Two temporary employees in the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department worked their last days on Thursday.

Burleigh County Sheriff Steve Berg, who lost in his bid for re-election in Tuesday's general election, said the two women were hired through Command Labor and Staffing to "fill in the gaps" left by a full-time employee who was on medical leave.

Command Labor and Staffing is a labor agency that provides temporary employees for businesses.

The full-time employee had been working only around 10 to 12 hours per week for about a year because of medical problems, Berg said.

On Tuesday, the department received a letter from the full-time employee's doctor saying she had been cleared to work full time, said Burleigh County Sheriff's Major Nick Sevart.

"The budget doesn't allow" for the two temporary employees to keep working now that the full-time employee is back, Berg said.

The two women, who fulfilled administrative duties such as answering phones and scanning documents, were told Wednesday morning that Thursday would be their last day in the department.

"These ladies who've been helping us out have done an outstanding job," Berg said.

Margo Ingemansen, a staffing manager for Command Labor and Staffing, confirmed that the women were employed through the staffing company. She said the positions were temporary, even though the employees worked at the sheriff's department for about one year. There was nothing unusual about the termination of the positions, Ingemansen said.

Berg rejected rumors that the terminations were politically motivated. Berg said he has no plans of terminating other employees while he finishes his term unless he learns of violations of policies or laws.

"It's not going to happen," he said. "It's not what I'm about."

Berg was defeated Tuesday in his bid for a second term as sheriff. Pat Heinert, 51, received 56.39 percent of votes Tuesday to defeat Berg, 48, who received 43.61 percent.

Heinert, who spent 27 years in the sheriff's department before losing to Berg in the 2002 election, will take over command of the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department on Jan. 1, 2007.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@bismarcktribune.com)