Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 08-19-08 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2008 — 9:00 A.M. St. Croix County Government Center —1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER INVOCATION: Supr. Daryl Standafer PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR REPORT REVIEW OF AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA (Unless separation of an item is requested, all will be adopted in one motion.) 1. Minutes of Previous Session —July 15, 2008 2. Date of Next Meeting —September 16, 2008 - 9:00 a.m. 3. Rezoning — *Tony and Deanna Lind, Town of Baldwin, Ag to Ag -Res; *Thomas Pietsch Estate, Town of Cylon, Ag to Ag II 4. Mileage and Per Diem APPOINTMENTS: Ad Hoc Energy Committee — Supr. Daryl Standafer, Supr. Frederick Horne, citizen members: Jerry VanSomeren (St. Croix Electric), Dr. Brian Huffman, Phd (U of W -River Falls) and Dennis Horner (City of New Richmond Public Utility Manager) OLD AND NEW BUSINESS 1. *Resolution Approving Amendment to Town of Hudson Zoning Ordinance — Planned Unit Development District 2. *Resolution Approving Amendment to Town of Hudson Zoning Ordinance — Distribution Centers 3. Resolution Creating the Substance Abuse Committee as a St. Croix County Standing Committee 4. Resolution Approving AFSCME Contracts Language Subsequent to July 1, 2008 Deadline 5. Resolution Authorizing the Borrowing of not to exceed $3,000,000 and Providing for the Issuance and Sale of General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2008 6. Nursing Home Advisory Referendum Question COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS: Highway Department and County Surveyor COUNTY CLERK'S REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE AND REZONING REQUESTS ANNOUNCEMENTS: 2008 WCA Annual Conference — October 12 - 14 ADJOURN (Items may be taken in different order) * Changes or Additions after the Preliminary Agenda ** Late Changes and Additions 2/11/20119:14:44 AM Official — approved 9/16/08 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ST.CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Regular Meeting August 19, 2008 Invocation given by Supr. Daryl Standafer. Pledge of Allegiance recited. Meeting called to order by Chair Rebholz at 9:00 a.m. Supr. Malick referenced an August 19` article he read on Rivertowns.net regarding Warren Knowles who would have celebrated his 100 birthday on August 19th and provided a brief summary of Mr. Knowles accomplishments and added his start with politics was on the St. Croix County Board. Roll call: 30 present; 1 absent: Supr. Post. Administrative Coordinator Report: Administrative Coordinator Chuck Whiting reported the Finance Committee will be reviewing department budgets for three days in September and at the next County Board, the Board will review budgets. Whiting will workout a schedule with departments and noted expect a longer County Board meeting in September. Whiting stated the Wisconsin Department of Revenue released equalized value information and noted St. Croix County's total 2008 equalized value is 8.7 billion dollars. Whiting noted St. Croix County has experienced a slowing in growth rate — up 1.56 %. Eighty percent of the valuation is residential. Whiting stated a borrowing resolution is on the agenda to begin the borrowing process for a heating and cooling system and roof replacement at the Government Center. Whiting thanked Mike Erickson, City Administrator of Hugo, Minnesota who met with Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) on how Hugo dealt with a recent tornado. Consent Agenda: Motion by Supr. Ruetz, 2 nd by Supr. Borup to adopt the consent agenda approving the July 15, 2008 County Board proceedings; setting the next County Board meeting for September 16, 2008; approving Ordinance #773(2008) for Tony and Deanna Lind to rezone property from Ag to Ag- Residential in the Town of Baldwin and Ordinance #774(2008) for Thomas Pietsch Estate to rezone property from Ag to Ag -II in the Town of Cylon; and approving mileage and per diem for June 2008 in the amount of $7,594.22 and July 2008 in the amount of $8,390.07. Carried unanimously. Supr. Raebel asked if department reports could be placed at the beginning of the agenda to allow those Department Heads to return to work rather then wait until the end of the meeting. Supr. Malick explained other department staff members are also here for items on the agenda relating to their department. Chair Rebholz stated he will work with departments on annual report schedules. APPOINTMENTS: Chair Rebholz announced after consultation