SHAWANO, WI – Shawano County has a new Jail Administrator.

Greg Nelson was hired to replace the retired Greg Trinko and started his new position on Monday.

Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber says Nelson has been with the department since the jail opened in 1994.

“He has been pretty much in every position at the jail and has been at the jail for quite some time now,” said Bieber.

The Sheriff says Nelson is taking over with the jail in a good place, after Greg Trinko made it a priority to find ways to retain employees.

“He has done a really good job of retaining employees and improving moral within our ranks.”

Sheriff Bieber says in the past, the turnover rate was too high.

“We are averaging around 12 people leaving a year and even though we can’t compete with salaries of surrounding counties, our people have really bought into the concept that both Greg Trinko and Greg Nelson have brought here.”

According to Bieber, records show that nearby counties are able to pay their jail employees a little more than Shawano County can afford, but he says with good leadership, people are willing to stay.

During the last Sheriff’s election, jail security was a big topic and Bieber says Nelson will be tasked to continue to find ways to keep the jail up to date with technology, and more importantly, keep it secure.

“We want to make sure that drugs and other items are not smuggled into our jail,” he said. “That will be one of big challenges for Greg.”