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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-04-2012 County Board Minutes MINUTES BOARD OF SUPERVISORS December 4, 2012 9:00 AM County Board Room - Government Center 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER INVOCATION-LARRY SZYMAN, FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ROLL CALL Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Travis Schachtner Supervisor Present Agnes Ring Supervisor Present Tim Hood Supervisor Absent Daryl Standafer Chair Present Fred Yoerg Supervisor Absent Buck Malick Supervisor Present Chris Kilber Supervisor Present Richard Ottino Supervisor Present Tom Hawksford Supervisor Absent Dave Ostness Supervisor Present Roger Larson Vice Chair Present Fred Horne Supervisor Present Ron Kiesler Supervisor Present Andy Brinkman Supervisor Present David Peterson Supervisor Present Joe Hurtgen Supervisor Present Brian Hurtgen Supervisor Present Duane Russett Supervisor Absent William Peavey Supervisor Present CONSENT AGENDA (Unless separation of an item is requested, all will be adopted in one motion.) RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Travis Schachtner, Supervisor SECONDER: David Peterson, Supervisor AYES: Travis Schachtner, Agnes Ring, Daryl Standafer, Buck Malick, Chris Kilber, Richard Ottino, Dave Ostness, Roger Larson, Fred Horne, Ron Kiesler, Andy Brinkman, David Peterson, Joe Hurtgen, Brian Hurtgen, William Peavey ABSENT: Tim Hood, Fred Yoerg, Tom Hawksford, Duane Russett 1. Minutes Approval November 5, 2012 9:00 AM 2. Date of Next Meeting-January 8, 2013, 9:00 a.m. 3. Rezonings-None PRESENTATIONS OR RECOGNITIONS 1. Conservation Speech-Hannah Perry-Junior Division St. Croix County Winner Land and Water Information and Education Activities Specialist Aleisha Miller explained the Conservation Speech program and introduced Hanna Perry and indicated Kylie Strop was not able to attend today’s meeting. Perry gave her speech on Organic vs. Conventional Food Production. 2. Conservation Speech-Kylie Strop-Elementary Division St. Croix County Winner Not present 3. Hudson High School Cross Country State Champion-Coach Don Krupa and Ryan Kromer Not present 4. Glenwood City High School Football State Championship-Coach Shane Strong Coach Strong and his coaching staff were present. Coach Strong highlighted the commitment of his players and community support. 5. Somerset High School Football State Championship-Coach Bruce Larson Coach Larson and players Tyler Ledbeter, Reggie Larson, Luke Praschak were present. Coach Larson highlighted the season and each player briefly spoke on the team's commitment. APPOINTMENTS None. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT County Administrator Patrick Thompson reported he is ready to close the 2012 fiscal year and does not see the need for any departments to come back with a yearend transfer at this point. Thompson highlighted performance review status and indicated he intends to review the current policy and may return to the County Board with a policy revision. He has met with the labor groups and is reviewing how to incorporate Pay for Performance through the entire workforce. Thompson reported the evaluation of the County Administrator is coming up noting his two year anniversary next June. Thompson requested comments be submitted to Chair Standafer for review by the oversight committee which consists of the County Board Chair, Vice Chair and Chair of Administration Committee. Thompson welcomes thoughts and comments in areas where improvement is needed and capitalize in areas where he is doing well. Staff is hosting a Christmas potluck on December 12, 2012 and all County Board members are welcome to attend. ANNUAL COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS 1. 2012 Sheriff's Office Annual Report No questions. 2. 2012 Emergency Support Services Annual Report No questions. 3. 2012 Child Support Annual Report No questions. 4. 2012 Medical Examiner Annual Report No questions. 5. 2012 District Attorney Annual Report No questions. 6. 2012 Victim Witness Annual Report No questions. