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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 06-22-1999ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS June 22, 1999 Government Center ***EVENING MEETING 7:00 P.M. CASUAL DRESS*** CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Thomas Dorsey INVOCATION: Pastor Larry Jorstad, First Lutheran Church New Richmond < PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS SESSION ADOPTION OF AGENDA ANNOUNCEMENTS: j al;e SGatiJ �v'�r�o ti,�� DATE OF NEXT SESSION: August 17, 1999 9:00 A.M. ***NO COUNTY BOARD SCHEDULED FOR JULY*** APPOINTMENTS: REPORT OF ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR OLD AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS (Consideration and action on matters tabled, postponed or referred to a committee at a previous meeting) NEW BUSINESS: (Action on newly introduced motions, ordinances, resolutions or other matters) 1. Resolution to Close the Home Health Program 2. Resolution Approving Community Development Block Grant for Emerald Dairy LLP 3. Resolution Approving Community Development Block Grant for Prism Plastics, Inc 4. Resolution Approving Change in Schedule for County Board Meetings S. Resolution Amending Rules and By -Laws of the Board of Supervisors 6. Resolution Supporting the Continuation of the MN -WI Boundary Area Commission *7. WCA Convention Details - Registration Due July 28 *8. Resolution Authorizing Conveyance of Tax -Deeded Land to the City of Hudson *9. Ordinance Delegating Power to Acquire, Manage & Sell Tax - Deeded Lands to the Finance Committee *10. Resolution Establishing a Development Moratorium on the St. Croix Health Center Property DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS: University Extension and Fair Association 8:15 P.M. COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS APPLICATIONS FILED FOR ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS MILEAGE & PER DIEM REPORT CORRESPONDENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS: Q' Qd'­-- G ­Z r,4 ADJOURNMENT (The above agenda is not necessarily in order of presentations) * Changes or Additions after the Preliminary Agenda ** Late Changes and Additions COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Regular Session June 22, 1999 MINUTES ARE UNOFFICAL UNTIL APPROVED. Meeting called to order by Chair Dorsey at 7:00 p.m. Invocation given by Pastor Larry Jorstad, First Lutheran Church, New Richmond. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll call: 29 present, 2 absent and excused: Suprs. Don Brown, Tom Irwin. Motion by Supr. Mortensen, 2nd by Supr. Berenschot to approve the May minutes. Carried. Motion by Supr. Mehls, 2nd by Supr. King to adopt the agenda. Carried. Next meeting is August 17 at 9:00„a.,m., No County Board meeting scheduled for July unless an emergency arises. Appointments: Chair Dorsey announced the appointment of Supr. Julie Speer to the Personnel Committee to replace Supr. Wm. Krueger who resigned from the committee. Administrative Coordinator: John Krizek reported meeting with Joint Finance and some changes made have been good for Counties. Community Aids will increase $10 million and Nursing Home reimbursement $5 million over two years. Transportation will increase 6% first year and 1% the second. The WI Association of Cities is trying to get legislation to not pay the levy for Sheriff's services. The Towns Association does not support this. Long Term Care program is moving forward; there are six pilot counties and three more will be added. Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen has proposed County's receive permission to increase their sales tax by .0250-. and then the State would withdraw Shared Revenues. Wisconsin is the third highest taxing state and Legislators would like to change that. However, Krizek said adding the tax burden to Counties doesn't change the high taxing rate. St. Croix County receives $6.80 per capita payments for mandate relief. Krizek reported during the State's Y2K survey, the County met all the criteria listed. There are mixed feelings on the Y2K issue from a total disaster to a blimp on the screen. The County will have a good supply of fuel, generators ready to operate and Law Enforcement will be prepared. New position requests: Sheriff's Dept. requested three patrol officers, one investigator, and four jail sergeants; District Attorney -- one legal secretary, Health and Human Services -- a medical records person and make a present LTE position a permanent social services aid. 1 Resolution #8 (99): Authorizing Closure of Home Health Program effective November 1, 1999. Motion to place on the floor by Supr. Boche, 2nd by Supr. Bethke. Supr. Dowd, Vice Chair of Health and Human Services introduced Ron Kiesler, interim Director while John Borup is on vacation. Kiesler stated the Home Health program is forced to close due to dwindling revenues from reduced medi-care reimbursements. Home Health Supervisor June Merkt presented Chair Dorsey with petition sheets signed by County residents opposed to the closing. Currently the program is serving 45 people which is down from