IRON MOUNTAIN — A civil clerk position in Dickinson County District Court that the county board previously denied is no longer vacant.

Commissioners on Monday approved a pay scale for the new hire, bringing several months of division on the position to an end.

The board was told Jan. 13 by District Court Judge Julie LaCost and Michelle Polzien, magistrate/court administrator, it was imperative to fill the vacancy. But at the Jan. 27 meeting, only Commissioners Joe Stevens and Kevin Sullivan voted in favor of granting the request, which had been rejected by the previous board in December.

Stevens, the only returning commissioner from last year, had acknowledged changing his mind. It wouldn’t be fair to the public or the other court employees to leave the job unfilled, he said.

At a March 11 special meeting in the correctional center conference room, the board voted unanimously to approve the position.

According to minutes from the session, 41st Circuit Court Judge Mary Barglind told the board she’d been asked to mediate the issue to ward off any pending litigation. The position was included in the county’s 2025 budget, according to the minutes.

On Monday, the board took up a written request from LaCost to start Hannah Metras at the two-year step for civil clerk. Metras, previously Hannah Carey, had worked in the court before leaving less than a year ago, LaCost explained in her request.

The judge said Metras has gained certification as an electronic recorder, which eliminates the cost of enrolling a new employee in the course.

Stevens said the requested wage would be $20.34 per hour, which compares with the starting rate of $18.30. The board voted unanimously to approve the higher scale. Chairman Dan Harrington was absent for travel.

Metras fills a position formerly held by Sue Ellis, who has taken on a new role in probate court. At the Jan. 13 meeting, Ellis had advised commissioners that neglecting to fill the position would jeopardize adequate processing of civil cases.

In other action Monday, the county board:

— Approved Sheriff Aaron Rochon’s recommendation to contract with Trinity Services Group Inc. for food services to the jail. Florida-based Trinity provides corrections industry food services in 40 states and was among six contractors to submit a proposal. Stevens noted there’s a potential savings of $63,000 in the one-year contract. The number of inmates in the jail is at its highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic — often above 50 — but still well below the 71-bed capacity, Rochon said. The county has previously contracted with South Dakota-based Summit Food Service LLC for jail food, budgeting about $200,000.

— Heard Rochon thank U.P. Whitetails of Dickinson County for conducting a fundraiser that generated $3,930 for the Dickinson Area Working K-9 program.