Editorial: County employees - and residents - deserve better

• Nobles County

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We can’t help but wonder what the morale is like nowadays for Nobles County employees.

Months ago, Nobles-Rock Community Health Services (NRCHS) administrator Brad Meyer was told his job would be eliminated at the end of 2011. Meyer has since resigned his position; his last day with the agency will be Wednesday.

Then, despite the impassioned (and well-reasoned, we might add) support from three community fire chiefs before Nobles County commissioners earlier this month, emergency management director Dan Anderson’s position remains slated to be cut from full-time to three-fifths time. (This despite a commissioner’s baffling statement that even though their wishes weren’t granted, their request was heard.)

The latest disconcerting development came Wednesday, when a contract with the Minnesota Department of Health relating to food, beverage and lodging inspections was terminated. This is a result of Rock County’s decision to split from Nobles County, which plans to establish its own combined health and human services agency.

Since Nobles and Rock counties currently share full-time sanitarian Jason Kloss through NRCHS, the contract’s termination requires Nobles County to reapply for a delegation agreement — one that may only be granted through a change in state statute, as well as require the employment of a second full-time sanitarian.

Messy? We think so, too. County employees — and residents — deserve a little better.

Tags: nobles county, opinion, editorials