Star Journal

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Local
    • News
    • Business
    • Schools
    • Law & Order
    • Arts & Ent
    • Wedding Planner
    • Viewpoint
    • Sports
      • Sports News
      • High School Sports Scores
  • Covid 19
  • Outdoors
  • Wellness
  • Classifieds
  • Obits
  • Lake View
  • Northwoods NOW
  • Living On The Lake
  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe

logo

Star Journal

  • Local
    • News
    • Business
    • Schools
    • Law & Order
    • Arts & Ent
    • Wedding Planner
    • Viewpoint
    • Sports
      • Sports News
      • High School Sports Scores
  • Covid 19
  • Outdoors
  • Wellness
  • Classifieds
  • Obits
  • Lake View
  • Northwoods NOW
  • Living On The Lake
Latest NewsNews
Home›Latest News›Oneida County Board approves hiring additional highway workers; County previously returned state funds because of staffing shortage

Oneida County Board approves hiring additional highway workers; County previously returned state funds because of staffing shortage

By Star Journal
May 17, 2016
497
0
Share:
The Oneida County Board has approved has approved a reorganizational plan for the highway department. Star Journal file photo

BY KEVIN BONESKE

REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER

The Oneida County Board doesn’t want the county returning state funds in the future because of a shortage of employees at the highway department.

Supervisors voted Tuesday in favor of a resolution authorizing the creation to two new full-time equipment operator positions, for which the majority of the costs associated with those positions would come from additional state funding.

County highway commissioner Freeman Bennett informed board members that though state funding the county receives for various maintenance projects has been increasing, the highway department presently doesn’t have enough workers to use all that funding.

“We simply don’t have the manpower to do it,” Bennett said.

He noted last year the county gave back $235,000 to the state Department of Transportation when the highway department didn’t have sufficient staff to use the additional state dollars.

The fiscal impact statement related to the two new “Grade Level G” equipment operator positions lists the annual wage and benefit costs totaling $121,666 at the “Step 1” level and increasing to $132,599 at Step 6.

When asked by Supervisor Bob Mott as to how much state revenue the county could generate with two additional employees whose annual wages and benefits total around $130,000, Bennett said he’d expect the county to be able to at least double that in state revenue.

Supervisor Scott Holewinski of Sugar Camp said the additional employees would also help boost morale in the highway department by having more people available to cover for those who would be on vacation.

Supervisors also approved the purchase of a new patrol truck for the highway department at a cost not to exceed $250,000. Freeman said the tandem-axle truck would be able to be used for both snow plowing and hauling asphalt. He also noted the county has 17 snow plow routes and plans to replace one truck per year.

FORESTLAND PURCHASE

A 40-acre parcel in the town of Lynne will become county forestland following board approval of purchasing the property for $63,000. County forest director John Bilogan said the privately-owned property that the county was able to purchase is surrounded by county forestland and has hardwood trees that he estimates would generate a minimum of $15,000 for the county in timber sales.

The resolution backed by the board calls for the county to purchase the land with money out of the general fund, though supervisors hope some of that cost could subsequently be covered by state grant money.

ASSISTANT FACILITIES DIRECTOR

Supervisors approved an increase in salary for the presently vacant assistant facilities director position to reflect the additional responsibilities for that job, which has expanded to include the building occupied by the Tri-County Human Service Center.

The “Grade Level K1” assistant facilities director position will now have an annual salary ranging from $47,065 at the “Step 1” level to $64,547 at Step 14. The action by the board increases the annual salary for that position by more than $3,000, according to the fiscal impact statement.

TagsFeatured
Previous Article

Blue Jays fly by Hodag baseball team, ...

Next Article

Board favors relocating state DNR’s Division of ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • BusinessNews

    Kiwanis makes children’s classrooms at ArtStart possible

    September 19, 2017
    By StarJournal
  • Uncategorized

    GIRLS TENNIS: RHS 2-1 at SPASH quad, then sweeps Phillips

    August 29, 2016
    By Star Journal
  • Sports

    LEGION BASEBALL: Rebels go 3-0 at Merrill Invite

    July 12, 2016
    By Star Journal
  • Outdoors

    Busy summer for RASTA volunteers

    August 17, 2016
    By StarJournal
  • Law & OrderLocal

    Bond set for detective charged with misconduct in office

    December 21, 2016
    By Star Journal
  • MultimediaPhoto GallerySports

    GIRLS SWIMMING: Hodags diving into new season

    August 9, 2017
    By Star Journal

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About Us


Star Journal is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • February 26, 2021

    RHS students awarded Herb Kohl Foundation scholarships

  • February 24, 2021

    Temporary FoodShare eligibility granted to some college, technical school students

  • February 24, 2021

    Oneida Co. hospital employee suspended, charged in connection with nude video of patient

  • February 23, 2021

    Wolf hunt to end Feb. 24

  • February 23, 2021

    Parade gains support from Rhinelander council

Find us on Facebook

  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe
Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×