HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance 10-09-03
ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Chairman Buck Malick
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Ralph Swenson, Chair
COMMITTEE TITLE: Finance
DATE: Thursday, October 9, 2003 8:30 A.M.
LOCATION: Room 1281, Government Center, Hudson
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: November 13, 2003 8:30 A.M.
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES: September 11, 2003
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Review of Vouchers
2. Treasurer's Report
a. Francis Ogden Property - Deed Corrective Action
b. Resolution for Tax Deeded Properties
c. Resolution for Illegal Taxes (Charged back to Municipalities)
3. Maintenance Department Report
4. Computer Services Department Report
a. Authorization to Exceed Motel/Hotel Maximum Allowance
5. Risk Management Report
6. Corporation Counsel Report
7. Clerk of Court's Report
8. County Clerk Report
9. Finance Department Report
a. Financial Reports
b. Final 2004 Budget Review
c. 2004 Budget Resolution
10. Administrative Coordinator Report
a. 2004 Health Insurance
13. Follow up to WisDoT on County Land in New Richmond
14. Planning Dept: Request for 2003 Budget Amendment
CORRESPONDENCE:
ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
COPIES TO: County Board Office News Media/Notice Board
County Clerk County Board
County Departments
* *ADDITIONS/CHANGES/CORRECTIONS
OFFICIAL
MINUTES OF THE ST. CROIX COUNTY FINANCE COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting October 9, 2003
Meeting called to order by Chair Swenson at 8:30 a.m. Present: Ralph Swenson, Clarence
Malick, Esther Wentz, Daryl Standafer and Stan Krueger. Staff present: Administrative
Coordinator Chuck Whiting, Finance Director Michelle Pietrick and County Clerk Cindy
Campbell. Others present: Supr. Julie Speer and Judy Wiff (media).
Motion by Wentz, 2°d by Standafer to adopt the agenda noting there will be no Risk Management
and Corporation Counsel reports. Carried unanimously. Date of next meeting is November 13,
2003. Motion by Wentz, 2°d by Standafer to approve the minutes of September 11, 2003, with
the following correction: Page 3, item 8, GAL is spelled out to read Guardian ad Litem fees.
Carried unanimously.
Motion by Krueger, 2nd by Wentz to approve the minutes of September 24 and 25, 2003 and
minutes of September 30, 2003, with the following corrections to the September 24 and 25
minutes: Page 1 under Medical Examiner line one: Speer stated the budget contains only actual
expenses. Page 2 under Jail the motion should read: Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to accept
budget with the addition of steamer replacement in the amount of $4,338.85 to be placed in the
2004 Capital Outlay, deletion of $50,000 to fix the floor, and to move it forward into the
budgeting process. Page 4 under Recycling: Grant is driven by how many communities apply.
Fodroczi has projected $2,950 for 2004 which is part of the $237,016. Page 6 under Health &
Human Services paragraph one, line three: amount changed from $375,000 to $575,000. Item
three regarding Homeland Security Grant - Building Entry / Key Management Option was
moved to action taken on September 24, 2003.
1. Vouchers. Malick continues to review weekly.
2. Treasurer's Report. County Treasurer Cheryl Slind was attending a conference in
Waupaca Waukesh County. Prior to leaving she emailed her report and the reconciliation
report showing a balance as of August 31, 2003 of $1,244,330.41. Motion to approve Treasurer's
reconciliation report by Krueger, 2nd by Wentz. Carried unanimously. Krueger indicated he is
pleased to see the reconciliation reports done on a prompt and timely basis.
a. Francis Ogden Property. A tax deed was taken on this property on October 8,
2003. There is an underlying Land Contract on this property which has not been satisfied.
Proper notification was not given to the land contract holder, Carmichael Development Group.
Slind recommended the property be deeded back to Ogden and to proceed with proper
notification to Carmichael Development Group. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to approve
treasurer's recommendation to proceed with the deed back to Ogden and proper notification to
Carmichael Development Group. Carried unanimously.
b. Resolution for Tax Deeded Properties. Quit claim deeds have been prepared to
deed back the property to the three property owners who have repurchased their property by
paying the delinquent taxes, interest and administration fees. An ordinance dated May 10, 1988
was discovered by Corporation Counsel with a procedural chart dated August 1989, in which
the County Treasurer and County Clerk would work together in setting up payment systems
Finance Committee
October 9, 2003
Page 2 of 4
with property owners. Slind's report indicated there is no need for a resolution or ordinance for
the October County Board meeting.
C. Resolution for Illegal Taxes (Charged back to Municipalities). This resolution
provides amounts to be placed on the apportionment to municipalities. The properties listed
were incorrectly charged taxes in the years listed and corrections were made by the assessors
for placement on this resolution. There were questions regarding this process. Motion by
Malick, 2nd by Wentz to postpone this resolution to the November 13, 2003 regularly scheduled
Finance Committee meeting. Carried unanimously.
3. Planning Dept: Request for 2003 Budget Amendment. County Planner Dave Fodroczi
requested a line item transfer for funds to change the partitions in the Real Property Lister's
office from five foot dividers to three and one-half foot dividers to allow and extend site lines
between staff and counter area. The cost for the shorter panels is $1,737.00 plus delivery and
installation in the amount of $145.00. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to agree to the proposed
line item change. Carried unanimously.
4. Maintenance Department Report. Facilities Manager Ralph Robole reported he
contacted the City of Hudson regarding adjoining landowners dumping waste on County land.
