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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdministration 09-19-11NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE September 19, 2011 - 8:30 A.M. St. Croix County Government Center — Room 1281 1101 Carmichael Road Hudson, Wisconsin L CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: August 16, 2011 IV. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Financial Report 2. Resolution Prohibiting Firearms in County Buildings 3. Donation to the Coalition for the New River Crossing 4. Employee Grievance Policy 5. 2012 Budget Update 6. Government Center Property Encroachment V. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE VI. ADJOURN DATE OF NEXT MEETING: October 4, 2011, 1 -3pm, Budget Presentation October 17, 2011, 8:30am, Regular Meeting REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY: Committee Chair and County Administrator DATE APPROVED: September 14, 2011 DATE REVISED: September 16, 2011 A quorum of the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors (County Board) may he present at this meeting. Therefore, this notice also serves as notice of'a meeting of'the County Boardfor the purpose of'ohtaining information relaxing to subjects listed above for use at future County Board Meetings. 9114120114:34 PM Official Minutes of Committee Meeting ST. CROIX COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE September 19, 2011 — 8:30 A.M. St. Croix County Government Center, 1101 Carmichael Road Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER — The meeting was called to order by Chair Norton - Bauman at 8:30 a.m. ROLL CALL — Present: Daryl Standafer, Lorin Sather, Sharon Norton - Bauman, Roger Rebholz, Esther Wentz, Buck Malick, and Ryan Sicard Others present (some not mentioned below): Risk Manager Kristen Ziliak, Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman, EDC Director Bill Rubin, Larry Dowell, Dianne Joachim, Tim Hood, Tom Irwin, Annette Olson, David "Ole" Olson, Child Support Specialist Lisa Plunkett and Finance Director Michelle Pietrick APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS: Motion by Wentz, 2nd by Standafer to approve the August 16, 2011 minutes. Carried unanimously. 1. Financial Report — County Administrator Patrick Thompson highlighted the financial reports for the Administration offices and elected officials. Reconciliation report reviewed. County Treasurer Laure Noble was not present. No questions. 2. Resolution Prohibiting Firearms in County Buildings — Thompson reported this resolution reflects recent changes in the Wisconsin State Statutes regarding any properly licensed person to carry a concealed weapon anywhere in this state except as provided in statutes. Sheriff John Shilts stated the purpose of the resolution is to give notice to those who have gone through the permitting process that the County Board has identified certain areas as a building to exclude from having concealed weapons carried. Timmerman stated the state legislature and governor have declared certain places off limits for those that are properly licensed or not properly licensed. Timmerman is unsure why certain places were excluded. Timmerman added the law identifies four weapons they can carry concealed if licensed and what the County Board can prohibit from what can be carried is called a "firearm ". Timmerman suggested if the intent is to just identify those who are illegal or carrying then there is no purpose for the resolution. Timmerman confirmed he is not advocating for this, he was directed to draft this resolution. Shilts asked what part of the Government Center constitutes court services and how far the Sheriff Department extends, etc. What is the County Board's definition of what are the prohibited areas — where do they begin and where do they end? Members of the public requested to speak on the issue. Speakers: Tom Irwin of Hudson, David and Annette Olson of Glenwood, Tim Hood of Town of St. Joseph spoke against the resolution and asked why take a resolution to prohibit what the state statute has in place. Discussion regarding County liability if the County Board prohibits the carrying of weapons and the definition of "courthouse ", "courtrooms ", etc. Norton- Bauman suggested assigning this matter to the County Administrator to come back with Administration Committee September 19, 2011 Page 2 of 3 administrative suggestions and solutions for the Administration Committee to consider. 3. Donation to the Coalition for the New River Crossing - Standafer introduced Larry Dowell of Dowell Stute and Associates of St. Paul who is present for support of the coalition for the new river crossing. Dowell is working with fund raising for the activity for the coalition. Dowell provided project updates and respectfully requested St. Croix County participate in the funding of the coalition efforts noting receipt of support from other entities. Dowell stated the request is for $9,500 which matches the Washington County contribution. Malick requested an analysis of the benefit to St. Croix County. Standafer stated this is not being promoted for economic development for this area but other promotions relating to safety and reduction in air and water pollution. Motion by Sather, 2nd by Sicard to contribute to $9,500 to the River Crossing Coalition with funding coming from the Contingency Fund. Norton- Bauman asked if the County is within its legal rights to make the contribution without knowing what the County will receive in return. Discussion regarding outlining the work plan. Standafer indicated he conferred with Corporation Counsel and confirmed if the work plan identifies what the funds are used for that would clearly indicate the purpose for the contribution. Carried 6 - 1 (Malick voted no). 