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MARQUETTE -- Since it's rescinding in February of 2010, former Marquette County Commission chair, Gerry Corkin, has called the Retire/Rehire policy [which allowed county employees to retire and collect full pension, and then, they could be rehired] a "dead issue," but that doesn't appear to be the consensus of the new board.

Apparently one retired employee was recently rehired by the county part-time, unbeknownst to the commission.  And at Wednesday night's meeting, most of the new board seemed to agree, a new policy needs to be put in place, but what should that policy be?  Should retired employees be hired part-time by the county?  There seems to be a divide.

"I feel that we have to open these positions up to people that are unemployed or looking to stay in the area here versus paying somebody virtually two checks for doing the same job they've done for a number of years," said new Commissioner, Mike Quayle.

Others say employing the retired on a temporary basis would benefit the county.

"The biggest benefit would be you're bringing on an employee back to a position that has worked it, understands the position and is efficient at it...not going through the process of training," said Commissioner Paul Arsenault.

The debate has lingered on for years, but with fresh faces on the board, there are fresh ideas.

"I was somewhat surprised last night on the diversity of the vote," Arsenault said.  "I think healthy debate is good."

"I think that discussion is great, and I think people having differences of opinion is great.  That's what it's all about," Quayle said.

It appears as if there is going to be a lot of continuing debate between the commissioners over the next month.  The board plans to resolve the issue and put a new, more specific policy in place by the end of January.