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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board 05-16-2000ST. CROIX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Regular Session May 16, 2000 Meeting called to order by Chair Dorsey at 7:05 p.m. Invocation by Pastor David Miller, Church of the Holy Cross, Hudson. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Chair welcomed the guests and the press. Roll call: 28 present, 3 absent and excused - Charlie Grant, Tom Irwin and Glenn Hoberg. Motion by Supr. King, 2nd by Supr. Mortensen to approve the April minutes. Carried. Motion by Supr. Bethke, 2nd by Supr. O'Connell to adopt the agenda. Carried. Announcements: Next meeting is June 20th1 7:00 p.m. and will be casual night. Supervisors are invited to tour the new Communication/Command Post Van prior to the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Administrative Coordinator: Chuck Whiting reported five new members attended the orientation meeting. He has met with the Finance and Personnel Directors and Corporation Counsel to learn more about county government operations. A department head meeting is scheduled for Friday and plans are to move these meetings to the different locations around the County. Whiting attended a WMMIC (County's insurance company) meeting with Corporation Counsel Timmerman. He has also met with area legislators. He asked Timmerman to report on the law suit status with DNR. Timmerman stated the law suit regarding the County's actions on the Riverway Ordinance is not filed yet as reported incorrectly in the newspapers. Discussions will be held with the Attorney General's office and there are no plans to file the suit at this time. He also noted he and Whiting attended the bill signing by the Governor on the bill that allows improvement of a structure along the lower St. Croix to exceed 50% of the assessed value if the improved structure still meets the codes. Whiting said Health and Human Services will report on a serious problem at the Nursing Home which will be scrutinized during the budget process. There are no solutions at this time. Health and Human Services Report: H&HS Director John Borup, Nursing Home Administrator Carolyn Krieger and H&HS Chair Bob Stephens present. Stephens indicated final numbers are not ready 1 but they will be reported in June or August. He recognized the Supervisors on the H&HS Committee —Leon Berenschot, Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, Mary Louise Olson, Einar Horne, Esther Wentz and noted the citizen members, Dr. James Craig and Fern Johnson. Borup outlined a brief history of the Nursing Home. In 1990 this budget was 48.8% of county operations; in 2000 if is 42.6%. In 1897 the facility was an asylum and in early 1970's became a skilled nursing home. It was reduced to 129 beds in 1988. Sale efforts failed in 1988-89 and 1991-92 but this damaged the image and labor management relations. Krieger reported 93 residents were from St. Croix and one each from Dunn, Polk and LaCrosse County. The average census in 1999 was 100. 30% of the patients have Alzheimers, 62% need acute medical care and 8% have a mental or physical condition. Borup expects 1999 to be the toughest year for Nursing Homes. One-third of Home Health agencies have closed and eight major corporation nursing home chains have filed bankruptcy. In 1998 $1,000,000 was transferred from H&HS. Of this $290,000 went for 1999 bond payment and $300,000 for 2000 bond payment and rest was used to reduce the County levy. Both Borup and Krieger expect 2000 to be a better year due to increased ITP and Medicare funding anticipated to be $393,534. The H&HS Committee may use surplus funds from H&HS and the Farm Account to offset the Nursing Home debt. The non union wage increases have been absorbed but there will not be funds to cover union increases. Stephens said H&HS has been given $2.9 million the past seven years; it has been run like a business and positions have been cut. When there was a $1,000,000 surplus, the County took it. Funds totaling $350,000 were taken from Nursing Home surpluses in the past. Stephens said the biggest problem was failing to predict the County would take the money and he wants it back. Stephens invited Board members to come to H&HS Committee meetings to help solve the problem. He was enumerating individual Supervisor's talents, when Supr. Malick requested a point of order from the Chair for ad hominem comments about Supervisors. Corporation Counsel deemed the comments to be part of Stephen's presentation and not out of order. 2 Suprs. O'Connell, Wolske, Krueger, Mehls, Jacobson, King, Mortensen and Peterson agreed to attend future H&HS meetings. Applause by the Board. Borup concluded the H&HS report by noting other services offered - Child and Welfare, Juvenile Court, Mental Health, W2 and Badger Care services. Krieger said the Nursing Home balance the end of 1999 was a plus $32,000 after the audit. Resolution #9 (2000): Approving New Position -Law Clerk/Court Commissioner for St. Croix County Circuit Court. Motion by O'Connell, 2nd by Krueger to adopt. Judge Lundell reported no financial impact to the County. This request changes an hourly law clerk to a full time Court Commissioner at a cost of $50,000 with benefits. This person will help Circuit Court Judges and bridge the gap until a fourth Judge is appointed. Carried. Resolution #10 (2000): Approving Labor Agreement between