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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance 10-10-02 ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MFF.TINf_ TO: Chairman Buck Malick St. Croix County Board FROM: Ralph Swenson, Chair COMMITTEE TITLE: Finance Committee DATE: Thursday, October 10, 2002 8:30 A.M. LOCATION: Room 1281, Government Center, Hudson CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: November 11, 2002 8:30 A.M. ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NEW BUSINESS: 1. Review of Vouchers 2. Building Maintenance Report 3. Information Services Report 4. Finance Report a. Review of Financial Reports 5. Corporation Counsel Report a. Budget modifications for Westlaw* 6. Clerk's Report 7. Risk Manager's Report 8.' Administrative Coordinator's Report a. Review of Treasurer's Department Status b. Risk Assessment Agreement c. Health Insurance Renewal Agreement 9. 2003 Budget Review a. Parks b. Sheriff c. Rest of Budget 10. Review of Personnel Positions Resolution for County Board Action CORRESPONDENCE: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) Date: October 3, 2002 COPIES TO: County Board Office News Media/Notice Board County Clerk County Board County Departments * *ADDITIONS/CHANGES/CORRECTIONS Finance Committee October 10, 2002 FINANCE MEETING Regular Meeting October 10, 2002 Meeting called to order by Chair Swenson at 8:30 a.m. Present: Ralph Swenson, Clarence Malick, Daryl Standafer, Stan Krueger and Esther Wentz. Staff present: Administrative Coordinator Chuck Whiting, Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman, Finance Director Rich Loney, and County Clerk Sue Nelson. Others present: Supr. Art Jensen and Doug Stohlberg, media. Motion by Wentz, 2nd by Standafer to adopt the agenda. Next meeting is November 8th, 8:30 a.m. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to approve the minutes of October 4. Carried. Vouchers: Krueger reviewed the bills. Two with questions were answered. Motion to approve the vouchers by Krueger, 2nd by Malick. Carried. Building Services: No report. Information Services: No report. Corporation Counsel: Greg Timmerman requested $700 more in addition to the $9500 budgeted for Westlaw research access. If approved, the Clerk of Court budget would be $6840; Circuit Court - $1680 and Corporation Counsel - $1680. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to add $700 for Westlaw services. Carried. Timmerman has no access for networking with AMES but does not know the cost. Later in the meeting he reported the cost would be at least $2000 to access inter-net sharing. He would like to check further and maybe budget in 2004. Finance Report: Rich Loney distributed the monthly report and noted the Contingency Fund balance is $229,480.50. Sales tax collections should exceed the outstanding $1.7 million during the next five months. The 2003 budget includes at 2.5% increase in sales tax collections. There will be a 2% reduction in Shared Revenues next year. General Fund Revenues stand at 69.66% and Expenditures at 69.450. County Clerk: Sue Nelson said the ballots are ready for November 5th election after a delay by the State Elections Board to add a slight change in wording. Risk Manager:' Dawn Budrow reported total payments for claims as of October 10th were $317,567.52. There were some higher amount 1 Finance Committee October 10, 2002 claims this year. So far in 2002, there have been 79 claims compared to 90 last year. Budrow distributed the State Emergency Action Plan. Whiting said the State only supports basic medical treatment in regard to employee training. Their plan does not require employees to provide first aid. Discussion on liability to the County and use of a defibrillator. Timmerman said the County has no obligation to have a defibrillator. Budrow noted Emergency Management will bring a recommendation to the Personnel Committee regarding first aid training and use of a defibrillator. Chair Swenson said Finance will discuss this in November or December. Budrow is working on renewals for insurance with property and liability in progress. Committee gave her permission to look at quotes for excess workers' comp and bond coverage. The awareness session on Violence in the Workplace was attended by 50 employees. Further Budget Review: Parks: Planning, Zoning and Parks Chair Jensen and Parks Director Joe Grant. Grant indicated the up-to-date handout included a 3% wage increase and the new Health Insurance rates along with the latest changes by the PZP Committee. Perch Lake budget was reduced by $50,000 because some erosion control work was done by the Highway Dept. at no cost. After bids were received for the Parks' brochure, the committee reduced the request from $10,000 to $3000 for 10,000 brochures and the trailer cost was reduced by $500 to $7000. Total reduction was $57,500. Bids received for the Maintenance building were $40,000 from Bauman and $35,640 from Jack Walters. Walters bid included no site preparation or electrical service. The dump truck was budgeted for $38,000. Grant developed specs with the Highway Dept. and the estimate from the Highway was $39,450; Glenwood City Ford was $39,723 and Johnson Motors - $40,449. PZP Committee recommended leaving the budget at $38,000. Trailer specs were also developed with the Highway Dept. The budget request was $7,500; three estimates received were Johnson Motors - $6665; K&K Auto - $6495 and Felling - $7,000. PZP Comm. recommended budgeting at $7,000. 2 Finance Committee October 10, 2002 Jensen said a building is needed to store equipment, a place for people to ask questions and pay park fees. Grant noted there is no building for staff to use in inclement weather and no place to store canoes, saws, mowers, life jackets, oars and the pick-up truck. The Friends of Perch Lake reception center will likely not be built for several years. Motion by Wentz, 2nd by Malick to approve $3,000 for 10,000 Park brochures. Carried. Motion by Wentz, 2nd by Standafer to budget $38,000 for a 'dump truck. Carried. Motion by Krueger, 2nd by Wentz to approve $7,000 for a trailer. Carried. