HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Protection Committee 01-06-05 ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Chair Clarence Malick
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Julie Speer, Chair
COMMITTEE TITLE: Public Protection Committee
DATE: January 6, 2005
TIME: 8:30 a.m.
LOCATION: St Croix County Government Center Room 1281
REQUEST FOR ATTENDANCE: Honorable Judges Lundell, Needham & Vlack, Clerk of
Court Meyer, Sheriff Hillstead, District Attorney Johnson, Administrator Coordinator Whiting
and Finance Director Pietrick.
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Regular Meeting January 13 8:30 a.m.
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
BUSINESS:
1. Organization
2. Collection of Traffic Tickets:
a. Payment schedule & requirements
b. Sentencing guidelines & requirements
c. Accounting for intake and outgo
d. Case studies
e. Progress to date
f. Withholding of recreational licenses
3. Deputies usage of hand swipes in squad cars
4. Tax intercept
5. Review of Sheriff's Department first deputy position
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order.)
SUBMITTED BY: Julie Speer
Date: December 21, 2004
COPIES TO: Honorable Judges Lundell, Needham, Vlack, Clerk of Court Meyer, Sheriff Hillstead,
District Attorney Johnson, Administrator Coordinator Whiting, Finance Director Pietrick, Committee
Members, County Clerk Campbell, County Board Office, New Media/Notice
*Additions /Changes /Corrections
12/22/2004
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PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE MEETING
January 6, 2005
MEMBERS PRESENT: Julie Speer, Lori Bernard, Mark Erickson and
Chuck Mehls. Denise Gunderson was excused.
STAFF PRESENT: Sheriff Dennis Hillstead, Chief Deputy Ron
Volkert, Clerk of Court Lori Meyer, Office Manager Kristi
Severson, Collection Agent Greg Moore, Administrative
Coordinator Chuck Whiting and Renee Carufel
Meeting called to order at 8 :30 a.m. by Chairperson Speer.
Motion by Erickson /Bernard to approve the agenda. Carried.
Next regular meeting will be January 13th at 8:30 a.m. Speer
turned the meeting over to Chuck Mehls.
Mehls reported on the collection of delinquent traffic tickets.
The committee has been working on this for two years. One new
collection tool is the use of credit card machines in patrol
cars, which is working very well. State tax intercept is another
resource of collections that is being used successfully. DNR
licenses cannot be intercepted at this time. Consensus of
committee is to have a resolution to the County Board to see if
we can do the DNR intercept.
Greg Moore, collections agent for District 13, appeared before
the committee, to report on ways to collect old fines. He
confirmed the County is doing everything according to statute
for collections.
Moore explained there is talk in the Legislature to introduce a
bill to have federal tax intercept. All these processes require
more workload for the staff. More staff would be needed to
really pursue this on a large basis.
Collecting delinquent fines would probably cost more than what
they are worth but deterring new ones would be more feasible.
The credit card collection in squad cars is really helping.
If we use the tax intercept procedure we should inform the
offenders.
Mehls suggested certified letters be sent. If no response, phone
calls are made to the people to pay up and then publish their
names in the paper as being delinquent.
Discussed using a collection agency. There is a cost with this
that would have to be considered. Mehls reported on the idea
of using a professional collection agency from Milwaukee.
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Meyer passed out the final urgent notices and consequences if
they do not pay. If they cannot pay in full, they are allowed
to sign a payment schedule. Then if payment is not made their
drivers license can be suspended and their name turned over the
Department of Revenue for tax intercept.
The County has entered 2300 names into the tax intercept
program. We have entered $748,000 to be collected and have
collected $27,891.31 to date.
Whiting reported a collection agency has contacted him and he
will report back to the committee if this looks promising.
Consensus of the committee would be to encourage legislation for
federal tax intercept, publication of names of delinquent
offenders and resolution to the County Board to deny Department
of Natural Resources licenses to anyone with outstanding traffic
fines.
The Committee was grateful to Meyer for her time and thanked
Kristi Severson for all her hard work.
Speer read a letter from Judges explaining why they were not
present as requested.
Review of Sheriff's Department first deputy position:
Hillstead presented the job description of the Chief Deputy
position. Discussion as to changing any policies was held.
The Gallagher report was discussed explaining the changes in
adjusting management recommended in the Sheriff's Department.
Hillstead explained his responsibilities to the Public
Protection committee.
He also informed the committee of the new policies for each
department that are in place. He is staying informed from
various court decisions what new policies need to be changed.
He also explained the duties of the Chief Deputy. The Chief
Deputy position is the key to keeping the department running
smoothly. Sheriff is the leadership position and chief deputy is
the management position.
Discussion was held if Volkert could help train his replacement
after he retires on Jan. 31, 2005. The Sheriff will report back
as to the best way to do this.
Meeting adjourned 11:15 a.m.
Lori Bernard, Secretary
Renee Carufel, Recording Secretary