St. Croix County and AFSCME, Health Center Union. Motion to adopt by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Peterson. County Labor Negotiator Steve Weld said this is a partial contract settlement proposing wage increases for the Nursing Home retroactive to January 1. The County needs to pay competitive wages in order to keep staff in the Nursing Home. This agreement does not set a precedent. The cost including benefits in 2000 will be $393,534.19. Roll call vote: 28 yes, 0 no. Carried unanimously. Resolution #11 (2000): St. Croix County's Participation in the WI Community Development Black Grant for Economic Development program for Poly -Cam, Inc. Motion to adopt by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Berenschot. Whiting explained this is a $100,000 loan to Poly -Cam, locating in the Roberts Industrial Park and approved by the WI Dept. of Commerce. The payments come to the County to establish a fund for future loans. Carried. Resolution #12 (2000): Designating June 2000 as "Dairy Month" in St. Croix County. Krueger. Carried. Motion to adopt by Supr. Jensen, 2nd by Supr. Resolution #13 (2000): Establishing the Compensation for Elected Officials for Years 2001 and 2002. Motion to adopt by Supr, Bieraugel, 2nd by Supr. Bethke. Clerk of Court Lori Meyer Frascht spoke and asked for a review of the proposal as recommended by the Personnel Committee. She pointed out her salary is $5,406 less than the 17 comparable County average which is 13.3% lower. All counties with three judges pay more than St. Croix County. 3 Frascht requested a salary of $46,000 to be at par with comparable counties. Personnel Committee Chair Peterson said the committee recommended a 3% increase across the board and $1000 market adjustment. B County Clerk Sue Nelson noted the salaries for elected officials have fallen behind the 17 county average in past years. Since it is difficult to make this up in one term, she requested $43,326 which is the present salary for the office manager position with a 3% increase for 2002. This would include Register of Deeds, County Treasurer and County Clerk. Supr. Olson said elected officials are evaluated by the electors and the committee needed to keep objective and look at the position and not the person in the position. Roll call vote: 18 yes, 10 no. Personnel Committee's recommendation was adopted. Resolution #14 (2000): Approving Easements for Installation of Utilities at Homestead Parklands on Perch Lake. Motion to adopt by Supr. Raymond, 2nd by Supr. Wolske. Raymond said these easements for Ameritech telephone service, Midwest Natural Gas for natural gas service and St. Croix Electric - electric service. Carried. Ordinance #544 (2000): Rezoning from Ag Res to Commerial for Robert and Connie Chamberlain, Town of Baldwin. Motion to adopt by Supr. Raymond, 2nd by Supr. Jensen. Carried. Ordinance #545 (2000): Rezoning from Ag to Ag Res for James and Michelle Reil, Town of Pleasant Valley. Motion to adopt by Supr. Raymond, 2nd by Supr. Jensen. Carried. Rezoning for Marvin and Sharon Utecht: Motion by Supr. Raymond, 2n by Supr. Luckey to postpone this request. Carried. Ordinance #546 (2000): Rezoning from Ag to Ag II for Helen F. Larsen Trust. Motion to adopt by Supr. Malick, 2nd by Supr. Jensen. Raymond this 20 A parcel is being rezoned to allow non- metallic mining. Supr. Rose asked if this parcel would be returned to Ag. after the mining is complete. Zoning Administrator Steve Fisher said there is an agreement to do so with the Town of Troy. 0 Corporation Counsel Timmerman advised contractual zoning is illegal. A zoning decision is permanent. The County Board can pass an unconditional rezoning request. Motion carried. Ordinance #547 (2000): Rezoning from Ag to Ag Res for Herbert and Harriet Day. Motion to adopt by O'Connell, 2nd by Bjerstedt. Carried. Resolution #15 (2000): Approving Utility Easement at St. Croix County Fairgrounds with GTE. Motion to adopt by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Bieraugel. O'Connell explained the easement was rerouted to the outside edge of the Fairgrounds. Both the Fair Board and Finance Committee approved. Carried. Law Enforcement Contract Ratification: Motion by O'Connell, 2nd by Berenschot to remove this resolution from the agenda. The Law Enforcement union did not ratify this contract. Carried. Rezoning Applications: Public hearing scheduled for Wahlquist Bros. for rezoning from Ag to Ag Res Town of Rush River. Mileage and Per Diem: Motion by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Mortensen to approve total of $7,785.10 for month of April, 2000. Carried. Announcements: Chair announced the annual American Legion Posts annual golf tournament at the Hammond Golf Course on June 21, 2000. Supr. Charlie Grant is one of the organizers of the event. Vice Chair Jacobson noted proceeds are given to various youth programs. Sheriff Hillstead said their donation was used to buy a video camera for use with child abuse cases. Clerk Nelson thanked Sheriff Hillstead for allowing Deputy James Sander and his dog Chance to give a demonstration to 5th graders from E.P. Rock school. Officer Oehmke from the City of Hudson, along with his dog Zeus, participated also. Motion to adjourn by Supr. O'Connell, 2nd by Supr. Wolske. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Thomas Dorsey, Chair St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Sue E. Nelson, Clerk St. Croix County 5