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nderson KELL
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Special meeting on assessor sought By PENNY MULLINS EagleHerald news editor/digital director pmullins@eagleherald.com
MENOMINEE – A city committee is calling for a special meeting of the entire council next week to discuss how it will replace its contracted assessor, who submitted her resignation last week. It is likely the council will meet as a committee of the whole after its regularly scheduled council meeting Monday, since it was said holding a meeting earlier than 6 p.m. may make it difficult for everyone to attend.
City Attorney/Interim Manager Rob Jamo told members of the Judicial and Legislative/Personnel and Labor Committee Tuesday he wanted “direction” on what the city should do to replace Mari Negro, the part-time, contracted assessor hired 11 months ago to replace Jill Schwanz, the city’s former full-time assessor. Schwanz lost her job with the city in June 2015 after an extended medical leave and disputes over workplace safety. After Schwanz left and an interim assessor was hired, the
2015 tax roll was never signed and was seized by the Michigan Department of Treasury. Tuesday, several different ideas were tossed around by committee members as to how the city will approach replacing Negro, who just signed a new one-year contract with the city in July, but now said she is leaving the position by Oct. 31 for personal reasons. Committee Chairman Bill Plemel said he wanted the city to contact the Michigan Assessors Association “to put out a proposal seeing if we can hire someone from
them to straighten this mess out.” Mayor Jean Stegeman asked if the council would consider hiring someone from within the city. Plemel said, even if the city looked at an outside proposal, it would have to post internally. Jamo said it was a contracted position, and he wanted to hear from the council on the next step. “What about recommending that Peg Bastien take over the assessor’s duties?” Stegeman said. Plemel said he didn’t think she was qualified. Stegeman said she believed Bastien was qualified
Post-secondary day
to do the work, but when Plemel asked if Bastien would be hired in a contracted position, Stegeman added, “I think she would want to do it as a city employee.” Plemel said he wanted to see someone hired from outside the city, someone “neutral,” since “when Mari (Negro) was hired, she came in and said Jill was doing everything all wrong and Jill said she was doing it right.” Council member Josh Jones asked if Negro would be able to represent the city in upcoming
See ASSESSOR, A3
Better student housing sought
Future options explored
By TIM GREENWOOD EagleHerald staff writer tgreenwood@eagleherald.com
By CHELSEA EWALDT EagleHerald staff writer cewaldt@eagleherald.com
MARINETTE — The only viable option to expand and improve student housing at MENOMINEE — UW-Marinette would be a Menominee High School partnership between the students got a taste of county and a private entity, what college is like during it was concluded Tuesday post-secondary day Monday at a meeting of the counmorning. ty board’s Building and Sophomores, juniors and Property Committee. seniors met with 43 repre“In my opinion that’s the sentatives from four- and only viable option,” County two-year colleges, technical Administrator Shawn schools, military and ROTC Henessee said to the combranches, and even local mittee. “Because I don’t businesses. believe there’s any county “A lot of kids have to figure funds that are available, out why they’re here (at high even in a limited manner. school),” said Menominee “We have county land High School Principal John available, it’s sitting right out Mans. “Going to school and there (by the UW-Marinette getting a diploma used to be Field House). This would be enough; now they need to huge asset to Marinette, as know why they’re here.” well as the county, to have Representatives from additional students. It would Northern Michigan being more people in.” University, Michigan Tech, Henessee made his stateUniversity of Michigan, ments at the end of a presenCentral Michigan University tation by Keith Montgomery, and Michigan State are a few UW Colleges North Region of the many people that stuEagleHerald/Rick Gebhard Dean, and Kurt Willmann, dents had the opportunity to From left: Karley Plutchak, Kaycie Rachels, and Nelly Sanchez talk with a representative from Northern Michigan University about special assistant to the UW talk to. Colleges, who formerly was attending the college during post-secondary day Monday at Menominee High School. According to Angie UW-Marinette chief finanalso good for those who hav“We help students plan cial officer. Matykowski, high school coun- this year. Local businesses them in a vocation.” Matykowski said