower-than-recommended starting salary in its search for a qualified and experienced county administrator may have backfired, some county commissioners said.

Although there were 41 people who applied, many didn’t meet the qualifiers for the position and it received the names and resumes of only three people who will serve as finalists for its vacant county administrator position.

Some commissioners believe it is because the board of commissioners didn’t set the starting wage high enough, which kept some of the most qualified potential candidates on the sideline.

In February, a majority of the board of commissioners approved a salary scale set for $85,000 at the low point and $115,000 at the high end, which was significantly lower than the $110,000 to $130,000 consultant company Amy Cell Talent recommended to lure the best potential candidates into applying.

The county is seeking to replace Mary Catherine Hannah who took an administrative job with Saginaw County in January.

According to Commissioner John Kozlowski, Cell received about 41 applications, but 25 were removed from consideration during the initial round of screening. More were cut in the second round of vetting and some candidates removed their consideration for the job.

Many of the applicants were removed because they may have not fulfilled the requirements for the government job.

Kozlowski said Cell told the commissioners she should be able to provide seven to 10 candidates as finalists, but that wasn’t in the cards. He said he was disappointed in the low number of candidates, but wouldn’t comment on who they were, what their experience is, and if they are local or not.

Kozlowski, who voted in favor of the lower pay scale and for lower educational requirements, acknowledged the proposed pay may have turned off some potential candidates, but he said he doesn’t believe that is the only reason.

Renewing the search is also not something Kozlowski said he supports.

“From what I understand, some dropped out because of the pay, or because they are moving,” he said. “I know for sure, I do not want to start from square one again.”

Kozlowski said the board will go into closed session during its finance meeting on Tuesday to discuss the matter and what the next step will be and more about what the next step could come out after that.

Commissioner Bert Francisco, who wanted to pay a higher wage but didn’t have the support of a majority of the board, said there is no doubt in his mind that the low wage scale played a role in highly experienced candidates not applying.

“In my opinion, everything needs to be on the table, including discussing increasing the pay, because with this amount our options have become limited,” Francisco said.

Commissioner Bill Peterson also supported a pay scale close to what Cell recommended. He said it was his fear all along that if the wage was too low. He said he doesn’t see any other choice but to advertise the position again, and possibly reconsider its compensation. He said with all of the issues facing the county, especially its finances, it is important to get the most qualified and experienced candidate.

“I think we need to go back to the drawing board. It’s not really what I want to do, but I think that is what needs to be done,” Peterson said. “I believe you get what you pay for. We can’t afford to throw a person behind the bar if they don’t know how to bartend. You get what you pay for.”

Commissioner Brenda Fournier has made it clear that she isn’t convinced the county needs an administrator, especially one with a high salary.

She said the county has a capable staff who can assist the commissioners and the public. Fournier added that if there is a candidate that she believes can do the job, for the current pay scale, she may support them.

“I still don’t think we necessarily need one,” Fournier said. “If you stop and think about it, we have a capable clerk and treasurer and other department heads that take up a lot of the county’s responsibility.”

Fournier said under no circumstance is she prepared to restart the search for candidates or increase compensation from what it is slated for now.

“The county just can’t afford that, for a position the county may not need,” she said.

The board passed the lower wage claiming paying more than what is being offered threatened to put the county in a worse financial shape than it is now.

The county is looking at a budget shortfall of about $1.5 million and savings that are dwindling quickly.

The commissioners are contemplating asking voters to approve a property tax increase to help right the ship.

The budget committee meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. today and it is expected the board will go into a closed session to discuss the candidates. Any debate about a plan forward, the wage scale, or restarting the search will need to be done in an open session.

If the commissioners choose to interview the three candidates, a meeting is scheduled on April 19 to do so.

Jennifer Mathis is acting as the interim administrator for the county currently but has said in the past she was not going to apply for the administrator position.