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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-10-2015 Public Protection Minutes MEETING MINUTES PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE April 10, 2015 8:00 AM County Board Room-Government Center County Board Room - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order by Chair Brinkman at 8:00 AM ROLL CALL Attendee Name Organization Title Status Arrived Andy Brinkman St. Croix County Chair Present Scott Nelson St. Croix County Vice Chair Present Christopher Babbitt St. Croix County Supervisor Present Roger Larson St. Croix County Supervisor Present Stephen Nielsen St. Croix County Supervisor Excused Also present: Administrator Patrick Thompson, Sheriff John Shilts, CJCC Coordinator O'Keefe, Child Support Director Chad Wolske, Interim Emergency Support Services Director Stephen J. T'Kach, Emergency Communications Coordinator Terry Andersen, Interim Finance Director Robert Mittet, Medical Examiner Patty Schachtner, Chief Deputy Scott Knudson, Captain Jeff Klatt, and meeting organizer Janet Smith APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Friday, March 13, 2015 PUBLIC COMMENT* County Supervisor Bill Peavey, appeared on behalf of United Fire and Rescue. Peavey read a letter from Board of Directors President Barry Ketchum regarding the departments concerns regarding radio coverage in their areas being addressed by Phase II. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Financial Reports Patrick Thompson and Bob Mittet presented the February 2015 Financial report. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. 9-1-1 Infrastructure Phase II Emergency Support Services Interim Director Stephen T'Kach introduced Steve Potts from PSC Consultants. A presentation was given on the history and current status of the Phase II Infrastructure project budget. The original amount was a "ballpark" figure of $6,300,000. A $10 million dollar bond was obtained in 2014 for various projects. Upon bonded projects being completed there was $5,426,000 remaining from the $10 million, which was allocated to this Phase II project. The first estimate by PSC Consultants was $6,388,474 with no contingencies. Modifications to this number include building a new tower in Somerset, replacing the water tower at the old HHS site with a mono pole tower, contingencies and consultant fees. The current tentative estimate is $7,908,811. PSC consultant Steve Potts gave an overview of how the infrastructure upgrade will improve radio transmissions. T'Kach noted there is also a plan for obtaining information on the current radio's used by Fire, EMS and Local Law Enforcement throughout the county in order to verify all agencies will be compatible with the new system. Discussion on possible funding sources for this project. Administrator Thompson has been in discussions with Interim Finance Director Mittet on possible solutions for funding options. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Medical Examiner Two-Way Radio Communications ESS Interim Director Stephen T'Kach has worked with the Medical Examiner and the Sheriff to develop a plan for all Medical Examiner staff to carry radios. Currently, the ME staff are dispatched to scenes and many times not communicated with again. T'Kach, Shilts and Schachtner have worked together to remedy this problem. When Sheriff Office radios are updated the older radios will be repurposed to the Medical Examiner staff. Badge numbers have been assigned to the staff and when radio's become available the new procedures will be confirmed. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Medical Examiner report Medical Examiner Patty Schachtner reported on the community collaboration program. This collaborative effort among community organizations and agencies work to improve drug abuse and suicide problems without affecting budget dollars. The group is currently working on handing out resource guides to municipalities, school districts and having the guides available for local law enforcement to be handed out while at crime scenes. The Rivertown group is working with local hospitals to underwrite this project. The first fundraiser will be in May. The goal of this project is to have every student in St. Croix County in grades 6th through 12th receive a resource guide. The Medical Examiner's office has partnered with UWRF and Dr. McGee to offer free death scene training for law enforcement officers and the regional ME's. The first class offered will train 90 people with a second offering in June. To date in 2015 the department has processed 10 autopsies and 14 unnatural deaths. The office is seeing more pallative care deaths. The office is working with the Home Health agencies to make sure these pallative care patients have a DNR signed so EMS is not sent per the patient and family wishes. The office has had 4 unclaimed bodies in 2015. Families are not responsible for costs related to a family members death. Discussion. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. Endorsement of the Aid to Fire Fighter Grant (AFG) - Spring Valley Fire Department Emergency Communications Coordinator Terry Andersen reported the Spring Valley Fire Department is in the process of applying for an Aid to Firefighter grant. The grant will promote better communications between the Pepin, Dunn, St. Croix and Pierce counties. The grant proposes each Fire and EMS would have one vehicle with a mobile unit loaded with mapping software. The grant is a 90/10 grant. The committee members support the letter of endorsement. Coordinator Andersen and Administrator Thompson will work on a letter of endorsement for the Spring Valley Fire Department. RESULT: DISCUSSED-NO ACTION ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Chair Brinkman gave the following announcements: April 12 - 18th National Telecommunicators Week. There will be a recognition on Tuesday, April 14th. April 13 - 17th is Wisconsin Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week. On Thursday April 16th there will be a state wide mock tornado drill. April 19th - 25th is National Crime Victim Awareness Week. Chair Brinkman thanked the Victim/Witness department for getting this information out to the schools and public. Friday, April 24, 2015 the Sheriff's Office will have their Recognition Ceremony at the Somerset American Legion at 6:00 PM. ADJOURN Meeting adjourned by Chair Brinkman at 9:39 AM. DATE OF NEXT MEETING - FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 Chair Brinkman noted several members will not be available for the May 8th meeting. The next Public Protection committee meeting will be Friday, May 15th.