HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 06-18-02 ST. CROIX BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
June 18, 2002 7:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Clarence Malick
INVOCATION: Pastor Kevin Morris, First Baptist Church, New Richmond
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
ROLL CALL
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS SESSION
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT SESSION: August 20, 2002 9:00 A.M. NO MEETING IN JULY
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Introduction of Perch Lake Park Manager Richard
Henning
Introduction of Medical Examiner - Cynthia Litzell
APPOINTMENTS: District 15 County Board Supervisor
Tom Bovis, Phillips Plastics Corp to LEPC Committee
John Mortensen & Mary Ellen Brue to IFLS
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. Department Reports: UW- Extension and Fair Board 7:15 P.M.
2. Management Audit Report 7:45 P.M.
3. Final Approval for Second State Trust Fund Loan
4. Resolution Requesting Continuation of Tax Filing
Reciprocity Between Wisconsin and Minnesota
5. Resolution Amending Board of Supervisors Rules and By-
Laws - Election Process
6. Resolution Amending Board of Supervisors Rules and By-
Laws - Board of Adjustment
7. Resolution Authorizing the submittal of a State Grant
Application and Subsequent Appropriation of County Funds
for a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program
8. Rezoning from Ag. to Ag. Residential for Arthur & Nellie
Gisbrecht, Town of Baldwin
9. Rezoning from Ag. to Ag. Residential for St. Croix County
Highway Department, Town of Stanton
COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS: Finance
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 June 18, 2002
ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Regular Meeting June 18, 2002
Meeting called to order by Chair Malick at 7:00 p.m. Pastor
Kevin Morris, First Baptist Church, New Richmond led the
invocation. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Roll call: 29 present, 1 absent and excused, Mark Erickson and
one vacancy.
Motion by Supr. Berenschot, 2n by Supr. Bethke to approve the
minutes with the correction by Supr. Speer in her wording
regarding Elected Officials salaries. "There are three different
wage grids - elected, union and non represented." Carried.
Motion by Supr. Speer, 2 by Supr. Mortensen to adopt the agenda.
Carried.
Date of next session is August 20, 9:00 a.m. No meeting in July.
Supr. Speer requested the July 18 th date be kept open for a
possible meeting in case there are rezonings to approve.
Announcements: Planning, Zoning and Parks Chair Jensen
introduced the new Perch Lake Park Manager Richard Henning.
Henning said he is excited to be here and to work on Homestead
Park from the beginning.
Public Protection Chair Speer introduced the new Medical Examiner
Cynthia Litzell. Litzell commented she has much to learn but has
good people to teach her and she will do the best she can.
Appointments: Chair Malick announced Tom Bovis from Phillips
Plastics was appointed to LEPC and Supr. Mortensen and citizen
member Mary Ellen Brue, Baldwin were appointed to Indianhead
Federated Library Services.
Supervisor, District 15: Chair Malick noted this district covers
parts of Warren and Kinnickinnic. The Kinnickinnic Board Chair
recommended Dean Fisk and other Town Board members recommended
Mr. Pechacek but discovered he was in another Supervisory
District. Jan Zoerb has been recommended by three Town Board
Supervisors, Town Treasurer, Town Clerk and former Supervisor
John Bradley.
Dean Fisk told the Board he has lived in Kinnickinnic for 30
years and has been a realtor for 35 years. Before this he was a
dairy farmer in Minnesota and won the Dairy Farmer of the Year
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County Board Minutes June 18, 2002
award. His education centered on Soil Conservation and Erosion
Control.
Jan Zoerb said she is a 16 year resident of Kinnickinnic and has
served 10 years in Town government. She is aware of Land Use
issues, balancing the County's $67 million budget, and other
phases of County Government. As a Supervisor, she would take her
responsibilities very seriously.
Chair Malick recommended Ms. Zoerb and voting was done by secret
ballot - 22 for Zoerb and 7 for Fisk. Clerk Nelson issued the
oath of office which made 30 members present and 1 absent.
Department Reports: Fair Board - Sherri Stoddard, Sec. /Treas.
and Director on the Fair Board thanked the Supervisors for their
support of the County Fair. She noted Fairest of the Fair Lori
Mueller has done an outstanding job of representing the Fair.