previous years due to home care referrals from hospitals. There has been no County appropriation since 1991. The projected fund balance loss for 1999 is $98,000. Merkt said if the program is closed, the license will be revoked and would be difficult to get back. There are 11 Home Health agencies serving the County that take patients on a case by case basis. There are no COP funds to support County Home Health programs. Supr. Peterson asked if paying unemployment to the present employees would cost more than the fund deficit. Krizek didn't think the cost would be that great and the County does not have a "feeder" to refer clients to US. Dowd said hopitals have their own health care programs. Hospitals refer their patients to Nursing Homes, Alzheimer's units or to private home health providers. Supr. Bieraugel commented this is a sad day because the County provides good health care and it is not out to make a profit. Supr. Horne said H&HS struggled with this issue and was concerned about present employees and people on the program being placed. The problem is competition has taken too many clients. Mary Boots, Town of St. Joseph and Leann Brown, City of New Richmond, R.N.s for Home Health, were both given permission to speak by Supr. Luckey and Supr. Dowd respectively. Ms. Boots was concerned about people not being covered by an agency and getting a sliding fee scale. Ms. Brown told about her disabled son who needs 24 hour care from private agencies and the problems encountered with short staffing and short notices received for care that can't be provided. Motion by Supr. Horne, 2nd by Supr. Bethke to adopt the resolution closing Home Health Care. Roll call: 19 yes, 10 no. Carried. Resolution No. 9 (99): Community Development Block Grant for Economic Development Program for Emerald Dairy LLP. Motion to adopt by Supr. Standafer, 2nd by Supr. Stan Krueger. Administration Committee Chair Standafer explained the Zoning Board of Adjustment granted a special exception for Emerald Dairy which is a $5,000,0000 investment. Co-owner of the Dairy, John Vrieze would use the $100,000 block grant loan to cap the manure storage unit. The State of Wisconsin has approved the loan. The Town of Emerald would accept administration of the loan but the loan repayment to the revolving loan fund would have to go to a resident of the Town of Emerald. Whereas, if the County administers this loan, it can in turn be loaned to any County resident. Terms and conditions of the loan are set by the WI Dept. of Commerce. Supr. Bieraugel said she voted against this loan on principal. She knows nothing about this company and does not know if the State scrutinized this business carefully. No one was here to represent Emerald Dairy. Supr. Jensen said the only other covered manure pit in the State is owned by Vrieze on another dairy farm. Supr. Luckey said she did not have enough information on the company and voted no in the committee meeting. Supr. Bethke asked if land would always be available to spread the liquid manure. Supr. Larson commented the large farm trucks carrying feed to the animals would damage the roads and no license is required for trucks hauling on a farmer's land. Supr. Wm. Krueger cited the Schottler large dairy operation and said trucks haul in the fall and didn't believe the road damage would be substantial. Roll call vote: 25 yes, 4 no. Motion carried. Resolution #10 (99): Block Grant Loan for Economic Development Program for Prism Plastics, Inc. Motion by Supr. Standafer, 2nd by Supr. Boche to adopt. Standafer said request is for $100,000 loan to be used for tool molding equipment for this company who makes high quality injection molds. No discussion. Roll call: 28 yes, 1 no. Carried. Oral Reports: Sherri Stoddard, Secretary of the County Fair Association thanked the Board for the purchase of the additional land which will be used for parking this year. She highlighted the events of the Fair on July 22-25th. Supr. Giese complimented the Fair Board on the good storage facility and the manager Bob Palewicz. Supr. Berenschot said $400 a month is received for house rental on the newly purchased property. UW-Extension Community Development Resource Agent thanked the Board for the new Ag. Center in which it is more efficient and easier to work. Tom Kalb is the new Horticulture Agent who is shared with Pierce and Polk Counties. Janke is working on Y2K preparedness by doing public programs and news articles. Resolution on Establishing Schedule for County Board Meetings: Motion by Supr. Standafer, 2nd by Supr. Wert to adopt. Standafer said this resolution calls for 6 night meetings --April through October and 4 day meetings --November through March with no meetings in February and July. 3 Supr. Giese said this issue was addressed a few years ago and was defeated. The public does not attend the evening meetings and he prefers the current schedule. Suprs. King, Bethke and Berenschot concurred. Motion by Vice Chair Jacobson to amend the resolution by making October a day meeting for the budget review. Second by Bieraugel. Carried. Supr. Horne said many people can't participate because