HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Protection 12-11-08 w T
NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA
PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 11, 2008 - 8:30AM
ST. CROIX COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER
ROOM 1281
1101 CARMICHAEL ROAD
HUDSON, WISCONSIN
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: November 13,2008**
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: January 14, 2009
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
1. Web BrowserNisions Update
2. Bills, Vouchers, Capital Outlay*
3. Motel/Hotel/Travel Expenditures*
4. 2009 Budgets*
5. Mission Statements /Goals*
6. Medical Examiner — Casey Swetlik
a. ME Intern Maggie Haltvick
7. Child Support Administrator — Katy Kapaun
8. District Attorney Eric Johnson, Victim/Witness Coordinator Ann Gustafson
a. * *Victim Witness Office Furniture
9. Sheriff Dennis Hillstead, Chief Deputy John Shilts, Patrol Captain Scott Knudson, Jail
Captain Karen Humphrey, Accountant/Office Manager Mary Martell
a. Expenditures: Drug Fund/Confiscated Acct. /Jail Assessment
b. Citizens' Priority of County Services
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURN
(Items may be taken in different order)
* These items may be heard by each Department
** Additions /Changes /Corrections
Submitted by: Julie Speer
Date: November 24, 2008; amended November 25, 2008 & December 3, 2008
Copies to: County Board office News Media
County Clerk Committee Members
Respective Department Heads
Items for County Board approval must be submitted to the County Clerk's office by Wednesday morning preceding
a County Board meeting.
12/3/2008 4:31 PM
ST. CROIX COUNTY PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE MEETING
December 11, 2008
Official Minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT: Julie Speer, Cindy Leonard, John Borup and Roger Larson. Absent:
Laura Gunderson - Tommerdahl.
STAFF PRESENT: Chief Deputy John Shilts, Patrol Captain Scott Knudson, Jail Captain Karen
Humphrey, Medical Examiner Casey Swetlik, Child Support Director Katy Kapaun, District
Attorney Eric Johnson, Administrative Coordinator Chuck Whiting and Amy Geurkink.
OTHERS PRESENT: None.
Meeting called to order at 8:33am by Chair Speer. Motion by Borup, 2 nd by Larson to adopt the
agenda. Carried unanimously.
Motion by Larson, 2 nd by Leonard to approve the minutes of the November 13, 2008 meeting.
Carried unanimously.
The next regular meeting will be January 14, 2009 at 8:30am and the February 2009 meeting will be
on the 11th at 8:30am.
MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT: Swetlik presented November 2008 Medical Examiner bills
in the amount of $1,791.28, explained the van repair expenses and outlined the activity /year -to -date
budget summary. Motion by Borup, 2 nd by Leonard to approve the bills as presented. Carried
unanimously.
Swetlik distributed his department annual report to be provided at the County Board meeting and
highlighted specific items. Discussion regarding presenting the annual report as a brief presentation
that represents the highlights. Swetlik outlined future challenges of the Medical Examiner office and
noted he views the future of the Medical Examiner as a full -time role for the county.
Discussion regarding signing of death certificates, various reasons why the responsibility is often
held by the Medical Examiner and whether the fee associated with the service ought to be higher.
Swetlik will put together a cost comparison and look into what other counties are doing.
Swetlik reported Medical Examiner Intern Maggie Haltvick will be introduced to the committee at a
later date.
Swetlik provided an update with regard to the geographical cancer study noting the information is
available to be placed on a map and explained that some focal points will need to be adjusted out.
CHILD SUPPORT REPORT: Kapaun presented November 2008 bills in the amount of $1,633.11,
outlined specific expenses and noted process service may decrease because of lower gas prices.
Motion by Leonard, 2 nd by Larson to approve the bills as presented. Carried unanimously. Kapaun
provided the budget status report and summarized her department will likely end the year on a solid
note; brief discussion regarding PTO payout amount(s).
Kapaun reported approximately $933,000 in collections for the month of November.
Kapaun reported she has consulted with Management Systems Specialist Dana Baker concerning
bids for process service; the bids will open on January 5, 2009. Kapaun noted the county is not
obligated to accept those bids.
Kapaun provided an update regarding the Children -First program and reported funding is only
guaranteed for the first six months of the year.
Kapaun distributed the 2008 department report to be provided at the County Board meeting and
highlighted certain aspects. Kapaun explained the performance incentive funding; brief discussion
regarding non - marital parents and how it affects incentives. Discussion regarding the current
economy situation and its effect on child support payments.
