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Home My WebLink About02-04-2021 Public Protection & Judiciary Minutes MEETING MINUTES PUBLIC PROTECTION & JUDICIARY COMMITTEE February 4, 2021 8:00 AM Room 1284-County Board Room St. Croix County Government Center - Room 1284 - Government Center - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER A. NOTICE Due to Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, Committee members and staff are encouraged to attend the meeting via the use of technology utilizing the Zoom platform. ROLL CALL Attendee Name Organization Title Status Arrived Daniel Hansen St. Croix County Supervisor Present Bob Feidler St. Croix County Chair Present Cathy Leaf St. Croix County Vice Chair Present Paul Berning St. Croix County Supervisor Excused Shelly Tomtschik St. Croix County Supervisor Present Others in attendance: Judge Scott Needham, Clerk of Court Kristi Severson, County Administrator Ken Witt, Medical Examiner Patty Schachtner, Sheriff Scott Knudson, meeting organizer Janet Smith APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Public Protection & Judiciary Committee – Regular Meeting – January 7, 2021 8:00 AM Hansen/Tomtchik motioned to accept the January 7th minutes. RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Financial Report for December 2020 Administrator Witt reported on the December 2020 financial reports attached in the agenda packet. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Medical Examiner's Office Update Medical Examiner Patty Schachtner reviewed with the committee the reports included in this agenda packet. Collaborating with health care systems to improve the overall health of the St. Croix County residents. The department continues to look at suicide prevention programs. Schachtner encourages the committee members to attend the mental health first aid course. The virtual course is offered through United Way. Schachtner reported on the work being done on the Forensic Center. Currently, autopsies are $1,400 per case for Ramsey county. The current building housing the Medical Examiner's office has the capacity to hold both an autopsy room and a location for a Lodox system. Schachtner has met with Facilities Administrator Jim Elsbury and an architect to start the planning stage of an autopsy room. The results will be brought forth to this committee at an upcoming meeting. Schachtner reported on office events in January. Adverse Childhood Experiences in 2021 twelve children have lost a parent. The office is working with others on what can be done to help these children during this time. There will be work done on a "bunk room" for staff to de-stress before going home. The office continues to work on taking care of their staff and the mental health associated with the work this office performs. Discussion. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Circuit Court update Judge Scott Needham reported on the work being done in the courtrooms since November for the infrastructure update of all courtrooms. Two courtrooms are complete, one jury trial has been completed in one courtroom which was updated, the feedback was positive. Judge Needham invited the committee to come up and take a look. The state has installed in every courtroom the ability to record all proceedings. Operational Plan: all trials required either constitutionally or by statute are suspended until February 29. On March 1, 2021 courts will move to be fully operational, some days currently have five or six jury trials scheduled. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. CJCC Subcommittee Updates Reports are attached within this agenda packet. Judge Needham reported at a CJCC meeting a reference was made to a task force being created for a justice services group. Judge named programs that are currently running within the county that address separate issues in the justice system. Seven people will look at this process and identify silos and coordination options. The seven are Chair Feidler, Sheriff Scott Knudson, District Attorney Karl Anderson, Administrator Ken Witt, HHS Director Bob Rohret, Judge Scott Nordstrand (Chair) and a Public Defender to be named. Another workgroup has been formed to review the TAD grant process. The grant is good through 2021. The mission of this workgroup is find way to Improve our application and stand out among the other agencies applying for the same grant. Discussion. RESULT: NO ACTION 5. Discussion of Thin Blue Line Emblem Supervisor Hansen reported hearing a report from a constituent that the emblem of the United States flag with a thin blue line had been banned by the UW Madison Police chief as a symbol of hate and white supremacy. Supervisor Hansen expressed his opposition to this stand by the UW Chief. Supervisor Hansen presented a brief history of the symbol and supports the symbol and the history. The thin blue line emblem in the 1950's was used by police as a sign of respect during police funerals. Hansen would like the emblem to remain as a sign of respect for the law enforcement agencies. Discussion. Sheriff Scott Knudson spoke on the history of the thin blue line emblem. Knudson expressed that it is unfortunate that a fringe group has started using this flag for something other than what it was intended. For those who may have a reaction to this symbol he believes these same people have a reaction to Law Enforcement also. Removing the emblem/symbol will not change the view of these groups of Law Enforcement. Discussion. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Supervisor Tomtschik announced the Hotair Affair is this weekend in Hudson. ADJOURN Meeting was adjourned at 9:02 DATE OF NEXT MEETING MARCH 4, 2021