HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 12-10-1991d g
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ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Regular Session December 10, 1991
Chair Peterson called the Board of Supervisors to order at 9:00
a.m. The meeting has been properly published and guests and the
press were welcomed.
Father Dan Dahlberg, St. Bridget's Catholic Church, River Falls
gave the invocation. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Roll call: 28 present, 3 absent - Herb Rebhan, Gerald Wallace
and Tom O'Connell (all excused)
Motion by Supr. Malick, 2nd by Supr. Bradley to approve the
November 12th minutes. Carried. Adoption of Agenda: Supr.
Dorsey removed item #1 - Rezoning Ordinance for Star Prairie
Convenant Church because legal description is not final. Supr.
Bradley requested the Emergency Resolution #2 regarding
Moratorium on Sale of Nursing Home be a First Reading. Motion by
Supr. Malick, 2nd by Supr. Stephens to approve the agenda as
corrected. Supr. Sinclear agreed to having the Emergency
Resolution become a First Reading. Motion carried.
Announcements: Chair Peterson announced the resignation of Supr.
Gerald Wallace, Hudson, from the Board due to health reasons.
Chair suggested Supervisors send Wallace cards and greetings.
Appointment: Chair recommended appointment of Len Nyland to fill
the vacancy on the Indianhead Federated Library System. Motion
to approve Nyland's appointment by Vice Chair Bailey, 2nd by
Supr. Jensch. Carried.
Resolution 48: Supporting Adoption of Assembly Bill 160.
Motion to adopt by Supr. Luckey, 2nd by Supr. Malick. Public
Protection Chair Luckey explained County Welfare Fraud
Investigator Mike Wakeling brought this matter to the attention
of the Committee. Wisconsin law does not comply with federal
regulations regarding AFDC program fraud and thus millions of
dollars of federal aid could be lost to the state and counties.
Assembly Bill 160 provides penalties to parents committing
welfare fraud which complies with Federal rules. Motion carried.
Rules and Regulations: General Services Chair Art Jacobson
mentioned the Out of State Travel Resolution to be discussed at
the January meeting. The Committee is still revising the Board
Rules and Regulations and reviewing committee structure.
Administrative Coordinator: John Krizek announced the bonding
upgrade of St. Croix County to an A-1 rating which gives us 1/10%
advantage in interest rates when bonding. This upgrade saves
between $200,000 and $300,000 in interest. Krizek said Moody's
Invester Services was pleased with the organization and
management of the county and holding the mill rate to $5.54 for
the past four years was a consideration in the upgrading. Our
position with WIMMIC the county's insurance company also becomes
upgraded with the new rating.
The 1990 audit presented to the Finance Committee by Tracy and
Thole revealed an improvement of cash flow over other years and a
lesser amount of deficiencies were reported this year. The
county is in sound financial condition.
Krizek is preparing an Ordinance on Record Retention in order not
to move any unnecessary records to the new Government Center.
Supr. Kinney suggested working with UW-River Falls Archive Dept.
A report from Mary Jean Livermore, County Treasurer showed the
breakdown of who owes delinquent taxes of which individual
taxpayers owe 45%. Total taxes to be collected are down from
past years. Krizek stated if the 6% penalty were removed in 1992
the budget would have to be readjusted to address the loss of
revenue. Supr. Kinney, who sponsored the Ordinance Repealing the
Penalty, agreed that lead time and budget planning is needed
before reducing the penalty.
Chair Peterson thanked Rich Loney, John Krizek and Ellen Denzer
for their excellent work in obtaining a bond rate upgrade.
Finance Committee Chair also commended Krizek and Loney for their
efforts in the upgrading.
County Library Director: Director Deborah Paulson detailed the
flyer which shows Library Services offered in St. Croix County.
Paulson referred to the Long -Range Plan of Service which details
the Service Goals and Management Goals. The major Service Goal
is to improve access to library use. Funding issues is one of
the Management Goals and the objective is to develop an equitable
funding formula for library services to rural residents. At this
time charges widely vary throughout the county with urban
residents paying more than rural people. Based on a library
survey, 50% or more of library usage is by people outside the
city/village limits.
Supr. Kinney indicated that Towns often give something to a city
or village in return for library service such as land for dumping
solid waste or sludge and the broad picture should be considered.
Discussion regarding school libraries remaining closed for three
summer months. Vice Chair Bailey and Supr. Sinclear have both
contacted school superintendents about keeping school libraries
open throughout the year. Chair Peterson reported pending
legislation on combining school and local library services.
Finance Committee Report: Chair Stephens asserted the Finance
Committee has erred in approving $16,000 for parttime help in the
Clerk of Court office. Motion by Stephens, 2nd by Supr. Dorsey
to remove $16,OOO from the Clerk of Court budget. Chair ruled
this out of order because it was not on the agenda. Stephens
explained the State is providing extra judges to help the county
clear up a 3000 case backload and the Clerk of Court must provide
personnel to clerk for these judges. He objects to mandates from
the state with no funding since the referendum regarding this was
approved by 72% of the voters. Supr. Bradley specified the
Motion passed in Finance should take effect January 2, 1992.
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Corporation Counsel Timmerman suggested Chair Stephens call a
special Finance Meeting to deal with this issue. Meeting was
called for 1:00 p.m. and the media was notified.
Highway Committee: Chair Hop advised the Highway Committee
estimates an additional $35,000 to $40,000 will be used to cover
the costs of snow removal for the remainder of 1991. The
Committee will present actual cost figures in January.
Solid Waste Committee: Chair Willink reported 84% of
municipalities have designated the County as the Responsible Unit
for Recycling. The incinerator is running well; earlier the snow
created wet garbage and caused burning problems.
Government Center: Chair Malick indicated when an Insurance
Certificate is filed excavating on the new Government site will
begin. Malick referred to the First Reading Resolution on
extending the Government Center Study Committee to the Government
Center Building Committee which will be voted on in January.
Motion by Supr. Stephens, 2nd by Supr. Hop to dispense with the
rules and take action on this resolution now. Roll call vote:
8, yes; 20, no. Motion failed.
Farmland Preservation: Motion by Supr. Nelson, 2nd by Supr.
Grant to approve the contract of Richard G. and Frances Rice to
the State. Carried.
Mileage and Per Diem: Total for November of 1991 was $7,962.07.
Motion by Supr. Stephens, 2nd by Vice Chair Bailey to approve.
Carried.
Announcements: County Clerk Sue Nelson advised December 1
through January 7, 1992 is the time period for circulating
nomination papers for Supervisors of the County Board.
Resolution #49 91 : Emergency Resolution Awarding the Sale of
$11,500,000 General Obligation Bonds. Motion by Supr. Stephens,
2nd by Vice Chair Bailey to award the sale to Robert W. Baird
Company.
Ron Langness from Springsted complimented the staff on the good
presentation given to upgrade the bond rating. Four bids were
received on the sale of the bonds with interest rates close to
the figure predicted. Robert W. Baird Company had the lowest
bid of 6.5837% true interest rate and Langness recommended
awarding the bid to them. Roll call vote: 25 yes, 3, no.
Motion carried.
Motion to adjourn by Supr. Stephens, 2nd by Supr. Dull. Meeting
adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
Richard B. Peterson, Chair Sue E. Nelson
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors St. Croix Co. Clerk
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