CANYON CITY — Grant County Clerk Laurie Cates was officially sworn into the position on Friday, March 1, at the Grant County Courthouse.

Grant County Clerk Brenda Percy, who has held the post since her first election win in 2010 after having served as deputy clerk since 1998, announced her plans to retire last fall, though the court approved a motion to allow Percy to stay on part-time to help Cates with elections this year.

Cates had previously served as the county’s human resources director. Grant County Judge Scott Myers said a search for a new human resources director to fill Cates’ former position has been put on hold as county officials face budgetary challenges in the coming year.

“We told the budget committee several years ago that, if we had the opportunity, we would review a position if it emptied by attrition and then we will review whether or not we fill that position,” Myers said.

Myers said he will take on human resources management responsibilities, while Cates will continue to manage payroll for the time being.

“He’ll be taking on any employee issues that need to be addressed,” Cates said. “He’ll be on hiring panels and help the department set those up. As far as (new) employee orientation, when they come on board, I may still have to help with that because that also involves payroll. … We’re going to have to navigate it as we go.”

The Grant County Court unanimously approved Cates’ appointment as county clerk at a special meeting held Nov. 13. Cates’ appointment will run until the end of this year.

An election will be held in November for voters to determine who will serve a four-year term as county clerk beginning in January of 2025, Percy said. Cates has filed to be a candidate for county clerk in that election and is so far running unopposed.

A primary election will be held on May 21, though candidates for clerk, treasurer and sheriff will only appear on the May ballot if there are three or more candidates for each spot, with the top two vote-earners moving on to the Nov. 5 general election.

“It’s such an important position and such an important department,” Cates said in an earlier interview. “I mean, being the keeper of the records, running the department and all those things that go into that department, it’s a very big deal for our county.”

The Grant County Clerk’s Office oversees elections, the recording of legal documents, marriage licenses, probate records, bookkeeping and passports, Percy said. The office is responsible for processing all Board of Property Tax Appeals petitions, commissioners’ journal documents, orders for Grant County, plats and real property transactions.

Percy’s salary was $71,172 a year. The salary will remain the same for Cates, officials said.