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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 11-01-1994AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS November 1, 1994 9:00 A.M. St. Croix County Government Center Compiled by Chairman Robert M. Boche CALL TO ORDER INVOCATION: Pastor Mark Shore, Bible Baptist Church Hudson PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL: ADOPTION OF AGENDA ANNOUNCEMENTS: DATE OF NEXT SESSION: November 15, 1994 APPOINTMENTS: OLD AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 1. PUBLIC HEARING ON 1995 PROPOSED BUDGET 9:00 A.M. A. Resolution Adopting 1995 St. Croix County Budget B. Resolution Approving County Aid Bridge Construction Under Section 81.38 of the Statutes, County of St. Croix C. Resolution Approving County Aid Construction and Maintenance During the Calendar Year 1995 *2. Resolution Recommending Double Celling in the Jail *3. Resolution Recommending Creation of a Regular, Full-time Shift Supervisor in the Jail 4. Review of offers to Purchase County Property COMMITTEE & BOARD REPORTS FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS MILEAGE & PER DIEM REPORT CORRESPONDENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS ADJOURNMENT (The above agenda is not necessarily in order of presentation) ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Budget Hearing November 1, 1994 Chair Boche called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Invocation was given by Pastor Mark Shore, Bible Baptist Church, Hudson. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll call: 28 present, 3 absent - Robert Draxler, Charles Mehls and Tim Filipiak (all excused). Motion by Supr. Oemichen, 2nd by Supr. Jacobson to adopt the agenda. Carried. Next meeting scheduled for November 15. Announcements: Chair Boche said Arnold Volkert had resigned from the Long Term Support Committee and has been replaced by Mrs. Earl Sumner. The Public Hearing on the 1995 budget was called to order. Chair invited any guest or Supervisor to speak on any budget. County Library: Library Director Maureen Farrell said $98,911 was requested to alleviate the inequity between municipal and rural library users. This amount is $3.25 per capita for the 30,000 plus population of rural residents. Farrell used the illustration of "Joe St. Croix's" use of library services which would cost $25.00 for a municipal resident vs $6.00 as a rural resident. A Library is a valuable resource to communities. If the monetary request is granted, this would help level the playing field for municipal and rural library users and provide for a study for a long term solution. Following discussion and questions, Administrative Coordinator John Krizek noted counties cannot distribute cash to municipal libraries. He questioned if $690,000 worth of service could be provided to libraries if full equalization is reached. Chair Boche closed the Budget Hearing at 9:40 a.m. Administrative Coordinator: John Krizek gave the present budget status: mill rate remains at 5.489; contingency fund is $603,771. The liability insurance premium to WIMMIC changed from $72,003 to $163,779 which is a $1270-. increase. This is due to heavy losses from Highway Dept. accidents. The Finance Committee approved $150,000 stop loss per claim and increasing the aggregate in the self insured fund to $500,000 in order to reduce the premium. After designating $150,000 for WIMMIC, $100,000 for possible ARR legal fees, $160,000 for law enforcement wage settlements and $20, 000 for repair of Lake Mallalieu Dam, there is a balance of $172,805 in the contingency fund for emergencies. The budget still provides for debt retirement of $227,481 which should keep the Moody rating higher. 1 Finance Chair Brown thanked Supervisors and committees for their cooperative efforts in the 1995 budget preparation. Chair Boche invited comments and amendments to any budget. The following budgets were addressed: Computer Services: Supr. Raymond asked if the Computer Services long range plan is in place in 1995, would the $40,000 previously cut be available to upgrade the computer system. Finance Chair Brown stated this would be a consideration for the contingency fund. Victim Witness Coordinator: Motion by Supr. Bradley, 2nd by Supr. Dull to reduce this budget by $4456 which would eliminate the county's share of the half time assistant position. Bradley said the use of overtime costs less and consideration should be given to using interns. Public Protection Chair Luckey opposes this amendment. This position is 80% reimbursed by the state and due to juvenile case load increases, needs of victims of juvenile crimes are not being addressed. Roll call vote: 9 yes; 19 no. Motion failed. Rental of Office Space: Supr. Standafer recommended moving the Extension Office and Land Conservation employees to a County owned building rather than pay rent. Krizek said this has been considered in the past but has not been feasible due to the "Ag. Center concept". Emergency Government: Motion by Supr. Brown, 2nd by Supr. Krueger to add $998 in this budget. Brown explained a mistake had been made previously and the county needs to fund the first $998 in order to receive matching funds. Carried. WESTCAP: Motion by Supr. Kellaher, 2nd by Supr. Giese to budget $1,000 for administration costs at the WESTCAP agency. Kellaher advised that St. Croix is the only county out of six not to contribute. Roll call: 24 yes, 4 no. Carried. Later an amendment was made to this motion. Motion by Supr. Oemichen, 