State Senator Luther Olsen presented a copy of the Year of John Muir resolution from the State Legislature to Howard Zellmer, President of the Marquette County Board of Supervisors. The Montello Historic Preservation Society’s Muir is Still Here exhibit is now open Fridays and Saturdays 10-4 through August. (Photo by Kathleen McGwin)
No need for furlough days for
Marquette County workers this year
By Kathleen McGwin
It looks like there will be no need for required furlough days for county workers this year, according to County Board Supervisor Shirley Floeter from the Town of Crystal Lake. Floeter, representing the Executive and Finance Committee of the Board, was the first to speak at last week’s County Board meeting.
“I, as well as the rest of the Executive Finance members want to be sure that everyone knows that there will not be any furlough days taken to make up the $500,000 short fall on the tax error,” she said.
She said that a $36,000 savings in liability insurance, the $50,000 sale of a donated property, the upcoming sale of a gravel pit that the county owns, and over $160,000 savings in debt payment because of paying off a note early, the $500,000 tax error can be covered without unpaid days off taken by county employees.
In a continuation from last month of department annual reports, Shari Rudolph, Clerk of Courts, expressed a tearful plea to the board to consider the work load of employees in her department. “When I get phone calls from people complaining about not getting a response to their questions quickly,” she said, “I tell them to call their county board supervisor.” Rudolph said that Clerks of Court from other counties express surprise at the small number of staff in her office compared with theirs.
Brent Miller, Administrative Coordinator, told the board that Marquette County has one of the lowest workers compensation mod scores of any in the state. The scores affect the cost of Workers Comp insurance and a low score means not only safe employees but also lower rates on insurance. He said that departments’ emphasis on safety and training is to be commended.
President of the Marquette County Youth Organization Association, Inc, Pat Wagner, gave a report on the upcoming July 8-11 County Fair. They are looking for volunteers to work at the fair. She said that Marv Moehling and the Fair Board have worked hard to make it a good facility, doing maintenance on buildings as needed. The Annual Report she distributed for 2009 showed receipts totaling $33,417 and disbursements totaling $34,509.
Sheriff Kim Gaffney introduced Deputy Sheriff Larry Witt and Lieutenant Les Crandall. Crandall and Witt subdued the armed suspect in the recent attempted robbery of Bentley Pharmacy in Montello. The suspect had a loaded 40 caliber pistol and resisted arrest, pummeling the officer in the face while brandishing the loaded gun. Response time to the scene was less than four minutes, reported Gaffney, and the officer gained control of the weapon despite the aggressive acts of the suspect.
Gary Bluhm, Building and Grounds Department Superintendent, reported that a $27,000 savings was seen in last year’s budget because of the upgrading of the HVAC systems in county buildings. The new system shuts down the air conditioning when the buildings are unoccupied.
Marquette County library directors were on hand to give their annual report. County libraries were open 10,530 hours in 2009 and saw a 6% increase in usage over the previous year. Library use has doubled since 2000, they reported.
County Highway Commissioner Brendon Rhinehart again urged townships to consider bids from the county highway department when doing their roadwork. The State of Wisconsin is requiring the bid process for work over $25,000 that meets prevailing wage rule. Springfield Township recently hired a private company to do roadwork. Rhineholt said that the county bid on that job was, he felt, competitive and asked townships to consider the county.
