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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-03-2021 Public Protection & Judiciary Minutes MEETING MINUTES PUBLIC PROTECTION & JUDICIARY COMMITTEE June 3, 2021 8:00 AM St. Croix County Government Center -Room 1284 Government Center -1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL Attendee NameOrganizationTitleStatusArrived Daniel HansenSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Bob FeidlerSt. Croix CountyChairPresent Cathy LeafSt. Croix CountyVice ChairPresent Paul BerningSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Shelly TomtschikSt. Croix CountySupervisorExcused Others Present: County Administrator Ken Witt, Child Support Administrator Lisa Plunkett, Medical Examiner Patty Schachtner, Clerk of Court Kristi Severson, Sheriff Scott Knudson, Judge Scott Needham, meeting organizer Janet Smith. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.Public Protection & Judiciary Committee Regular Meeting April 1, 20218:00 AM RESULT:ACCEPTED 2.Public Protection & Judiciary Committee Regular Meeting May 6, 20218:00 AM RESULT:ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT BUSINESS ITEMS 1.Financial Report for April 2021 Administrator Ken Witt directed the committee to the Financial reports as of April 30, 2021. All budgets are within acceptable parameters. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Circuit Court update Judge Scott Needham reported as of May 21st the State vacated all orders regarding COVID-19. Each county is responsible for their own operational plans. St. Croix County, effective May 26th, have vacated all COVID-19 procedures/policies. Courtrooms will continue normal operations. Mike O'Keefe has retired and Susan Caparelli has been hired as the Justice Services Director starting June 21st. Due to staffing levels the Day Report Center (DRC) has been transitioning to a new work plan. Judge Needham ordered testing to be suspended for a large number of people. State Public Defenders' Office Attorney' s went from four to two. Due to the lack of attorney's the SPDF is asking private attorney's to perform Public Defender work. CASA in process of identifying board members. Hoping by fall to have a director and start training volunteers. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Certificate of Excellence Award received by Child Support Chair Feidler read the Certificate of Excellence presented to St. Croix County Child Support agency on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. Child Support Administrator Lisa Plunkett thanked all her staff and Corporation Counsel Heather Amos for all the work each of them has done in helping the office achieve these performance measures. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Sheriff's Office update Sheriff Scott Knudson reported the Day Report Center participants have been reduced from 150 testing to 30 participants. The 30 participants are the high risk individuals. The 120 are participants who are following the rules. Some of the 120 are still being monitored but in different manners. Jailer Mike Kahler was relied upon on for much of the DRC operations. Kahler has since left for a private company. Within the past 2 months Sheriff Employees ranging in years of service from 6 to 21 years have left law enforcement. The sheriff's office is down 12 people within patrol, jail and investigations. The Sheriff announced Justin Johnson has been promoted to Field Services Captain, Brandi Hart has been promoted to Lieutenant of investigations. New K-9 office Ash graduated last week with his handler Officer Fred Mangine. Discussion on recruitment of Law Enforcement Candidates. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. Medical Examiner's Office Update Medical Examiner Patty Schachtner reported on current events of the Medical Examiner's office. She will be working in the PULSE program looking for recruitment into the ME program. These are medical field students. Schachtner reviewed the FEMA COVID-19 reimbursement program (included in this agenda packet). The office has three cremations that have not been claimed by family which is $1,500 each and one more pending. The ME office attempts to track down family members of the decedent to claim the body and be responsible for the expenses involved. By law the county is responsible for the expenses if the body goes unclaimed. The department is seeing an increase of 14%-18% which translates to about 960 cases this year. Schachtner discussed on-call and employee requirements. Discussion. RESULT: DISCUSSED 6. Consideration of Budget Amendment to Increase On-Call Medical Examiner Services The Medical Examiner is requesting from the committee a recommendation to the Administration committee for a Budget Amendment in the amount of $30,000 to continue the practice of having an on-call 2nd death investigator on duty 24/7/365. The backup Investigator plan was implemented under the COVID-19 policies. Administrator Witt approved the 2nd death investigator under the authority given to him during the pandemic. Those emergency powers will end July 1, 2021. Schachtner is requesting the continuing of the 2nd on-call death investigator outside the budget process. Administrator Witt states the $30,000 makes up 5% of net new money for the 2022 budget. $3.50 per hour is the current cost of on-call Medical Examiner staff. Question was posed as w hat happens when there is not a 2nd ME on-call and there is a second scene Schachtner stated the answer depends on the type of scene, could be hours before the ME is released from the scene. Discussion Motion by Supervisor Leaf to recommend the Budget Amendment for the 2nd on call medical examiner expense of $30,000 to the Administration Committee, seconded by Supervisor Hansen. Motion failed. RESULT: DEFEATED \[2 TO 2\] MOVER: Cathy Leaf, Vice Chair SECONDER: Daniel Hansen, Supervisor AYES: Daniel Hansen, Cathy Leaf NAYS: Bob Feidler, Paul Berning EXCUSED: Shelly Tomtschik REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Sheriff Jail inspection tour. Supervisor Hansen would like to have the tour by Zoom. Administrator Witt states the County Board by-laws state effective July 1, 2021 Zoom meetings are not an option. Supervisor Leaf request the 2nd on call medical examiner be placed on a future agenda. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE ADJOURN Meeting adjourned at 9:26 AM. DATE OF NEXT MEETING - JULY 1, 2021