Board names interim county coordinator

Trempealeau County supervisors formally selected an interim coordinator and set the membership on a committee charged with defining and hiring someone to be the county’s first-ever administrator.

As recommended by committees, Tim Robertson, the county’s information technology director, will serve as county coordinator until an administrator, a position with more authority and responsibility than a coordinator, is selected. Monday’s vote was unanimous and without discussion.

Named to the administrator hiring committee were supervisors Dawn Waldera, Stacey Klein, David Orsch, Emery Palmer and John Aasen. The selection of an interim coordinator became necessary when the current coordinator, corporation counsel Rick Niemeier, announced he was leaving the county.

Jerry Deetz, executive director of the Trempealeau County Health Care Center, told supervisors that the center and Trempealeau County are in talks for the county to use the facility for mental health placements. Deetz noted that Trempealeau is among just 10 counties of the state’s 32 that doesn’t have a center contract.

“Previous administrations have decided to not use us,” Deetz said.

In addition to recounting the history and services of the center, Deetz noted that the health care center on highway 121 between Whitehall and Independence has sharply lower rates than state hospitals. Winnebago, for instance, charges over $1,600 a day while the Trempealeau facility’s rates are about $350, including counties’ shares of a grant the center secures annually, Deetz said.

Center financial director Lori Glaunert told supervisors the center does not use any county property tax money and, in fact, may contribute several hundred thousand dollars to the county annually with interest on funds the center keeps in county accounts.

Dave Carlson, director of economic development and tourism, told the board that Trempealeau in 2022 had the second highest boost in tourism activity of any small county in the state. Tourism spending in 2022 increased just under 15 percent from 2021 to $40 million in direct spending for such things as lodging, food and retail sales.

Carlson said the indirect benefits topped $67 million and he calculated that tourism accounted for as much as $335,000 in sales tax revenue to the county, a figure he said could justify his 2023 marketing budget request of $20,000 compared to this year’s $14,000.

In other action, board members toured the under-construction justice center. An open house of the new facility is scheduled for December with the building being open for use Jan. 8.