Lamar County Commission approves probate promotion and two staff moves

An unidentified commissioner at the Lamar County Commission meeting on Dec. 27 moved to promote Wendy Wharton, currently a clerk in the probate office, to chief clerk effective Jan. 1, 2026; commissioners approved the motion by voice vote.

The move follows the announced retirement of Donna Whitford. The motion referenced a starting pay in accordance with county policy of $13 per hour for the promoted position. "I would like to ask commission to approve her to be, the chief clerk in the probate office, and that effective date will be 01/01/2026," an unidentified commissioner said during the meeting.

In the same segment the commission approved hiring Ashley Lucas to begin training in the tag office at $10 an hour effective that day, intended to prepare for a retirement scheduled for Feb. 1. The motion to hire Lucas was made, seconded and passed by voice vote.

Commissioners also approved a transfer of Lisa Sutton from the solid waste department to the probate office at her current rate of pay effective immediately so she could begin training. Commissioners noted the solid waste department has been short staffed and made clear Sutton could be returned to the solid waste department "if need be" to maintain operations. That transfer was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The meeting recorded voice approvals for the personnel items but did not record individual roll-call votes or tallies. The transcript does not identify the commissioner who made each motion by name; motions are recorded as initiated by an unidentified speaker and were seconded. No amendments to the personnel actions were recorded. The commission did not enumerate additional implementation steps in the meeting beyond the effective dates and pay rates stated.

Next steps: the promoted clerk's effective date is Jan. 1, 2026; the tag office hire is training-effective immediately with a planned transition tied to a Feb. 1 retirement; the transfer of Lisa Sutton is effective immediately but is conditional on operational needs in the solid waste department.