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to approve maintenance building at $40,000 and fund from the borrowing pool. Carried. Krueger and Standafer voted no. Swenson indicated he would not support any further expenses for Perch Lake Park. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to approve the amended budget along with the $50,000 reduction in Perch Lake Park expenses. Carried. Krueger voted no. Sheriff: Public Protection Chair Julie Speer, Sheriff Hillstead and Chief Deputy Ron Volkert present. Chair Swenson asked how many dollars could be saved with the use of video conferencing. Volkert checked with other counties and believes in time, money can be saved. However, the defendant has the right to appear and defense attorneys may want the client in the courtroom. Chippewa County has only used it for three months so cost savings is not yet known. Sheriff Hillstead said a part time person does the transport, is paid less and no overtime is involved. The number of transports is increasing. Currently only two state hospitals have video conferencing equipment along with the state prisons. Malick noted the law should be changed to allow a Judge's discretion if a person should appear in Court. Cost for the equipment is $17,500 and the Sheriff estimated $30,000 is spent for transports. Committee recommended leaving money for the video equipment in the budget. In regard to more Courthouse security, Hillstead indicated the three new officers will be used on patrol and one will be used to fill in when Security Officer is on vacation and utilized for more security in the Courthouse. 3 Finance Committee October 10, 2002 Speer said a meeting was held with Pierce County regarding renting Huber space from St. Croix County. The Pierce County Sheriff will get some numbers for the October 22nd Public Protection meeting. Speer commented we have to take care of our people waiting to serve Huber and it is not known at this time when we will get caught up and have space available. A long range plan is being used for the new Huber addition. Whiting reported the present levy increase for the 2003 budget is 14.70% and the mill rate is $3.80. Interest rates are at a 30 year low so he recommended borrowing for refunding of Government Center bonds, Huber addition and one micro wave tower. Placing $801,000 in a building fund might be prudent. Borrowing at one time saves issue costs. Malick suggested replacing both microwave towers next year in order to get more dollars for salvageable parts and before the equipment breaks. Regarding the building fund of $801,000, Swenson commented these contingency funds become magnets for people to ask for funding. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to approve the 2003 budget with the adjustments made. Loney asked about the $50,772 for Hudson Library funding and payments in future years for the Hudson Joint Library system. No change for 2003. Finance Comm. will discuss library funding and payment to out of county libraries next year. Loney related Clerk of Court estimates collections would more likely be $25,000 to $30,000 and not $100,000. Speer commented those caught speeding do not wish to pay the extra $10 fee for credit card use. The County has agreed to absorb this fee but the credit card company indicated they are unable bill the County for the $10 fee. We will check with other credit card companies. Motion by Malick to reduce revenue projections for collections to $60,000. Carried. Motion to approve 2003 budget carried. Swenson asked Krueger to respond to questions from Supervisors at the Budget meeting when he had a conflict in his views as Finance Chair and a Supervisor. Krueger agreed to do so. Motion by Krueger 2nd by Wentz to recommend to the Board borrowing for Maintenance building at Perch Lake for $40,000; $1.474 million for Huber addition and two microwave towers at $2 million for a total of $3,514,000. Carried. 4 Finance Committee October 10, 2002 • na Approving New Positions. Motion by Malick, 2d by Wentz to approve the New Position resolution after removing the word "pending" on the Clerk/Secretary in Planning/Real Property. Carried. Malick suggested Whiting, Chair Swenson and Vice Chair Krueger work out the details of the power point budget presentation for the Board meeting. The presentation will be part of the public hearing at 9:05 with public comment following. A 3 minute time limit is allowed per speaker. Administrative Coordinator: Treasurer's Office. Whiting noted the two people in the office are relatively new and a busy time is coming up. There has been no response to phone calls from the bond company so a letter has been sent. Swenson asked if we should have an audit of the Treasurer's office due to the abruptness of the resignation. Standafer said the bond company should take action and absent instructions from the bond company, the County should do nothing. Whiting had checked with the two candidates for Treasurer and both are willing to start early. Arrangements can be made following the election canvass on November 7tn Health Insurance Contract: The increase is 9.24% and includes an Internal Maximum of $70,000 and a Specific Deductible of $70,000. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Krueger to approve the Health Insurance contract. Carried. Risk Assessment Agreement: Motion to move into closed session per WI Stat. 19.85 (1)(g) to confer with legal counsel regarding federal class-action suit. Roll call: all yes. Carried. Supr. Speer and staff members Whiting, Timmerman, Loney and Nelson asked to remain for session. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Krueger to come out of closed session at 12:02 p.m. Carried. Action from closed session: Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to authorize payment not to exceed $18,000 for risk assessment consultant for evaluating federal class action strip search case. Carried. Motion to adjourn by Wentz; meeting adjourned at 12:03 p.m. Esther Wentz, Secretary 5