HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Protection Committee 08-28-06 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA
PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
AUGUST 28, 2006 - 8:30AM
ST. CROIX COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER
ROOM 1281
1101 CARMICHAEL ROAD
HUDSON, WISCONSIN
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING — September 7, 2006 — 8:30am
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS: 2007 BUDGET*
1. Medical Examiner — Casey Swetlik
2. Sheriff Dennis Hillstead, Jail Captain Karen Humphrey, Office Manager Mary Martell
a. Position Requests **
3. Child Support Administrator — Katy Kapaun
4. District Attorney Eric Johnson, Victim Witness Coordinator Ann Gustafson
a. Position Request
5. WCA Proposed Resolutions **
6. Jail Phone Contract **
ADJOURN
(Items may be taken in different order)
* These items will be heard by each Department
** Additions /Changes /Corrections
Submitted by: Julie Speer
Date: August 24, 2006
Copies to: County Board office News Media
County Clerk Committee Members
Respective Department Heads
Items for County Board approval must be submitted to the County Clerk's office
by Wednesday morning preceding a County Board meeting.
8/24/2006 8:47 AM
PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE MEETING
August 28, 2006
Unofficial
MEMBERS PRESENT: Julie Speer, Denise Gunderson, John Borup, Chuck Mehls and Tom
Dowd. Absent: None
STAFF PRESENT: Sheriff Dennis Hillstead, Chief Deputy Bob Klanderman, Office Manager
Mary Martell, Jail Captain Karen Humphrey, Medical Examiner Casey Swetlik, District
Attorney Eric Johnson, Victim Witness Coordinator Ann Gustafson, Child Support Director
Katy Kapaun and Amy Geurkink.
OTHERS PRESENT: None.
Meeting called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Chairperson Speer. Next regular meeting will be
September 7 1 at 8:30am. The October meeting will be on the 1 lch at 8:30am.
Motion by Borup, 2 nd by Gunderson to adopt the agenda. Carried unanimously.
BUDGET 2007
MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT: Swetlik presented the 2007 proposed Medical Examiner
budget and provided a historical re -cap of the Medical Examiner's budget estimate process.
Swetlik reported autopsies have the biggest impact on the budget. He is proposing twenty -eight
autopsies for the 2007 budget and reported he is somewhat concerned the number could be
higher. Discussion regarding the difficulties of projecting the numbers and the revenue to cover
expenses.
Motion by Mehls, 2 "d by Borup to approve the proposed 2007 Medical Examiner's budget in the
amount of $119,206.00. Carried unanimously. Swetlik will obtain clarification from Finance
Director Pietrick regarding the summary and will provide the summary document to be signed at
the September 7, 2006 Public Protection Committee meeting.
JAIL REPORT: Hillstead reported on the status of the jail phone contract process explaining
they searched for a phone provider because AT &T no longer provides the service. He reported
he put out three requests for bids and is recommending Conversant Technology, Inc. Hillstead
reported Corporation Counsel has basically approved the contract but added the appropriate
signature lines need to be implemented.
Motion by Mehls, 2 nd by Dowd to approve the jail phone contract with Conversant Technology,
Inc. Carried unanimously.
Hillstead reported he and Martell calculate an approximate $104,000 shortage in the budget on
the wages. Martell will contact Pietrick for clarification as they believe it would have to be at
least the same or higher than last year.
Without what is noted above, Hillstead reported there is about an $87,000 drop in the overall
budget due to the jail medical services being contracted out. Discussion regarding the services
provided under the contract. Hillstead reported the medical services contract will be reviewed
by Corporation Counsel.
Hillstead reported everything else is essentially the same except for the liability insurance.
The Committee decided not to take action concerning the 2007 proposed jail budget pending
clarification on the wage issue.
Humphrey reiterated Hillstead's comments and summarized the budget is down due to the
medical services being contracted out.
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. REPORT: Hillstead reported he removed the full time patrol
officer from the 2007 budget due to the high gas costs and liability insurance increase and
reported he would like to move forward with two new clerical staff positions due to
implementation of dictation/transcription.
