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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 11-01-1995AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS November 1, 1995 9:00 A.M. St. Croix County Government Center Compiled by Chairman Robert M. Boche CALL TO ORDER INVOCATION: Pastor Dennis Nelson, Bethel Lutheran Church, Hudson PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL: ADOPTION OF AGENDA ANNOUNCEMENTS: DATE OF NEXT SESSION: November 21, 1995 (Tentative) APPOINTMENTS: OLD AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 1. PUBLIC HEARING ON 1996 PROPOSED BUDGET 9:00 A.M. A. Library Study Report B. Auditor's Report 2. Regular Board Session (Immediately Following Public Hearing) A. Resolution Approving County Aid Bridge Construction Under Section 81.38 of the Statutes, 'County of St. Croix B. Resolution Approving County ,.Aid Construction and Maintenance During the Calendar Year 1996 C. Resolution Adopting 1996 St. Croix County Budget *D. Resolution Regarding Cancellation of Checks *E. Resolution Approving Reimbursement Due Listing Officials for Listing Dogs *F. Rezoning from Ag. to Ag. Residential for William F. and Lois A. Sommerfeldt - Town of Somerset DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS 11:30 A.M. Emergency Communication and Personnel COMMITTEE & BOARD REPORTS FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS MILEAGE & PER DIEM REPORT CORRESPONDENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS -D0 ADJOURNMENT I (The above agenda is not necessarily in order of presentation) ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Budget Session November 1, 1995 Meeting called to order by Chair Boche at 9:00 a.m. Invocation was given by Supr. Chuck Mehls. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll call: 27 present, 4 absent - Tom Dorsey, Robert Draxler, Linday Luckey and George Sinclear (all excused). Sinclear arrived at 9:15 a.m. making 28 present, 3 absent. Supr. Jacobson was excused at 10:30 a.m. and Supr. Standafer at 12:10 p.m. Motion by Supr. Oemichen, 2nd by Supr. Giese to adopt the agenda. Carried. Chair welcomed the press and visitors. None of the public present indicated an interest in addressing the 1996 budget. Auditor's Report: Steve Tracey from the auditing firm of Tracey and Thole explained that in the General Fund the assets minus liabilities equal the fund balance. The three components of the fund balance are reserved, designated and undesignated funds. The percentage of undesignated funds to the General Fund Expense dropped from 1993 to 1994 to 7.770-. due to a $225,000 loan to the Highway Dept. and expending $300,000 for Emergency Communication equipment. The percentage will increase both in 1995 and 1996 with repayment of the loan from the Highway Dept. Tracey said it is difficult to determine how much should be in the General Fund. Bond rating companies look more at general management of the budget and the occurance of borrowing short term loans rather than a set amount in the General Fund. In response to Supr. Dowd's question about the county's ability to withstand a catastrophe, Krizek replied there is no condition that can occur that the county is not prepared to handle. In the instance of a natural disaster, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) would be responsible. Finance Chair Brown advised funds are being restored from repayment of the Highway loan and Supervisors can move to change numbers and tax rates during the budget process. Library Report: Library Board Chair Nyland introduced Consulting Librarian David Smith who presented the Library Study report. Smith noted in the 10 municipal libraries, 44% of users are municipal residents and 47% are rural county residents. Funding varies greatly from $27 per capita levied in a municipality to $6.50 per capita for rural residents. Libraries do not have a sharing of resources through -out the County. Some of the Study Committee's general conclusions were a gradual approach to increasing St. Croix County's library levy, a need to improve library services and a county -wide library automation system, combining the catalogs of all libraries into a single data base would benefit all libraries and their customers. The recommendation from the Library Committee was to request $100,000 for the Library Budget for commencement of automation. Discussion on disparities of funding, future vision for libraries and an automation system. Finance Director Loney stated the County 1 levy consists of three parts - library, which is funded by 21 towns and three municipalities, County Aid Bridge Construction, which is funded by the Towns only and all other operations. Motion by Supr. Bradley, 2nd by Supr. Oemichen to close the Public Hearing on the budget. Carried. Chair Boche announced Finance Chair Brown would conduct the budget proceedings. Brown said this is not a Finance Committee budget but rather a budget of the County Board as a whole and is one of the most imporant projects of the County Board. Administrative Coordinator John Krizek set forth the present budget status: $9,820,265 operating levy which is a $666,267 increase; $1,362,523 for debt service for a total of $11,182,788. The property tax levy shows a $533,937 increase for a mill rate of 5.2350. The mill rate for 1995 was 5.489. Loney indicated the mill rate increased from the last meeting due to Finance approving a leased vehicle for the Zoning Dept. and $2,200 increase in levy for County Aid Bridges. Chair Brown said the average mill rate in Wisconsin is 5.01. Supr. Oemichen said the state average reflects shared revenues received and other counties get more than St. Croix County due to our higher per capita income. Motion by Supr. Oemichen, 2nd by Supr. Bradley to adopt the County Budget as presented by the Finance Committee. Library: Supr. Nyland presented a motion to refer the study report to the Finance Committee and creating a Software and Hardware selection committee