Jordan Beck | Daily Press Emily DeSalvo, Delta County’s incoming county administrator, starts moving into her new office recently. DeSalvo will officially begin working in her new position Monday.

ESCANABA — Delta County’s incoming county administrator, Emily DeSalvo, will officially begin working in her new position Monday. DeSalvo said she is looking forward to starting this new chapter in her career.

“I’m very excited — anxious to get started,” she said.

DeSalvo was chosen for the county administrator position early last month. She was one of two finalists for the position. The other finalist, Michael Silverman of Caro, Mich., was the Delta County Board of Commissioners’ first choice.

“I was definitely ready to support him,” DeSalvo said.

After Silverman declined a salary offer and withdrew his name, however, the board chose DeSalvo to serve as county administrator. DeSalvo thanked the board for putting its confidence in her.

An Escanaba native, DeSalvo has served as district court administrator/ magistrate/ probation director for Delta County since April 2013. She also worked as an adult probation officer in the county’s district court from August 2012 to April 2013. Before then, she worked as a supervisor of probation/special programs in Kendall County, Ill. from February 2009 to January 2012 and as an adult probation officer in DeKalb County, Ill., from May 2007 to February 2009. DeSalvo received a master of arts degree in sociology — criminology from Northern Illinois University in August 2011 and a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice/psychology from Northern Michigan University in May 2006.

DeSalvo said she does not have any concrete goals for the next 12 months.

“I really don’t have an agenda or expectations for the first year,” she said.

Instead, she plans to talk to board members and others working in the county, learn more about ongoing issues and act based on her findings. She also plans to work towards tying up any “loose ends” left by former county administrator Philip Strom.

When the board agreed to offer the county administrator position to DeSalvo, it voted to offer her a base salary of $90,000 and the same benefit package offered to Silverman. At the time, DeSalvo’s potential bonuses were set to be contingent on her continuing her education towards a master’s degree in public administration.

After further negotiation, DeSalvo’s base salary was increased to $92,000. This will increase by $3,000 after she reaches the three-month and six-month marks as county administrator.

“It was exactly what they had offered to Michael,” DeSalvo said.

The condition tying DeSalvo’s bonuses to continued education has also been removed, as she already has a master’s degree.

“It was determined that that wasn’t needed,” she said.

DeSalvo does plan to attend training sessions on topics such as budgets, finance, and human resources. Additionally, she intends to promote training to county department heads.

“Continuing education should be something that’s ongoing throughout your time of employment,” she said.

DeSalvo is looking forward to supporting the people of Delta County in her new role.

“I’m happy to be able to help them … and give back to the community in this position,” she said.