County to maintain child support staffing levels

Members of Taylor County’s executive committee on Monday made short work of approving a request to fill a financial specialist position within the county’s child support department.

The department head asked for a 25-hour a week position with the person working five hours each day. The previous employee in the position worked a similar number of hours over three days a week. The position is in charge of administration and finances within the department freeing up the other staff to focus on ensuring people are paying and receiving child support.

Committee member Scott Mildbrand noted he has had former employees in the department express to him the belief that the office was over-staffed and wanted assurance that the position was needed.

County human resources director Nicole Hager recommended the county fill the position.

In other business, committee members discussed concerns about the amount owed to Taylor County from the now defunct ADRC of the Northwoods. The county had lent the agency $75,000 for operational costs while it was awaiting reimbursements from federal and state sources. With the closure of the ADRC of the Northwoods and the start of the ADRC of Taylor County, the county is due to get its money back. However, there is a strong chance the county will not see all of that money as there simply may not be enough left after all other expenses are paid.

County Clerk Andria Farrand said she has been working with the county’s attorney Ruthann Koch about what options are available and said it appears that the county may only get $66,000 of its money back.

Mildbrand suggested that the attorney should have a meeting with the executive committee about what options the county can pursue.

“It is disheartening to see how the state can abuse people like that,” Mildbrand said.