Bruce Henricks, director of Mower County Human Services, has announced his retirement.

Dave Hillier, 3rd District Mower County Commissioner and chairman of the county board’s personnel committee, made the announcement at Tuesday’s meeting.

The DHS department head began work for the county Sept. 24, 1979 and replaced Bob Schulz as DHS director in 1993.

Hillier said the county board appreciates Henricks’ advance notice of his Dec. 31 retirement date, adding it will help them to select the proper candidate to fill the position when he leaves.

According to Hillier, the personnel committee weighed several options for the future in the department, including merging DHS with the public health nursing department before deciding against that idea and recommending allowing the departments to continue to stand alone.

The county board authorized Al Cordes, human resources director, to begin the process for taking applications for Henricks’ position.

Hillier said the new employee will be asked to begin work about two weeks before Henricks leaves to help with the transition.

Cordes will sift through the applications before recommending semifinalists to the personnel committee, who, in turn, will make its own recommendation to the county board.

In other personnel actions Tuesday, the county board named the entire law enforcement center dispatches/clerks its Employees of the Month award-winners for August.

Chief Deputy Mark May of the Mower County Sheriff’s Office recommended the crew for the recognition.

According to May, the dispatchers/clerks worked above and beyond the call of duty, during the mid-June flooding in Austin.

“They deal with a variety of issues all the time,” May said, “It’s a job that not many could do or who would want to do.”

Responding to thousands of calls during the June flood emergency saw the dispatchers/clerks at their very best, according to May.

Steve King, director of Mower County Correctional Services, added his praise to the crew, calling them “very professional and helpful” when working with Correctional Services agents.”

Mower County Attorney Kristen Nelsen added her praise, saying the honored employees were “truly special people.”

In still another personnel action Tuesday, the commissioners honored Kelly Olson, administrative assistant in the county coordinator’s office.

Olson has announced her resignation to accept a new position in Dakota County.

She started work for Mower County in 1997 and immediately became respected for her professionalism and customer service to citizens.

The commissioners and county coordinator Craig Oscarson praised Olson and wished her well at the new position.

Also Tuesday, the commissioners announced Denise Bartels will become a full-time administrative assistant.

Olson and Bartels had shared the position’s 40 hours work week.

Bartels and the human resources director joined others in praising Olson’s work place performance.

Olson was the full-time administrative assistant in the office until asking her hours be reduced to 20 per week.

She then became the executive director of the Mower County Historical Society, a position she must now also vacate.