News Photo by Steve Schulwitz The Alpena County Personnel Committee conducts business during a meeting on Monday. During the meeting, the committee voted on a contract for new county administrator Jesse Osmer.

ALPENA — The Alpena County Board of Commissioners has reached a contract agreement with its new county administrator Jesse Osmer.

The deal was approved during the Alpena County Personnel meeting on Monday, but the full board will have to put its stamp on the hiring later this month.

Osmer, who is the current commissioner for District No. 2, will be paid $82,000 when he begins the job on May 20. The contract is for three years, with incremental wage increases.

Osmer has recused himself from all discussions and votes during the search for a new administrator since former administrator Mary Catherine Hannah left to take a job working as an administrator for Saginaw Michigan.

Early in the process, the commissioners set a wage scale from $85,000 at the low point to $115,000 at the high end.

During the interview process, Osmer indicated he would be willing to work for a lower amount because he knows the impact a higher salary will have on a budget that is more than $1 million in the red.

The commissioners took him up on his offer during contract negotiations.

When the commissioners voted to hire Amy Cell Talent, of Ypsilanti, to lead the search for candidates, she promised there would be up to 10 finalists. That proved not to be the case, as out of 41 applicants, only the three finalists were offered to the commissioner. None of the finalists applied through Cell but through the local commissioner’s office.

After the number of finalists was known, some commissioners considered increasing the pay scale, readjusting the educational and experience requirements, and beginning the search anew.

In the end, Osmer was chosen with a narrow 4-3 vote to become administrator.

Meanwhile, the search to find a replacement for Osmer on the board is underway because the county must fill his vacant seat within 30 days of when he officially steps away from the board and assumes his administrator role.

People who are interested in becoming the commissioner for District No. 2 must live in that district and be a registered voter. Whoever is chosen to replace Osmer, will serve on the board until the end of the year.

For more information contact the administrator’s office at 989-354-9506.