HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 01-15-02 ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
January 15, 2002 9:00 A.M.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Thomas Dorsey
INVOCATION: Pastor Ruth Eggerer, United Methodist Church, Hudson
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
ROLL CALL
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS SESSION
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
DATE OF NEXT SESSION: March 19, 2002 9:00 A.M.
(No meeting in February)
APPOIN'T'MENTS: *Committee to Secure Management Audit Firm for County
Nursing Home: Esther Wentz, Ralph Swenson, Jack Dowd, Stan Krueger,
Richard King, Clarence Malick and Leon Berenschot
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR REPORT
OLD AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(Consideration and action on matters tabled, postponed or referred
to a committee at a previous meeting)
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Report from the Fair Board - Greg Warner 9:05 A.M.
2. Department Reports - Planning & Transportation 9:20 A.M.
3. Wilder Research Center Survey Report - Laura McLain 10:15
A.M.
4. Rezoning from Ag. to Ag. Residential for Joe Gillen, Town of
Cylon
5. Rezoning from Ag. to Ag. Residential for JTB Properties, Town
of Troy
6. Rezoning from Ag. to Ag. Residential for Donald Jensen, Town
of Troy
7. Rezoning from Residential to Commercial for Schettle Estate,
Town of St. Joseph
8. Resolution Authorizing St. Croix County to Participate In
and Administer the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
9. *Approval of Drug Paraphernalia Ordinance
10. *Resolution Adopting the Health Insurance Administration
Policy
11. *Resolution Authorizing the St. Croix County Nursing Home to
Unbank 27 Beds
COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS: Administration & Ag. and Extension
APPLICATIONS FILED FOR ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
FARMLAND PRESERVATION:
MILEAGE & PER DIEM REPORT
CORRESPONDENCE
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
ADJOURNMENT
(The above agenda is not necessarily in order of presentations)
* Changes or Additions after the Preliminary Agenda
** Late Changes and Additions
County Board Minutes January 15, 2002
ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Regular Meeting January 15, 2002
Chair Dorsey called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Invocation
given by Pastor Ruth Eggerer, United Methodist Church, Hudson.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Guests and the press were
welcomed.
Roll call: 29 present - 2 absent and excused - Suprs. Horne and
Krueger.
Motion by Supr. King, 2 nd by Supr. Mortensen to approve the
minutes of December 18 with the following corrections: In the
United Way recognition, portable radios are used in the Emergency
Communication Van, not emergency vehicles; in the motion
regarding the Nursing Home steering committee to present and
recommend a detailed plan add, "Supervisors" from the Health and
Human Services Board. Supr. Bieraugel requested this addition
prior to the amendment on the management audit firm. Bieraugel
said historically, St. Croix County has a long and proud history
of providing Nursing Home care to its elderly and most difficult
to care for citizens. St. Croix County has viewed this
responsibility as a privilege rather than a burden to the
taxpayers. However, with increasing costs and decreasing
revenues, the challenge to manage the Nursing Home cost
effectively has also increased. The responsible thing to do is
to have an operational management audit to help us improve
managing the County Nursing Home and running it cost effectively.
Motion carried.
Motion by Supr. Speer, 2 nd by Supr. Berenschot to adopt the
agenda. Next session is scheduled for March 19, 9:00 a.m. No
meeting scheduled for February.
Appointments: Chair Dorsey appointed the following to the
Committee to Secure a Management Audit Firm for the County
Nursing Home: Esther Wentz, Ralph Swenson, Jack Dowd, Stan
Krueger, Richard King, Clarence Malick and Leon Berenschot.
Dorsey outlined the duties of the Committee as follows: 1) Meet
to select a firm capable of conducting a management audit; 2)
Meet periodically with the firm to review their findings and 3)
summarize the findings and present them to the County Board in
June.
Support staff will include Administrative Coordinator Whiting,
Health and Human Services Director John Borup, Finance Director
Rich Loney, Nursing Home Administrator Carolyn Krieger and
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additional staff as requested by the committee perhaps to take
meeting minutes and send out agendas.
Administrative Coordinator: Chuck Whiting said he will contact
audit firm committee members and set a meeting date. No more
information on the State budget but Governor McCallum has called
a special session for January 22. Supervisors are invited to a
Legislative Breakfast, January 21, 7:30 a.m. at Suzanna's in New
Richmond.
