HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdministration 04-12-06 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA
ST. CROIX COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
April 12, 2006 9 a.m.
St. Croix County Government Center Room 1281
1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MEETING: March 8, 2006
DATE OF NEXT MEETING — May 10, 2006
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
1. Preparation Work for April 24 County Board Goal Setting Session
2. Review of Marathon County Board Guidelines and Core Values
3. Review of Taxpayer Protection Act
4. By -Laws re:
a. Committee Signatures on Resolutions **
b. Meal Reimbursements **
ADJOURN
(Items may be taken in different order)
* * 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.
4/6/2006 8:46 AM
OFFICIAL MINUTES
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
APRIL 12, 2006
Meeting called to order by Chair Jacobson at 9:OOa.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Art Jacobson, Tom Caflisch, Don Jordan, Jan Zoerb and Cindy Leonard
(Leonard arrived at 9:09am).
OTHERS PRESENT: Buck Malick, Administrative Coordinator Chuck Whiting and Amy
Geurkink.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Motion by Jordan, 2 n by Caflisch to adopt the agenda. Carried
unanimously.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: May 10, 2006.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES: Motion by Caflisch, 2 nd by Jordan to approve the March 8, 2006
minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
PREPARATION WORK FOR APRIL 24" COUNTY BOARD GOAL SETTING SESSION: Whiting
reported the ideas are in place for the Spring Goal Setting session and he will work with the County Clerk on
the preparation of an agenda. Whiting stated he had asked for the top five priorities from each of the
department heads and he will distribute that information at the April I8 County Board meeting. Whiting
indicated they are pretty much ready to go.
Caflisch commenced discussion concerning Whiting conferring with facilitator Salverda in advance regarding
the County Board size issue so that things move along during the goal- setting session, as the issue could be
potentially problematic for the goal setting session.
Zoerb apologized for her absence as of late and expressed her appreciation to the committee. She asked for
clarification on the reduction process. Malick explained the statutes concerning the use of the latest census.
Brief discussion regarding the time frame for reduction and what other counties are doing. Discussion
regarding the citizens moving ahead on their own concerning this issue.
Jordan commenced discussion regarding the number of signatures citizens would need on a petition to get this
done on their own. Discussion regarding the 10% being an easy task for citizens. Discussion regarding
publishing a notice in the newspapers after the April 24 session so the public knows it is being worked on.
Discussion regarding the plan to move forward and how committees function with just a few members.
Discussion regarding Salverda's process for the goal- setting session. Consensus was that no new signals need
to be sent to Salverda but Whiting indicated he will cite the downsizing as a priority issue of this committee
and will relay the information.
Discussion regarding what is the engine driving the reduction of the County Board size and the more
discussion about it the better. Discussion regarding holding a public meeting, offering a workshop, etc. and
perhaps UW Extension playing a role.
1
Brief discussion regarding how the state legislature ought to reduce its numbers by the same percentage.
Discussion regarding examples of how not to reduce. Whiting explained that there may not be a best way but
that it comes down to what is expected from the board. Discussed that the Wisconsin Counties Association
does not see a need for reduction.
Discussion that the committee needs to get ahead of this and quickly. This issue will be placed at the top of
the May 10 agenda.
REVIEW OF TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT: Whiting indicated that per his discussion with State
Representative Kitty Rhoades she feels this will become law and citizens should be concerned about any
constitutional changes. Discussion regarding TABOR and levy limits, etc. and that it is devolving the current
structure. Also discussed the lack of media in this area.
Discussion regarding sale of county -owned land and how it affects the taxpayers. Discussion regarding
financing, etc. Caflisch presented a handout regarding the City of River Falls. Discussion regarding bonding,
etc. being classified as revenue and the complicated calculation. Discussion regarding impact fees having to
be paid back within seven years and the difficulty in projection.
Discussion regarding citizens being taxed out of their property; growth is high and mill rate and levy amounts
determine the tax rate. Property is a valuable commodity but citizens do not want to be taxed for it. Citizens
are not knowledgeable about assessment, etc.
Discussion regarding meeting with legislators to let them know how the county feels. Discussion regarding
the Administration Committee perhaps meeting with them on a quarterly basis.
REVIEW OF MARATHON COUNTY BOARD GUIDELINES AND CORE VALUES: Whiting
received information regarding core values from the Marathon County Administrator. Discussion regarding
core values being about making decisions that are best for the county as a whole. Jordan commenced
discussion concerning the cover page and its attempt to systemize behavior. It was suggested that we obtain
formats from other counties as well. Discussed sending the information to all County Board members for
informational purposes.
Caflisch left the meeting at 10:43am.
BY -LAWS: Discussion regarding signatures on resolutions and whether the signatures need to be on the
document prior to board members seeing it for review purposes. Jordan feels there ought to be some
flexibility and there is nothing wrong with getting signatures at a later date.
Zoerb commenced discussion concerning the form containing the information of how the individual
committee members voted. The voting information should be attached or included even if the signatures are
not; the value being discussion could take place prior to the County Board meeting. Malick read the Bylaws.
Discussion that it is not efficient to always obtain committee signatures prior to the County Board meeting.
The meeting minutes reflect the vote. Discussion regarding preparing a standardized form with the names
typed in. If the names are listed and how they voted is indicated then the signatures do not need to be there for
review purposes.
2
Brief discussion regarding some committee members signing resolutions for which they did not attend the
meeting for that particular discussion. Discussion this should never happen and the issue ought to be
addressed.
Motion by Leonard, 2 nd by Zoerb to revise Article V, Number 11 of the Bylaws as follows: Every written
resolution and ordinance shall have indicated thereon the names of the members of the introducing committee
and how they voted. The Chair of the introducing committee is responsible for obtaining signatures on
resolutions and ordinances. Carried unanimously (Caflisch not present for the vote). Deliver information to
Corporation Counsel for the preparation of the resolution and present it at the April 18 County Board session.
Per Diem/Meal Reimbursement: Review of current Bylaws and discussion regarding meal reimbursement.
Motion by Jordan, 2 nd by Zoerb that following consideration of the idea of expanding the meal reimbursement
the Committee recommends no change to the by -laws. Carried unanimously (Caflisch not present for the
vote).
Jacobson and Zoerb (Supervisors not seeking re- election) thanked the committee for their support and good
work and the committee thanked Jacobson and Zoerb for their hard work and dedication.
Meeting adjourned at 11:03am.
Cindy Leonard, Secretary
Amy Geurkink, Recording Secretary
3