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Home My WebLink About09-03-2020 Public Protection & Judiciary Minutes MEETING MINUTES PUBLIC PROTECTION & JUDICIARY COMMITTEE September 3, 2020 8:00 AM Room 1284-County Board Room St. Croix County Government Center - Room 1284 - Government Center - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin NOTICE Notice: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Protection and Judiciary committee meeting will be available to members and reporting departments on-line, utilizing the Zoom platform. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL Attendee Name Organization Title Status Arrived Cathy Leaf St. Croix County Vice Chair Present Paul Berning St. Croix County Supervisor Present Bob Feidler St. Croix County Chair Absent Daniel Hansen St. Croix County Supervisor Present Shelly Tomtschik St. Croix County Supervisor Present Others Present: Interim County Administrator Ken Witt, Sheriff Scott Knudson, Chief Deputy Cathy Borgschatz, Judge Scott Needham, CJCC Coordinator Mike O'Keefe, District Attorney Mike Nieskes and meeting organizer Janet Smith. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Public Protection & Judiciary Committee – Regular Meeting – August 7, 2020 7:50 AM Motion to approve by Supervisor Berning, Seconded by Supervisor Hansen. Approved RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT No Public comment BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Financial Report July 2020 Interim County Administrator Ken Witt presented the July 2020 Financial report for reporting departments. Vice Chair Leaf inquired about CARES funds reimbursement. Witt explained the county has submitted unbudgeted expenses relating to the extra cleaning services, Public Health additional staff and hours, remodeling of courts, and more, to the Routes to Recovery grant program and continues to submit. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Review of 2021 Budget Request Interim County Administrator Witt reviewed each reporting department's budget requests (in the agenda packet). He reported each department submitted reasonable budget requests. A step increase and health insurance increases are indicated in the Net Wage & Fringe area. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Circuit Court & CJCC Updates Judge Scott Needham reported the courts are working on updating the Continuity of Operations plan. Planning for CCAP to be on-site for updating of equipment. Working with Sheriff's office on Day Report Center. Judge Needham addressed the question posed at County Board regarding a night court possibility. Considerations would be reviewed if there is was an established need identified. Needham commended the exceptional job the cleaning crew does throughout the day for courts. CJCC Coordinator Mike O'Keefe reported the TAD (Treatment Alternatives and Diversion) grant is being worked on for 2021 application. The department has some funds, which were budgeted for training, travel, etc. Due to COVID these funds have not been expended. Discussions with the Sheriff's office has brought an idea of providing an administrative position for the Day Report Center in the form of a contracted position. District Attorney thought a position may be helpful to provide "triage" for the DRC. The position would be part-time and funded through the TAD grant. CJCC meeting at 8:00 AM next Thursday. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Medical Examiner's Office Update Medical Examiner Patty Schachtner updated the committee on the Medical Examiner office. The office and largest hospice provider are meeting this evening for a discussion and review on a new hospice program beginning January 2021. The hospice program started with 51 cases a year, currently, there are 455 cases. The new program will save money in wages and save some of the team's call outs. The new program would decrease the nighttime call outs and scene visits and work through digital submissions. Hospice agencies in the county have increased from one to nine. The current mechanical cot does not lift the decedent into the van. At this time ME staff are solo and usually Law Enforcement officers are asked to help with getting the decedent into the ME van. The mechanical cot was purchased for $9,000. A new lift system would enable staff to place the decedent without assistance. Quotes received start at $25,000. With the help from the Facilities team a solution was found that costs $35.00. The department is working on the ongoing problem of abandoned bodies. Twice last week families left the decedent. The family left the body at the funeral home. Currently, trying to work with funeral homes. Problem with very aged parents taking care of aged dependants. Other counties (larger counties) are cremains held until family pays. ME would not suggest that. The cost per abandoned body is $900 - $2,500 per case. This problem is primarily pertains to people who do not qualify for the funeral assistance program. This problem will keep coming up in the future. Schachtner and Sheriff Knudson have talked about the possibility of turning the DD building into a regional site to house some investigations and perhaps LODOX machine. This would help with future grant opportunities. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. Jail construction project update Sheriff Scott Knudson reported the jail construction project is on schedule. The special needs cells are scheduled to be done and ready for occupation in November. The Day Report Center (DRC) is complete and operations will move in weekend. The Sheriff informed the committee if they would like a tour of the unoccupied crisis cells the October meeting would be a good time. Jail Captain Chris Drost has stepped down as jail captain and will return to Investigations. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The committee would like to visit the construction sites for the Jail and the Day Report Center. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE There were no announcements or correspondence. ADJOURN Meeting adjourned at 8:56 AM. DATE OF NEXT MEETING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2020