with Vice Chair King, appointments to the Ad Hoc Energy Committee are: Supr. Daryl Standafer, Supr. Frederick Horne, citizen members: Jerry VanSomeren (St. Croix Electric), Dr. Brian Huffman, Phd (U of W -River Falls) and Dennis Horner (City of New Richmond Public Utility Manager). OLD AND NEW BUSINESS 1. Resolution #26(2008) Approving Amendment to Town of Hudson Zoning Ordinance — Planned Unit Development District. Motion by Supr. Ruetz, 2 " d by Supr. Norton - Bauman to approve. Senior Planner Ellen Denzer explained the Town of Hudson enacted a new district to include a Planned Unit Development District which allows special exception uses for multi -unit independent senior living facilities and related amenities; multi -unit temporary limited care living facilities and related August 19 2008 Page 2 of 6 amenities; multi -unit assisted living facilities and related amenities; and multi -unit skilled nursing living facilities and related amenities. Carried unanimously. 2. Resolution #27(2008) Approving Amendment to Town of Hudson Zoning Ordinance — Distribution Centers. Motion by Supr. Ruetz, 2 " d by Supr. Norton - Bauman to approve. Denzer explained this is a specific use to be added to the town of Hudson zoning ordinance relating to distribution centers. Denzer stated the town of Hudson ordinances are narrowly defined and new uses usually requires a zoning ordinance change. Carried unanimously. 3. Resolution #28(2008) Creating a Substance Abuse Committee. Motion by Supr. Cranmer, 2 "d by Supr. Wentz to approve. Supr. Wentz this resolution creates the Substance Abuse Committee as a standing committee which replaces the Meth Advisory Ad Hoc Committee. Membership consists of three County Board Supervisors plus non - voting ex officio members specifically described in the resolution. Carried unanimously. 4. Resolution #29(2008) Confirming Labor Agreement Language Approved After July 1, 2008. Motion by Supr. Standafer, 2 " d by Supr. King to approve. Supr. Standafer stated in March of 2008 the County Board approved respective AFSCME contracts prior to being approved by respective union groups. One provision included a salary increase of 1% if by July 1 unions accepted the optional health insurance plan. All scheduled union votes were unable to get all votes by July 1. This resolution is being brought back to the County Board to approve waiving July 1, 2008 as the deadline for the AFSCME Unions to accept the optional health plan in exchange for a 1% wage increase on July 1 2008, 2009 and 2010. This resolution confirms that the votes by the AFSCME Unions' members approved all language of the labor agreements, including the language relating to accepting the optional health plan in exchange for a I% wage increase on July 1 in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Carried unanimously. 5. Resolution #30(2008) Authorizing the Borrowing of Not to Exceed $3,000,000 and Providing for the Issuance and Sale of General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2008. Motion by Supr. Standafer, 2 " d by Supr. Malick to approve. Supr. Standafer explained when the Finance Committee approved this authorization to borrow there was discussion regarding adding the radio base stations to the amount but the radio base station amount was unknown at the time of the vote. A revised resolution has been distributed which amends the amount to $3,180,000. Supr. Standafer explained this resolution puts in place an amount "not to exceed" and will come back to the County Board once the numbers are refined but will not exceed $3,180,000. A two- thirds vote is required in order to authorize the amount. Motion by Supr. Standafer, 2 nd by Supr. Cranmer to amend the resolution and strike the $3,000,000 within resolution and insert $3,180,000 and that amendment would be consistent with the revised resolution. Discussion regarding earned interest. Joe Murray of Springsted stated the project will take place quickly so there will be no earned interest available. Supr. Ostness requested an explanation concerning the Government Center roof and heating and cooling system. Building Services Director Art Tobin explained all the insulation on roof now will be removed with replacement beginning from the cement decking. He has contacted Focus on Energy regarding any available rebates. Tobin provided a summary of the heating and cooling system options discussed with the Finance Committee which included a geothermal system and chiller system. There were concerns regarding the geothermal system and possible future building expansion. The Finance Committee agreed to go