County Looks To Outside HR Help Following Resignations

Grand Traverse County administrators will look to outside firms to assist with its human resources (HR) department following the resignation of two HR employees.

HR Personnel Specialist Aimee Carroll - who was hired as the county's HR director in July before announcing her resignation in September, then decided to stay on as a personnel specialist - is resigning effective January 13. Long-time HR employee Joanne Tuck resigned effective December 16. The departures essentially leave the county without an HR department, continuing turmoil in that department that has persisted since the resignation of former HR Director Jen Seman in March 2015.

County Administrator Tom Menzel says the county will look at an outplacement firm to shore up the staffing gap in the department. The county already outsources some HR functions, like employee benefits, to Traverse City's Lighthouse Group. That firm or another group could also help with other HR services, Menzel says.

"We're going to be looking seriously at them coming in and working with us," he says. "It could be a long-term solution, or it could be an interim solution until we can find more (HR) staff."