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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance 02-09-01 ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Chairman Thomas Dorsey St. Croix County Board FROM: Tom O'Connell, Chair COMMITTEE TITLE: Finance DATE: Friday, February 9, 2001 8:30 A.M. LOCATION: Government Center CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: March 8, 2001 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 5. Corporation Counsel Report 6. Administrative Coordinator Report 7. County Clerk 8. Discussion on Moving Information Services Committee to Administration Committee 9. Performance Evaluations - Closed Session per WI Statute 19.85 (1) (C) A. Administrative Coordinator B. Finance C. Corporation Counsel D. Maintenance 10. Reconvene to Open Session per 19.85(2) CORRESPONDENCE: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) Date: 01/31/01 COPIES TO: County Board Office News Media/Notice Board County Clerk County Board County Departments *ADDITIONS/CHANGES/CORRECTIONS MINUTES of the ST. CROIX COUNTY FINANCE COMMITTEE Meeting of February 9, 2001 The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Ralph Swenson at 8:30 AM Roll call was taken with Swenson, Nancy Bieraugel and Tom Dorsey in attendance, Tom O'Connell excused. Stan Krueger arrived at 8:45 AM. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were Supvr. Jack Dowd, Administrative Coordinator Chuck Whiting, Health & Human Services Director John Borup, Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman, Facilities Manager Ralph Robole and Finance Director Rich Loney with Loney serving as the recording secretary. A motion was made by Bieraugel, seconded by Dorsey, to adopt the agenda. Motion carried. It was noted that the next meeting is scheduled for 8:30 AM on Thursday, March 8, 2001. Dorsey had reviewed the vouchers prior to the meeting. A motion was made by Dorsey, seconded by Bieraugel, to approve the vouchers. Motion carried. Robole updated the Committee on various facility issues. Regarding modifications to the Planning area, he said that anticipated costs to do the project with materials like those currently in use amount to $1,976.88. The flow of traffic in the area was discussed as were the materials being used. Robole was directed to proceed. Regarding natural gas costs, Robole noted that past gas costs per therm were $.28 for interruptible service and $.44 for firm delivery. Most of the gas used in the facility is at the interruptible rate. The 2001 budget had $91,196 for natural gas costs for the Government Center, including the Jail, and the Farm Services building in Baldwin. The current estimate for gas is $136,456 total for these facilities. It is estimated that gas costs for the Health and Human Services/Nursing Home facilities in New Richmond may also be approximately $50,000 over budget for an estimated total over budget of $100,000 at current prices. Robole reported that maintenance has looked at and will continue to look at energy saving measures in all facilities. Loney discussed the status of the two loans made by the State under the Community Development Block Grant loan program, both of which are current, the 2000 report on the fund and upcoming planned activity, including the State of Wisconsin, Department of Commerce loan to a local dairy operation. Principal and interest on these loans flows to the County and is available for future approved loans. He also presented General Fund expense reporting for 2000 (pre-closing) in a format different than has been used in the past. Discussion was held on expanding this reporting in the future to include other funds, revenue accounts and various asset accounts. Timmerman said he has been talking with Borup about the Nursing Home consultant as well as working on various Perch Lake issues, guardian ad litem contracts and planning and zoning issues. He said he plans to report to the Finance Committee in general terms regarding issues that relate to other departments, being more specific as the issues may relate to Finance. Responding to a question as to the staff level in the Corporation Counsel office, Timmerman said he tries to balance requests from departments, that naturally do not flow evenly, responding to these requests as promptly as possible. He noted the variable work load level in the Department which he said can depend to some extent on the time of the year. He also said that staffing in the Department is not at the level that he would like to see it. There was discussion on the responsibility of Committees and how this relates to the Finance Committee and those departments that report directly to it. Bieraugel asked the status of the pending DNR lawsuit. Timmerman said it is not active at this time with the ball being in the DNR's court. He felt a wait and see attitude is appropriate to see if the DNR wants to push the issue. Responding to a question from Bieraugel, Timmerman said there has been no contact from casino backers regarding recent County actions. Whiting noted that he and Dorsey recently attended the Wisconsin Counties Association conference in Madison. He said that State budget projections for the second year of the biennium envisions a $1.3 billion budget gap. The result of this may well be that Counties should not expect additional funding. He said the State appears committed to two-thirds funding of schools. There was discussion on the period of transition to a new governor and also the Kettl Commission report. The general opinion seems to be that it will be difficult to fund new initiatives with the projected budget deficit noted earlier. Whiting announced the impending retirement of Pat Suchan, his administrative assistant, scheduled for February 20th, and the implications of this, especially in the area of Worker's Compensation. He noted that the Nursing Home Study Committee had been formed with Stan Krueger, Esther Wentz, Bob Stephens, Ralph Swenson and Dick King as members. John Borup met with the Committee to discuss plans to hire a Limited Term Employee (LTE) social worker in the CSP (Community Support Program) area. He said the waiting list program currently stands at fifteen. Borup noted that this has been reviewed by the Health and Human Services Board and Personnel Committee. He said there is no levy impact here as costs for the position would be paid by Medical Assistance (MA) and private pay/insurance. The request at this time is for an LTE but he said it might become permanent in 2002 if numbers warrant. The position is at pay grade #7. The nature of these cases was discussed with Borup commenting that there were no IMD (Institution for Mental Disease) placements in 2000. This resulted in a positive budget impact. The Committee thanked Borup for the update. Whiting said he and Loney had met with representatives from Springsted regarding the capital outlay plan and that he planned to give a further status report on this to the Finance Committee in March or April. He noted that St. Croix County's web site is up and running with development ongoing. Swenson noted that the Information Services Committee (ISC) is currently a sub-committee of the Finance Committee. He suggested that Finance request the Administration Committee to consider taking this under their wing. Bieraugel questioned if this should be a stand-alone committee. Krueger said that he and Supvr. Einar Horne currently serve as the County Board representatives on this Committee, noting that a number of staff are also members. He said this Committee is important and felt there should be consideration for forming it as a stand alone Committee. Swenson said his intent here is to acknowledge that the Finance Committee is not handling an oversight role. Bieraugel said she would like to see the ISC forward their recommendation to the Administration Committee and moved to have the ISC review their reporting structure with an eye to having the Administration Committee assess whether the ISC should remain a sub-committee of the Finance Committee, seconded by Swenson. Discussion followed with Krueger saying the ISC would consider and recommend. Motion carried. It was noted that there would be no County Clerk's report due to her illness and the Information Services Committee report was not addressed. A motion was made by Krueger, seconded by Dorsey, to approve the minutes from the meetings of January 10th, 19th and 26th. Motion carried. At 10:00 AM a motion was made by Bieraugel, seconded by Krueger, to move into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85 (1) (c) for the purpose of reviewing the performance evaluations of the Administrative Coordinator, Corporation Counsel, Facilities Manager and Finance Director. Roll call motion followed with Swenson, Bieraugel, Krueger and Dorsey all in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by Krueger, seconded by Dorsey, to come out of closed session. Motion carried. A motion was made by Dorsey, seconded by Bieraugel, to adjourn at 1:12 PM. Motion carried. Stan Krueger Secretary