Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 08-08-1990AMENDED AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SPECIAL SESSION August 8, 1990 7:00 P.M. Courthouse Hudson Compiled by Chairman Richard B. Peterson CALL TO ORDER INVOCATION: Silent Meditation PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL: CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS SESSION Adoption of Agenda ANNOUNCEMENTS: Reading of Rule 20, Debate; Rule 22, Addressing the Board DATE OF NEXT SESSION: August 14, 1990 9:OOA.M. APPOINTMENTS: Appointments by Chairman Peterson OLD AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS (Includes consideration and action on Second Reading Resolutions and Ordinances) NEW BUSINESS 1. Review of Government Center/Jail background materials 2. Government Center/Jail Planning Committee - Recommendation on Building Program Size EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS FIRST READING OF RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES 1. Resolution to Proceed with the Design Stage of the St. Croix County Government Center Announcements Adjournment (THE ABOVE AGENDA IS NOT NECESSARILY IN ORDER OF PRESENTATION) ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 0verr Special Session August 8, 1990 Board of Supervisors called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Richard Peterson. Silent meditation observed. Pledge of Allegiance recited. Roll call by County Clerk: 30 present, 1 absent - Milton Meinke (excused). Motion by Supr. Malick, 2nd by Supr. Wallace to dispense with reading of rules #20 and #22 in order for all guests to speak and to adopt agenda with this change. Motion carried. Chair announced Farm City Day, August 11 at the Richard Jacobson farm south of Hammond. Supervisors are encouraged to attend. There are no appointments at this time and no old or unfinished business will be conducted at this meeting. Chair Peterson then introduced Supr. Malick, Chair of the Government Center/Jail Planning Committee: Supr. Malick assured everyone of a chance to speak. He posed two questions for consideration: Has the Committee identified the smallest, cheapest way to deal with the current space problems? and Which of the four options is the least costly? Supr. Malick reported a 17% reduction in original space planned and an 18% reduction in dollars ($2.3 million). County Planner Dave Fodroczi presented background information explaining how space needs began with full occupancy of the jail. A Jail Study Comm. was created, the Boody property was purchased, Gair Associates was hired to study land development, and Venture Architects completed a space needs study in 1989 with a cost of $14.5 million. In 1989 the present Gov't. Center/Jail Study Committee was formed. Human Services department was moved to the Health Center in New Richmond. Informational meetings were held for local elected officials. County Board voted to keep all 99 A. of the Boody property. Springsted and Associates was hired to develop financial planning for a new Gov't. Center. Assistant County Planner Ellen Denzer outlined the Building Program Options A through E which describes different stages of building starting with a jail and possibly one courtroom and concluding with all the departments in a new facility. Denzer explained the effect on the tax roll using several of the options as examples and also included some of the revenue sources that could be used to offset the tax increase. Sheriff Ralph Bader detailed the extreme shortage of space in the jail. The mission of his department is to run the jail in a safe and secure manner for the workers, public and inmates. Bookings have increased from 1135 in 1975 to 1921 in 1989. The average length of stay in the jail is 4-5 days. Moving inmates to the court is hazardous for all concerned. Judge Eric Lundell and Judge C.A. Richards expressed their need for a new Courthouse complex. The judges explained the case load has doubled in six years and St. Croix Co is #1 in the loth district for personal injury cases and 2nd in civil cases. Attorneys schedule more trials in this county due to history of good settlements. The County Board has recommended to the State that we have another judge but the State requires adequate space. The judges prefer Options D or E due to the need for these related offices to be adjacent - Clerk of Courts, Family Court Commissioners, Register in Probate, District Attorney, Child Support and Juvenile Intake. John Krizek, Administrative Coordinator informed the group of the obvious need for space just by looking at the offices in the halls. Electrical wiring is not adequate for new computer equipment. Disadvantages of having two complexes include difficulty in making daily cash deposits with the Treasurer, maintenance would be set up in two areas, duplications would occur such as reception and switchboard, heat and lighting in two buildings, supplies and equipment plus lost time in travel. Demonstrating with a dollar bill Krizek described the debt service of Option E for $11 million, paying the interest, and taking into account the 5% inflation per year means you pay back in cheaper dollars. In 10 years you need twice as much money to build the same