Committee recommends converting sheriff's administrative coordinator to HR specialist, forwards change for review

The Marathon County Public Safety Committee on Jan. 14 recommended that the county proceed with abolishing a 1.0 full-time-equivalent administrative coordinator position and creating a 1.0 FTE human resources specialist position in the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office. The motion to forward the proposal for consideration by HR Finance & Property and the full county board was moved by Tim, seconded by Jason, and passed by voice vote.

County Administrator Leonard told the committee that Section 4.20 of the county ordinances requires any creation of a new position to be reviewed by administration and then by the standing committee of jurisdiction before reaching the full board. Leonard said the request is not a net change in FTEs but a reclassification of an existing administrative coordinator position into an HR specialist role to consolidate HR-related work within the sheriff’s office and align practices with central HR.

Leonard and presenters said the sheriff’s office is the county’s largest department, with just under 200 full‑time-equivalent staff, and that the office contains enough HR-related duties to justify a specialist embedded in the unit. They said the position is currently vacant and that the change is not expected to increase personnel costs; the new hire’s starting pay is anticipated to be below the prior incumbent’s wage. Leonard said Sheriff Billab and Chief Deputy Millhousen are available to answer additional substantive questions.

Committee members asked about financial impact; Leonard reiterated that no increased cost is anticipated because of the existing vacancy and pay considerations. The committee recorded a motion to recommend forwarding the request in accordance with the county’s established process; the motion passed by voice vote. The next step is review by the HR Finance & Property Committee and then consideration by the full county board.