Mercer discusses essential worker compensation

MERCER, Wis. — The Mercer Board of Supervisors discussed the federal stimulus bill, essential worker compensation and a bond for broadband services in the county on Thursday.

Chairman John Sendra said the town recently received $72,272 in funds from the federal government as part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. They will receive the same amount again in a second installment of the stimulus bill in June 2022 for a total of $144,545.

The town was also provided money from the state of Wisconsin to compensate essential workers who decided to work through the pandemic instead of accepting paid time off work, he said.

“What the state is allowing the towns to do with this money is to pay the premium to essential workers to thank them for continuing to work through this pandemic,” said attorney Fritz Shellgell, the board’s legal counsel.

The board members were presented with a spreadsheet for their approval detailing about $6,000 in premiums to be paid to essential workers who did not take time off during the pandemic. However, board members said that many essential workers including the fire department, ambulance crews and recycling workers were not listed on the sheet.

“I would like to stress that our emergency services are invaluable. Throughout COVID, they’ve been the ones going through it all. And think we need to show our appreciation for that as much as we possibly can,” town supervisor Eric Snow said.

Supervisors Opal Roberts and Vic Ouimette questioned whether they and the other board members deserved essential worker compensation for being board members, as they were included on the spreadsheet.

The board agreed to postpone a decision on essential workers compensation until a future meeting. Sendra said that he would include the fire department, ambulance crews and recycling workers on a new spreadsheet.

In the chair’s report, Sendra said they had a meeting on Tuesday night where a subsidiary of AT&T brought information on why the county should consider approving a bond for $5.6 million to $7 million for broadband services. He said there will be another hearing at 6 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the county courthouse that will be open to the public.

“I went to the broadband hearing and expressed some concerns,” Ouimette said. “My biggest concern is that we’re using county’s burrowing power to fund a private business. I understand it’s probably legal, but I’m also concerned that the business has enough assets that if they default and they can pay back their loan. County is still obligated to pay the people that purchased their bonds.”

Ouimette also provided an update on repairs on the aging Shay’s Dam. He said crews will lower the water level to prepare for work downstream starting on Sept. 5. Anyone on Cedar, Catherine and Fisher lakes should remove their boats and floating docks from the water in preparation for the drawdown.

Roberts said the Friends of Mercer Library have canceled their fall celebration, but the library will hold an open house instead on Sept. 18 from 2 to 5 p.m. “A lot of the workers just didn’t feel comfortable with Delta variant being so prevalent. With a hundred people sitting down for dinner, it would be rather crowded,” she said.

In other business, the board:

—Approved an amendment 4-1 to the Land Use ordinance for temporary structures eliminating the verbiage “non-yield” and changing the time limit from 90 days to 120 days. The motion was opposed by supervisor Mike Lambert.

—Approved a design review to add two new buildings for Lake Country Storage Solutions at 4326 N. U.S. 51.

—Approved a temporary liquor license for the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce for the Fall Color Classic Bike Tour on Sept. 11.

The next regular meeting will be held at the Haines Building on Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m.