As Monroe County continues to discuss the idea of hiring a county administrator, La Crosse County Administrator Steve O’Malley explained the benefits of having an administrator to the board at its monthly meeting Tuesday at the County Board Meeting Room in the Monroe County Courthouse annex.

“I thought it went well,” O’Malley said of his presentation to the Monroe County Board. “I was able to give an overview of the benefits of having a county administrator. In my opinion, it would certainly be a good idea.”

O’Malley has served as the administrator for La Crosse County for five years, and was previously an administrator in Rice County, Minn. for six years, and Marinette County for another three. He said that he thinks a county administrator would be a positive addition to Monroe County government, and he believes discussions will continue to advance.

“I think debate will come later,” O’Malley said. “I think enough are on board with the idea. You really need some overall guidance and leadership. A board where everyone and no one is in charge doesn’t produce the best results. The benefit of hiring a professional administrator is having a single employee accountable for budgets and to guide the ship of county government.”

The Monroe County Administrative/Executive Committee voted 5-0 at its July 8 meeting to advance county administrator discussion to the full county board. Committee chair Pete Peterson contacted O’Malley about speaking to the board and said that he was pleased with Tuesday’s presentation.

“He explained how a good administrator operates,” Peterson said. “Some board members might think if we have a good administrator we will lose our ‘power.’ He explained to us how an administrator works for the supervisors.”

Peterson said discussion will now go back to the Administrative/Executive Committee, where he hopes discussion will eventually lead to bringing a proposal for hiring a county administrator to the county board, but he is not sure when in the future that could happen. He said that there is a possibility that administrators from other counties will be brought in for further discussion, and while he expects some opposition to the idea of a county administrator, Peterson is optimistic.

“I just hope that every time we take a step on this that it is a step forward,” Peterson said. “I think this was an excellent first step.”