for the Library. Corporation Counsel ruled this motion was not appropriate because it was not on the agenda. Motion by Supr. Breault, 2nd by Supr. Nyland to designate $100,000 from the Contingency Fund for Library automation. Timmerman advised Contingency Fund cannot designate what the use is. Supr. Nyland moved to amend the motion to read increase the mill rate to 5.3 No second; motion died. Supr. Breault moved to reword his previous motion to change the total in budget resolution item #3 for county library services by adding $100,000. Second by Supr. Neumman. Timmerman affirmed the Contingency Fund could be used for the library at a later date. Based on Corporation Counsel's opinion, Supr. Breault and Supr. Neumann withdrew their motion and second. Motion by Supr. Burke, 2nd by Supr. Bailey to place $100 in line item #325 program development of the Library Budget, refer the Library Study to the Finance Committee and the Finance Chair to make up a committee to review the cost of computer software and hardware. Chair Boche ruled against the appropriateness of the motion; Corporation Counsel allowed it. Roll call vote: 23 yes, 4 no. Motion carried. Supr. Horne asked for an explanation of the PTO Incentive included in the 1996 budget. Loney stated this is monies paid to employees that accrue sick leave and vacation time with a limit of up to six days payout. Supr. Krueger believes employees could pay a monthly 2 amount toward health insurance premiums and also a co -pay plan which would save the County a lot of dollars. Telephone System: Krizek said money has been budgeted for a new PBX system which will offer voice mail, call attendant, call accounting and automatically using the least cost call channel. There should be a payback of the $70,000 cost in two years. Emergency Government and SARA: Supr. Mehls requested the $600 removed from line item #257 in the SARA exercise budget be reinstated. Mehls said table top exercises are needed to deal with catastrophies and the nine county nursing homes with 780 patients need exercises for evacuation procedures. Motion by Supr. Bradley, 2nd by Supr. Mortensen to reinstate $600 in the SARA exercise line item. Roll call: 26 yes, 0 no. Economic Development: Supr. Breault questioned the reduction of $11,822 from the County payment. Brown answered that all of the county allocation is given up front so there would be no cash flow problems. He also believes private business contributions could be larger and the County also provides space, heat, lights, maintenance and phone. Therefore reducing the contribution by 1/3 was more fair to the county taxpayer. Supr. Oemichen commented Economic Development Director Dave Piggot is doing a good job in responding to out-of-state business contacts and retention of businesses already located in St. Croix County. Health and Human Services: Krizek noted this department is facing many changes and is adapting to a zero budget increase. Supr. Nyland stated Director John Borup and Nursing Home Administrator Carolyn Krieger deserve credit for good budgeting. Health and Human Services Chair Burke said the wage increase was absorbed along with the additional cost of added boilers and also gave the staff credit for the zero increase. Finance Chair Brown thanked the Health and Human Services Committee and noted this was the best cooperative effort of all committees this year. Parks: Supr. Nyland reported camping and enjoying Glen Hills Park, however, maintenance in some areas could be improved. Nursing Home: Supr. Horne asked about remaining bond payments. Krizek replied in 1996 $250,000 plus $64,000 interest; 1997 - $265,000; 1998 - $275,000, 1999 - $285,000. 2000 - $300,000 and nothing after that. Highway: Chair Sinclear said this department had to budget when funding was unknown and motioned to have $120,000 earmarked in the Contingency Fund for the Highway Dept. Brown replied funds cannot be allocated in the Contingency Fund so motion was withdrawn. Sinclear wished the full board to understand funds will be needed for the Highway Dept. Department on Aging: Brown explained the Council on Aging agreed to a block grant of $91,490 for two years which the Department will use to manage their funds and their budget. Supr. Bradley complimented Finance Director Rich Loney and 3 Administative Coordinator John Krizek for their fine work with the 1996 budget process. Motion by Supr. Oemichen, 2nd by Supr. Breault (for discussion purposes) to remove $20,000 from the $500,000 Contingency Fund and reduce the total levy. Roll call: 22 no, 4 yes, motion failed. Resolution #32 (95): County Aid Bridge Construction. Motion by Supr. Burke, 2nd by Supr. King to adopt. Carried. Resolution #33 (95): County Aid Road Construction and Maintenance. Motion to adopt by Supr. Grant, 2nd by Supr. Sinclear. Carried. Resolution #34 (95): Adopting a 1996 Budget and Approving Other Expenditures. (Previously moved by Oemichen and Bradley.) Roll call: 25 yes, 1 no. Carried. Chair Boche thanked Department Heads, Finance Chair and Committees and Loney and Krizek for all their cooperation with the budget. Resolution #35 (95): Regarding Cancellation of Checks. Motion by Supr. Oemichen, 2nd by Supr. Bailey to adopt. Carried. Resolution #36 (95): Amounts Due to Listing Officials for Listing Dogs. Motion by Supr. Bradley, 2nd by Supr. Krueger to adopt. Carried. Ordinance #382 (95): Rezoning from Ag. to Ag. Residential for Wm. and Lois Sommerfeldt, Town of Somerset. Motion to adopt by Supr. Sinclear, 2nd by Supr. Neumann. Carried. Announcments: Chair Boche announced another First Aid Class would be given in January and Supervisors will be invited to participate. Clerk Nelson said nomination papers are available and can be circulated and are due December 5, 1995. Motion to adjourn by Supr. Sinclear, 2nd by Supr. King. Meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m. Robert M. Boche, Chair Sue E. Nelson St. Croix County Board of Supervisors St. Croix County Clerk 0