Two people who provide services through Oconto County’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Department will transition from contracted workers to county employees.
“Without the unions here now, we want to have the ability to hire people in these positions,” said Craig Johnson, director of HHS.
Contracted employees tend to leave the positions because they don’t have insurance, retirement and other benefits, he said.
The County Board on Thursday approved the employment of Dustin Coopman as its employment/training specialist, with a starting wage of $17.42 an hour. He has provided this service on a contracted basis for more than two years. Kim Reissteck was hired as fraud investigator, at $17.42 an hour. She has provided this service for Oconto County for the past nine years.
The difference in the cost for an employee versus contracted service is $4,974 for the employment/training specialist and $9,570 for the fraud investigator, according to information presented by the HHS Department. The department reported the extra cost will be recovered through state funds.
In addition, a third position will be created to coordinate the maintenance and safety at New View Industries, a facility that provides vocational training for the disabled. Compensation is estimated between $43,000 and $64,500. Funds will be diverted from a production supervisor position, which will remain vacant following a retirement.
Categories