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS 1. Resolution Approving Alteration of Supervisory District Boundaries Resulting from an Annexation to the City of Hudson RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: David Peterson, Supervisor SECONDER: William Peavey, Supervisor AYES: Travis Schachtner, Agnes Ring, Daryl Standafer, Buck Malick, Chris Kilber, Richard Ottino, Dave Ostness, Roger Larson, Fred Horne, Ron Kiesler, Andy Brinkman, David Peterson, Joe Hurtgen, Brian Hurtgen, William Peavey ABSENT: Tim Hood, Fred Yoerg, Tom Hawksford, Duane Russett 2. Resolution to Authorize the Sale of Vacant County Land and Assign Proceeds to Create a Separate Capital Projects Fund Motion by Peterson, 2nd by Schachtner to approve. Thompson presented a PowerPoint highlighting St. Croix County land studies and reports, reasons for selling the County’s 537 acres of vacant farmland in New Richmond, auction method of selling the land, assigning proceeds to create a separate capital projects fund, review of major capital projects including 911 infrastructure and space upgrade, Health and Human Services (HHS) staff relocation, demolition and clean-up of New Richmond site, new Nursing Home, Government Center chiller and parking lot, possible addition to Government Center once all underutilized space is repurposed and impact of ROWE is established. Thompson explained the price of vacant farmland is at a high peak with farm commodity prices being what they are. Currently, the farmland is being leased and the lease expires at the end of 2012. Thompson recommends the County retain 35 acres for county use and potentially for a nursing home. Review of auction vs. real estate sale processes. Thompson recommends using an auctioneer to achieve the highest potential value of the land. Thompson explained the Fund Balance Policy designates the net proceeds from the sale be applied to debt service unless otherwise directed by the County Board. Review of County debt, noting two outstanding notes with final payments due in April 2016 and April 2017. The County Board could designate payment of principle and interest but these notes are not callable. Review of capital projects. Thompson indicated the 911 infrastructure and space upgrade is a critical need along with HHS staff relocation and the demolition and clean-up of HHS building in New Richmond Thompson reported a recommendation will be brought back to the County Board concerning the Nursing Home. Application for property incentive will be made in January 2013. The County should receive confirmation in April or May of 2013 if the property incentive is achieved then a recommendation will be brought back to the County Board. Review of short and long range planning including reallocating existing space, finding temporary work space for the 160 HHS employees, and in three to five years bring back a proposal for a new building of some sort. Priority capital projects reviewed. Preliminary cost estimates to relocate HHS are $600k to $1.5 million and $750k to $1.5 million to clean up the site. Preliminary cost estimates for Phase I of the 911 Center are $1 million to $1.5 million. Thompson reported Phase II for 911 new infrastructure would be a separate funding request once known but estimated $5 million plus. Thompson recommends expanding the 911 Center into the Community Room providing an additional 1400 square feet noting the Community Room is underutilized. Thompson reported the proceeds from the sale of the 500 plus vacant acres of land will not be used to retire debt but to address the serious capital infrastructure needs which have not been addressed for 911 and HHS relocation. Chair Standafer indicated two members of the public have requested to speak and both have been authorized by their County Board Supervisors. Scottie Ard, City of New Richmond, requested consideration of the great financial base for the county for future growth after the completion of the New St. Croix River Crossing project. Ard acknowledged the 911 Center is cramped but requested to dismiss this resolution and to look at the expansion for the 911 Center from other areas of county monies. She asked the Board to wait until a comprehensive plan for HHS is in place for less disruption to staff and the citizens and asked how to protect the Nursing Home residents while the HHS building is being demolished since the buildings are attached. Ard asked not to rush into this. Kim Dupre, Town of Emerald, concurred with the HHS building analogies of the building condition and the need for upgrades and the 911 space needs. Dupre expressed concerns regarding the public perception and emotional attachment to the land in New Richmond. Dupre provided a handout containing history of the Health Care Center. Dupre highlighted a 2008 meeting regarding the Nursing Home noting one of its strengths was it had land for future use. Dupre noted some County Board members have indicated they are not in favor of bonding to build a new Nursing Home and if the land is sold now, asked what is Plan B for the Nursing Home. Dupre requested consideration so the public is comfortable and employees are on board with this process. Malick asked for more information