Walworth County Board OKs medical examiner agreement with Waukesha County

Jenny Sharp | October 15, 2014

ELKHORN — Walworth County Board members voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve an agreement with Waukesha County for Waukesha County to provide medical examiner services here.

Board members voted last spring to abolish the position of county coroner.

“The requirements are getting more and more sophisticated” with the position of coroner, board Chairwoman Nancy Russell said Wednesday. “We knew, regardless of what we did, it was going to cost more.”

John Griebel had served as Walworth County coroner for about 53 years before his death in December 2013. In March, Ronald Person was appointed to serve as coroner for the remainder of Griebel's term.

Under the agreement approved Tuesday, beginning Jan. 5, Waukesha County will provide medical examiner services for a base fee of about $362,000 for 2015 and 2016. After the second year of the agreement, the cost is to be adjusted to reflect the actual cost of services, according to county documents.

Waukesha County Medical Examiner Dr. Lynda Biedrzycki spoke at Tuesday's board meeting about her background and the Waukesha County facilities, Russell said.
“We can be confident that they've got all the things in place there (at the Waukesha County facilities),” Russell said.

Also at Tuesday's meeting, supervisors voted to support a full environmental impact statement and public input for the expansion of Enbridge Energy Line 61. Enbridge Energy looks to expand the flow of petroleum products in its pipeline in Rock County near the Walworth-Rock County border.

The resolution supporting further study of the pipeline proposal will be sent to the state Department of Natural Resources, the state Department of Transportation, the governor and all counties along the proposed pipeline path.