HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 10-1-1985ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Special Session
"Tuesday October 1, 1985
9:00 a.m.
County Board of Supervisors called to order by Chairman Anderson.
Silent meditation by all present. Pledge of Allegiance to the American
Flag by all present.
Roll Call by County Clerk: 30 present, 1 absent.
Consideration of minutes of the September Regular Session. Motion by
Supr. George, 2nd by Supr. Bailey to approve the minutes. Clerk
presented clarification regarding award to Supr. Timmerman, to be
"state tree farmer," rather than "state tree planter; regarding the
Computer Advisory Committee, to recognize efforts of Highway Office
Manager R. Loney and Deputy Clerk P. Chapin. thanks Minutes approved
as amended.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS
Chairman Anderson welcomed all guests and representatives of the press.
Motion by Supr. Brown, 2nd by Supr. O'Connell to adopt the agenda.
Motion carried. County Clerk read rules 20 and 22, with regard to
addressing the Board. Next session to be October 15 at 9:00 a.m. in
the Courthouse, and to include preliminary budget review.
OLD AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Ordinances and Resolutions
Wage Study Report: Personnel Committee Chairman Garske addressed the
members regarding a comprehensive wage study conducted in the county,
of the unrepresented (non -union) employees. Introduction of St. Croix
County Personnel Director D. Kathan and Principal A. Bunnett, Hay
Management Consultants. Extensive presentation of conclusions given,
including: 1. Overall, the County has maintained a high degree of
internal equity in its salaries. Only nine jobs (7%) are paid outside
normal limits and three (2%) are more than $1000 annually outside those
limits. 2. Between the Health Center and the Courthouse work
locations, there is an 8-10% difference in salary practice, with the
Courthouse higher. For less complex jobs, the Highway Department pays
above Courthouse levels while supervisory and management level jobs are
paid less than equivalently complex jobs in the Health Center and the
Courthouse. 3. There is a possible source of inequity in the
different definition of a full week's work. Some jobs have 35, others
37.5 or 40.0 hours in a full week. 4. Disparties of as much as
$3.50/hour exist between Health Center and Courthouse social workers.
5. For Exempt or Professional jobs, St. Croix County pays below a 18
county average practice at lower levels and at or above 75% of these
counties for major department heads. 6. Health Center compensation
practices are 10th-20th percentile in comparison with small and medium-
sized hospitals nationally. 7. Nonexempt compensation levels are
below average at lower levels and slightly above average at higher
nonexempt levels when compared with seven nearby Wisconsin counties.
Recommendations and discussion regarding comparison of county with
other comparable counties. Bunnett also indicated that there is no
significant evidence that Minnesota workplaces are relative to the St.
Croix County workforce. Discussion regarding fair wage compensation
level for elected officials, recommending that the same relationship
should exist between appointed and elected employees. Question of
method of performance evaluation. Supr. D r a x 1 e r indicated that
internally a team of evaluators was selected, and quality control check
by the Personnel Committee existed. The evaluators, trained by Hay
Management Consultants, are: Personnel Director, Finance Director,
Highway Commissioner, Health Center Administrator, and Labor Counsel.
Their role included evaluation of all unrepresented employee positions,
with the exception of Department Heads and elected officials. The
later were evaluated by Hay Consultants and reviewed by the Personnel
Committee. Specific recommendation presented by Personnel Director per
Personnel Committee regarding wage adjustments, to include 1. minimum
comparative ratio to be brought up effective October 1, estimating a
cost of approximately $2906 (exclusive of fringes). 2. those jobs in
appointed positions, which are positioned in the new range would
increase in 1986 according to the percentage of range midpoint.
Discussion and questions. regarding adjustments within recommended
time frame.
Other recommendations to be considered by the Board to include:
1. Develop a compensation philosophy and policy with clear definition
of purpose 2. Emphasize internal equity by compensating consistently
for jobs on basis of evaluated job content. 3. Set official pay rates
on a consistent hourly basis so that inequities between the 35 and 40
hour -per -week jobs can be remedied. 4. Set pay ranges for elected
officials consistent with other employees on the basis of job size.
Establish actual rates at 105% of range midpoint to compensate for lack
of performance increase opportunity; or set pay at range minimum before
filing for election, with opportunity to restore pay to the previous
rate for an incumbent and/or experienced person, consistent with
performance quality 5. Adopt a performance -based pay increase policy
with pay increases percentages determined by performance quality and
position in range. Report on file in the County Clerk's office.
ORDINANCE #127(85): recommending approval for Rezonement of Land to
Commercial from Agricultural. Pertains to the petition of R. Margotto,
Town of Hammond. Motion by Supr. R. Peterson, 2nd by Supr. Hop to
approve. Discussion. Motion carried.
Second Reading Resolution regarding Creation of Long Range Planning:
Motion by Supr. S. Peterson, 2nd by Supr. Nelson to place on the floor.
Finance Committee Chairman S. Peterson referred to joint meeting with
members of Jail Study and Planning & Zoning Committee, at which time a
recommendation was made to have original jurisdiction of long range
planning remain with Finance, using Jail Study and Planning & Zoning
Committees as resources, with assistance from the County Planner.
Motion by Supr. S. Peterson, 2nd by Supr. Nelson to postpone action .on
the proposed resolution indefinitely. Discussion. Roll Call vote: 19
yes, 11 no. Motion carried, and resolution postponed indefinitely.
Budget Planning: Status of budget review summary presented by Finance
Committee Chairman and Finance Director. Summary sheet indicated that
proposed increase in tax levy would represent an increase of 30.62%
over 1985 figures, a potential mill rate of 5.099. Supr. S. Peterson
asked that each committee reconsider 1986 individual budget requests
with intent to trim any unnecessary spending. Discussion regarding
options available to offset potential increase, including a county
sales tax or a wheel tax. Supr. George encouraged members to become
involved with budget matters of the school district. Supr. Garske
addressed status of negotiations with union employees. Supr. Swenby
complimented the Finance Committee for their diligence with the budget
review. Motion by Supr. Stephens, 2nd by Supr. Brown to recess for
lunch. Motion carried.
SESSION RECONVENED
OLD BUSINESS (Continued), NEW BUSINESS
Session reconvened. Roll Call: 27 present 4 absent. Presentation
regarding Sexual Harassment in the Workplace given to the County Board
members and county employees. Presention given by Community Development
Specialists from the University of Wisconsin Extension.
Discussion regarding litigation of Thompson, Sauers, Thompson vs. St.
Croix County placed on the floor. Motion by Supr. Stephens, 2nd by
Supr. Heebink to move into closed session per Wisconsin Statute 19.85
( 1 ) g. Roll Call vote: 27 yes, 0 no. Motion carried. No action.
Motion by Supr. Stephens, 2nd by Supr. O'Connell to move out of closed
session. Motion carried.
Announcements: Invitation extended by Turningpoint for Victims of
Domestic Abuse, River Falls regarding "Domestic Violence Awareness
Week" October 6-12. Letter from Governor Earl inviting employees to
contribute through the Red Cross to the Mexican Relief fund. Budget
review to be added to all agendas through the Clerk's Office.
Discussion regarding solid waste matter.
Motion by Supr. R. Peterson, 2nd by Supr. Jensch to adjourn. Motion
carried.
Norman E. Anderson, Chairman
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors
Respectfully submitted,
Jill Ann Berke
St. Croix County Clerk
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