In most public work places, at least those with sizeable work forces, files are kept with the results of annual personnel evaluations.

Don’t bother looking for such evaluations within Leelanau County government. They don’t exist, at least at an organized level.

County administrator Chet Janik was surprised to learn that, and has begun meeting with county department heads to start such a system.

Evaluations at their best guarantee contact between bosses and employees on a regular basis to go over expectations, accomplishments and failures. At their worst, they become a routine exercise along the road toward another year of seniority. They’ll never make up for a general lack of communication — but they might help spur positive changes within a work environment.

“If I was an employee, I’d want something in my file every year to show how I’m doing,” Mr. Janik told the County Board of Commissioners.

Said commissioner Richard Schmuckal: “I’m surprised that there isn’t anything on the books about evaluations. It seems like that is very important.”

We concur. The Enterprise a few years ago wrote about a lack of employee evaluations in county government. We’ll be glad to see them implemented, albeit some time later.