On A 4-3 Vote, Supervisors Hired Tilden Man As Road Boss

By a slim 4-3 margin, Antelope County has hired its first road boss. 

The Antelope County Supervisors hired Casey Dittrich of Tilden on Tuesday morning for the newly created position.  

Charlie Henery said his initial opinion was for the board to advertise and look for someone with more qualifications. 

​"If we don't hire the right person, we'll be in worse shape," Henery said.

After discussion of hiring a consulting firm should they continue their search, the board agreed that they need a personnel manager more than a highway superintendent.

A motion was made by Greg Koinzan to hire Dittrich. During last month's interview, Dittrich said he has experience with managing people, budgeting and finances; however, he does not hold a superintendent's license or have experience working on roads or bridges.

Koinzan suggested Dittrich be hired on a one-year trial basis, and the wage should reflect his experience. A second to the motion was made by Leroy Kerkman. The motion passed by a 4-3 vote. Supervisors voting against were Neil Williby, Jerry Schwager and Henery.

The vote was tied at 3-3 until Merlin Bolling voted in favor and said he wanted "to give the young man a chance."

Dittrich will be notified and the board will meet with him at the January 5 meeting where they will discuss wage, job description and expectations of the position.