Whiting met with Department Heads regarding the Personnel Study
including mission statement, responsibilities, job descriptions
and parent committees are to be involved. The facilitator for
the goal setting session will be former UW -River Falls Professor
Larry Swain. The location is not set. If Supervisors are aware
of rental agreements throughout the County, please forward them
to Whiting.
Report from Fair Board: Supr. Berenschot reported 17 additional
acres had been purchased for the Fairgrounds and the Fair Board
has developed a long range plan with the goal to make the St.
Croix County Fair one of the finest 4 -H fairs in the country. He
introduced Fair Board President Dick Sullwold and Fair Board
member Greg Warner. Warner stated the Fair Board has the
obligation to provide a good facility. Over 400 families are
involved with the 4 -H program. He showed an overview of the
property including the new event area. The goals include
construction of a new Draft Horse barn, 4 -H Horse barn,
additional riding arena, new Dairy Building and new heated
exhibition building for the 2003 Fair. Cost is estimated at
$750,000 to $1,000,000. A Fund Raising Committee has been
established to raise money through donations, special events and
from foundations. Buildings are still used for winter storage.
Eventually the rental house will be removed. Currently the only
charge is for parking; admission to the Fair is free. Applause.
Department Reports: Planning Director Dave Fodroczi said the
mission statement of the department is "Working Together Toward a
Quality Future." Staff was thanked for their input on the
presentation. He highlighted the four program areas: 1) Planning
which has been working with Towns to develop Comprehensive plans.
Redistricting was another big project completed. 2) Real
Property - over 2800 parcels were added in 2001 with a total of
43,000 in the County. The tax processing went very well. 3)
Recycling - over 3,564 tons were collected in 26 communities.
Special collections were held for appliances, tires and
electronic components. 4) Land Information relates to parcel
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maps, rural addressing and GIS Implementation. The parcel map
for Town of Forest is complete and 648 rural addresses were added
in 2001.
Fodroczi thanked the Board, Planning, Zoning and Parks and Ag.
and Extension Committees for their cooperation. Supr. Bieraugel
thanked Fodroczi for the fine presentation. Applause.
Highway Commissioner Dan Fedderly introduced Maintenance
Supervisor Tim Ramberg and Highway Engineer Jeff Durkee.
Fedderly highlighted four areas: Funding Sources, Long Range
Planning, Revenue Comparison and Improvement Trends which are the
foundation for success. There are 350 miles of county highways
and the goal is 70 miles of improvement every year. $17 million
was done in the County last year. The County department takes
care of 1500 miles of county, state and town roads during a snow
storm. In 1970 there were 163 employees; today there are 63 in
the department. In 2001 the county received $1.6 million of
Federal dollars; over the last six years the total is $5,868,308.
Vice Chair Jacobson thanked Fedderly for his good report.
Applause.
Wilder Research Center Survey Report: Laura McClain presented a
survey report conducted in the St. Croix Valley Counties of Polk,
Pierce, St. Croix and Minnesota Counties of Washington and
Chisago. The Hugh J. Anderson Foundation funded the survey.
Respondents pointed out several quality of life issues that need
attention: Ensuring future growth is well planned to preserve
the rural feeling; Helper for Lower - income households and
renters; Concerns of residents in need who find the formal
service system inflexible and unresponsive; Support for adults
who care for an elderly parent; Transportation problems for
lower - income households and providing enough child care and
programs for children and youth. Applause.
Resolution #1 (2002): Authorizing the St. Croix County Nursing
Home to Unbank 27 Beds. Motion by Supr. Wentz, 2 nd by Supr. Burri
to adopt. Motion by Supr. Wentz, 2 nd by Supr. Berenschot to amend
the resolution to read 24 beds. The resolution was first written
in December and after January 1, three more beds were lost.
Health and Human Services Director John Borup said there is a
need to lower bed numbers to downsize the facility. Unbanking 24
beds offers more CIP slots in the community for people on waiting
lists for services. This is the only chance to capture dollars
for people. Nursing Home Administrator Carolyn Krieger said the
State only allows County Nursing Homes to unbank beds. The
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Nursing Home gets money for downsizing and the community gets
$15,000 for each CIP client.
Supr. Irwin noted the Keefe report said the County could sell
beds for $378,000. Kreiger said we have to sell all or none.
There is a State moratorium on Nursing Homes adding beds.
Vote on the amendment to change number to 24 carried. Vote on
motion as amended carried.
