Noren to retire in September; board considers replacement

BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners Wednesday tabled a proposal to move a sheriff’s department deputy into a part-time data processing position for a three-month period to prepare for the retirement of Brad Noren.

The proposal is to eventually replace Noren with Brandon Tauer, who is now a full-time deputy.

At a technology committee meeting on March 1, the committee recommended the move for three or four months, with the details to be worked out with the sheriff’s union and a job description to be drafted, if needed.

Noren plans to retire in September.

Noren told the committee there are 40 different types of software running in the courthouse.

Tauer has been assisting Noren with technology issues and said he is willing to take computer classes if the county board requires.

He said he wants to continue his work as a deputy for the time being and some concerns have been expressed about too much overtime being accumulated.

Noren informed committee members that although he will be retiring, he will be available to help out if Tauer needs assistance.

Board members on Wednesday, meeting earlier in the day as a committee of the whole, reviewed a list of job duties from Noren. He noted whoever takes over the job must pass an extensive background investigation, since access to confidential and financial information is involved.

In addition to computer knowledge, Noren said the applicant must be on duty all of the time and must be able to physically crawl and climb into ceilings to install wiring and make repairs.

The technology position and job duties will be discussed again at the county board’s next meeting on March 22.

In another technology committee matter, the county board will consider providing computers to all county board members. That would allow the agenda information and emails to be sent to them. That issue will be discussed further at a March 22 finance, budget and auditing committee meeting.

On another matter, county board chair George Peterson, of Watersmeet, said Gogebic County’s share of the Lac View Desert tribe’s 2 percent casino funds will be around $14,000 and will be used for the generator project at the sheriff’s department. The project has an overall cost of around $30,000.