Commission chooses head of community corrections

By JENNIFER KNOPP

The Capital-Journal

Adecision to close the door on any interviews for the director's position at the Shawnee County Community Corrections Department has opened the door for other problems in one county commissioner's opinion.

Commissioners voted 2-1, with Commissioner Marice Kane dissenting, to appoint Dina Hales as director of community corrections at an annual salary of $60,000.

Hales had been interim director of community corrections since it was split from other corrections functions and given department status earlier this year.

Commissioners went into executive session for 30 minutes Monday to discuss personnel matters before returning to regular session to vote on Hales' appointment.

Kane said last week, after learning commissioners Ted Ensley and Mike Meier wanted to appoint Hales, that the county hadn't interviewed any applicants for the position and that she didn't want to fill the position before going through that process.

After Monday's meeting, Kane said the decision was unfair to other candidates who had applied for the position after seeing it advertised on the Internet.

Kane said it also sent an inconsistent message to voters and perpetuated an existing mistrust in government.

"If I were doing this in my practice or business I would greatly fear for my reputation," she said.

Meier said when he hired someone it was 50 percent ability and 50 percent trust, and he said he trusted Hales and felt she had the ability.

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