structure. Krizek prefers to offer the public one stop government shopping. Chair Peterson welcomed the guests and press. Following are comments by citizens and supervisors: Willis Harvieux questioned if we are favoring the criminal over the victim. He does not feel we need to design a jail to "molly coddle" the criminal. Gregg Miller, member of the Concerned Citizens for Lower Taxes reminded the Supervisors that County Government gets only a slice of the property tax pie. School districts want money for building and municipalities also need finances for building and operation. The County should not count on receiving as much shared revenue from the State and Federal Government. Rolv Slungaard from the St. Croix Valley Bar Assoc. told what effect overcrowding in the court system can have on a case. When an offer of settlement is filed, 12% interest is added from day of filing until a settlement is reached. Delays in court can add many dollars to a settlement. Gary Fultz suggested the present Courthouse run on shifts and be open 24 hours a day. Supr. Rebhan supported longer perhaps a 15 or 16 hour day. Minnesota and Wisconsin. Rebhan burden of farmers in our county. K hours for government services - He compared farm land taxes in does not favor adding to the tax Supr. Brown commented on the $2.3 million saved by cutting space and asked if more efforts could add to this savings. Brown does not want our county to house prisoners from other communities because we should not be in that business. He would like to see more options such as adding on to the present complex to the north or west. A parking ramp could be built and there is the possibility of tearing down the Old Courthouse. Since the Old Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Buildings, the ramifications of tearing it down would have to be checked. Supr. Stephens also supported razing the Old Courthouse, adding a wing on the west, and using 824 area for parking. The Boody property could be sold to pay for the new wing. Supr. Malick said the committee would get some figures assembled on this proposal before the meeting on August 14. Supr. O'Connell said the Board has been working on this building project for 9 years and the present Committee worked hard to come up with the present options. Every day building prices increase. Costs of building a parking ramp are prohibitive since space for one car is estimated to cost $7,000 to $8,000. Vice Chair Bailey related she does not believe in a false economy; the more we wait the more it costs. She does not wish to tear down the Old Courthouse because it is on the National Register. Bailey favors Option E and building now. Supr. Jensch gave his reasons for voting for Option E. Previously he always believed in incremental building. After talking to an owner of a manufacturing plant, he favors building the entire complex at one time. The manufacturing plant has added two additions and each time it was half the size but the cost was the same as the original building or previous addition. Jensch does not wish to come back to the taxpayer for increases every 2 or 3 years. Supr. Hop prefers Option E and putting all departments under one roof. Supr. Dorsey is against Option E as it is too much cost at one time. He also would like to check into adding on to the present building. Dorsey said we may have to call in outside people for advice. Supr. Cox questioned what benefit we receive in having the Old Courthouse on the National Register. Supr. Stephens feels we do not get any benefits, the building does us no good and is in need of repair. Chair Peterson addressed the Board in regard to growth of County Government - more employees, increase in court cases, lack of space in Clerk of Courts, District Attorney office employees located on two floors and no storage space for Register of Deeds. 3 Peterson feels we have to move forward now. As Supervisors it is our responsibility to provide adequate buildings for County Government. Supr. Draxler questioned the cost of inflation in relation to interest on bonding. Ron Langness from Springsted and Associates stated it is difficult to make future predictions but 5% is a reasonable estimate for inflation and interest rates on 20 year bonds would be 7 to 7 1/2 percent. Supr. Oemichen remarked that we are not necessarily losing the full 5% each year from inflation because we could put the money in the bank and earn interest. Gregg Miller, CCLT, asked if a new Government Center is the only way to go. Have other options been explored or was the focus only on a new complex? Supr. Jensch asked Mr. Miller for any ideas and input that would be constructive and offer initative. Miller replied he and his group would be happy to meet with the Gov't. Center/Jail Study Committee at any time. Karen Humphrey, Chief Jailer relayed the seriousness of jail liability due to overcrowded conditions. She asked the Supervisors if they would rather pay a for large law suit or pay for a building. Motion to adjourn by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Hop. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Richard B. Peterson, Chairman St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Sue E. Nelson St. Croix County Clerk 4