The Board is making electrical improvements and 50 trees have
been planted by the Master Gardeners who also help with the
flowers. 4 -H clubs are raising money for new buildings. Fair
dates this year are July 18 -21 and activities include Tuff
Trucks, Hypnotist Sami Dare, The Memories, Mud Races, Mud
Volleyball, Church Service and many other events.
UW- Extension - Family Living Agent Mary Lestrud introduced fellow
agents: Agriculture Agent Lee Milligan, Resource Agent Jim
Janke, 4 -H Youth Agent Kim Reaman and Nutrition Educator Martha
Mabis. Lestrud explained the many facets used to bring
University of Wisconsin knowledge and resources to people where
they need them most - where they live and work. These include
Specialists, Applied Research, University Resources, State and
Federal Resources, Grant Writing and Technology such as satellite
communications.
Ag. and Extension Chair Bethke complimented all agents for their
fine work. Chair Malick thanked Jim Janke for conducting the
orientation for new Supervisors.
Management Audit Report: David Brenne and Theresa Lang from the
firm of Wipfli, Ullrich and Bertelson were hired to do the
management assessment at the County Nursing Home. Brenne stated
the Health Center was compared to other county- operated
facilities in the area and other Nursing Homes within the County.
The St. Croix home is overstaffed in comparison to the others
with 7.2 hours per patient day which converts to 11.4 full time
employees. Wages and fringes for these FTE's totals $550,000.
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County Board Minutes June 18, 2002
There was not a significant population of developmental disabled
population and number is no greater than at other nursing homes.
It is estimated about 90% of Health Center's patients come from
within 15 miles.
Brenne said there is no reimbursement system in long -term care
that will support the current rate of spending incurred by the
Health Center. The wage levels are higher than its counterparts
for Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified
Nursing Assistants, Social Services, Activities and Medical
Records. The Health Center is in line for employee benefit
expenses with other county operated homes but is higher than
other facilities within the County. The difference is primarily
attributed to the retirement fund plus better coverage and higher
employer contributions for the health insurance program.
Brenne outlined examples to improve the effective management of
the facility and identified numerous operational issues. (Note:
the complete Executive Summary of Findings is on file in the
County Clerk's office.)
Some steps to consider to improve Health Center operations:
1. Consider costs and benefits of downsizing the nursing home.
2. Implement staffing levels relative to census.
3. Implement available or new technologies for both financial
and non - financial reporting systems.
4. Re- negotiate union contracts to bring wages back in line.
Brenne thanked the Board for the opportunity to do the study. In
reply to Supervisors' questions, Brenne said the home could
operate without a tax subsidy but only with significant changes
in wages and fringe benefits. There are given staffing levels
and wages available to operate in the black. New nursing homes
never pay for themselves. The Health Center structure is not
that bad; Brenne has seen worse.
Supr. Krueger commented in 2001 the Health Center was $98,000
short of budgeted revenues and operating expenses exceeded the
budget by $536,000 for a total of $634,000 excess of expense over
operating revenues. Total loss without county subsidy was
$1,980,000 and before IGT monies were received.
Health and Human Services Director John Borup said the H &HS board
is willing to learn from and along with Wipfli. In 2002 the
staff has been reduced by 10.41 FTE. The previous Keefe report
showed the Health Center had many chronically mentally ill
residents with 93% needing skilled or intensive care.
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County Board Minutes June 18, 2002
Nursing Home Director Carolyn Krieger said the staffing level is
now 5.65 hours plus .75 PTO per patient days. The state average
is 5.75 PPD. If the beds were downsized to 72, 31 FTE's could be
eliminated. Work hours would be saved in a new building also.
The State of WI does not adequately fund Medicaid. We are in a
high cost labor region due to proximity to the Twin Cities.
Krieger stated there is no staffing shortage due to good wages.
Final Approval for Second State Trust Fund Loan: Motion to
approve by Supr. Swenson, 2 nd by Supr. Krueger. The total loan is
$129,947 with $10,000 designated for a warning alarm system on a
Glen Hills Dam; $35,000 for Park playground equipment; $60,015
for Computer Services mass storage device and $24,932 for data
transmission wiring project. The term of the loan is 5 years at
4% interest. Roll call vote: 27 yes, 2 no, 1 abstained, 1
absent. Carried.