with the chiller system and is reviewing the option to include ice or thermal storage. Discussion regarding including solar panels in the bid process. Tobin explained he will include a 25 -year warranty on the roof which will cover any replacement and repair necessary; and expects a 25 -year life span on the August 19 2008 Page 3 of 6 chiller system. Chiller replacement will most likely be a five to six month process and the roof replacement will be a two to three month process with bidding for the roof project to be done in February 2009. Amendment carried. Discussion regarding radio base station replacement. Emergency Communications Director Casey Swetlik explained 36 total radio base stations need to be replaced. Initially replacement was spread over two fiscal years with the borrowing total replacement could be done at one time. Supr. Raebel asked if this is a usual item for borrowing or could it be part of department budgets. Whiting stated capital items of this amount are normally borrowed. Whiting reminded Supervisors the debt service is outside the levy limit. Supr. Hermsen asked how long radio base stations last. Swetlik stated the current radios are fifteen years old and are no longer supported with computerized updates. There are tools available to fix the current stations, but shelf life for radio base stations are about twelve years for support. Swetlik noted an unfunded mandate from FCC which requires all transmissions be narrow- banded. The County currently operates wide - banded which is the frequency peak and valley. This will be required by 2013, but the County has chosen 2011 as a target date to be sure we're in the guidelines required by the FCC. Roll call vote requires at two- thirds vote: Yes — 29; No —1. Carried. Supervisor Yes No Yes No Yes No Dan Rachel X John Mortensen X Daryl Standafer X Alfred Schrank X Esther Wentz X John Borup X Julie Speer X Eugene Ruetz X Clarence Malick X Joe Hurt en X David Peterson X Steve Hermsen X William Peavey X David Ostness X Kenneth Kolbe X Gerald Peterson X Lorin Sather X CindX Leonard X Charles Grant X Richard Marzolf X Linda L. Lucke X — Greg Telli ohn X Sharon Norton- Bauman X Shane Demullin X — Roger Larson X Peter Post absent Laura Tommerdahl X Richard King X Roger Rebholz X TOTAL 29 1 Frederick Home X Bill Cranmer X 6. Resolution #31(2008) Approving Advisory Referendum Question Relating to the County Nursing Home. Motion by Supr. Borup, 2 nd by Supr. Speer to approve. This resolution approves placement of an advisory referendum on the November, 2008 ballot with the following question: Should St. Croix County continue to operate a public nursing home if property tax dollars are needed to fund its operation ?" Supr. Standafer stated the committee worked for several months to come up with an objective ballot question and tried to achieve a statement that would be supported unanimously by the committee and would he respectfully urge the County Board consideration to accept that as the question. Vice Chair King stated after the question was developed, Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman drafted an explanation and confirmed the explanation is accurate with the question. Supr. Marzolf requested clarification on the revised resolution in which the explanation was not reviewed by the Ad Hoc Nursing Home Committee. Timmerman explained the resolution requires an explanation per state statutes and added this is a resolution the County Board adopts and it's not necessary for the committee to approve the revision before the County Board acts on it. Supr. Norton - Bauman asked if the County Board needs to approve the explanation or does Corporation Counsel have the right or duty to include the explanation. Timmerman indicated state statutes direct Corporation Counsel to establish an explanation statement. It does not mean the County Board should not approve the statement. Motion by Supr. Malick, 2 "d by Supr. Borup to end debate. A two- thirds vote is required. Motion failed: Yes —14; No —16. August 19 2008 Page 4 of 6 Supervisor Yes No Yes No Yes No Dan Raebel X John Mortensen X Daryl Standafer X Alfred Schrank X Esther Wentz X John Borup X Julie Speer X Eugene Ruetz X Clarence Malick X Joe Hurt en X David Peterson X Steve Hermsen X William Peavey X David Ostness X Kenneth Kolbe X Gerald Peterson X Lorin Sather X Cindy Leonard X Charles Grant X Richard Marzolf X Linda L. Luckey X Greg Telli'ohn X Sharon Norton - Bauman X Shane Demulling X Roger Larson X Peter Post absent Laura Tommerdahl X Richard Kin X — Roger Rebholz X TOTAL 14 16 Frederick Horne X Bill Cranmer X Supr. Marzolf thanked the ad hoc committee for drafting the question on the nursing home. Supr. Marzolf reviewed his August 26, 2008 memorandum to the County Board Supervisors and a portion of the 2007 HHS annual department report relating to nursing home revenues. Supr. Marzolf stated the HHS annual report indicated a comparatively small portion of the operating revenue for the nursing home is derived from property tax dollars. 