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Marathon County approves reorganization to create physician-led medical examiner office
Summary
The Public Safety Committee approved a reorganization that renames and retitles current positions, adds an autopsy supervisor and a second forensic pathologist, and anticipates moving operations to a new regional forensic science facility this summer.
The Marathon County Public Safety Committee voted May 6 to approve a reorganization of the county Medical Examiner's Office that the county said is needed to move to a physician-led Regional Forensic Science Center.
County Administrator Lance Leonard said the reorganization is required by statute for the chief medical examiner to be the head of the office and that the county will treat most operations as an enterprise fund to avoid increasing the tax levy. "That person is gonna report directly to me based on state statute that they're the head of the office and I oversee all the department heads under chapter 59.18," Leonard said.
Jess, Medical Examiner's Office staff, told the committee the county has recruited two forensic pathologists who passed pre-employment testing; the chief medical examiner will start at the end of May and the second forensic pathologist will begin July 28. Jess said the county is also actively recruiting an autopsy supervisor, described as the lead autopsy technician who will assist pathologists and supervise morgue operations. "They both are incredible, nice, extremely smart, dedicated, excited to help build this project and facility with us," Jess said of the pathologists.
Jess described construction progress and features of the new facility, which she said remains on schedule and on budget: a public entrance and family grief room, a sally port and body intake area, two primary autopsy tables plus an isolation/teaching autopsy suite with camera feeds for students, and a tissue-donation suite. She said the building is expected to be completed in June with staff moving in during July.
Under the reorganization, many existing job titles will change while pay grades remain the same: the medical examiner position will be retitled director of operations; the chief deputy medical examiner will become investigation manager; deputies will become death investigators; the new forensic pathologist will serve as chief medical examiner and the second pathologist as deputy chief medical examiner. The committee packet shows a budget amendment moving existing funds to cover start-up operational costs; Jess said the department expects revenue generated from services to cover these expenses as case load grows.
Committee members asked about reporting lines and payroll transparency. Jess said salary ranges and the county pay plan are posted on the Marathon County website. Another committee member asked whether the chief medical examiner should report directly to the county administrator rather than the director of operations; Leonard responded that state statute requires the chief medical examiner be head of the office and that he will retain direct oversight.
The committee approved the reorganization by voice vote. The motion was made by Guy and seconded by Nick; the committee recorded the vote as "Aye" and the motion passed.
The committee packet and the offered budget amendment list the new positions and note an option to bring on additional casual staff later if operational demand requires it. Committee members and staff said the transition will begin with county cases and a small number of contracted coroner cases, expanding as the office gains experience.
