PowerPoint presentation accompanying my annual report to the Waushara County Board of Supervisors. The presentation detailed improvements made to Waushara County government over the previous three years, additional changes needed, and how the governing body can assist in that effort.

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Willamina
Economic
Development
Visioning
Robert J. Sivick
Willamina City Manager
County of Waushara
2020 Administration Report
Robert J. Sivick – County Administrator

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
Role of the
Administrator

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
On Tuesday, December 20, 2016 the
Waushara County Board of Supervisors
unanimously approved Resolution 32-12-16
creating the position of Waushara County
Administrator.
On Tuesday, March 21, 2017 the Waushara
County Board of Supervisors unanimously
voted to appoint Robert J. Sivick as the
inaugural Waushara County Administrator.

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE COUNTYADMINISTRATOR
Wisconsin Statutes §59.18
The county administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the county. The
county administrator shall take care that every county ordinance and state or federal law is
observed, enforced and administered within his or her county if the ordinance or law is
subject to enforcement by the county administrator or any other person supervised by the
county administrator. - §59.18(2)
Coordinate and direct all administrative and management functions of the county
government not otherwise vested by law in boards or commissions, or in other elected
officers. - §59.18(2)(a)
Appoint and supervise the heads of all departments of the county except those elected by the
people and except where the statutes provide that the appointment shall be made by elected
officers; but the county administrator shall also appoint and supervise all department
heads where the law provides that the appointment shall be made by a board or
commission, by the chairperson of the county board or by the county board. - §59.18(2)(b)
Any appointment by the county administrator under this paragraph requires the
confirmation of the county board unless the board, by ordinance, elects to waive
confirmation or unless the appointment is made under a civil service system competitive
examination procedure established under s.59.52(8) or ch. 63. - §59.18(2)(b)

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE COUNTYADMINISTRATOR (CONT.)
Wisconsin Statutes §59.18
Any department head appointed by a county administrator under this paragraph may be
removed at the pleasure of the county administrator unless the department head is
appointed under a civil service system competitive examination procedure established under
s.59.52(8) or ch. 63. - §59.18(2)(b)
Appoint the members of all boards and commissions where the statutes provide that such
appointment shall be made by the county board or by the chairperson of the county board.
All appointments to boards and commissions by the county administrator shall be subject to
the confirmation of the county board. - §59.18(2)(c)
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, the county administrator shall be
responsible for the submission of the annual budget to the board. - §59.18(5)
The board may remove the county administrator at any time that the county administrator’s
conduct of the county administration becomes unsatisfactory, and engage a successor. The
action of the board in removing the county administrator shall be final. - §59.18(7)

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
Role of the
Board of
Supervisors

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Wisconsin Statutes §§59.51 -59.58
The board of each county shall have the authority to exercise any organizational or
administrative power, subject only to the constitution and any enactment of the legislature
which grants the organizational or administrative power to a county executive or county
administrator or to a person supervised by a county executive or county administrator or
any enactment which is of statewide concern and which uniformly affects every county. -
§59.51(1)
The board may represent the county, have the management of the business and concerns of
the county in all cases where no other provision is made, apportion and levy taxes and
appropriate money to carry into effect any of the board’s powers and duties. - §59.51(2)
Construct, purchase, acquire, lease, develop, improve, extend, equip, operate and maintain
all county buildings, structures and facilities hereinafter in this subsection referred to as
“projects”, including without limitation because of enumeration swimming pools, stadiums,
golf courses, tennis courts, parks, playgrounds, bathing beaches, bathhouses, and other
recreational facilities, dams in county lands, garbage incinerators, courthouses, jails,
schools, hospitals and facilities for medical education use in conjunction with such
hospitals, homes for the aged or indigent, regional projects, sewage disposal plants and
systems, and including all property, real and personal, pertinent or necessary for such
purposes. - §59.52(6)(d)1

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
Our Journey
into the Future

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
Where We
Have Been

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
Previous Conditions:
Lack of clear line of authority.
Multiple people and groups issuing orders to employees.
Those orders were often conflicting with other orders received.
Employees working in a “bunker, survival” mentality.
Disregard for industry accepted, best practices.
Absence of critical thinking in making and carrying out decisions.
Absence of long term, strategic planning.
Many decisions were “penny wise but pound foolish”.

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
Where We Are

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
Present County Operational Conditions
Expectation of excellence rather than hope for mediocrity.
Expectation of Servant-Leader philosophy amongst senior County staff.
Collaborative but strong leadership and management style.
Open door policy for County Supervisors, elected officials, Department Directors,
community leaders, employees, and members of the public.
High visibility and participation in community charitable and civic activities.
Participation and leadership in governmental and professional organizations.
Establishment and maintenance of strong and cooperative relationships with Federal,
State, and local governments and officials.
Rehabilitation and reform of County and regional economic development efforts.
Engagement and rapid response to community groups and individuals.
Proactive rather than reactive philosophy towards problems and situations.

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
Present County Personnel Conditions
Increasing standards and expectations.
Insistence on managers directly managing and being responsible
for subordinate employees.
Freedom for managers to try new things, possible make mistakes,
but learn from the experience.
Engaging in critical thought and cost benefit analysis prior to
making decisions.
Frequent, direct, and unambiguous communication.
Hiring and promotion decisions made solely on objective
standards of talent and ability.
Creating an engaging and fulfilling workplace.

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
Where We Are
Going

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
Necessary Effort from the Board of Supervisors
Increased understanding for Wisconsin law governing the Administrator form of county
government.
Increased respect for the boundary between management (staff) and policy formulation
(Board).
Increased communication and feedback.
Commitment to pursuit of long term planning and problem solving.
Commitment to standards and expectations of excellence regarding County operations
and personnel.
Commitment to reform necessary to improve County operations.
Commitment to a proactive culture in addressing problems or potential problems.
The courage and self confidence to be competent enough to know when you are
incompetent.
Always placing the public’s interest above one’s own.

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Waushara County Effective and Efficient Government
It’s going to be
hard, but hard
does not mean
impossible.
Anonymous

17. LEGALQuestions or comments?
Bob Sivick
Willamina City Manager
Willamina City Hall
411 Northeast C Street
Willamina, Oregon 97396-2783
(503) 876-2242, Extension 103
sivickr@ci.willamina.or.us
Questions or Comments?
Bob Sivick
Waushara County Administrator
Waushara County Courthouse
209 South Saint Marie Street
Post Office Box 300
Wautoma, Wisconsin 54982-0300
(920) 787-0431
ROBERT.SIVICK@CO.WAUSHARA.WI.US