78.4% of the remaining nursing home revenue received in 2007 came collectively from private pay, Medicare and Medicaid residents, miscellaneous, and from Inter Governmental Transfer (IGT) funds. Motion by Supr. Marzolf, 2 nd by Supr. Kolbe to adopt Corporation Counsel's revised nursing home referendum question /resolution along with the addition of the addition of the word "partially" before the word "fund" to the question and description and requested a roll call vote. Supr. Standafer stated adding the word "partially" changes the question significantly and indicated the question is to determine the attitude of the taxpayers to continue to operate the nursing home, if continuation is predicated upon use of tax levy dollars. The statement "continue to operate a public nursing home" clearly implies the County currently operates a public nursing home. Questions from the public are not based on revenue sources but specifically raise the question about the subsidy necessary with increases projected to grow which falls on the levy of St. Croix County. Supr. Standafer reminded there is a significant budget crisis which will likely result in personnel and program contractions and the concern is on a priority basis relating to use of levy dollars. Supr. Standafer stated he takes issue with the assertion that the addition of "partially" is a modest change and urges Supervisors to defeat the amendment. Supr. Malick spoke against the proposed modification. The numbers presented from the 2007 HHS annual report indicate some 80% of the expenses of the nursing home comes from sources other than the tax levy which is the same in fact as the Highway Department where the tax levy is under 18% of operations of Highway Department. Supr. Malick commented on nursing home revenue sources and added the IGT number could be larger but over the course of the last two years the County Board has heard IGT will decrease. Adding the word "partially" to the referendum could be complicating and diverting to the public as to what the word "partially" means. Labor and fringe costs will continue to increase. The word "partially" takes us and the voting public into a morass of questions that are not central to the fundamental question. Supr. Malick indicated if this Board tries to improve this question he would ask other things not addressed in the question including current building maintenance or what has been suggested from experts to build a new building. The question as worded by the Ad Hoc Committee which talks about tax dollars to fund its operation, ignores tax dollars to fund construction of a new building. The question, as worded, says "should St. Croix County continue to operate Y August 19 2008 Page 5 of 6 a public nursing home ", Supr. Malick asked what does "continue" mean. Supr. Malick added the third issue is there's no mention as to where the public nursing home should be located. The County Board has been informed the residents of the St. Croix County Nursing Home typically come from a 16 mile radius of New Richmond. Which would suggest the new nursing home could be built between Somerset and Deer Park or between the north county line and Roberts. Supr. Malick concluded he has those three concerns about the question, which are valid concerns of interest to the taxpayers and the voters of St. Croix County and the residents who might use the nursing home supported by our county tax dollars. If we approve one change then we must consider including the other three changes suggested. Supr. Malick is opposed to changing it at all. Supr. Norton -Bauman and Supr. Sather expressed their concerns to the changes indicated they were against any changes to the question. Motion by Supr. Marzolf , 2 od by Supr. Demulling to end debate. A two- thirds vote is required. Roll call vote carried unanimous) . Roll call on amendment: Yes —12; No —18. Ame ndment fails. Supervisor Yes No Yes No Yes No Dan Raebel X John Mortensen X Daryl Standafer X Alfred Schrank X Esther Wentz X John Borup X Julie Speer X Eugene Ruetz X Clarence Malick X Joe Hurt en X David Peterson X Steve Hermsen X William Peavey X David Ostness X Kenneth Kolbe X Gerald Peterson X Lorin