County Board Reluctantly Okays Union Agreements Because most of the members feared the the State of Wisconsin Binding Arbitration Law, the Marinette County Board approved the Courthouse, the Professional, and the Library Union contracts at the Tuesday, Aug 25 meeting. There were some parliamentary complications to untangle, however.
The discussion began with Bob Fraik’s motion to move consideration of a closed session listed on the agenda to come after the votes to approve the contracts resulted in rejection. He wanted the closed session to come before the discussions and vote on the three contracts. This motion failed on a 15-15 tie vote. It turned out that no closed session was needed, however, as all three contracts were approved by wide margins.
The board voted 22-8 approving Mike Behnke’s motion to reconsider the action taken at the July 28 board meeting to reject the AFSCME Courthouse Union contract. Voting nay were Chairman George Bousley, Connie Seefeldt, Russ Bauer, Fraik, Shirley Kaufman, Mike Cassidy, Carol Faucett, and Ted Sauve.
Ken Casper then discussed the reasons for approving the union agreements, and the percentage of salary increases included. He has consistently opposed the almost automatic pay increases voted in recent years, particularly since the national and worldwide recession has hit the economy, but he felt mediation-arbitration may not be favorable to Marinette County.
Chairman Bousley, reacting to some criticisms about the July vote that there was insufficient time allowed for discussion, then polled all the supervisors in sequence, starting with Bill Walker in the last row, right side. Walker said the county is between a rock and a hard place as state arbitration leaves no room to “split the difference” in proposals and often favors the union side. Sauve preferred staying with last month’s action. Behnke said more time was needed to study the issues. John Guarisco said the July vote was a “last minute” action. Al Greason referred to the Wisconsin Legislature’s “semi-wisdom” and Bob Fraik said there was lack of information last time so he voted “no.”
Mel Sharpe commented, “The farther we stay away from arbitration the better off we are.”
Casper then led the way with a motion to approved the courthouse union agreement, which passed 19-9 with Cheryl Wruk and Walker abstaining, George Bousley, Seefeldt, Bauer, Paul Gustafson, Kaufman, Sauve, Mike Cassidy and Fraik opposed.
The Professional Union contract then passed 21-9 with Chairman Bousley, Seefeldt, Bauer, Fraik, Gustafson, Kaufman, Cassidy, Sauve and Alice Baumgarten in opposition.
The library union agreement then went favorable 21-9, with the same nine persons opposed.
Routine matters included approval of Pat Ravet as 1st alternate to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, support for Broadband Service, which will be funded by federal stimulus money, monthly invoices, Identity Theft Prevention program, and contracts for the four educators in UW-Extension, at a cost of $106,436 to the county.
Renewal of the auditing contract with Schenck and Associates for three years, 2009 - $42,700, 2010 - $43,500, and 2011 - $44,400 brought some questions, however. Nick Lakari asked about the increases, and Seefeldt recalled she inquired at the Finance Committee meeting about bidding. It was recalled the last bidding was in 1999. Finance Director Pat Kass said, “We’re happy with their services and he checked similar sized counties and the prices we are paying are reasonable. Last time they held the cost with no change, but this time it is 2%,” he added.
The agreement was then approved on unanimous vote.
Bridge aids were approved. There is a longstanding 50-50 cost sharing program with the towns. Dunbar got $3577.79 for a bridge on Old A at Whiskey Creek, Grover got $2500 for one on Track Lane, Middle Inlet received $2500 for Elinor Drive and $14,000 for a Sweetheart City Lane span. Silver Cliff got $3250 for one on Benson Lake Road.
Also approved was purchase of a crawler dozer for the Highway Department at a cost of $104,670.
Auctioneering services from Wausau Sales for a planned auction of surplus equipment were approved. Two auction firms from Marinette County also offered bids, but the Wausau firm specialized in heavy equipment auctions and that was the deciding factor for the Highway Commission.
The board voted approval to add a Child Support Specialist position for the Child Support Department, paid for by federal stimulus funding. A position was lost because of a cutoff of state funding, and the job is critical to follow up on court ordered child support obligations. The Marinette County unit under the leadership of Administrator Corina Dionne has earned state recognition in doing a great job.
The meeting began with a comprehensive report from Marinette County Association for Business and Industry Executive Director Don Clewley concentrating on a new use planning grant report for the NewPage Paper Mill in Niagara.
He noted the facility covers 1300 acres overall, with 500 on the Wisconsin side of the Menominee River and 800 on the Michigan side. The complex of buildings has its own water, sewer and power installations. Multi-uses of the buildings are possible. He used a power point screen to illustrate the layout, with maps and diagrams.
One possibility is a tire shredding plant, that could furnish a large number of high paying jobs. Bio-mass operations also are a possibility.
Many studies are underway, Clewley said. There could be three or four separate companies located there.
He credited the county board with support of the revolving loan fund.
The meeting adjourned shortly after 11 AM.
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