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Cherry School Option On Hold

At its Feb. 24 meeting, the Door County Board of Supervisors postponed until March a decision to exercise its option to purchase the Cherry School property.

In January the board learned that the owner of the property, Door County Child Care Services, Inc., purchased the property from the county in 1985 for $35,000, with the stipulation that should it ever be sold, the county had first option to purchase for $38,000 and whatever improvements had been made. At last month’s meeting, the information presented was that no improvements had been made to the property, but Interim County Administrator Grant Thomas explained that a tract of land had apparently been purchased by Door County Child Care Services Inc., but he had been unable to reach anyone to confirm that. He suggested the board postpone discussion on the issue until March when he has a better idea of the option price.

In other matters:

• In preparation for the expansion of Family Care in Door County beginning Aug. 1, Door County Human Services Director Joe Krebsbach requested additional staff. Family Care, authorized in 1998 and finally approved by the Legislature’s Budget Committee for Door and six other northeastern Wisconsin counties last November, serves people with physical disabilities, intellectual/developmental disabilities and frail elders.

Krebsbach requested three additional positions and an increase in hours for two social worker case managers. The three new positions include two full-time social worker case managers and one full-time activities/transportation coordinator.

The transition also means the elimination of seven positions, Krebsbach said. That includes three developmental disabilities case manager positions, two long-term care case managers, and two contracted case managers. Interim Finance Director Mark Janiak included a fiscal impact statement with Krebsbach’s request that determined approval of the request would be “fiscally neutral” with the elimination of the seven positions. The board unanimously approved the request.

• The board approved a staffing resolution that allows “double celling” – or more than one inmate to a cell – in the county jail. Law Enforcement Committee Chair Charles Brann said the jail is not double celling at this time, but should it ever have the need, the resolution is required. He said it is just a formality and that no additional staffing is required.

• Sandi Soik of Lakeshore Community Action Program was appointed to fill the unexpired term of JoAnn Schley on the Door County Housing Authority. The term ends Dec. 2018.