HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance 10-10-01
ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Chairman Thomas Dorsey
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Tom O'Connell, Chair
COMMITTEE TITLE: Finance
DATE: October 10, 2001 8:30 A.M.
LOCATION: Government Center
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: November 9,20018:30 a.m.
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Review of Vouchers
2. A Resolution Relating to St. Croix County's Participation in the Wisconsin Community
Development Block Grant for Economic Development Program for Emerald Dairy 11, LLC
3. Recap of 2002 Budget Review
4. Finance Report
5. Building Maintenance Report
6. Information Services Report
7. Corporation Counsel Report
a. Contingency Fund Request for Voice Stream/Board of Adjustment Transcript bill
b. Tax deed parcels located in Village of Star Prairie*
8. Clerk's Report
a. Apple River Parcels - bids or disposal of property*
9. Risk Management Coordinator's Report
10. Administrative Coordinator Report
a. Review of Employee Health Insurance Premium Calculation, Insurance Fund Balance and
Budgeting Policy*
CORRESPONDENCE:
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
Date: October 3, 2001
COPIES TO: County Board Office News Media/Notice Board
County Clerk County Board
County Departments
*ADDITIONS/CHANGES/CORRECTIONS
Finance October 10, 2001
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting October 10, 2001
Meeting called to order by Chair O'Connell at 8:30 a.m. Present:
Tom O'Connell, Tom Dorsey, Ralph Swenson and Stan Krueger (8:37
a.m.). Nancy Bieraugel absent and excused. Staff: Administrative
Coordinator Chuck Whiting, Finance Director Rich Loney, Corporation
Counsel Greg Timmerman and County Clerk Sue Nelson. Others: Suprs.
Horne, Standafer and Malick.
Motion to adopt the agenda by Swenson, 2nd by Dorsey. Carried. Next
regular meeting is November 9, 8:30 a.m. A continuing budget meeting
is set for October 16, 8:30 a.m.
Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Krueger to approve the Sept. 25, 26 and 27
minutes with the following corrections: Krueger will donate a check
the to Fair Board; not his per diem check. Add to the Nursing Home
discussion, "Private pay revenue was overstated in the 2002 budget by
$200,000 and committee agreed this should be added to the levy
request." Add to the Zoning Department, "Committee was concerned
about slow service and the Zoning Administrator should address
department organization including improving service to clients."
Carried.
Vouchers: Dorsey reviewed prior to the meeting. Motion by Dorsey,
2nd by Krueger to approve payment of the vouchers. Carried.
Community Block Grant for Emerald Dairy II: Ann Raid from West
Central Regional Planning, Economic Development Director Bill Rubin
and committee member Daryl Standafer present. Raid explained this
loan to Emerald Dairy is for a second project involving building a
center for U. of Minnesota students to study veterinary medicine.
The cost of the building is $8.6 million and 33 new jobs will be
created. The loan of $600,000 is for working capital. The Dept. of
Commerce determines the loan criteria and has approved this block
grant. There is $6,000 available for administration costs. The
facility will be on the tax roll.
Repayment of the loan will add to the County's revolving loan fund.
Motion by Swenson, 2nd by Krueger to approve St. Croix County's
participation in the Block Grant for Emerald Dairy. Standafer
supports the loan. Carried.
Health Insurance: Supr. Horne provided a spreadsheet on Health
Insurance with scenarios using 20%,30%,40% and 50% co-pays by
employees and the savings to the County in each bracket. Horne
believes a 25% contribution is not excessive with health care costs
1
Finance October 10, 2001
Yr
rising every year. He said the non represented could start paying
more in 2002 but the union contact couldn't be changed.
Whiting said currently employees pay 10% of the amount over the
$566.50 base premium. Swenson said this means employees are paying
3% and asked if it's fair to non represented employees to charge more
insurance co pay than union members. Loney indicated there are 147
non represented employees with health insurance. Krueger said if a
75%-25% split were used the co pay would be $200 a month and would
save the county $364,500.
Borup cautioned that the non represented could be represented and may
push to organize if charged more for health insurance.
O'Connell said the Personnel Committee should be involved in this
issue.
Recap of 2002 Budget: Health and Human Services and Nursing Home -
Chair Robert Stephens, Director John Borup, Nursing Home
Administrator Carolyn Krieger, Accounting Supervisor Judy Ziegler and
Economic Support Director Mary Squyer present.
W-2 elimination issue: Borup said no county money goes into this
program. If eliminated it would also eliminate a funding stream that
allocates State revenue to salaries of Director, Accounting
Supervisor, secretary, Supervisor and two clerks.
Dorsey recently attended a meeting with other counties and Pierce is
eliminating the W-2 program, Polk will continue it one more year and
Barron is o.k. with the program.
Squyer said the County gets $618,000 for two years. If we run out of
funds, the County can get out of the program because there is a 120
day escape clause. The dollars the County gets is based on number of
cases. There is sufficient funding for 2002. The lay-off of two
clerks wouldn't affect the budget because they are paid from W-2
funds.
