County approves wage increase for seasonal workers

When enough snow eventually arrives to open the Perkinstown Winter Sports Area, part-time workers there will see a pay raise.

The county finance committee last week approved a 1% pay increase for the county’s part-time seasonal employees. According to county human resources director Marie Koerner, the increase matches the 1% raise that was given to all other county employees this year.

The winter sports area has remained closed so far this winter because there has not been enough snow on the hill to open the facility.

In other action, committee members approved a new contract with Maximus for the county’s indirect cost plan services covering the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. Finance director Larry Brandl explained this allows the county to recoup money on federal grants for financial and payroll related costs. He recommended renewing the contract, noting the county has worked with Maximus for as long as he has been with the county.

The contract includes an increase in fees from $37,500 per year to $40,000 per year. The rate had been the same for the past 10 years.

Committee member Scott Mildbrand questioned if the contract had been reviewed by the county’s attorney. “It was a tough read,” Mildbrand said of reviewing the contract himself.

“It is the standard contract we have had since I have been here,” Brandl said, adding that he had not had it reviewed by the attorney. “I never knew there was a need to do it,” he said.

During the review of the warrants and payroll, Mildbrand questioned the dues for the county to be part of the Wisconsin County Forest Association, noting it was higher than other association memberships for other departments.

Brandl explained that it is based on a rate of 6 cents per acre of land in the county forest in addition to a set membership fee. Also at the end of the meeting, Mildbrand raised the question about how he should be handling continued correspondence from a Chelsea Lake property owner regarding ownership of the dikes and berms at the lake. Committee chairman Chuck Zenner said it is all going through county attorney Ruth Ann Koch and that any items should be referred to her.