Resolution #10 (2002): Requesting Continuation of Tax Filing
Reciprocity between Wisconsin and Minnesota. Motion to adopt by
Supr. Luckey, 2 nd by Supr. O'Connell. Luckey explained this
resolution requests that WCA encourage the Governor and
Legislature act to continue the agreement which allows filing of
a single income tax return by residents of Wisconsin and
Minnesota who are employed in the other state. Carried.
Resolution #11 (2002): Amending Board of Supervisors Rules and
by -Laws - Election Process. Motion to adopt by Supr. Luckey
2 nd by Supr. Standafer. Luckey advised this amendment spells out
the election process in more detail and adds the questions to be
asked of nominees for Chair of the Board. Carried.
Resolution #12 (2002): Amending Board of Supervisors Rules and
By -Laws - Board of Adjustment. Motion to adopt by Supr. Luckey,
2 nd by Supr. Standafer. Luckey noted there was a problem with the
term beginning on July 1 and this resolution changes it to May 1
to coincide with Board elections. The BOA shall consist of 5
members - 3 County Supervisors and 2 citizens. Terms will be
staggered and if a Supervisor is not re- elected, the term ends.
Carried.
Motion by Supr. Luckey, 2 nd by Supr. Standafer to suspend the
rules for one year in order to allow former Supervisor Tom Rose
to complete this term. With a show of hands, motion carried on
25 yes to 5 no vote.
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County Board Minutes June 18, 2002
Resolution #13 (2002): Authorizing the submittal of a State
Grant for a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program. Motion
to adopt by Supr. Bethke, 2n by Supr. Berenschot. Carried.
Ordinance #617 (2002): Rezoning from Ag. to Ag /Res for Arthur
and Nellie Gisbrecht, Town of Baldwin. Motion to enact by Supr.
Jensen, 2 nd by Supr. Burri. Carried.
Ordinance 618 (2002): Rezoning from Ag. to Ag /Res for St. Croix
County Highway Department. Motion to enact by Supr. Jensen, 2nd
by Supr. Luckey. Carried.
Committee and Board Reports:
Finance Committee: Vice Chair Swenson thanked the Finance
members and Committee Chairs for their input at the joint
meeting. He believes this is a good start on solving the 2003
budget problems. Another joint meeting is planned for July 10
Using hypothetical numbers only, Swenson pointed out the impact
of a 2% increase in wages with no new positions, grid changes or
reclassifications would be $457,410. A 13.5% increase in health
insurance would total $635,370. With other fringe benefits, no
change in capital outlay and operational expenses and adding in
debt service the total impact would be $1,283,662.
The Finance Committee's most likely scenario for new revenue less
shared revenue loss would be a projected funding gap of - $767,287
This relates to a 4% levy increase and a 1/3 cut in shared
revenue. Swenson commented it may not be this bad but it may be
worse. Budget instructions will be delayed until health
insurance numbers are known in mid July and more finite
information is received from Madison.
Administrative Coordinator: Chuck Whiting highlighted the
capital outlay report. The Huber facility is included for 2003
at a cost of $1.4 million. The Nursing Home outlay items were
moved from 2002 to 2003. The Register of Deeds software
management for $86,500 will be paid from another fund. Whiting
hopes to have Health Insurance rates in July. He welcomed Supr.
Zoerb to the Board.
Applications Filed for Zoning Amendments: Lee and Patricia
Dorwin, Town of Baldwin.
Mileage and Per Diem: Motion by Supr. Raymond, 2 nd by Supr.
Krueger to approve total of $9,754.03 for month of May, 2002.
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Correspondence: Clerk read a note from Mrs. Gerald Larson
thanking the Board for the flower arrangement, support and
friendship for deceased Supervisor Gerald Larson. A thank you
was received from Supervisor Chris Bethke for the flowers
received when he was hospitalized.
Announcements: Clerk Nelson noted the WCA convention will be
September 22 -25 in Milwaukee. Supervisors wishing to attend must
notify her by July 22n A reminder will be sent.
Clerk announced the American Legion golf tournament scheduled for
June 19 Supr. Grant said golfers can still sign up and all
donations, large or small, are welcome. The funds donated are
used for various youth programs in the County.
Motion to adjourn by Vice Chair Jacobson, 2 by Supr. Wentz.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
C.W. Malick, Chair Sue E. Nelson
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors County Clerk
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