The possibility of Vilas County creating the position of county administrator was discussed by the county Human Services committee this week with more information needed on job descriptions, duties, and salary requirements.
County administrators are authorized by Chapter 59.18 and duties can be described by the county board. The closest county to Vilas that has a county administrator is Price County which created the position after the county board downsized from 21 to 13 supervisors.
“I'm personally in favor of a county administrator,” committee chairman Walt Maciag noted there are 37 counties that have one with another nine counties with an administrative coordinator. Human Resource manager Debra Bohn felt there was a need to have the county operate as a business and “having one individual to report to is an improvement” but committee member Steve Doyan didn't think “we could justify it unless we restructure the county board as Price County did.”
County administrators are the chief administrative officer of a county. They typically coordinate all administrative and management functions, appoint and supervise the heads of all departments except elected officials, and appoint members of all committees, commissions, and boards.
In some counties, the county administrator coordinates, prepares, and presents the annual budget to the county board. Committee member Art Kunde felt there are a number of supervisors that don't contribute much and the position should be looked at.
