Board approves Tauer for new job effective May 1

By RALPH ANSAMI

[email protected]

Bessemer — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday agreed sheriff’s department deputy Brandon Tauer will become a full-time data processing manager-courthouse security officer effective May 1.

To replace Tauer, sheriff Peter Matonich was authorized by the board to fill Tauer’s deputy position.

Tauer is being trained for the computer technology job currently held by Brad Noren, who is retiring later this year.

Rather than keep Tauer as a deputy and pay him overtime in training with Noren for the processing manager’s job, the board decided it would be better off having Tauer in the new position earlier than was previously planned.

Tauer has been working as an animal control officer with the sheriff’s department.

The resolution — worked out at a committee meeting — passed 6-0, Wednesday, with Dan Siirila absent.

“He’ll be a great addition to the courthouse,” board chair George Peterson, of Watersmeet, said of Tauer.

In other business, the county board re-appointed four people to the Gogebic County Community Mental Health board of directors. George Beninghaus, Colleen Kichak, Dan Siirila and Valerie Swanberg were appointed for three-year terms that begin on April 1.

A fifth candidate who also applied wasn’t named in the CMH’s letter of recommendation to the county board.

In other business, the board:

—Learned from Emergency Management Director Jim Loeper that a $1,150 grant has been received for emergency planning. The county’s $288 match can come in an in-kind contribution, he said.

—Agreed to change the credit card limit for airport manager Mike Harma from $2,000 to $5,000.

—Agreed a county part-time employee will be defined as anyone working 950 hours per year or less.