Derek Voss will be Blaine County's new administrator.
The County Commissioners offered the position, formerly held by Mike McNees who left in March, to Voss on Friday. Voss accepted Monday afternoon.
Voss is director of administrator services and chief risk officer for Ada County. As director of risk management, he transitioned the workers' compensation program from fully insured to self insured, saving the county more than $300,000 annually.
Voss said his interest in the job stems from his love of Idaho and public service.
"In response to September 11th, I wanted to find a way to give back, but I was too old to get back into the military," said Voss, who is 49 years old. "Public service was the way to give back for me, and I just really enjoy being more a part of the community instead of being more corporate."
He has a master's degree in management from Florida State University and served as a nuclear weapons specialist for the U. S. Air Force from 1977-1981. He is married with three children.
"I am delighted," County Commissioner Larry Schoen said. "I think it is wonderful to think that we are getting a senior person from the largest, most diverse county in Idaho to bring his expertise to Blaine County. His care and respect for people and public service is obvious, and he exudes integrity. I think he is going to be a real asset both internally and to our relationships with our sister agencies and governments."
Voss was chosen over two other final candidates, interim County Administrator Charlene Nelson and Robert Jasper of Grand Junction, Colo. Nelson will continue to serve as interim county administrator until June 15 when Voss will take over. Nelson will then serve as operations and special projects manager for Blaine County through September. The commissioners have not yet decided whether to continue that position in 2010.
Schoen said Voss will be paid an annual salary of $120,000 plus benefits. He said that represents an almost 13 percent reduction from the previous administrator's salary.
"We were looking to reduce the salary for that position, and it is the salary range we offered because that it what we thought was the appropriate salary," he said.
Della Sentilles: della@mtexpress.com
New County Administrator Derek Voss at last Wednesday’s meet-and-greet at Chester and Jake’s in Hailey. Photo by David N. Seelig