2nd by Supr. O'Connell to take the $1, 000 approved for WESTCAP from the contingency fund. Carried. Health and Human Services: Committee member Burke reported the Health and Human Service Board had adjusted their budget request from $400, 000 to $163, 000 which was later removed at Finance budget hearings. Burke indicated the department will try to get by on this cut but there are no guarantees. Nursing Home: Motion by Supr. Bailey, 2nd by Supr. Burke to restore the $50,000 previously removed to the Nursing Home budget. Bailey stated the intent of removing this money was to pay on the bond principal which would be a shift in Board policy. Burke noted 2 the County, in the past, has subsidized the Nursing Home up to $1,000,000 and the last two years no County dollars have been used other than for wage increases. Supr. Brown countered that the taxpayers do pay $233,000 on the bond principal yearly. Krizek said the Nursing Home has been placed in High Labor Region in regard to wages which should have a positive impact for a higher reinbursement rate. Supr. Dailey asked Health and Human Services Director John Borup for comments. Borup said the placement in the High Labor Region is only verbal; there has been no written commitment. Borup also believes the year end cash balance will be less than $595,000 previously reported. Borup estimated heating costs would increase 30% if natural gas were needed in place of the steam heat previously purchased from ARR. Supr. O'Connell cautioned that Committees should not depend on funding from statements of individual Supervisors. Health and Human Services previously experienced this problem with an unkept promise of a former Chair of Finance. Roll call vote on restoring $50,000: 14 yes, 14 no. Motion failed. Library: Motion by Supr. Nyland, 2nd by Supr. Neumann to increase the Library budget by $93,911 (excludes the approved $5,000 for the long range study) and adjust the mill rate to cover the increase. Supr. Oemichen supports reducing the mill rate to give the taxpayers a break and therefore opposes this motion. Supr. Standafer did not believe we should spend dollars before the study is completed. Corporation Counsel Timmerman discussed the issue with Maureen Farrell and believes a study should be done to determine proper County financing of Libraries. Timmerman recommended the Board not allocate money at this time. Roll call: 13 yes, 15 no. Failed. Highway: Supr. Oemichen visited the Highway Dept. to review their budget. He noted his appreciation for their help. Resolution #25 (94): County Aid Bridge Construction. Motion to adopt by Supr. Sinclear, 2nd by Supr. King. Carried. Resolution #26 (94): County Road Construction and Maintenance. Motion to adopt by Supr. Sinclear, 2nd by Supr. King. Carried. Resolution #27 (94): Approving Double Celling in the County Jail. Motion to adopt by Supr. Luckey, 2nd by Supr. Jacobson. Luckey explained the Sheriff, Public Protection and Personnel Committees have reached an agreement on implementing double celling. The Jail has the space and the double bunks are in place. Some supplies will need to be purchased such as blankets and pillows. Adequate staffing is needed for health, safety and security of both inmates 3 and staff. Motion carried. Resolution #28 (94): Recommending Creation of a Regular, Full -Time Shift Supervisors- in the Jail. Motion by Supr. Bradley, 2nd by Supr. Jacobson to adopt. Motion by Supr. Luckey, 2nd by Supr. Breault to amend the resolution in the second paragraph by eliminating "effective 1/1/95 at an initial annual position cost of $47,000" and adding "The position will be filled as soon as the hiring process can be completed. The 1995 position cost will be $47,000. Public Protection Committee would like to begin double Gelling before the end of the year if possible. Dicusssion on funding salaries if the position begins in 1994. Finance Committee will address this issue. Amendment carried. Main motion as amended carried. Finance Director Rich Loney stated the present balance of the 1994 contingency fund is $114,000. Offers to Purchase: Krizek indicated a counter offer to the City of Hudson for the 1965 building has been approved by the Finance Committee. No answer has been received on our counter offer on the Hammond building. Resolution #29 (94): Adopting a 1995 Budget and Approving Other Expenditures for St. Croix County. Motion by Supr. Oemichen to adopt, 2nd by Supr. O'Connell. Motion by Supr. Luckey, 2nd by Supr. Brown to amend budget by adding $192,000 in both revenues and expenditures related to double celling. Carried. The levy for general county operations is set at $10,415,858 and total with bridge construction and county library is $10,748,851. The contingency fund stands at $171,805. Roll call vote on adopting the budget: 26 yes, 2 no. Carried. Waste Management Report: Chair Horne stated the Finance Committee could not predict what effect the shutting down of the incinerator by ARR would have on the budget. If the incinerator is not operating by November 17, Horne believes the contract is broken. Correspondence: Clerk Nelson read a letter from State Representative Sheila Harsdorf congratulating St. Croix County on receiving the the 1994 Governor's Annual Waste Reduction and Recycling Award. Motion to adjourn by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Giese. Meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m. Robert M. Boche, Chair Sue E. Nelson St. Croix County Board of Supervisors St. Croix County Clerk 4