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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 09-21-1999i ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS September 21, 1999 9:00 A.M. Government Center ***DO NOT TAKE I94 (PASSING LANES ARE CLOSED)*** CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Thomas Dorsey INVOCATION: Pastor James Burd, Congregational United Church of Christ, Roberts PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS SESSION ADOPTION OF AGENDA ANNOUNCEMENTS: Proclamation Regarding Elderly Nutrition Month Sign Up Sheet for Large or Condensed Budget Books DATE OF NEXT SESSION: October 19, 1999 9:00 A.M. C APPOINTMENTS: Representative Kitty Rhoades to Local Emergency Planning Committee Dave Hense to Intergovernmental Advisory Council OLD AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS (Consideration and action on matters tabled, postponed or referred to,a committee at a previous meeting "'i. Non Represented Employees Compensation Package NEW BUSINESS: (Action on newly introduced motions, ordinances, resolutions or other matters) &-- Resolution Urging the State to Adopt a Budget Z.— Resolution to Use Inmate Phone Revenue for Programs to Reduce Recidivism G-3!— Resolution Freezing Requests for Any Additional In Year 2000 V4 Rezoning from Agriculture to Ag/Residential fo Geraldine Lokker, Town of Baldwin O. Rezoning from Agriculture to Ag/Residential fo Nola J. Monicken, Town of Eau Galle Rezoning from Agriculture to Ag/Residential fo Schilling, Town of Somerset C-,=7": Rezoning from Agriculture to Ag/Residential fo Weber, Town of Troy (Denial) 8. Resolution of Support for Horse Creek Priority Plan 9. Discussion on Metropolitan Council Area Study V-**10. Refilling Adminstrative Coordinator Position DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS: Parks, Maintenance, District Positions r Paul & r Maloy L. & r Gaylen r Barbara Watershed Attorney & Register of Deeds 11:30 A.M. COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS APPLICATIONS FILED FOR ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FARMLAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS MILEAGE & PER DIEM REPORT CORRESPONDENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS: ADJOURNMENT (The above agenda is not necessarily in order of presentations) * Changes or Additions after the Preliminary Agenda ** Late Changes and Additions ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Regular Meeting September 21, 1999 Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chair Dorsey. Invocation given by Pastor Jim Burd, Congregational United Church of Christ, Roberts. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll call: 28 present, 3 absent and excused-- Suprs. Mehls, Peterson and Gunderson. Clerk noted Supr. Gunderson is undergoing further chemotherapy treatment for a few more weeks. Motion by Supr. King, 2nd by Supr. Mortensen to approve the August 17 minutes. Carried. Motion by Supr. Grant, 2nd by Supr. Giese to adopt the agenda. Carried. Chair Dorsey announced the October meeting is changed to October 26 for the annual budget hearing. Announcements: Chair Dorsey noted the Proclamation of September as Elderly Nutrition Month. Clerk Nelson asked Supervisors to sign up for either a large or condensed version budget book. Appointments by Chair Dorsey: Rep. Kitty Rhoades to Local Emergency Planning Committee and Dave Hense to Intergovernmental Advisory Council. Unfinished Business-- Non -Represented Employees Compensation Package: Motion by Vice Chair Jacobson, 2nd by Supr. Giese to postpone and send back to the Personnel Committee the non - represented compensation package with the exception of health insurance payments for the non -represented employees. Supr. Speer objected to separating the package since the Personnel Committee had spent considerable time developing it using wage comparisons, union vs non union pay and bringing the non represented wages up to par. Supr. Olson concurred. Suprs. Boche and Horne said the Finance Committee addressed the wage package and has some questions that are unanswered. Finance Chair Brown said there is no question on the insurance increase and this should be acted on because the health insurance fund is depleted. He did not believe the Board was ready to vote on the wage package. He recommended voting on the insurance package today and send the wage issue back to the Personnel Committee. Motion by Supr. Wm. Krueger, 2nd by Supr. Speer to amend the motion to authorize the Finance Committee to spend up to $15,000 to hire an outside consultant to answer the questions of Finance. The Finance Committee has asked for information on percentage of increase needed to bring the non union and union wages on par for equal work; wage comparisons for non union positions in Wisconsin IN Counties and where are the problems in recruitment and retainment. In answer to Supr. Speer's question on the resolution approved by Personnel Committee regarding hiring a consultant, Corporation Counsel Timmerman