Jefferson County commissioners meet today to discuss the possible hiring of a deputy treasurer to ensure the office continues to run during the extended absence of Treasurer Deena Goss.

Goss, who was recently the subject of a Department of Justice investigation into funds missing from an account administered by the county, has been out of the office on sick leave since Jan. 10, according to commission Chairman Mike Ahern.

“We expect her to be out until at least the first of February,” Ahern said. “She’s currently in her second week off, and we need to complete the tasks of the office.”

The commissioners are considering hiring Karen Vigil, a former Jefferson County tax collector, for the position.

The position may pay $21.83 an hour, according to county documents.

“We will discuss Karen taking over the duties of the treasurer for now,” Ahern said. “She is competent and capable, and considering the problems with the books we have had, we hope to keep her on for a while to assist the office.”

Last August, an inmate trust account administered by Goss was found to be missing a sum of $7,993 over the course of three years.

The Department of Justice found there was not enough evidence to charge Goss with a crime.

However, its final report stated: “It is highly suspicious that accounting problems arise exclusively when Goss handles cash.”

The final determination of the investigation was that the missing money could be due to accounting errors.

Ahern said the bookkeeping was so poor that the county may never account for the money.

Goss has not returned calls for comment.

The commissioners meet at 9 a.m. today at 66 SE D St., Madras.