For the second straight month, newly-elected Register & Recorder Lisa Burkhouse has come to the county’s Salary Board asking for help.

Burkhouse told the board that a part-time temporary person discussed last month “did not come to fruition.”

The impetus for the request last month was a backlog of work in the office.

She said existing staff have increased their hours slightly.

“So we are making progress,” she said. “Now they’re slowly chipping away at the Register of Wills which unfortunately is way behind. We have a lot of work to do (but we are) all happy to do it.”

She explained that the office once had a full time Register of Wills and asked for that position to be reinstated. That issue is likely to be discussed at budget time later this year.

“(I) think Lisa has done a great job,” Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said. “(I) want to do whatever we can to get you guys where you need to be.”

Burkhouse said the team is “all enjoying it right now. They really do like their work…. With all the negative things behind us we are able to move forward (to) do a good job.”

She said it’s “difficult” to keep up with needs currently. “I think it’s going to be tricky but we’re going to work hard.”

Kafferlin reminded her that the temporary position approved last month is still at her disposal. Further, the board approved a change for existing staff from a maximum of 35 hours up to 40 hours.

Kafferlin said it was up to Burkhouse to determine exactly how those hours are allocated once approved by the Salary Board.