Iron County bites bullet on cutting budget

By PAMELA JANSSON

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Hurley - Members of the Iron County Board of Supervisors engaged in several votes on Aug. 27 to to reduce a still lingering budget deficit.

Some of the votes resulted as more controversial than others with some members voicing vehement disapproval.

One example was a vote to save $100,000 by no longer subsidizing the position of Kelly Klein, coordinator of the Iron County Economic Development Zone.

"Kelly did a hell of a job for this county for 22 years," said Larry Youngs, board chairman. "But we can save $100,000."

"We pay for his services," noted board member Kurt Wolff, who chairs the board's Finance Committee, which ironed out the details and recommendations leading to many of the final decisions.

But Wolff added, "He is not a county employee."

Youngs said that Chambers of Commerce in Mercer and Hurley can help with economic development support.

"He can get paid in other ways," said board member Roxanne Lutgen, who noted regarding the county's deficit, "The bottom line is we've got to solve a million dollar problem."

Paul Mullard and Scott Erickson voted against dropping the support for Klein.

The board also voted to eliminate one full-time equivalent position from the Human Services Department. Mullard voted no.

In addition, they voted to strike the county's coverage of a horticulture position within the Hurley Extension Office of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mullard voted no.

"I'm against reducing employees," said Mullard. "We got to raise taxes. It's got to be done."

"We can't go to the taxpayers until we show them we've cut everything we can, or they're gonna eat us alive," said Youngs.

The board also voted to eliminate overtime payments within the offices of the Register of Deeds and District Attorney. Wolff said those two offices have a combined budget of $22,000 for overtime.

The board also discussed whether to save what might amount to more than $100,000 by not paying for the half hour now allotted to employees as paid lunch time.

"This is incredible," said Erickson. "There's no way you're going to be able to police this."

Wolff, Lutgen and Lauer strongly advocated for tough budget decisions.

If not, said Wolff, board members are saying they're OK with passing a budget deficit that is still close to $1 million.

"We have to be able to bite the bullet," said Lauer. "We have to be stronger than this ... We don't really have a choice.

Other decisions were less painful.

For instance, all members voted to approve a health insurance plan for county employees that included no increase in cost.

But they also voted to increase the benefit share cost for employees. Mullard again voted against it.

Board members also:

- Under the umbrella of infrastructure improvements, approved the allocation of $20,000 in tribal funds for expenses relating to County Park Road improvements. The funds were received from the American Rescue Fund Act.

- Approved a resolution in relation to jailer protective status retirement.

- Approved a resolution for an inpatient behavioral health facility for northern Wisconsin.

- Approved a new pay structure for new employees: Department heads will decide the pay level. The board's Finance Committee then will clear that decision.

- Heard Youngs commend Lutgen and board member Karen Lauer for their continuing work in updating the employee handbook, for which input is still being gathered from department heads. "It was a task, and I commend both of you for doing it," said Youngs.

The board's Finance Committee had formed a sub-committee to address the issue, and Lutgen and Lauer remained the longstanding members of it.

Board members also heard presentations from Veterans Service Officer Erick Nasi and from Stacey Ofstad, director of emergency management for the county. They each provided reviews of their respective department responsibilities.

The board's next regular meeting will be on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. in the board room of the Iron County Courthouse.