change with the current real ….

change with the current real property lister becoming the new department head. The department would continue to report to the land information committee.

Lewis said they are projecting at least a $50,000 savings due to the elimination of Meyer’s position and reducing the staff of the two offices from four people to three. However, it was noted there would be the need to hire outside contractors to do some of the surveying maintenance work. In addition, with the changes and shifting of job duties, the existing positions are being reevaluated to see what their new spots in the pay scale should be.

Board member Rod Adams objected to the change because the resolution brought forward to the board did not include any assurance that the real property lister staff would be available to help assist the treasurer’s office during tax time as they have done in the past.

Human resources director Nicole Hager said that was included in the job descriptions for the department staff.

According to Lewis, the $50,000 in savings is the lowest case scenario and he said he hoped it would be more.

Bub questioned the change saying it was creating a new department head at a time when the county was looking to reduce positions. Lewis emphasized that it does not create any additional department heads simply replacing one for another. “We did not add at the administrative level,” he said.

Lewis went on to note that this was an employee-driven idea on ways to be more efficient and save the county money going forward. “This is one of the things we are asking employees to do,” he said, praising them for coming forward with the idea.

On a roll call vote, the new department was approved 13-4 with Mildbrand, Adams, Swiantek and Bub opposed.

In other business board members:

  Approved the grant requests from the power line impact fee: $6,000 toward the creation of two sand volleyball courts in the Gilman Park; $6,000 to complete the ceiling and purchase picnic tables for the outdoor pavilion at the Rib Lake Public Library, $15,000 to the Gilman Development Foundation to build a new park and farmer’s market space in the village; $15,000 for upgrades to the Sackett Lake County park.

  Approved on a 16-1 vote with Bub opposed, a resolution to enter into the settlement agreement with major pharmacy retailers to get a share of an opioid class action settlement that was reached. Bub went on record in opposing the action noting that he felt the pharmacies did nothing wrong in filling opioid prescriptions and that the target should be those who over-prescribed them. He said the retailers would end up passing the expense onto consumers through higher costs. Knight countered that if Taylor County did not vote to get their share of the settlement money somebody else would get it.

  Approved on a 16-1 vote with Lewis opposed, purchasing a new voting system for the county board at a one time cost of $1,400. The system includes hand-held devices which have buttons that can be programed for yes, no or abstain or can be designated to be for specific individuals for board elections. Board members will click on the button for their vote and after the voting period is closed the vote tallies and how each voted would be displayed on a screen in the board room. The devices will allow for more streamlined voting rather than calling out each board member individually. Because all board members would vote at the same time, it would also prevent people from being able to decide how to vote based on how others on the board voted. Money for the purchase will come from the county board budget line item.

  Approved an amended revision to the county employee handbook which is intended to streamline the recruitment process. Under the change, department heads in consultation with their oversight committee chairs may post for established positions immediately when they become vacant with the condition that the department’s oversight committee vote on it before the position is hired. Currently there is a delay in posting positions while department heads wait for the committees to meet to approve routine hiring for vacancies. Soper had opposed the draft of the handbook change that had been prepared by Hager.

  Approved an ordinance change streamlining the hiring process for sheriff’s deputies to reflect the actual process currently being used in the county.

  Approved on a 16-1 vote with Thums opposed a species and habitats conservation agreement regarding three endangered or soon to be listed bat species. Under the agreement, which was developed by department of natural resources personnel and bat experts from Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, the county agrees to follow some basic habitat preservation steps such as creating buffers around winter nesting sites. In return the county would get an incidental take permit which would protect them from federal enforcement if the bats were inadvertently disturbed or killed.

  Approved a resolution recognizing Cheryl Ketelhut for more than 12 years of employment with Taylor County human services. Ketelhut retired in January.