Department Of Agriculture Probe Postponed

• (Frankfort)  The Kentucky Personnel Board has postponed a decision on a request for another hiring probe in the Department of Agriculture, probably until sometime next year. Members of the board, which serves as a watchdog of sorts over the hiring and firing of state workers, made the decision Friday to table a request by an anonymous employee for a hiring investigation at the Department of Agriculture. Already the Personnel Board has a similar investigation under way into whether the Department of Agriculture illegally placed two political appointees into protected positions as assistant directors to avoid the chance of them being replaced when a new commissioner takes office next year. Such transfers, known as "burrowing," are illegal in Kentucky. Board members will consider the anonymous request after an administrative appeal is resolved.