Hillstead presented the Temporary Help Request Form for seventeen deputies at $11.47 per hour
(except for one who is $3 more per hour because of transports). Motion by Gunderson, 2nd by
Dowd to approve $80,684.88 to fund the seventeen deputies for temporary help. Carried
unanimously. Hillstead presented the budget request to continue the position of the 3/4 time Law
Enforcement Clerk at $12.84 per hour ($20,030.40) yearly wage and reported he would like to
continue that position. Motion by Gunderson 2nd by Mehls to approve the 3/4 position. Carried
unanimously.
Hillstead reported he is requesting to add two full -time clerical staff for the purpose of
dictation/transcription. Hillstead and Martell explained the process of dictation/transcription,
citing it will free up officer time for more hands -on work for patrol. Discussion regarding
security, sensitive issues and the person(s) working in- house, the cost of out - sourcing and
evaluating over time if the reports can be separated for less sensitive issues, etc. Motion by
Mehls, 2 by Speer to approve the increased clerical staff positions and start-up costs. Carried
unanimously. Discussion regarding using Procurement Specialist Dana Baker and researching
any used office equipment and furniture, etc.
Hillstead presented the Sheriff's Department 2007 proposed budget. Discussion regarding
transport costs, office supplies, uniform supply charges and snowmobile and water patrol.
Discussion regarding the increased fuel costs and the difficulty of predicting that cost.
Discussion regarding the liability insurance allocation to individual departments.
Hillstead commenced discussion regarding retirees and long term employee PTO banks and how
they affect the budget; Martell explained the PTO pay -out options.
Martell and Hillstead gave an update on the Visions software utilization; Martell reported on the
off -site storage issue.
Motion by Gunderson, 2 by Dowd to approve the 2007 proposed Sheriff's Department budget
in the amount of $8,137,713.21. Carried unanimously.
CHILD SUPPORT REPORT: Kapaun provided an updated copy of the Sage report and
outlined the 2007 budget. Kapaun reported she projects the revenue to be pretty close to the
previous year or perhaps a bit more in 2007. Discussion regarding the Children First Program,
Kapaun reported they will evaluate this program and look at perhaps performing it in- house.
Discussion regarding staff development costs, training opportunities, paternity testing, etc.
Kapaun reported she has no plans to hire new employees but explained there are two in her
department that could decide to retire at any time.
Discussion regarding storage space, Kapaun reported she does not see a need for off -site storage
at this point. Kapaun explained the record retention requirements for her department and
reported they use St. Croix Industries for shredding.
Discussion regarding state and federal budget cuts.
Discussion regarding the liability insurance increase and the history /reason for the increase.
Motion by Borup, 2nd by Dowd to approve the 2007 proposed Child Support Department budget
as presented in the amount of $554,946.99. Carried unanimously.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S REPORT: Ann Gustafson presented the Victim Witness 2007
proposed budget and explained there is not much new. Gustafson explained the reimbursements,
indicating 51 % is the best estimate for reimbursement. Gustafson reported they are requesting a
new telephone for one of the specialists, stating the current phone is not compatible with the
remainder of the office.
Gustafson explained the intern process and reported she has had very good luck with most of the
interns.
Motion by Mehls, 2 nd by Borup to approve the 2007 Victim Witness Department proposed
budget in the amount of $194,057.00. Carried unanimously.
Johnson presented the District Attorney's proposed 2007 budget and explained the revisions.
Johnson reported he has a request for a new position (paralegal) as well as a request for a 3/10
juvenile prosecutor position and re- approval for an intern.
Johnson summarized the need for a paralegal, citing this person can essentially do all the work of
a lawyer except appear in court. Johnson presented a county -by- county analysis of caseload,
citing the shortage of staff and explained many counties are going with paralegals for non -court
file involvement.
Johnson explained that the intern program is going great; the interns get a lot of the traffic cases
and misdemeanors, etc.
