Commission approves hire for animal shelter director; transcript contains conflicting candidate names

The Hancock County Commission approved the hiring of a director for humane and shelter operations with a start date in late May 2025, but the meeting transcript contains two different candidate names and does not clearly identify which person the commission approved.

During the meeting the commission recorded a motion to hire “Jamie Neely” as director of humane and shelter operations with a start date of 05/26/2025 and later the transcript records a motion approving hiring “Kaylee Nelian” with a start date of May 27, 2025. Both motions are reflected in the record as approved by voice vote; the transcript does not show a roll-call, nor does it clarify whether both names refer to the same person, a transcription error, or two separate actions.

Because the record presented in the transcript is internally inconsistent on the candidate’s name, the commission’s formal minutes or HR records should be consulted to determine the correct appointee and the official start date. The commission’s action, as recorded, authorized hiring for the animal-shelter director role to begin in late May 2025. The meeting did not include details about salary, contract terms, or reporting structure for the new director.

The item was handled under the animal-shelter personnel agenda and approved by voice vote without further public discussion during the meeting.