The Manitowoc County Personnel Committee is reassigning the coroner’s role to that of a medical examiner.
The committee voted 2-1 yesterday (June 3rd) to create a new medical examiner position and department.
The county executive would appoint the next person tasked with investigating deaths in the county, which would then be approved by the full Board of Supervisors.
Committee Chair Susie Maresh says the committee wants to address the issue proactively because the current Coroner, Curt Green, does not plan to run for another term.
While the committee approved the change, the department and position won’t officially be created until January 2027.
Board Member Rita Metzger was the one who voted no on the change because she was concerned about a rule that said the corner would take over for the county sheriff if something happened.
“I think a coroner has more knowledge, like with the state like with all the stuff that the state requires, the statutes and everything,” she stated. “I think more than what the county knows. And that’s what my concern is about.”
County Attorney Peter Conrad explained that it’s an old statute and that the chief deputy would take over. Metzger was also concerned about other countywide issues, such as what is happening with the Human Services Department.
County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer tells SeehaferNews.com that it’s beneficial for the county to be ahead of the issue, even with Green’s retirement.
“We checked with him first,” he explained. “If he was going to run for reelection, we would have deferred this to four years later. But, he wants to retire, and good for him, and this is the time to do it.”
Creating the new position and department will now be presented to the full county board for a vote at their June meeting.
