Commitee agrees on executive pay range

The North Central Health Care Executive Committee voted on Thursday to approve a plan to hire a new director by September at a salary range between $177,000 and $197,000.

The plan, recommended by interim director Mort McBain, starts with posting the top NCHC job between May 31 and July 8, a five and one half week period of time. McBain and other NCHC staff will select finalists for the Executive Committee to consider starting Aug. 1. Once the committee selects a new director, he or she should be able to take the reins of the large, three-county agency sometime in September. This is when McBain’s contract with NCHC lapses.

Committee members said the director recruitment plan made sense.

“I think it is a very good plan,” said Lance Leonhard, Marathon County administrator.

McBain said applicants will be told that the wage range for the position is not fixed, but that, after a few years, the Executive Committee would consider wage hikes beyond the range.

He said NCHC will have a tough time competing for top talent for the job on salary alone. He said, however, that NCHC could offer a retirement package that is “better than the private sector.”