Fox was one of four applicants interviewed by the commissioners. He assumed his new duties immediately Tuesday morning (March 19). Fox is also chief of the Star City Volunteer Fire Department.

The highway department has also hired Kendra Craft as its new administrative assistant/bookkeeper. She was previously employed in the auditor's office. She replaces Lin Morrison who resigned her longtime position last month.

Becker and Morrison, were suspended with pay in January while the commissioners hired outside consultants to investigate operations at the highway department. At the time, the commissioners claimed they had received complaints about operations at the department from several sources. The suspensions stirred community outrage, resulting from what many felt was a lack of satisfactory explanation and evidence of wrongdoing.

Morrison was soon returned to her position, and Becker was later demoted to general manager. The investigation, the commissioners later reported, revealed no criminal activity in the department, but did reveal some possible county policy violations.

Becker has retained the legal counsel of Valparaiso attorney Steven Bush who has filed a tort claim notice against the county commissioners, attorney and auditor. There is a 90-day period for the county to respond before Becker can file a lawsuit.

Also at Monday night's meeting, the commissioners voted to change work hours for county highway employees from four 10-hour workdays (Monday-Thursday) to five 8-hour days (Monday-Friday). The motion was put forward by commissioner Terry Young. Larry Brady voted against it, leaving president Tracey Shorter to cast the tie-breaking vote.

Brady later explained there has been some general feeling that the highway department should be staffed five-days-a-week. But he added there is some merit for the 10-hour work days, such as clearing snow after storms, or for summer road work when crews can set-up and tear-down for 10 hours, instead of 8, allowing more work to be accomplished in a day's time. He also noted that some thought, perhaps, should be given to staggered work weeks for road crews, such as Mondays-Thursdays and Tuesdays-Fridays.