COUNTY COMMITTEE DISCUSSES POSSIBLE ADMINISTRATOR
Monday, March 14th, 2011 -- 1:57 PM
The Clark County Executive Committee met Monday morning to discuss the possibility of hiring a county administrator.They discussed the same topic in December.
No action was taken, but County Board Chairman Wayne Hendrickson said the next step would be to request an administrator from another county visit the committee to discuss the pros and cons.
Hendricskon said it might cost the county around $150,000, noting the county administrator in Barron County makes $82,000, plus benefits and has a full time secretary.
Hatfield area supervisor Charles Harwick noted such a hiring would allow the county save money.
"It's not an increase of that much, Wayne (Hendrickson), because it eliminates your position as administrative coordinator, which cuts out $25,000 in expenses," Harwick claimed.
Hendrickson said he earns only $6,000 to serve as administrative coordinator, but Harwick noted Hendrickson?s total cost to the county in 2010, including per diems, mileage and retirement, was over $32,000.
"I don't care what you say is on your W-2. You have to look at the total amount of money that Clark County pays you," Harwick said.
But Hendrickson said it wouldn't save the county $30,000, because there would still be a county board chairman.
"That's right, but the average county board chairman I talk to makes between $4,500 and $7,00 per year," Harwick said.
A county administrator would prepare the budget, eliminating the need for at least 8 finance committee meetings, and Harwick has said in the past a full-time administrator may find more cost savings and revenue.
Hendrickson seemed skeptical. "So you're getting close to $30,000, that's still an extra $120,000 you're going to add to (the budget)," he said.
In other news from the committee? they canceled this month?s county board of supervisors meeting because they didn?t have enough on the agenda to justify it. They will hold a meeting in April.
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