4. Employee Grievance Policy — Thompson reported the employee grievance policy is a product of Act 10 which requires local units of government to have grievance and appeal policies both for employee related matters and work place safety matters. Thompson stated there are two components to the draft policy. Thompson indicated they have consulted with labor attorneys and neighboring comparable counties to review drafts of their policies and incorporated all provisions required by law to include in this grievance and appeal policy. Human Resources Director Tammy Funk stated she and Timmerman participated in a Webinar presented by WCA and many of the definitions presented are part of this policy. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Standafer to approve. Discussion regarding Impartial Hearing Officer. Funk suggested using a retired judge. Discussion regarding the role of the County Board in the process. Carried unanimously. 5. 2012 Budget Update — Thompson reported on the 2012 budget and reviewed Administration Department budgets showing the 2011 budget, 2012 budget submitted, and 2012 Administrator budget. Thompson explained all capital items were removed from the submitted budgets. He intends to submit a budget to the County Board with a capital improvement budget of approximately $750,000. From that amount, purchase of capital items will be determined by the County Administrator, Finance Director and other key staff after the budget is approved. Discussion regarding capital items and the need for prioritization and transparency of capital purchases. Malick suggested Thompson recognize this discussion and as we work through the budgets the bigger capital items will be known before the budget is passed. Thompson indicated he will review the entire list of the capital projects requested. Sather requested department budget details by line item. Thompson indicated detailed department budget will be reviewed at the October 4 th Administration Committee meeting. Sather expressed concerns regarding the perception of a capital item review team consisting of department heads. Malick requested continued efforts in delinquent fines, forfeitures and fee collections in the Clerk of Court and returns on the collections. Discussion regarding IT equipment replacement; movement towards hoteling offices /working from home in which Thompson reported review of piloting a work from home program with two or three departments; discussion regarding decline in the jail and Huber Administration Committee September 19, 2011 Page 3 of 3 population; space needs and cross training in the Treasurer's office. Thompson indicated there has been some review of consolidating the Register of Deeds office, Treasurer's office and moving Real Property Lister from Planning and Zoning and Financial Assistants from the Finance Department staff to the Treasurer's office. Thompson summarized the process of meeting with the departments and assured the budget requests were thoroughly reviewed by himself and the Finance Director. Malick indicated there has not been a good system of exit interviews for employees that leave employment with St. Croix County and would like some assurance of moving in the direction of a regular thorough system of capturing why people leave our employ. He would like the County Board to have access to the trends and patterns. Malick asked if we are dependent on the online application system (NeoGov). Thompson will report back on those topics. Discussion regarding providing a position vacancy report to the Administration Committee. Thompson will look into generating that type of report monthly but it will not be an agenda item. 6. Government Center Property Encroachment — Committee members along with Thompson, Art Tobin and Kristen Ziliak toured the Government Center property at 9:50 a.m. and returned at 10:33 a.m. Thompson reported on receipt of a July 14 letter from Garth Christenson, Dean Knudson and Tom Kloster of St. Croix Valley Professionals requesting an agreeable solution to alleviate the setback issue. Thompson asked if the committee's prerogative is to do nothing, require removal of the encroachment, or direct the Administrator and Corporation Counsel to negotiate an agreement with the property owners and bring it back to the Administration Committee for consideration. Malick requested recusal from this matter because he and his family deal with these three people and in the past, has represented the individuals. Standafer also requested recusal as all three are close personal friends and his previous employer was part of the financing when the facility was built. Timmerman agreed to the recusals. Sather indicated selling to one property owner and not to others creates a complicated situation and suggested maintaining the previous action to cease use of the County's property. Motion by Sather, 2" d by Wentz to respond to this request that the County is not interested selling or leasing at this time, and to comply with the Administration Committee's earlier action. Rebholz stated the County is not using that property. Carried 3 - 2 ( Rebholz and Sicard voted no). Administration Committee requested Timmerman and Thompson draft a letter to the property owner. Norton - Bauman requested the next Administration Committee agenda include the County Board consider splitting the Community Development Committee and create a separate committee for Planning and Zoning and Land and Water Conservation/Parks and UW- Extension. Sather requested consideration of reduction in County Board Chair stipend from $500 to $200. Meeting adjourned at 11:47 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Ryan Sicard, Secretary Cindy Campbell, Recording Secretary