students en’t began thinking about their their future,” Matykowski selor, representatives spoke like Marinette Marine spoke “This is a follow-up to to students about programs about the various training at the sophomore level need futures, it pushes them to start.” said. “Almost everybody the presentation I made Other local schools in needs some kind of post-sec- to the board Sept. 13 conand majors that are available programs that are offered to to really consider plans when it comes to post graduation. the community were invited ondary education — wheth- cerning student housing at at the colleges; financial aid; high school graduates. “This year we brought in “This day helps them to start including St. Thomas Aquinas er it’s the military, through UW-Marinette,” Montgomery the cost of tuition; graduation rates; dorm information and businesses from the area that solidifying plans,” Matykowski Academy, Stephenson Area a four-year or two-year col- said. “Student housing is how they can help organize have training programs,” she said. “It also exposes the stu- Public Schools, Carney- lege, tech school or training critical to UW-Marinette. “What I’m looking for said. “Once the student grad- dents to the different kinds of Nadeau School District and through a local employer — campus visits. Post-secondary day offered uates, they can get hired by opportunities in our community Menominee Success (the vir- everyone needs something in today would be an expression of support from the something new to students the business, which will train that they don’t usually see. It’s tual school). this day and age.” committee for us to produce a more detailed report to present at your next meeting on concrete options for By PENNY MULLINS Lang said he discussed the legal- action by the committee. I’m Bousley informed commissioners EagleHerald news editor/digital director Sept. 6 he was leaving to take the ity of the board negotiating with looking for an expression pmullins@eagleherald.com position of administrator/controller Bousley and was told it was possible of support and interest in doing that. I want to make in nearby Dickinson County. “He’s (Brian Bousley) to have a closed session to discuss sure the committee is at MENOMINEE – Some members “I’ve done a lot of thinking about an offer, but perhaps not at the curleast interested in a fuller low paid for the job of the Menominee County Board of this, since this was presented to rent meeting. report at the next meeting.” Commissioners are unwilling to let the Personnel Committee. He’s he’s got.” County Board Chairman Charlie He said after the presentheir administrator go, and want to low paid for the job he’s got,” Lang Meintz said he didn’t believe the tation of a more detailed hold a special meeting to offer him said of the $72,000 a year Bousley Bernie Lang board could come up with an offer report to the committee, he incentive to stay. makes. Since Bousley acts as the Menominee County commissioner and hold a discussion Tuesday is hopeful it would possibly Commissioner Bernie Lang said county administrator, the parks and, as far as future negotiations, agree on a recommendation Tuesday that the county should see manager and the airport manager, he questioned whether Brian would to make to the full county to him to stay.” if Brian Bousley, who announced “we will have to spend more money board. even want to stay. He said replacing an administrahis resignation effective Sept. 23, to replace Brian. I’d like to take a He reiterated to the It was what Commissioner James would be willing to negotiate a new rough estimate of how much more it tor is a lengthy process he does not See BOUSLEY, A3 See HOUSING, A3 will take to replace Brian and offer it want to go through. contract.
Menominee County wants Bousley to stay
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D o o r C o u n t y October 12th, 2016
Door County on NLRC Tours is sponsoring a day bus trip to s at The Door County stop de inclu October 12, 2016. This trip will s in both Fish Creek Winery and surrounding shops as well as stop ring fresh White featu Boil Fish a is ded and Sister Bay. Also inclu ed butter, crisp melt with led Fish, potatoes, and pearl onions drizz County Door and rage beve your ds, brea e emad coleslaw, hom ert. dess for m Crea Ice e Cherry Pie with Homemad
uists Orchard, where Another feature of this trip is a stop at Seaq County offers Door that fruits the all of les samp you can enjoy ry items such as bake ious delic and s along with jams, jellies, juice for this cost The pumpkin doughnuts and fresh apple pie. on which includes pers per 00 $64. is trip beautiful autumn day transportation and a delicious Fish Boil.
Call Linda Campbell at 715-923-3151 with your reservation
as soon as possible!
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