County Board hires new Assistant County Attorney

by Ruby White
A new Assistant County Attorney was hired by the Wabasha County Board of Commissioners at a very brief meeting on November 25.
Hiring a new Assistant County Attorney and a Disaster Recovery Plan proposed by Emergency Management Services were the only Action Items on the Agenda.
Commissioner Deb Roschen was absent. County Attorney Michael Plante and County Attorney-elect Karrie Kelly were present. The remainder of the Agenda was short and routine in nature.
Kelly brought forward a resolution to hire Jacob J. Barnes as Assistant County Attorney. Kelly was elected to the position of County Attorney, creating a need for an Assistant County Attorney. She discussed his professional background and noted some of his qualifications. Recently he has been in private practice, but before that he served as law clerk to Judge Terrence Walters.
He brings with him his knowledge of the county court administration and the specified programs that they use. He has also had personal experience with the Guardian ad Litum program, which is in use in this county. Kelly sat in on his interviews for the position and has worked with him in the past. She noted, particularly, his experience in dealing with hostile people in the court system.
Board Chair Don Springer moved to hire Jacob Barnes as Assistant County Attorney. Mike Wobbe seconded and it passed unanimously. Barnes was hired at Step 1, $60,810.05. His starting date of employment is January 5, 2015.
Disaster Recovery Plan
Emergency Management Ser-ices Director Brenda Wodele discussed the County Continuity of Government Plan (Disaster Recovery Plan) that had been requested by the State Auditor’s office since 1996. They feel that the County needs to have a plan in place to aid in the continuation of county business in case one or more of the county buildings are damaged to the extent that they are temporarily or permanently uninhabitable due to some kind of catastrophe.
The County created a committee, which developed the plan.
As he moved for approval, Wobbe said, “I hope we don’t have to use it.” Hall seconded and it passed unanimously.
Administrator’s Report
In the Administrator’s Report, Plante said that an insurance payment had been received for the Veterans Service van. He said that at the upcoming December 16 meeting they would be acting on salaries for the elected officials. There was some question as to whether the officials should attend the meeting. Springer felt they should attend so they know how the board makes decisions. He suggested that they come to the December 2 Board meeting when the salaries will be discussed by the board.
Plante said that he had received requests from four employees, who feel that their pay grid is not accurate, for re-classification There is a process in place for dealing with these requests, he said, but it is a time-consuming process. The majority of the requests have been from employees that belong to a union. If a re-classification is in order, it would impact every employee in that classification. If there are a number of employees in that classification, it would have a definite impact on the County, he said.
The Board also approved the Consent Agenda, which consisted of claims, meal vouchers, per diems, SSIS claims, and November 19 meeting minutes. Wobbe had questions about three warrants. Following an explanation, he moved for approval. Hall seconded and it passed unanimously.
Springer noted these donations and expressed his thanks to the donors for these gifts: $2,000 from the Wabasha Area Community Resource Center to the Youth Link Mentorship Program; $100 from American Legion Auxiliary 546 in Kellogg and $400 from the Piece Makers Quilters in Plainview/Elgin to the Veterans Service Office for transportation to the VA Medical Center. They were approved with the Consent Agenda.
Commissioner Reports
During Commissioner Reports, Wobbe had a DAC meeting at which they discussed the new health insurance plan. It went up in cost, he said. Director Steve Kohls has prepared a list of system changes and rules to be followed. They continue to work on billing issues. He said seven DAC members attended the State Special Olympics event in bowling.
Wobbe also had a Three Rivers Community Action meeting in Zumbrota at which health insurance issues were dealt with. He said they need an updated plan for administrator succession, should it ever be needed. Wobbe added that Three Rivers has had 2,200 applications for heating assistance, more than ever before.
Hall attended a Hiawatha Valley Conservation & Development Council meeting. The group consists of nine counties in this general area and they are one of three in the entire State. They have a minimal budget, he said, and have been helping other organizations. Now, they plan to start charging for their services.
Hall also had a Planning & Zoning meeting where they worked on revisions to the Zoning Ordinance. There are a lot of items that need to be discussed, he said. Zoning Administrator Kevin Krause will contact the County Attorney about the review process.
Dave Harms and Springer had no meetings this week.
There was no Unfinished Business, Public Forum or Staff Updates.
The next scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, December 2, but at 4 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. The Truth in Taxation meeting follows at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners Room.