Nate Alger is the new Grand Traverse County administrator. On Wednesday, the county board of commissioners unanimously approved Alger’s contract. Alger is expected to sign the contract with a starting salary of $124,000 and a start date of July 1.
Alger takes over a county that is dealing with instability as it tackles pension debt, suicides in the jail and employee dissatisfaction. Alger says stagnant pay and reduced benefits have caused some animosity with employees in the past, but he plans to work on that.
"I think you can go to the employees, and you can engage the employees," Alger says. "They want to feel appreciated, and they want to have input."
He says he is looking for creative ways to increase employee compensation moving forward.
Alger was born and raised in the area and is raising two kids here.
“I live in Kingsley, married to my high school sweetheart, and we’ve lived in Kingsley now for roughly 17 years," he says.
Alger has been second in command at the county sheriff’s office for 16 years. He has also served on the Kingsley village council.
