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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Committee 10-09-08 t . - • NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE October 9, 2008 - 8:30 A.M. St. Croix County Highway Department Office, 920 3 rd Street, Hammond, WI CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING DATE OF NEXT MEETING CONSIDER VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT REVIEW FUND BALANCES REVIEW HIGHWAY SAFETY MINUTES CONSIDER SEMINAR ATTENDANCE REQUESTS CONSIDER STATE PROJECT REQUESTS ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE OLD AND NEW BUSINESS 1. Fleet Truck Discussions 2. Consider Disposition of Deer Park and/or Star Prairie Facilities 3. Discuss Pavement Performance Deflectometer Technology Demonstration 4. View WisDOT Round -A -Bout DVD 5. Consider Long -Range Rail and Other Strategic Transportation Matters 6. 2009 Budget Discussions 7. 2008 - 2009 Goals ANY OTHER BUSINESS AUTHORIZED BY LAW POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING ADJOURN (Items may be taken in different order. Action may be taken on any or all items shown.) SUBMITTED BY - Tim Ramberg, Highway Commissioner DATE SUBMITTED - October 2, 2008 ** Additions /Changes /Corrections Items for County Board approval must be submitted to the County Clerk's office by Wednesday morning preceding a County Board meeting. 10/2/2008 10:12 AM T • MINUTES OF THE ST. CROIX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Meeting of October 9, 2008 The meeting was called to order by Chairman King at 8:35 A.M. Roll call was taken with King, Grant, Peterson, Rebholz and Demulling in attendance. Others present for all or parts of the meeting included Tim Ramberg, Jane Bond, and Rich Loney. A motion was made and seconded (Rebholz/Grant) to adopt the agenda as published. Motion carried. A motion was made and seconded (Peterson /Rebholz) to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2008 meeting. Motion carried. A motion was made and seconded (Rebholz/Peterson) to set the following meetings; October 15, 2008 at 8:30 A.M. at the Baldwin American Legion for the Safety Training Seminar, October 23, 2008 at 8:30 A.M. at Club 95, Hixton, Wisconsin to participate in the WCHA W. C. District Fall Commissioner's and Committeemen's Meeting and the regular November meeting November 6, 2008 at 8:30 A.M. with King and Grant reviewing vendors prior to the meeting. Motion carried. King and Rebholz reviewed the vouchers at 8:00 A.M. A motion was made and seconded (King /Rebholz) to approve the vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Ramberg distributed and reviewed the September 15, 2008 fund balances, comparing them to the previous year's balances. Bond reviewed the Safety Committee minutes from the September 15, 2008 meeting. The following seminar attendance requests were discussed; • A motion was made and seconded (Grant/King) to allow up to 5 employees to attend the following 2009 TIC workshops in Eau Claire Wisconsin; January 13, 2009 Work Zone and Flagger Safety; February 26, 2009 Highway Safety; March 17, 2009 Road Maintenance. The cost for each workshop is $45.00 per person. Motion carried. • Ramberg noted that we would not be requesting to send any employees to the Supervisor Toolbox workshop in Eau Claire Wisconsin on November 17, 2008. • Ramberg informed the Committee of the upcoming WCHA Winter Hwy Conference to be held January 26 -28, 2009 at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. There were no State Project Requests to review this month. Ramberg covered the following announcements and correspondence: • A letter complaining of the worsening condition of various roads in St. Croix County. • The September 2008 issue of the "Steward's Report" outlining the recent "inclusion agreement" providing several non - represented positions throughout the County become represented positions. This includes the three Highway Department Accounting Assistant positions. The Committee challenged the validity of this agreement, as it was not part of the recent contract negotiations. The Highway Union Contract reads as follows: Section 1.01 (A) HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. All regular full -time and regular part-time employees, including seasonal employees and foreman, but excluding all office, confidential, temporary and supervisory employees. ST. CROIX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES Page 2 October 9, 2008 Fleet Truck Discussions: Ramberg and Loney reviewed the fleet program that had been developed in the early 1990's. With the equipment manufacturer and WisDOT depreciation schedules, the program was to look at up- grading the fleet vehicles approximately every 10 years modified by actual vehicle performance, operational needs, unit conditions, and available funding. Due to the low level of funding, it was recommended that in 2009 we pursue acquisition of 3 maintenance trucks and defer purchasing 2 haul trucks at this time. The consensus of the Committee was to proceed with securing proposals for the 3 maintenance trucks as recommended by staff and in accordance with the fleet program. Rebholz shared information regarding the production and use of canola oil in the fleet in certain vehicles as a means to reduce fossil fuel consumption. A meeting was recently held with Highway, Sheriff and Building Services personnel to consider joining a fuel consortium with Washington County and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The group, as well as Corporation Council is reviewing the details. Consider Disposition Of Deer Park and /or Star Prairie Facilities: There has been no other communication with the Village of Star Prairie regarding the Star Prairie facility as of yet. A meeting was held with representative from the Deer Park Fire District and the Highway Department to discuss the old Deer Park shop site. No formal offer has been received from the Fire District. The group recommended that the Deer Park Fire District obtain an appraisal that would identify and pinpoint a counter offer figure for them. There were discussions of other interested parties and marketing strategies. Discuss Pavement Performance Deflectometer Technology Demonstration: A local engineering firm in conjunction with a local vendor will be working with the Highway Department on demonstration of a non - destructive pavement device on one of the County roads and the use of laser technology to assist in determining the level of improvement options available for specific situations and conditions. View WisDOT Round -A -Bout DVD: This item was tabled for a future meeting. Consider Long -Range Rail and Strategic Transportation Matters: The Committee discussed working with the State of Minnesota on transportation needs, with consideration given to the existing relationships the County has with numerous Wisconsin organizations. 2009 Budqet Discussion: Rebholz reviewed the October 2nd Finance Committee proceedings, and gave an explanation of the proposed cuts to various departments, including a proposed $400,000.00 cut from the Highway Department budget scenario presented at County Board in September. Ways to reduce the overall County budget deficit as well as options to accommodate cuts to the 2009 Highway budget were contemplated, including the modifying the four ten hour day per week and the option of closing the whole department on Fridays during the construction season. 2008 -2009 Goals: Reduction of the $400,000.00 budget cut is the immediate goal of the highway department as well as continuing to look for cost saving measures throughout the department. Adjournment: King adjourned at 11:45 A.M. Motion carried. ----------------------------- SECRETARY