Waupaca County allocates $425,000 for pay premiums
By Robert Cloud
Waupaca County employees will receive supplemental payments for their efforts during the covid pandemic.
County supervisors voted Sept. 27 to allocate $425,000 from funds received under the American Rescue Plan Act to pay premiums to eligible staff.
All county employees who were working between March 15, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021, will receive a base payment of $525.
Employees who resigned or were terminated during that time will not be eligible for any payments.
Payments to new staff or those who retired will be prorated according to the time of their employment.
Some county staff will qualify for additional payments.
Employees who did not have any ability to telework will receive a second supplemental payment of $500.
A third supplemental payment of $500 will go to those who were required to have regular, direct contact with the public or the people they served.
Those whose responsibilities included cleaning and sanitation were also eligible for a second supplemental payment.
Among those who qualify for the second supplemental payment are sergeants and officers corrections and patrol, detective sergeants, process transfer facility staff, parks staff, information technology staff, vaccinators, custodial and maintenance staff.
The county board voted 24-1 in favor of the resolution to use ARPA funds for supplemental payments to county staff. Fred Zaug voted against the resolution.
Green lights for veterans
The Waupaca County Board voted unanimously in support of Operation Green Light for Veterans.
The county declares October through Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 2022, as a time to honor those who are transitioning from active service to civilian life.
Residents are encouraged to show their support by displaying a green light in a window of their business or home.
The resolution notes that 200,000 service members transition to civilian communities annually and that the first year of transition is a stressful period that results in a high risk of suicide.
The resolution will be sent to Gov. Tony Evers, the Wisconsin Counties Association, to each Wisconsin county and to Waupaca County’s elected state representatives.