Oconto County Board declares state of emergency

Resolution allows special powers through July 17
By: 
NEW Media Staff

OCONTO — The Oconto County Board voted unanimously Thursday to ratify a state of emergency resolution in the wake of what the World Health Organization has described as a pandemic from the novel strain of coronavirus dubbed COVID-19.

County Board Chairman Paul Bednarek had signed the declaration two days earlier on March 17, proclaiming a state of emergency through July 17 enabling the county “to employ and expend all available resources to protect the health, safety and welfare of persons and property in Oconto County.”

The vote was 24-0 to ratify Bednarek’s action, with seven supervisors not in attendance, in a meeting that was moved from the board chambers at the Oconto County Courthouse to the more spacious conference room at the adjacent Law Enforcement Center.

The board also passed a variety of more routine business items, including the election of Brandon Hytinen as the county’s new highway commissioner. Hytinen has been assistant highway commissioner under Pat Scanlan, who last month announced his retirement from the position effective April 3.

Salaries were set for the next four-year terms of the county clerk, register of deeds and treasurer, who will be elected in the November election.

The resolution – approved 23-1 with Supervisor Gary Frank dissenting – provides a 6.8% increase over the incumbents’ current salaries to $62,010 in 2021, followed by 2% annual raises for the next three years to $70,296.01 in 2024.

The board did postpone action on resolutions related to the closeout of the county Revolving Loan Fund and applications for two related Community Development Block Grant projects.