Kapaun reported the addition of the Fourth Judgeship and the additional Assistant Corporation
Counsel have had a positive affect on moving cases through the court system.
Short break taken at 9:20am; reconvened at 9:30am.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY /VICTIM WITNESS REPORT: Johnson presented November 2008
District Attorney bills in the amount of $2,658.68 and clarified expenses concerning expert testimony
and membership costs related to the Association of Legal Administrators. Motion by Borup, 2 " by
Larson to approve the bills as presented. Carried unanimously.
Discussion regarding purchasing a desk for the Victim Witness office; Johnson reported the funds
would be obtained from the 2008 budget. Motion by Borup, 2 " by Larson to approve $1,913.00
from the 2008 budget to be used to purchase a desk for the Victim Witness office; Johnson noted this
amount includes a desk chair. Carried unanimously.
Johnson reported two interns from UW -River Falls will begin work in January and another two
interns will begin work this summer; Johnson credited Victim Witness Coordinator Ann Gustafson
for her success at obtaining interns.
Discussion regarding case load and staffing; Johnson reported the Fourth Judgeship has had a
positive impact. Johnson reported ADA Dave McQuillen will be retiring in January.
Johnson reported the Stop Drugs ceremony went well and approximately 7,000 calendars have been
delivered to area schools.
Discussion regarding the 2008 annual report to be provided at the County Board meeting; Johnson
will add a paragraph concerning types /numbers of cases processed, how St. Croix County compares
with other counties and the Twin Cities, etc., as well as information concerning the diversion
program.
Brief discussion regarding an apparent new book that has been published with regard to the
O'Connell Funeral Home murders.
REPORTS OF THE SHERIFF DEPT /JAIL /PATROL CAPTAIN: November 2008 Jail bills in
the amount of $44,374.85 were presented and specific expenses were clarified; brief discussion
regarding electronic monitoring. Motion by Borup, 2 nd by Leonard to approve the bills as presented.
Carried unanimously. Shilts reported Management Systems Specialist Dana Baker has taken over
investigating gasoline purchase options.
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November 2008 Sheriff Department bills in the amount of $21,682.36 were presented and Shilts
clarified expenses concerning the opening of three recovered stolen safes and the mustang car repair.
Motion by Larson, 2 nd by Borup to approve the bills as presented. Carried unanimously. Brief
discussion regarding staff uniforms and equipment expenses. Shilts reported the overall 2008
budget is on track.
Humphrey reported the new hires in the jail are working out well; Shilts explained the in -depth
background investigation process on all new hires. Humphrey reported the Huber numbers are the
lowest they have been all year.
Discussion regarding whether there has ever been a bid for all county vehicle repairs; discussion
regarding the budget amount for squad cars and whether service stations would bid for the entire
fleet.
Discussion regarding the suicide in the jail and its affect on inmates and staff, Shilts explained the
various measures offered including debriefing for staff and ministerial services for inmates.
Shilts reported the additions for video recording in the jail have been ordered and they are exploring
with the IT Department, options on what it will take to record all the cameras all the time.
Discussion regarding the 2008 annual report to be provided at the County Board meeting; Shilts
outlined some aspects of the report. Discussion regarding St. Croix County currently has the lowest
officer /per population ratio in the state and continued budget cuts may result in cuts in service.
Shilts provided an update on the Government Center security study and reported a summary was
provided to the Finance Committee; Shilts indicated security studies will also be done in New
Richmond and Baldwin.
Humphrey reported the policy training in the jail is complete, the staff has signed off and all new
hires will sign off on them also. Humphrey also indicated the policies will be posted on the web for
staff thus ending the need for hard copies.
Discussion regarding efficiency of Wisconsin law enforcement and whether local
municipalities /Sheriff Departments could do more to work more closely together in the struggling
economy; Shilts reported cooperation exists between the agencies for various issues.
Knudson provided 2008 information concerning the number of citations, OWI's, etc. and reported
the department received a state grant in the amount of $15,000 to address alcohol /speed violations.
Knudson reported another two county traffic fatalities.
Discussion regarding taser use and instances when it ought not to be utilized; Shilts reported tasers
are a useful tool and there is a policy in place for officer use.
Meeting adjourned at 10:42am.
Cindy Leonard, Secretary
Amy Geurkink, Recording Secretary
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