Ordinance #604 (2002): Rezoning form Ag. to Ag /Res for Joe
Gillen, Town of Cylon. Motion by Supr. Raymond, 2 nd by Supr.
Jensen to enact. Carried.
Ordinance #605 (2002): Rezoning from Ag. to Ag /Res for JTB
Properties, Town of Troy. Motion by Supr Raymond, 2 nd by Supr.
Jensen to enact. Carried.
Ordinance #606 (2002): Rezoning from Ag to Ag /Res for Donald
Jensen, Town of Troy. Motion by Supr. Raymond, 2 nd by Supr.
Gunderson to enact. Carried.
Ordinance #607 (2002): Rezoning from Residential to Commercial
for Schettle Estate, Town of St. Joseph. Motion by Supr.
Raymond, 2 nd by Supr. Luckey to enact. Carried.
Resolution #2 (2002): Authorizing St. Croix County to
Participate in and Administer the Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program. Land and Water Comm. Chair Jensen said this
is a new program and asked County Conservationist Bob Heise to
explain. Heise said this new CREP (Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program) takes the place of the Conservation Reserve
Program. Landowners take agricultural land out of production and
put it in a conservation program that provides for buffer zones
along waterways and wetlands. Staff would request a waiver to be
removed from Farmland Preservation compliance activities to work
on the CREP program. There is no funding for administration of
the program so a recommendation has been made to charge a $100
conservation contribution from the landowner.
Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman said a County cannot charge an
administration fee but can ask for a contribution for the benefit
of the program.
Motion by Supr. Malick, 2 nd by Supr. Standafer to amend the
resolution by adding "Therefore, be it further resolved, users
may be charged a reasonable amount. Carried. Supr. Irwin voted
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no. Vote on resolution as amended carried. Suprs. Hoberg, Olson
and Irwin voted no.
Ordinance #608 (2002) Regarding Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Motion to enact by Supr. Mehls, 2 nd by Supr. Wentz. Mehls showed
a list of about 160 paraphernalia charges in 2001. Currently
when the officer makes an arrest, the officer must transport the
offender to the County Jail. This takes the officer off the road
and is counter - productive. The County does not receive more than
1/3 of the fine. If the County has an ordinance, 70% of the fine
stays in the County, the officer issues a citation and stays on
the road.
In response to a question, Sheriff Hillstead replied if a person
is sentenced to the County Jail, the County pays the costs. The
State pays for probation violators or State held prisoners. He
agreed an Ordinance would save officers' time. Motion carried.
Resolution #3 (2002): Adopting the Health Insurance
Administration Policy. Moved to adopt by Supr. O'Connell, 2 nd by
Supr. Swenson. Timmerman noted two corrections made after
resolution was sent - policy can only be amended or repealed by
the Board of Supervisors and effective date is January 18,2002.
Committee and Board Reports: Administration - Chair Bieraugel
said the goal setting session on April 23 will be as good as the
Board makes it. One goal is to have the Board working as a team
and the Wilder Report could be referenced for concerns of county
residents.
The Rules and By -laws of the Board do not define that the Board
Chairman automatically be a member of the Finance Committee. The
Board could amend the Rules to state this.
Ag. and Extension: Chair Bethke had no report at this time.
Planning, Zoning and Parks: Chair Raymond noted the 4 th Tuesday
is the scheduled date for this committee to do zoning business.
He requested if Board meetings have to be changed, they not be
scheduled on the 4 th Tuesday.
Economic Development: Member Supr. Standafer reported the
Business of the Year awards would be presented the evening of
February 7 at the Hudson Golf Club. Winners this year are:
Emerging Business of the Year - co- recipients are BioDiagnostics,
River Falls and Prism Plastics, New Richmond; Small Business -
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J &M Printing, Deer Park; Medium Category - County Concrete,
Roberts; and Large Category - St. Croix Press, New Richmond.
Applications Filed for Rezoning: Glen Mohn, Town of Pleasant
Valley, Ag. to Ag /Res.
Mileage and Per Diem: Motion by Supr. O'Connell, 2 nd by Supr.
Mortensen to approve total of $7,960.03 for December, 2001.
Carried.
Correspondence: None received.
Chair thanked everyone for their cooperation. Motion to adjourn
by Supr. O'Connell, 2 nd by Supr. Wentz. Meeting adjourned at
12:05 p.m.
Thomas Dorsey, Chair Sue E. Nelson
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors County Clerk
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