June 4, 2026
By Tim Hundt
VIROQUA, Wis. — Vernon County supervisors moved this week to stabilize operations at the county landfill, naming an interim manager as Solid Waste Director Stacie Sanborn takes a health related leave of absence.
The decision, one of the more concrete actions taken during a lengthy General Government Committee meeting, centers on maintaining continuity at a critical time for the facility, which remains in the midst of a complex, multi-year expansion process.
Interim leader steps in
To keep operations running smoothly, the committee unanimously approved appointing veteran landfill manager and former Solid Waste Administrator Gail Frie as part time interim manager.
Frie was integral to the original siting of the landfill in the 1990s and served as Vernon County’s solid waste administrator until about 2008. He later went on to manage Monroe County’s landfill and returned to work part-time at the facility over the last couple of years. County officials said that experience, both locally and regionally, made him the logical choice to step into a leadership role during Sanborn’s absence.
“Our current solid waste director is out of the office on a leave of absence, so we do have to make sure that there is somebody at the landfill taking care of things and managing the staff,” HR Director and Interim Administrative Coordinator Trisha Lepke said. “We do have an individual that has stepped up and is willing to take on the responsibility of the manager during that interim period of time.”
Lepke said Sanborn will continue to receive her regular pay while using accrued leave and may still work a limited number of hours each month.
Balancing cost and necessity
The appointment comes with added cost.
Supervisors acknowledged the county will be paying both Sanborn and Frie during the leave period, raising budget concerns. Still, committee members agreed that having an on-site leader was essential.
Lepke recommended a 20 percent increase to Frie’s current hourly wage, bringing his pay to about thirty dollars and forty eight cents an hour. She noted the committee could have placed him higher on the director pay scale but said that would not reflect his part-time status or the narrower scope of his duties.
Ultimately, the committee approved the pay adjustment as part of the motion, while clarifying that Sanborn remains the official director of record during her leave.
Experience seen as critical
Supervisors emphasized that Frie’s institutional knowledge will be especially valuable right now.
The landfill’s expansion process has stretched across multiple years and involves detailed technical reviews, regulatory coordination and strict compliance requirements.
Frie’s background includes work on the original siting of the current landfill and decades of experience managing solid waste operations. Officials said that gives him a working familiarity with state Department of Natural Resources requirements, long-term capacity planning and the extensive documentation tied to expansion milestones.
They said that continuity reduces the risk of missed deadlines and helps ensure the county stays on track as future decisions approach.
Call for professionalism
The discussion also briefly touched on workplace tone.
Supervisor Schweiger criticized how Sanborn has been treated in recent public debates and urged colleagues to show greater respect moving forward.
“I spoke to a contractor on Monday, and he was utterly appalled at how Stacie has been treated, and I have to agree with him,” Schweiger said. “I hope going forward that she will be treated with more respect than she has been, and I hope Gail is also.”
Supervisor Goede added that Frie’s immediate operational need is straightforward.
“He just needs to have a title so he can communicate with the DNR officially,” Goede said. “He is not really particular about the money.”
Keeping the project on track
With the interim appointment in place, supervisors said the goal is to maintain stability during a period when the landfill’s future is still taking shape.
The expansion effort will require further decisions from the County Board on design, financing, environmental compliance and operational planning. Having an interim manager who already understands the site’s history and regulatory expectations, they said, helps keep that process moving forward without disruption.
Add comment