Sather X Cindy Leonard X Charles Grant X Richard Marzolf X Linda L. LuckeyX Greg Telli'ohn X Sharon Norton - Bauman X Shane Demulling X Roger Larson X Peter Post absent Laura Tommerdahl X Richard King X Roger Rebholz X TOTAL 12 18 Frederick Horne X Bill Cranmer X Motion by Supr. Cranmer move to refer this matter back to the ad hoc committee. Motion failed for lack of a second. Motion by Supr. Ruetz, 2 nd by Supr. Sather to end debate. Chair Rebholz indicated he was ready to call for the vote on the motion. Supr. Ruetz and Sather withdrew their motion. Action on motion to adopt the resolution as revised by Corporation Counsel which includes the explanation. Roll call vote: Yes - 25; No - 5. Carried. Supervisor Yes No Yes No Yes _ No Dan Rachel X John Mortensen X Daryl Standafer X Alfred Schrank X Esther Wentz X John Borup X Julie Speer X Eugene Ruetz X Clarence Malick X Joe Hurt en X David Peterson X Steve Hermsen X William Peavey X David Ostness X Kenneth Kolbe X Gerald Peterson X Lorin Sather X Cindy Leonard X Charles Grant X Richard Marzolf X Linda L. Lucke X (ire Telli ohm X Sharon Norton - Bauman X Shane Demulling X Roger Larson X Peter Post absent Laura Tommerdahl X Richard King X Roger Rebholz X TOTAL 25 5 Frederick Horne X Bill Cramer X August 19, 2008 Page 6 of 6 Committee and Department Reports: Highway Department: (10:00 a.m.) Highway Commissioner Tim Ramberg provided an overview of the St. Croix County Highway Department. Ramberg stated the Highway Department is responsible for over 2,400 lane miles at any given time. Bridge inspection reviewed. The department improvement program includes road maintenance, road construction and bridge construction. Winter maintenance reviewed. Ramberg stated trends are holding out based on budgeted dollars and actual winter maintenance. Salt usage cost increase noted. Cost increases reviewed for hotmix and chipseal oil. Ramberg stated they are looking at alternatives to continue to do maintenance and construction. Ramberg reported a 1.2 million dollar increase for surface maintenance. Review of revenues and expenses with gross revenues of $23 million and a levy of less than $4 million. Highway improvement trends reviewed. Ramberg highlighted long range planning, long range trends and long range strategies. Supr. Malick asked about bids for hotmix and chipseal. Ramberg stated a couple bids are received for hot mix and approximately six for chipseal mix. Supr. Cranmer asked about bridge status. Ramberg indicated the town of Cady had the last critical fractured bridge, which was replaced, but the State has some to replace. Supr. Hermsen asked about the longevity of roads. Ramberg stated State guidelines are to reseal every five years. If this is not done higher maintenance needs to be done. County Surveyor: (9:20 a.m.) County Surveyor Brian Halling provided the main functions of the County Surveyor office. Halling reviewed the history of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) and how quarter sections were set. Review of the PLSS Finder which is a website to get survey information. Halling stated there are GPS coordinates on about 95% of the corners. Locating the monuments is mostly driven by development or the need. Halling fielded several questions from Supervisors. County Clerk's Report of Correspondence and Rezoning Requests: County Clerk Campbell reported on Planning and Zoning Committee rezoning applications submitted and scheduled for a hearing for Charles and Barbara Weyer to rezone approximately 43 acres from Agricultural to Agricultural II in the Town of Rush River; John Bettendorf to rezone approximately 4.82 acres from Agricultural - Residential to Commercial in the Town of Kinnickinnic; Donald Ziegler to rezone approximately 2 acres from Agricultural to Ag -Res in the Town of Stanton; Jeremy Austrum to rezone approximately 1 acre from Ag -Res to Ag in the Town of Pleasant Valley; and Sharon Austrum to rezone approximately I acre from Ag to Ag -Res in the Town of Pleasant Valley. Announcements: County Clerk Campbell reminded Supervisors the 2008 Wisconsin Counties Association Annual Conference is scheduled for October 12 — 14 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Campbell will register Supervisors planning to attend. The deadline to register at a discounted rate is September 12`" Meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m. Roger Rebholz, Chair, St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Cindy Campbell, County Clerk Copies of resolutions, ordinances and Department Head reports may be obtained at the St. Croix County Clerk's office.