Lincoln County will soon have a new Information Technology director.

On Wednesday, the county commissioners unanimously approved hiring Ernie Anderson to replace Ric Kesling, who is retiring at the end of the year after nearly 18 years with the county.

Kesling, who said he built the county’s computer system, strongly recommended the commissioners hire Anderson, his assistant who has worked with the county since March 2009.

Kesling said it would take six months to a year for a new IT director to learn the computer system completely, and that it wouldn’t be fair to ask Anderson, who already knows the system, to train the new IT director.

Kesling said he couldn’t begin to calculate the amount of free time that Anderson has given the county over the years.

“Ernie has the trust of all the departments,” Commissioner Greg Larson said. He added that Anderson is the most polite person he knows. “The sheriff’s office loves him,” Larson said.

Anderson, 57, was born in Ronan, graduated from Libby High School and previously worked as a supervisor at the Stimson lumber mill and as a detention officer in the Lincoln County jail.

After the meeting, the county’s human resources and payroll coordinator Dallas Wamsley said Anderson’s new salary will be $28.82 an hour. She noted that Kesling is currently making $27.43 an hour.

The commissioners also voted to begin advertising to fill Anderson’s current position of senior technology specialist. Wamsley said the new hire would be paid $18.03 an hour and $18.55 an hour after six months.

During discussion on the issue, Commissioner Mark Peck said that while he supports Anderson, he believed it was the county’s duty to open the position up to all potential candidates. He ultimately voted to hire him after Larson made a motion to that effect, which was seconded by Commissioner Mike Cole. Peck said he voted to hire Anderson because he personally supports him.

Caleb M. Soptelean can be reached at 293-4124 or by email at csoptelean@thewesternnews.com.