they have day jobs and more night meetings could attract younger people and more people might be interested. Supr. Berenschot said if there are more night meetings, committee meetings should be at night also and staff would not be available. Roll call: 6 yes, 23 no. Motion defeated. Resolution 11 (99): Amending Rules and By -Laws in regard to Committee Minutes. Motion to adopt by Supr. Standafer, 2nd by Supr. O'Connell. Standafer explained this resolution clarifies sending unofficial minutes to committee members only. When official, they will be sent to all Board members. Supr. Speer said this takes several weeks and it is difficult to know what is going on in the County when Supervisors don't get minutes. Corporation Counsel Timmerman said minutes are intended to be a summary and not tell the entire story of a committee meeting. The Board should have information more than five minutes before a Board meeting. Supr Horne said Perch Lake was a big issue involving lots of dollars and the Board was expected to vote without committee minutes information. Motion by Supr. Horne, 2nd by Bethke to amend the resolution to read "The unofficial minutes of a committee meeting shall be prepared and mailed to all Supervisors within two weeks of the meeting. Amendment carried. Resolution as amended carried. Resolution Supporting the Continuation of the MN -WI Boundary Area Commission: Motion to adopt by Supr. Raymond, 2nd by Supr Hense. Supr. Boche said he served on this Commission for seven years and this agency opposed the Stillwater Bridge. Supr. Luckey is serving on the Riverway Task Force which is developing a management plan for the lower St. Croix. She supports the MN -WI Boundary Commission because it is needed as a go between for citizens who have problems and acts as a coordinating agency for problem solving. The Commission has a small paid staff with a $200,000 a year budget. Supr. Giese noted that the Commission is headed by Buck Malick, a former Supervisor, and his comments are not directed at him. Both the MN and WI Governors would not budget for this agency which has no enforcement powers. This is an opportunity to cut R back on a government agency and DNR can cover the river problems. Supr. Wm. Krueger supports the agency and said St. Croix County benefits from it. Roll call: 9 yes, 19 no. Motion to adopt failed. (Supr. Bieraugel was absent for the vote.) WCA Convention: Clerk Nelson reminded members that the Board changed the Rules and By Laws to pay expenses for all Supervisors attending the WCA Convention. The event is scheduled for September 12-15 in Madison at the Dane County Expo Center. Reservations must be in to Sue Nelson by July 28th. Resolution #12 (99): Authorizing Conveyance of Tax Deeded Land to the City of Hudson. Motion to adopt by Vice Chair Jacobson, 2nd by Supr. Boche. Timmerman found in his research that the Board did not have an Ordinance on file since 1986 giving Finance the authority to convey tax deed property. This parcel needs approval of the Board. Carried. Ordinance #518 (99): Delegating Power to Acquire, Manage and Sell Tax -Deeded Lands. Motion to adopt by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Boche. Timmerman said if this Ordinance is enacted, the County Clerk and Finance Committee would sell or dispose of tax deed land in the future and it also approves all prior sales done in this manner. Carried. Resolution #13 (99): Establishing a Development Moratorium on St. Croix Health Center Property. Motion by Supr. Hense, 2nd by Supr. O'Connell to adopt. Finance Comm. Vice Chair Boche said an Ad Hoc Committee is going to do a long range plan for this land. Several requests have been received for sale of lease of this property. Discussion on long range plan for this property only and not the Government Center too. Motion by Supr. Horne to amend the resolution to include strategic Health and Human services needed to the year 2005. Chair Dorsey ruled this amendment was not germane to the resolution. Vice Chair Jacobson moved the question, 2nd by Supr. King. Carried. Motion to adopt moratorium carried. Committee Reports: Planning, Zoning and Parks Chair Raymond said this committee is changing the format of their meetings: planning business on the agenda for meeting on the 2nd Tuesday and zoning business done on the 4tn Tuesday. This should enable rezoning ordinances to be signed before they come to the Board. Raymond would like more participation of Supervisors when hearings are held in their districts. 5 I Zoning Applications Filed: Town of Baldwin: Robert and Mary Sell, Ag. To Ag/Res; Town of Troy: Barbara Weber and Gordon/Mary Knott both Ag. To Ag/Res.; Town of Somerset: Russell and Pamela Rastetter, Ag/Res to Commercial. Farmland Preservation: No applications received. Mileage and Per Diem: Motion by Supr. Grant, 2nd by Supr. Hense to approve total of $7,643.44 for month of May. Carried. Correspondence: None received. Motion by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Mortensen to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Thomas Dorsey, Chair St. Croix Co. Board of Supervisors Sue E. Nelson County Clerk F.