Two county administrator applicants have strong financial backgrounds


SAGUACHE — Applications for the Saguache County Administrator position show at least two applicants appear to have the necessary financial background to address ongoing problems pointed out last week by the county’s auditing firm, Hinkle and Company of Greenwood Village.
The county was sanctioned by the state last week with all funds frozen until the audit is submitted. Saguache County has a history of being late filing its audits. County officials also have been cited for failing to maintain proper internal controls for nearly a decade. The audit notes these issues go back as far as 2009.
Auditor Chris Parker strongly recommended last week that the county hire an administrator with a solid financial background to remedy these problems.
Three candidates were interviewed at a special meeting Oct. 24 during an executive session for personnel matters: Tina Wilson, Saguache County Office of Emergency Management director Bobby Woelz, and acting county administrator Wendi Maez. Woelz and Maez are Saguache County employees, but Wilson is not. A fourth candidate, Amanda Hill, was interviewed during a separate executive session held the following week.
 Hill and Wilson are not currently county employees. It is not clear from the wording of the state statute regarding executive sessions for personnel matters whether Maez and Woelz can be interviewed in executive session for a potential position not involving their current employment or job duties. But the law states below that:
“In a search for a new chief executive officer, the search committee of a local public body must establish job search goals, including the writing of the job description, deadlines for applications, requirements for applicants, selection procedures and the timeframe for appointing or employing the chief executive officer of such entity at an open meeting.”
Current qualifications for the county administrator position require the administrator to supervise day-to-day operations of county government, be responsible for financial records to include transfers and supplemental appropriations required to maintain the County fiscal compliance with any State and Federal laws. An administrator also must oversee the planning, developing, and recommending of policies and programs for consideration by County Commissioners.
Areas of expertise in which the Board expects the County Administrator to focus are as
follows: Budget, financial controls and reporting, economic trend analysis and capital needs
planning, progressive and effective personnel system, public relations program and grant needs,
benefits and policy recommendations.

Other duties include attending and participating in Board of County Commissioners meetings and other meetings the Board designates; directing preparation of the commission meeting agendas; providing staff reports and research to the board such as researching subjects or specific areas of concern, also developing and recommending policies and procedures and presenting the same for the Board’s consideration.

The administrator informs the governing board of pertinent items on the agenda that require their attention and concern. The administrator shall provide background data on important matters coming before the governing board and shall provide a status report to commissioners at BoCC meetings.
Both Hill and Wilson submitted resumes listing strong financial and administrative backgrounds with business and administrative degrees. Both women have nearly two decades of experience. Woelz, also a degreed professional, has 10 years of government administration and nonprofit experience.
Wendi Maez, the acting county administrator, also has been Saguache County’s Land Use administrator since 1996. She has served as the acting county administrator/co-administrator since 2002.