The Shawano County Board of Supervisors took a stand against the residency rules included in Wisconsin Act 20, which went into effect in July, but it was far from being a sign of solidarity.
The board voted 18-8, with one abstention, Wednesday to object to the act, which was created in the state budget for 2013-15 and was signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker in June.
Supervisors William Switalla, Dennis Knaak, Steve Gueths, Thomas Kautza, Robert Krause, Mike McClelland, Sandy Steinke and Bonnie Olson opposed the resolution.
The new law precludes counties, school districts and municipalities from requiring, as a condition of employment, that any employee or perspective employee reside within any jurisdictional limit except for law enforcement.
Section 1270 of the act states, “The legislature finds that public employee residency requirements are a matter of statewide concern.”
The county’s resolution objects to that assertion, claiming the legislation violates a state statute referred to as Administrative Home Rule.
The act does allow local government units to require law enforcement, fire or emergency personnel to reside within 15 miles of the unit’s boundaries. The law does not require the individual to reside within 15 miles of a particular location (fire station, for example) but rather within 15 miles of the boundaries of the municipality.
McClelland said he did not think the act would make it difficult for the county to recruit or retain employees.
“We hired the emergency management coordinator from Brown County,” McClelland said. “I don’t oppose the act.”
Supervisor John Ainsworth voted for the resolution but questioned why the County Board was taking up the issue in September, two months after the law took effect.
“It’s harder to repeal a law than enact a law,” Ainsworth said. “Why did we wait so long?”
Supervisor Ken Capelle, who sits on the Public Safety Committee, said he first heard of the issue at a committee meeting two weeks ago.
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