Though Rosemary Anger of Hastings was selected as assessor for Martin Township, she later turned down the job offer and Joshua Simmons has been hired instead.

Anger accepted the Township Board’s offer for a $19,000 annual salary, but then several days later informed Martin that her current employer, the Barry County Equalization Department, issued her a substantial raise in pay to keep her on board. She said she just couldn’t turn down the county’s offer.

Simmons, assessor for Valley and Lee townships, was one of two other finalists township officials interviewed. He succeeds Sherry Burd, who has moved to the Upper Peninsula to take a new job.

Township officials said they have been impressed with the work of Burd, who has been assessor in Martin for the last 10 years.

PHOTO: Rosemary Anger