said the Contingency Fund is managed by the Finance Committee and this resolution needs to be approved by them. Supr. Brown said the insurance cost increase is $40,000 per month of which $10,000 would be paid by employees. Supr. Giese had conferred with Personnel Director Deb Kathan and she indicated the Personnel Dept. can get the answers to Finance Committee's questions. Roll call vote on the amendment: 3 yes, 25 no. Motion carried to postpone the wage package. Motion by Supr. Brown, 2nd by Supr. O'Connell to implement the 900 employer/l0o employee split for health insurance payments for non represented employees. Supr. Brown diagrammed the insurance program showing the administrative and stop loss costs with the remainder of the amount being the actual amount of claims paid. Brown said the County is large enough to fund self insurance but the reserve is gone and we need to rebuild the fund. Motion by Supr. Horne, 2nd by Supr. Olson to amend the motion to include the elected officials. Motion failed. Motion by Supr. Brown, 2nd by Supr. Dowd not to include the elected officials in the insurance co -payment. Timmerman is investigating the matter but does not think it is legal to lower elected officials compensation that is set prior to seeking office. Motion carried. Motion for the non represented insurance payment carried. Vice Chair Jacobson excused at 10:15 a.m. Discussion on Vacant Administrative Coordinator's Position: John Krizek resigned effected September 16, 1999. The County Board must decide whether or not to fill the position. Timmerman advised State Statutes indicate the County must name someone as Administrative Coordinator. Motion by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Wm- Krueger to refill the position of Administrative Coordinator. Carried. Motion by Supr. King, 2nd by Supr. Hense the County Board Chair appoint an interim Administrative Coordinator. Carried. 2 Motion by Supr. Wm. Krueger, 2nd by Supr. Giese to approve the following rehiring procedure: Appoint one member from Personnel, Administration and Finance Committees to solicit and screen applications for the position with the Personnel Director and choose candidates for interviews. Then appoint a different member from the Personnel, Administration and Finance Committees and, along with the Board Chair and Board Vice Chair, conduct interviews and choose a candidate for the position to be presented and approved by the County Board. Supr. O'Connell, Dowd and Brown thought the Board should have a say in the final candidates. Supr. Giese said it is not necessary for 31 members to interview candidates. Carried. Resolution #18 (99): Urging the State to Adopt a Budget. Motion to adopt by Supr. Standafer, 2nd by Supr. Bieraugel. Standafer said it is difficult for counties to budget when shared revenue and other aid monies are not established. Carried. Use Inmate Phone Revenue for Programs To Reduce Recidivism: Motion to adopt by Supr Speer, 2nd by Supr. Grant. Sheriff Hillstead said the county receives a user fee for inmate phone use which totals about $16,000 per year. The Public Protection Committee would like this money placed in an Inmate Trust Account to use for programs such as GED classes, anger management, job skills and resume writing classes and parenting/life skills classes. Programs such as these help reduce the number of inmates returning to jail after release (recidivism). Money gained from inmates should go back to them. Supr. Brown agreed with the concept but said all monies received should go through the general fund and the budget process. Further discussion on trust account vs using the budget process. Supr. Bieraugel asked if volunteers are encouraged to conduct these programs. Jail Captain Humphrey said GED testing must be done by a certified teacher. Supr. King excused at 11:10 a.m. Roll call vote: 6 yes, 20 no, motion defeated. Chair Dorsey suggested the Sheriff and Jail Captain request funds for these programs through the budget process. Resolution #19 (99): Freezing Requests for Additional Positions for Year 2000. Motion by Supr. Brown, 2nd by Supr. Hense to adopt. Supr. Dowd objected to this resolution because St. Croix County is growing rapidly and the need for positions may change in the course of a year. Supr. Brown said hiring requests that come in after the budget is set, disrupt the budget process. Motion carried to adopt. 