Johnson explained the request for the 3/10 juvenile prosecutor position. He reported the juvenile
prosecutor currently works half -time in St. Croix County and half -time in Pierce County.
Johnson explained the hardships of the half -time position. Discussion regarding the need for
state approval. Discussion regarding grant funding, Johnson explained the long term goal is to
have the state pay for it. Discussion regarding the reality being it is a needed position and the
CHILD SUPPORT REPORT: Kapaun provided an updated copy of the Sage report and
outlined the 2007 budget. Kapaun reported she projects the revenue to be pretty close to the
previous year or perhaps a bit more in 2007. Discussion regarding the Children First Program,
Kapaun reported they will evaluate this program and look at perhaps performing it in- house.
Discussion regarding staff development costs, training opportunities, paternity testing, etc.
Kapaun reported she has no plans to hire new employees but explained there are two in her
department that could decide to retire at any time.
Discussion regarding storage space, Kapaun reported she does not see a need for off -site storage
at this point. Kapaun explained the record retention requirements for her department and
reported they use St. Croix Industries for shredding.
Discussion regarding state and federal budget cuts.
Discussion regarding the liability insurance increase and the history /reason for the increase.
Motion by Borup, 2nd by Dowd to approve the 2007 proposed Child Support Department budget
as presented in the amount of $554,946.99. Carried unanimously.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S REPORT: Ann Gustafson presented the Victim Witness 2007
proposed budget and explained there is not much new. Gustafson explained the reimbursements,
indicating 51 % is the best estimate for reimbursement. Gustafson reported they are requesting a
new telephone for one of the specialists, stating the current phone is not compatible with the
remainder of the office.
Gustafson explained the intern process and reported she has had very good luck with most of the
interns.
Motion by Mehls, 2 nd by Borup to approve the 2007 Victim Witness Department proposed
budget in the amount of $194,057.00. Carried unanimously.
Johnson presented the District Attorney's proposed 2007 budget and explained the revisions.
Johnson reported he has a request for a new position (paralegal) as well as a request for a 3/10
juvenile prosecutor position and re- approval for an intern.
Johnson summarized the need for a paralegal, citing this person can essentially do all the work of
a lawyer except appear in court. Johnson presented a county -by- county analysis of caseload,
citing the shortage of staff and explained many counties are going with paralegals for non -court
file involvement.
Johnson explained that the intern program is going great; the interns get a lot of the traffic cases
and misdemeanors, etc.
Johnson explained the request for the 3/10 juvenile prosecutor position. He reported the juvenile
prosecutor currently works half -time in St. Croix County and half -time in Pierce County.
Johnson explained the hardships of the half -time position. Discussion regarding the need for
state approval. Discussion regarding grant funding, Johnson explained the long term goal is to
have the state pay for it. Discussion regarding the reality being it is a needed position and the
money should be committed. Johnson emphasized the need to have one person in charge of the
juvenile cases.
Motion by Gunderson, 2 nd by Speer to approve the position request of the 3/10 juvenile
prosecutor position. Carried unanimously.
Motion by Mehls, 2 nd by Dowd to approve the position request of the paralegal position. Carried
unanimously.
Motion by Gunderson, 2 nd by Dowd to approve the summer law intern position. Carried
unanimously.
Discussion regarding off -site storage, purging files and the process of selecting the off -site
storage facility.
Johnson highlighted and explained the budget items. Discussion regarding cellular phone
service, a headset for the receptionist, office supplies, new copier, process service, the costs
involved with subpoenas, etc.
Johnson commenced a brief discussion on case load and prioritizing.
Johnson reported St. Croix County is number one in the state concerning Meth cases; discussion
regarding devoting more resources to Western Wisconsin.
Johnson summarized there is a lot going on in this county and his office is very busy, citing his
support staff and lawyers are working very hard.
Motion by Dowd, 2 nd by Mehls to approve the 2007 proposed District Attorney's budget in the
amount of $585,950.00. Carried unanimously.
Motion by Gunderson, 2 nd by Mehls to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at11:50am.
John Borup, Secretary
Amy Geurkink, Recording Secretary