Committee approves reclassification to create Deputy County Administrator for Public Works and authorizes immediate posting while deferring final approval

The Marathon County Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee approved reclassifying the Facilities and Capital Management director position to a Deputy County Administrator for Public Works and Capital Projects and authorized county administration to post and recruit for the job immediately while deferring final approval until the committee's next meeting.

Administrator Leonard said the reclassification is supported by a memo and two job descriptions in the meeting packet and framed the change as a way to align county capacity with long‑term capital planning needs. "I wrote a memo that's in there along with the job descriptions and supporting documents," Leonard said, noting the change would create a second deputy administrator role and better position the county for capital projects.

The committee debated the process and transparency. Some supervisors urged taking the matter to the full County Board for input; an amendment to both forward the reclassification to the board and allow posting failed on a voice vote. Another amendment — to allow posting immediately but defer formal committee approval until the next committee meeting — passed, and the committee then recorded approval of the reclassification as amended.

Supporters said the public‑works focus matches the county’s capital spending patterns and peer local government structures, and that the packet included updated position descriptions. Opponents and cautious members asked for clearer delineation of supervisory responsibilities and an organizational chart showing reporting relationships; Administrator Leonard said he had revised the County Administrator position description and that both deputy job descriptions are in the packet.

The committee instructed staff to post the public‑works deputy position promptly to begin recruiting and to return to the committee for formal approval of the reclassification at its next meeting.

The hiring timeline and whether the appointment requires County Board approval were discussed; corporation counsel advised the committee that the ordinance language and administrative memorandum support proceeding without prior County Board approval for this reclassification. The committee also asked for an updated position description for the other deputy role before it is filled.

The committee’s vote authorized posting and recruitment immediately and deferred final approval until the next committee meeting.