The City sent letters to the property owners to clean up the property. Robole will monitor the
clean up. Whiting reported the proposed removal of the 2004 custodial/groundskeeper position
in the Maintenance Department eliminates the custodial position for the Huber facility. Robole
indicated the Huber facility creates more work for his department and without this position he
does not have enough staff to cover the newly created hours.
5. Computer Services Department Report
a. Request from Boron to exceed $62.00 motel/hotel allowance as he will be
attending a conference and indicated the daily room rate is $89.00. Motion to by Wentz, 2nd by
Krueger to approve request to exceed the $62.00 allowance. Carried unanimously.
6. Risk Management Report. No report.
7. Corporation Counsel Report. No report.
8. Clerk of Court's Report. No report.
9. County Clerk Report. County Clerk Campbell reported in September she attended a
passport seminar in Eau Claire and has recently set up a UPS account for St. Croix County.
10. Finance Department Report.
a. Financial Report. Pietrick indicated she has devoted all of her time for budget
preparation therefore was unable to complete the financial reports.
Finance Committee
October 9, 2003
Page 3 of 4
b. Final 2004 Budget Review. Pietrick reviewed and made changes recommended
at last budget review. Nursing Home budget did not balance because the Capital Outlay was
entered twice resulting in an overage of approximately $342,000, which would be part of the
levy. Standafer Swensen rclarified the Finance Committee's objective is not to exceed a
$20,111,000 levy which is a 6.663% increase, the same percentage increase as the change in new
construction. Pietrick reported her calculations indicate total revenues of approximately
$73,542,000; total expenses of approximately $73,825,000. Expenditures exceed the revenue by
approximately $283,000. This does not include funds from the Building Fund.
Motion by Malick, 2"d by Wentz to include the Huber/Groundskeeper position in the
Maintenance Department in the amount of $45,813 in the 2004 budget. Carried unanimously.
Discussion regarding the Family Court Commissioner pay increase. Malick indicated he is not
participating in discussion or action relating to this topic because of possible conflicts of interest
relating to his law practice and potential hearings before the St. Croix County Judges. Judge
Needham and Judge Vlack requested the Finance Committee consider keeping this in the budget.
Judge Needham indicated Supreme Court rates are $70.00 per hour. The current rate for the
Family Court Commissioner is calculated at $55.00 per hour. Motion by Wentz, 2°d by
Standafer to approve Family Court Commissioner pay increase by $14,000 for 2004. Carried
unanimously (Malick did not vote).
The District Attorney Legal Secretary and Sheriff's Department Security Officer positions will
have start dates of April 1, 2004.
Malick requested reconsidering one-half of the request for Veteran's Service Office for
additional assistance. No action.
Fair Board $25,000 payment will be incorporated into the Capital Outlay Plan rather than the
County making an annual payment. Krueger agreed to this.
Discussion regarding Purchasing Agent position and a possible start date of November 1, 2004.
Motion by Malick, 2nd by Standafer to restore the Purchasing Agent position to the budget with a
November 1 proposed start date providing a $10,800 amount for 2004 budget. Discussion
regarding contracting this position either with a service or another county or city for a trial
period. Amendment to motion by Malick, 2nd by Standafer to keep the Purchasing Agent open to
being an employee, retaining a contractual service or sharing service with another county or city.
Carried unanimously.
Motion by Krueger, 2'd by Malick to move adoption of a 2004 budget to be used in preparation
of the formal documentation for the October County Board budget hearing with a general
property tax levy not to exceed $20,111,265 which is a 6.663% increase over the 2003 levy and
incorporating actions taken by the Finance Committee and documented in motions from the
budget reviews of September 24, 25 and 30 and actions from the October 9, 2004 Finance
Committee meeting and to transfer funds from the Building Fund in the amount of $353,957.
Pietrick confirmed the mill rate will be $3.485. Carried unanimously.
Finance Committee
October 9, 2003
Page 4 of 4
C. 2004 Budget Resolution. Pietrick distributed proposed resolution. Amounts will
be filled in upon approval by the County Board. Pietrick indicated the budget books will be
available by October 30.
11. Administrative Coordinator Report.
a. 2004 Health Insurance. Whiting recommended staying with PreferredOne with
SunLife as the re-insurer. The renewal is effective November 1. Internal premium rates will be
effective January 1, 2004 with contributions reflected in December. Whiting noted with non-
represented employees paying 10% and represented employees paying roughly 3.5%, splitting
the group into non-represented and represented would be more equitable. Administrative fees,
the specific stop loss premium, and the aggregate premium remain the same for two groups, but
the SunLife aggregate attachment point is different for the two groups. Motion by Krueger, 2nd
by Malick to authorize the Administrative Coordinator and County Board Chair to sign
necessary paperwork for renewal with PreferredOne and SunLife and to calculate premiums
based on 10% for non-represented employees and approximately 3.5% for represented
employees. Carried unanimously.
12. Follow up to WisDoT on County Land in New Richmond. Whiting received an
estimate from the Highway Department for construction of a frontage road along newly
constructed Highway 64. Total preliminary cost estimate is $240,100. Whiting indicated issues
of concern are per acre value and the road design to facilitate traffic to the north. Whiting will
pursue the northern access issue and set up a meeting with WisDoT to negotiate or plan the
development and possible acquisition of Parcel B by the state.
Meeting adjourned at 11:43 a.m.
Esther Wentz, Secretary