3 Ordinance #524 (99): Rezoning from Ag to Ag/Res for Paul and Geraldine Lokker, Town of Baldwin. Motion to adopt by Supr. Hense, 2nd by Supr. Boche. Carried. Ordinance #525 (99): Rezoning from Ag to Ag/Res for Maloy and Nola Monicken, Town of Eau Galle. Motion to adopt by Supr. Hense, 2nd by Supr. Jensen. Carried. Ordinance #526 (99): Rezoning from Ag. to Ag/Res for Gaylen Schilling, Town of Somerset. Motion to adopt by Supr. Hense, 2nd by Supr. Jensen. Carried. Suprs. Wm. Krueger, Hense, Raymond and Bieraugel voted no. Denial of Rezoning for Barbara Weber, Town of Troy: Motion by Supr. Raymond, 2nd by Supr. Boche to approve denial of Weber rezoning. Raymond said rezoning of this 120 A. does not meet current plan of Town of Troy. Supr. Horne asked if this denial would be a "taking" and Timmerman said he couldn't answer at this time. Supr. Brown said he rented this land to farm, invested a lot of money but the land did not produce. He cautioned to be careful of denial and liability. Kent Bahner, Troy Planning Commission Chair, said this rezoning was turned down because Troy has a growth management plan and will follow the plan until it is amended. The County should back up the Town's decision not to rezone this area out of Ag. Chair Dorsey recommended sending this back to the Planning, Zoning and Parks Committee for more information. Timmerman addressed procedural concerns: Did the PZP committee do independent findings or just accept the Town Board's decision. Did the Town recommend denial or did the Town actually deny the request. Supr. Brown asked if Weber petitioned to be in Exclusive Ag or was the farm put in by Administrative Rule. Timmerman said in regard to the "taking" issue, if zoning remains status quo it is rarely a "taking." Resolution 20 (99): Support for Horse Creek Priority Watershed Plan. Motion to adopt by Supr. Bethke, 2nd by Supr. Berenschot. Land and Water Conservation Comm. Chair Jensen said this is mostly a Polk County Watershed on Horse Creek but a small part is located in St. Croix County. This County must approve before Polk County can proceed with Priority Watershed designation. Carried. Department Reports: Parks Director Joe Grant noted the Master Plan is done for the 80 A. Perch Lake park, grant applications are completed and awaiting the approval of the State Budget. Facilities Director Ralph Robole reported on major projects completed mostly at the Health Center, farmhouse and barn and air conditioning installed at St. Croix Industries. 4 District Attorney Eric Johnson said two focus areas are: prevention of methamphetamine manufacturing and use by strategy of strong investigations and prosecution; child abuse prevention by using resources towards juvenile and delinquency programs. Johnson encouraged the Board to support these programs. The County schools have good participation in the drug poster contest. Register of Deeds Kay Walsh used graphs to show a 34% increase in revenues for a total of $1,213,893 in 1998. Real estate documents recorded increased from 16,724 in 1997 to 24,278 in 1998. The automation project consisting of indexing documents, fee accounting program and imaging has been completed. Supr. Stan Krueger complimented Walsh on the fine work done. Discussion on Metropolitan Council Land Use Study: Supr. Giese stated the Metro Council led by Ted Mondale have authorized $85,000 for a study on the areas of MN and WI affected by the new Stillwater bridge. He asked if Wisconsin was doing planning in our County and we need to draw a line regarding how much we want to participate. Supr. Standafer said Minnesota has hired a respectable California firm to study areas affected by the bridge. Consultants will meet with local units of government to determine what they want their area to look like in respect to businesses, residential housing, roads, etc. Supr. Luckey noted this study is not of the entire area; only selected demonstration sites will be used from those who wish to conduct the study. Supr. Raymond stated the Met Council is going to do the study whether we participate or not. The County Land Use Plan assumes the bridge will be completed and Mondale wants to know the impact of the bridge on Minnesota. The Towns of St. Joseph and Somerset have indicated an interest in the plan. The County Land Use Plan designs how we want the County to look. Committee Reports: Planning, Zoning and Parks Chair Raymond said two information meetings were scheduled on the new Land Use Plan. Following these and a public hearing, the plan will be brought to the Board for action. Administration Chair Standafer reminded Supervisors to turn in the survey sheet regarding size of the County Board after the 2000 census. Chair Brown reported the Finance Committee Budget Review date of September 28 and 29. Everyone is welcome to attend. Zoning Applications: All from Ag to Ag/Res. Marvin and Sharon Utecht, Town of Baldwin, Robert and Sharon Austrum, Town of Pleasant Valley and Harvey B. Christensen, Town of Stanton. 5 Farmland Preservation: None received. Mileage and Per Diem: Motion by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Berenschot to approve total of $6,635.12 for month of August. Carried. Correspondence: Clerk Nelson read a letter from Supr. Don Brown thanking the Board and staff for calls, letters, prayers and the plant received. Announcements: Chair Dorsey will name the interim administrative coordinator by the end of the week. Motion to adjourn by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Berenschot. Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m. Thomas Dorsey, Chair Sue E. Nelson, Clerk St. Croix County Board of Supervisors St. Croix County N.