Department merger proposed at county level

As Shawano County continues to struggle with its revenues and expenses to provide required services, one of the options that could be considered is the merging of departments. In combining similar departments, staff and services could be shared, thus reducing some expenses. Shawano County Board Chairman Tom Kautza noted at the January executive committee meeting the merging of the land conservation and the planning and zoning departments could be worth considering. “I thought this was a really interesting idea and maybe a very good one; maybe not, but we can find out,” he said. “It used to be combined together.” Scott Frank, land conservationist and leader of the land conservation department, has been with the county since 1995. “The departments were separate when I came here, but in 1996-97, they were merged together,” Frank said. “They separated again in 2015-16 when a new administrative coordinator (Brent Miller) was hired.” Kautza said one of the concerns at the time of the 2015-16 separation was that the county still had two committees to oversee the department — the land conservation committee and the planning, development and zoning committee. Kautza said if the two departments would merge, it would be best to have one committee and one director for the office. The planning and development office is overseen by Kimberly Gierach, zoning administrator. “Some of the individuals that are in land conservation do have some of the certifications required for, like, soils,” Kautza said. “One of the things they’re going to have to address is when Andy Popp leaves. There is no one there who has the license to do anything.” Popp is the sanitarian with the planning and development department. A sanitarian investigates health and safety within an environment. They are public health specialists who identify risks and enforce environmental regulations, health and safety. Kautza said he personally has the necessary licenses, but he could not do the work as long as he serves on the county board. Frank said he didn’t have any comment on the potential merger. kpasson@newmedia-wi.com