Letter: She’s surprised county board’s pondering coordinator

Talk about it

TO THE EDITOR:

I was a bit surprised that our county board would entertain the idea of not hiring another administrative coordinator.

I researched the legality of this through the UW-Extension office that provided “A plain language discussion of the different forms of county government in Wisconsin” basis. It’s a bit lengthy, but will give Pierce County citizens an idea of the type of county government we have and are required by statute and legislation to have. Read on (this is the first part).

“In Wisconsin, county government is generally considered the basis for local government. Article IV of the Wisconsin Constitution directs the state legislature to provide for “one or more systems of county government”; stipulates the powers of county boards; and provides for elected county officers. It provides for the legislature to confer “powers of local, legislative, and administrative character” for county boards, which are discussed in detail in the Wisconsin Statutes. It further provides for the constitutional elected officers at the county, including coroners, registers of deeds, district attorneys, county clerks, treasurers, surveyors, and sheriff.

“Again, the duties, powers, and limitations are described in the Wisconsin Statutes. Section 59.01 of the Wisconsin statutes establishes the county as a “body corporate.” Essentially, this gives the county government its authority to exist and operate as a governmental entity.

“The ways Wisconsin counties conduct the business of local government are stipulated in the Wisconsin Statutes. They are found primarily under Chapter 59; however, there are other requirements and mandates relevant to county government spread throughout the statutes.

“Wisconsin counties have a great deal of flexibility in the type of government they choose for their county and even a good deal of flexibility in how each form of county government is interpreted through the provisions of “Administrative Home Rule.”

To be continued…

Pamela Sans

Ellsworth

Tags: opinion, hiring, administrative, coordinator