At the November 5 meeting of the county board, Lindsi Engle, human resources officer, asked the board to consider the hire of an additional Public Health RN/LPN to the roster for the 65-plus team.
The cost of the additional hire was in the 2025 Public Health budget. Engle said the team is consistently busy. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery explained that they are getting more clients in the 65-plus age group (baby boomers). Revenues coming in will cover most of the cost of the additional position.
The hire was approved as requested. Approval was granted to offer the position to a candidate from a previous interview list or to advertise for the position if the offer is not accepted by the candidate.
The Benefits Committee 2025 benefit recommendations were approved as presented. There was a 7.5% increase in health insurance costs. The county pays 85% or more of its employees’ health insurance costs.
Other Business in Brief
- Lauren Hanson, court administrator, provided information about court appointed attorneys. The county is billed for court appointed attorneys in juvenile, family, and probate cases. Commissioners asked for more information about court appointed attorneys, as the amount budgeted for court appointed attorneys has been going up year to year and has often not been enough to cover the bills. Commissioner Mitch Lentz said the bills have gone up dramatically.
Hanson reported that since 2006 the pay rate for court appointed attorneys was $100 per hour. In 2023 the rate was increased to $150 per hour, because they were losing attorneys. The Chief Judge established the increased rate.
Hillery said the county has budgeted $50,000 for costs associated with court appointed attorneys for 2025; she admitted this amount may not be enough. Hanson said there is no way to predict these costs. Courts do use Zoom for many cases to reduce mileage costs.
Hanson noted if an individual receives public assistance benefits from social services his/her application for a court appointed attorney is approved. If a public defender is appointed for a case, the individual is required to pay $75 to the court.
- The CEDA contract for 2025 at an annual cost of $48,766 was approved. This represents a 3% increase over 2024. The contract provides for an EDA director for 16 hours per week.
- The final payment to Minnowa Construction, Inc. in the amount of $14,428.95 for a bridge replacement in Rushford Village was approved. The total value of work for the project is $288,578.97.
- Paybook #18 for the Jail project in the total amount of $335,862.88 was approved.
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