By Sara StrongA public hearing on the Rock County Recorder position will gauge support or opposition on changing the position from elected to appointed.The hearing is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at the Commissioner’s regular meeting Tuesday, July 22, in the Rock County Human Services Community Room. The hearing was set Tuesday after the Rock County Board of Commissioners voted to accept the ordinance that changes the position.The current recorder, Jere Ohme, said he supports the change because the nature of the job has changed to be fine-detailed data work that requires computer knowledge more than ever.He said previously that being elected serves no real purpose to the voting public: "This office is governed by state statute. We make no political decisions whatsoever."Bike pathThe path from Blue Mound Avenue to the state park will see paving by the start of next week.The total cost of the project was $500,000 in federal, state and local funds.The project was completed from 2001 to this year in increments.From the start of the path by Casey’s on the corner of Blue Mound Avenue and Main Street to the end of the path by the state park reservoir is about 6 miles.The path has already seen some foot and bike traffic and the board anticipates it being a popular part of local recreation.Commissioner Ken Hoime said, "It’s beautiful. It’ll get used a lot."Rural addressesThe Board of Commissioners reminds rural residents to not use any new addresses until they receive formal notification from the county. The county still has to complete final mapping and get Post Office approval.Social worker hireThe county granted permission for Rock County Human Services to hire a vacated child protection worker position. Nancy Lange, supervisor, said, "If we don’t fill this, I really believe we won’t be able to do the work, and we’ll probably have more out-of-home placements."Out-of-home placements have been expensive for the county in the past, including all costs of children taken out of their homes for their protection or the family’s well being.Out-of-home placements can come in the form of shelter care, family foster care, residential foster care or correctional care and can be very short or long-term placements.Lange said a social worker can help reduce the costs by counseling and educating in the home before things reach a breaking point.The cost of an additional social worker is about $29,268 plus benefits. There are some state and federal reimbursements that come from position.
