MILWAUKEE- A newly hired county employee that would take over running the House of Corrections in Franklin is being road blocked by Sheriff Clarke.

County Executive Chris Abele appointed Michael Hafemann to be Superintendent of the facility, but Clarke wont let him step foot in the building.

In October of 2012, Clarke  said the county could have the South facility and that overseeing it was not one of the core functions of the Sheriff, the county jail is.

Hafemann is on the county payroll at $47 an hour, but he does not get benefits or a pension because he is not full time. Abele said that was the cheapest option.

On Tuesday, the County Board voted to delay Hafemann's transition into the job until four months after Clarke's lawsuit preventing this change is over.

Clarke and his attorney refused comment based on the fact litigation is still pending, although Clarke did post on his Facebook page:

" I am not going to allow anyone around inmates who has not passed our background check. Every corrections officer we hire has to undergo one, and so will he before he gets near the secure portion of the building or any inmate."

The county board voted 12-4 on the resolution with an amendment.

The County Executive sent this statement:

“It’s disappointing the County Board continues to play politics instead of focusing on saving money and achieving outcomes. Had the Board passed the compromise plan that was approved by the Judiciary Committee last week, Superintendent Mike Hafemann would have had access immediately to the HOC. Instead, they approved a last minute amendment that hadn’t been vetted by County attorneys and only delays Hafemann getting into the facility he’s been hired to run.”