regarding the Nursing Home Property Incentive Program. Thompson explained this is a State of Wisconsin financial incentive for entities planning to build a new nursing home. HHS Board authorized the use of $10,000 to retain a consultant to complete the process including an operations plan and a conceptual diagram showing what a potential nursing home would look like. Thompson confirmed proceeds from the sale of this land would not be enough to fund a new nursing home. Ostness questioned the auction process and if an appraisal would be done. Thompson indicated an appraisal may not be useful information as the auction is the appraisal, and the process of auctioning would drive the highest potential value of the land. Thompson confirmed discussions with the City of New Richmond who expressed interest in purchasing a portion of the 500 acres. The auction process allows participation of any interested buyers including other units of government. Horne, who serves as the mayor for the City of New Richmond, indicated he will abstain from this vote as he has a conflict in representing both sides. Chair Standafer accepted his reason to abstain from voting on this issue. Kiesler expressed concerns regarding the economic impact to the New Richmond area without any guarantee HHS, with 160 employees, will be staying there. Kiesler noted fifty percent of the clientele are within a ten mile radius of New Richmond and twenty- five percent are within a ten mile radius of Hudson. Kiesler felt there is not enough information today to decide on many of these issues and asked if there is a vision for the next ten to thirty years. Chair Standafer asked to keep turf issues out of this and indicated there has been no discussion to relocate employees. Thompson confirmed there is no recommendation to move HHS to Hudson. Discussion regarding land value and zoning. Thompson recommends division of the 500 acres into strategic parcels and auction off individual parcels. Ring asked if there has been consideration in the 911 planning to have inter-agency cooperation for cost sharing and cost savings with other counties. Thompson confirmed there have been discussions with neighboring counties. Schachtner and Brinkman expressed concerns regarding the vagueness of the plan. Thompson indicated the County has been talking about this land for years and it’s time to advance this and get other things moving. Thompson added this issue is operational and Administration will work through the details and that level of detail will be reported. Ottino asked if the water tower issue proposes a health issue to the employees and nursing home residents. Chair Standafer confirmed use of city water and the water tower is used to improve water pressure. Malick stated he is a proponent of selling excess land but felt rushed into making a decision and is not confident 35 acres is enough land to build a new nursing home. Malick requested an adequate number of acres for all uses and a month’s delay to obtain a minimum bid price. Discussion regarding delaying the sale may make a difference in the value of this land. Horne left the meeting at 11:33 a.m. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Peavey to amend the resolution by changing line 27 after “fund to be used”, strike the remainder and add, “as directed by the Board”. Schachtner indicated he prefers to leave the language as is in the resolution as it locks in where the funds will be spent. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Ostness to postpone this matter until the January 8, 2013 County Board meeting with a request to the County Administrator to answer two questions: What would be the minimum price recommended for auction? What is the minimum amount of space set aside from the auction to serve the Nursing Home and all other likely uses? Passed: Yes: 9 - No: 5. RESULT: POSTPONED [9 TO 5] Next: 1/8/2013 9:00 AM MOVER: Buck Malick, Supervisor SECONDER: William Peavey, Supervisor AYES: Travis Schachtner, Agnes Ring, Buck Malick, Chris Kilber, Richard Ottino, Dave Ostness, Andy Brinkman, David Peterson, William Peavey NAYS: Daryl Standafer, Roger Larson, Ron Kiesler, Joe Hurtgen, Brian Hurtgen ABSENT: Tim Hood, Fred Yoerg, Tom Hawksford, Fred Horne, Duane Russett COUNTY CLERK'S REPORT OF CORRESPONDENCE AND REZONING REQUESTS None. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Standafer indicated the annual review of the County Administrator is coming up. The review committee consists of Chair Standafer, Vice Chair Larson, and Administration Committee Chair Peterson. Standafer is requesting input from board members and no anonymous comments will be considered. ADJOURNMENT