You have seen plenty of “Help Wanted” signs around the area and Kewaunee County wants to take down theirs sooner rather than later. Kewaunee County Administrator Scott Feldt opened the discussion at the Kewaunee County Executive Committee meeting by pointing out that they are starting to see what other counties have seen for months: a dried-up labor pool that is leaving critical positions open in areas like the sheriff’s department, human services, and the highway department. Feldt asked the county’s finance committee to set aside $75,000 to perform a wage study, which would allow them to see how they compare to nearby and similar-sized counties as it relates to how well they pay their employees. Several members of the executive committee questioned the need to do the study, saying it would likely tell them something they already know. Prior to the discussion, they adjusted the pay scale used for their IT specialists to be more competitive with other employers. Committee members used that as a reason to approach other departments like that, though Feldt pointed out why a more complete look may be needed.

Since it was just a discussion item, the conversation ended with no formal vote taken. The committee ended the public portion of the meeting by going into closed session. You can watch the discussion below.