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Committee OKs reorganization to stand up Regional Forensic Science Center; hires, construction underway
Summary
The committee approved a resolution to restructure the county medical examiner office to operate a new Regional Forensic Science Center, including title changes, two forensic pathologist hires and a budget amendment the administration describes as cost-neutral.
The committee voted to approve a reorganization that will convert the county’s medical examiner office into a physician‑led Regional Forensic Science Center and forward the resolution to the full county board for final action.
Jess, the current medical examiner who will become director of operations under the new structure, gave a construction and staffing update. She said the project has recruited two forensic pathologists: the first will begin May 25 and the second on July 28. Construction remains on schedule for a June completion and an anticipated move-in this July.
Jess described the facility layout: a public entry and family grief room, a conference/observation area sized for up to 24 people, an intake and in-floor scale, three autopsy stations (two ergonomic, one wall mount) and an isolation autopsy suite that will also serve as a teaching studio. There is a tissue-donation suite for procurement organizations and a sally port designed for mass-fatality response.
Under the reorganization, the forensic pathologist serving as the chief medical examiner will assume clinical leadership and focus on death investigations, while the director of operations will manage budget, staffing and facility operations. Job titles for existing deputy medical examiners will change to death investigators; new positions requested in the budget amendment include a second forensic pathologist and an autopsy supervisor (lead autopsy technician). Two contingency positions — a casual autopsy technician and mortuary assistants (livery drivers) — are included in the request to support operations if the office ramps up faster than anticipated. The mortuary assistant work would also generate additional revenue if used.
Administrator Leonard said the budget amendment is intended to be cost neutral to the county levy; revenues from performing autopsies for other counties and fees are expected to cover operating costs. Leonard also noted the county is seeking the same statutory amendment Brown County previously obtained to permit a death‑record signing fee under chapter 59, which would require state action before the county could add that fee.
Supervisor Hart moved to approve the resolution and forward it to the county board; Supervisor Marshall seconded. The committee voted unanimously in favor.
Committee members asked about grant support referenced in the packet (an energy innovation grant was mentioned in the presentation context; Jess also referenced grant funding for operations). Jess said two grants cited in the memo (a Fort grant and a DHS violent death reporting grant) were currently in place and that, if grants were reduced or lost, the office would aim to remain revenue neutral but could face a more challenging ramp-up period.
Committee members complimented project progress and expressed support for the staffing plan and the physician‑led approach.
