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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-2021 Committee of the Whole Minutes MEETING MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE July 28, 2021 4:00 PM St. Croix County Government Center -Room 1284 Government Center -1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL Attendee NameOrganizationTitleStatusArrived Ed SchachtnerSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Shawn AndersonSt. Croix CountySupervisorLate4:03 PM Bob LongSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Cathy LeafSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Carah KochSt. Croix CountySupervisorExcused Tim HallSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Paul BerningSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Richard OttinoSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Bob FeidlerSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Dave OstnessSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Scott CounterSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Daniel HansenSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Scottie ArdSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Greg TellijohnSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent David PetersonSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Paulette AndersonSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Judy AchterhofSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Shelly TomtschikSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent William PeaveySt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent APPROVAL OF MINUTES NA PUBLIC COMMENT Bill Rubin, Village of North Hudson and EDC Director - ARPA Funding BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Consideration of Use of APRA Funds County Administrator Ken Witt summarized American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding reporting requirements. In May 2021, St. Croix County received the first half of ARPA funds from the federal government in the amount of $8,807,978.82. The second half will be received in May 2022. Review of ARPA Funding proposed projects. Corporation Counsel Scott Cox reviewed regulations and indicated his determinations are conservative because he does not want the county in the position to fund something and then find the federal government has changed qualifications, leaving the county on the hook for the money. Witt summarized each project by department. Board members used paddles to show support or not support of department requests. Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Bob Rohret and Behavioral Health Administrator/Operations Manager Shar Lopez explained the HHS requests. Funding adjustments were made to some requests. Information Technology Broadband funding review. Comments by Matt Sparks from Baldwin Lightstream regarding the need for funding. Supported. Medical Examiner Patty Schachtner reported the ME requests are all obsolete and withdrew the ME requests. Judicial requested staffing for DRC. It was determined the request is not eligible for ARPA funding and should be built into the operating budget if long term. Sheriff request in the amount of $375,000 retention bonus. Witt reported this would need to be negotiated with the union. Supported. Sheriff's request for jail quarantine/isolation cells - not supported. Community Development Department requests review. Witt stated there is a narrow scope of available funding but there has been a spike in the use of county parks. Discussion regarding $1.6 million request for nine Glen Hills camping cabins with infrastructure. Vote on camping cabins was a "maybe". Register of Deeds request for a system to digitize aperture cards. Not supported. Administration request additional compensation for essential workers. Not supported. Unreimbursed for COVID expenses. Supported. Facilities requests for updated ventilation systems and stormwater management. Supported. Discussion regarding funding for projects. Witt summarized the Broadband funding was reduced from $5,000,000 to $4,000,000; the Glen Hills camping cabins were eliminated (saving $1,600,000); added back in HHS Behavior Health programs ($2,100,000); added $300,000 for additional compensation for health care campus recruitment and retention bonuses. Supported. Total ARPA funds available: $8,807,979 Total allocated: $8,480,000 Balance: $327,979 RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE ADJOURN 6:43 PM DATE OF NEXT MEETING - AUGUST 25 4:00 PM