Fireworks erupted between Burleigh County commissioners and Sheriff Steve Berg, as what appeared to be a routine hiring request turned into heated debate on Berg's hiring policy.

Berg approached commissioners to hire two full-time, temporary detention officers to fill the positions that had been vacated through promotion. The sheriff that noted the money wasn't an issue since it is already in his budget, and the status of the positions would allow him time to reclassify the positions and produce a more efficient manning strategy.

Commissioner Marlan Haakenson questioned whether the sheriff was using the county's hiring policy, in particular, the portion relating to the posting of all jobs. Berg responded that he did follow county policy, but he said that in his research there was no policy relating to temporary help.

Commission Chairman Jerry Woodcox, who had held the portfolio for the sheriff in the past, said complaints have come from the county's Human Resource Department that it was not getting notice of the positions and not being involved in the hiring process. Woodcox alluded to three instances where the Sheriff's Department offered three part-time temporary jobs without notifying Human Resources until after the jobs had been offered.

"We've tried to work with your department, but I don't know where to go with it," Woodcox said. "I've implored you to have a policy to abide by. Human Resources is there to help. You just can't hire anybody you like and put them on line."

Berg said he had worked with Human Resources in the past, but he was critical that there wasn't a consistent process to follow.

"The first few temporary part-timers went through Human Resources and they just told us to put them on payroll. We needed somebody now," Berg said.

Berg also was critical that Human Resources hadn't come to him with the problem, and he was also upset that the commission's portfolio holder did come to him and discuss the problem.

Berg added that the commissioners had gotten misinformation from Human Resources and that his department has worked with all county departments in a professional manner.

When it came to the Sheriff's Department, Berg said that Human Resource personnel weren't trained to hire law enforcement personnel. "We need law enforcement personnel to hire law enforcement personnel and detention staff to hire detention staff," he added.

Commissioner Scott Johnson also questioned Berg about not implementing a program to allow jailers to disperse medications to prisoners. Berg said he needed more research and wasn't sure if the program would work for the Burleigh County facility. Commissioners passed a motion to have the Sheriff's Department implement the program should it be determined it will work.

Commissioner Claus Lembke asked if both the commissioners and sheriff could put aside the argument and attempt to move forward. As to Berg's request to hire two full-time temporary detention officers, the request died for lack of a second.

"I don't appreciate being blind-sided about Human Resources. We're here to work together and have to in order to be effective," Berg said.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)