Winnebago supervisors add $25 fee for medical examiner investigator 'declines'

Supervisors voted to add a $25 fee for certain Medical Examiner Investigator (MEI) actions classified as a 'decline' — cases handled by phone where the MEI determines no on-scene response is required.

The fee was presented as compensation for the MEI to complete paperwork and document the phone interview. Meeting discussion clarified that a 'decline' remains part of the death record (the MEI documents who was contacted and why no on-scene response was necessary). A motion to add the $25 decline fee into the MEI pay/procedure framework was made, seconded and approved by the board.

Board members asked about any downstream impacts, and the MEI representative said declines are commonly done by phone and that $25 was a modest administrative compensation. The board directed staff to incorporate the change into MEI procedures and to return with any necessary language about stipends or expanded compensation at a future meeting.

What happens next: Staff will update the MEI pay/procedure document and present any required procedural language or stipend recommendations at the next meeting.