Yahoo Autos Despite some opposition, Winnebago County Board approves new department of administration
OSHKOSH – Winnebago County is adding a new layer to its government — a department of administration — as part of a plan approved last week by the county board.
The four-person department will be comprised of a new director of administration and three other positions — a purchasing manager, risk manager and an administrative associate.
The new department, proposed by County Executive Jon Doemel in late May and approved with a two-thirds majority by the County Board during its June 21 meeting, will oversee the finance, information services and human resources departments.
Three corresponding jobs from other departments will be moved into the new department, which goes into effect Friday. One new position will be created.
In total, $91,208 will be moved from other budgets to fund the new department, with $36,925 coming from the general fund budget and $54,283 transferred from other departments' budgets.
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Speaking to the board during the meeting, Doemel said adding the department would be important to change a current structure that he called "not efficient."
He said having 18 direct reports — all the department heads in the county — is an enormous task for one person to manage. As a result, it can create silos and inefficiencies that can make it harder for the county to function.
"I'm not asking for you to create a position to do my job," Doemel said. "I'm asking you make a decision that would help coordinate our efforts better."
Although board member Karen Powers said she would support the plan because she understands the need for the position, she expressed concern that the executive office has gotten "heavy" in terms of salary, while other departments have had to stay the same size.
Doemel said the county will have to make hard choices countywide — especially as the county will look to give its employees a 4% raise during the next budget — but having a director of administration will help ensure the county gets the most out of any budget cuts.
"We need the oversight on the top so we can make the right decisions and go into our budget with a scalpel, not a hatchet," Doemel said.
Board member Morris Cox said he couldn't vote for the plan, saying it was the wrong timing.
"We don't have money for this," Cox said.
In his memo proposing the new department, Doemel mentioned a study from the 1980s that argued the county should follow a more "private sector model" that has a CEO and other C-suite positions.
Doemel told the board most Wisconsin counties that have a county executive also have a director of administration, including Milwaukee, Dane, Fond du Lac, Brown, Washington, Waukesha and Kenosha counties.
Board member Jacob Floam told the Northwestern he was initially skeptical, but voted for the proposal after speaking with people in Fond du Lac County about the way its department of administration works.
Floam also expressed concern about accountability since the new department would have lots of power. But he noted the board will set pay for the new director and has final say on confirmation of the director, meaning the board can "keep its hands on the wheel."
Floam said he thinks the position will allow the county more help in creating a strategic plan. During the meeting, Doemel said the new director of administration will be an asset to creating a plan for the county, and Floam said he hoped it could help by adding someone who can understand the ins and outs of local government.
"(The new department) creates a position to help run the administrative side while the executive can look at the big picture," Floam said.
Contact Bremen Keasey at 920-570-5614 or bkeasey@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Keasinho.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Winnebago County creates new department of administration