Stephens asked the Committee to include it for 2002 but drop after
120 days if the funding is not there. Horne said W-2 has been a
success but there is no exit plan.
Motion by O'Connell, 2nd by Swenson to reinstate the W-2 program with
the following amendments: 1) H&HS develop an exit plan completed by
end of 2001; 2) In reference to Stephens comment, if program is
losing money, it is eliminated and 3) H&HS report to full Board and
Finance Comm. bi-monthly on status of W-2. Carried.
2
y-. Finance October 10, 2001
Regarding the Finance Committee's request to cut $300,000, Borup
reported on proposals totaling $376,831 reductions from H&HS budget.
He recommended capitalizing the courtyard fund. There is $55,000 in
the capital account and $45,000 remaining from last year's farm
account.
Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Swenson to take $55,000 from capital account
and $45,000 from farm account for a levy reduction of $100,000 and
recommend to the County Board to borrow for construction of the
courtyard. Carried.
Borup's proposal eliminated the capital outlay request of $54,985 but
Whiting said no cuts were made by Finance in this fund. Committee
requested H&HS continue to bill for juvenile detention and place
$30,000 back in the budget.
Motion by Swenson, 2nd by Krueger that setting aside the $100,000
courtyard reduction, in the remaining $200,000 reduction no further
reductions be made in existing fund balances. Reductions are at the
discretion of H&HS committee. Carried.
Nursing Home: Swenson pointed out the $1,000,000 county allocation
requested for 2002, adding in over estimated private pay revenue of
$200,000 and 1/3 repayment of 2001 cash deficit of $250,000 and
subtracting the requested $200,000 cut equals a levy request of
$1,250,000. However, the cash deficit at the end of August is
$450,000 so the projected $750,000 deficit more likely will be
$918,000 to $1,000,000.
Krueger said a levy of $1,650,000 for 2002 would be more realistic
and Carolyn Krieger said this number would be the most probable.
Dorsey suggested this issue go back to H&HS Committee to make
realistic cuts and come back with honest numbers to operate the
Nursing Home in 2002. Whiting said they have already had three
meetings and we get political information for budgets, not realistic
figures.
Personnel Study: Chair O'Connell said the Personnel Comm. wants
input and should be involved in the implementation of this study.
Krueger stated he did not like the Hay system because the Personnel
Director was involved and he recommended using the Springsted system.
Whiting said there is no evaluation for positions as to whether they
are needed or not.
Corporation Counsel: Greg Timmerman said a Board of Adjustment
decision is being challenged in court. WMMIC is defending the Board
and needs a transcript. Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Krueger to approve
transcript payment of $537.50 from the Contingency Fund. Carried.
3
y-. Finance October 10, 2001
Regarding the Finance Committee's request to cut $300,000, Borup
reported on proposals totaling $376,831 reductions from H&HS budget.
He recommended capitalizing the courtyard fund. There is $55,000 in
the capital account and $45,000 remaining from last year's farm
account.
Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Swenson to take $55,000 from capital account
and $45,000 from farm account for a levy reduction of $100,000 and
recommend to the County Board to borrow for construction of the
courtyard. Carried.
Borup's proposal eliminated the capital outlay request of $54,985 but
Whiting said no cuts were made by Finance in this fund. Committee
requested H&HS continue to bill for juvenile detention and place
$30,000 back in the budget.
Motion by Swenson, 2nd by Krueger that setting aside the $100,000
courtyard reduction, in the remaining $200,000 reduction no further
reductions be made in existing fund balances. Reductions are at the
discretion of H&HS committee. Carried.
Nursing Home: Swenson pointed out the $1,000,000 county allocation
requested for 2002, adding in over estimated private pay revenue of
$200,000 and 1/3 repayment of 2001 cash deficit of $250,000 and
subtracting the requested $200,000 cut equals a levy request of
$1,250,000. However, the cash deficit at the end of August is
$450,000 so the projected $750,000 deficit more likely will be
$918,000 to $1,000,000.
Krueger said a levy of $1,650,000 for 2002 would be more realistic
and Carolyn Krieger said this number would be the most probable.
Dorsey suggested this issue go back to H&HS Committee to make
realistic cuts and come back with honest numbers to operate the
Nursing Home in 2002. Whiting said they have already had three
meetings and we get political information for budgets, not realistic
figures.
Personnel Study: Chair O'Connell said the Personnel Comm. wants
input and should be involved in the implementation of this study.
Krueger stated he did not like the Hay system because the Personnel
Director was involved and he recommended using the Springsted system.
Whiting said there is no evaluation for positions as to whether they
are needed or not.
Corporation Counsel: Greg Timmerman said a Board of Adjustment
decision is being challenged in court. WMMIC is defending the Board
and needs a transcript. Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Krueger to approve
transcript payment of $537.50 from the Contingency Fund. Carried.
3
Finance October 10, 2001
Bids on Apple River Parcels: Clerk Nelson had advertised and
received bids on three parcels landlocked along the Apple River.
Timmerman said previously an Assessor listed these as having unknown
owners. He does not believe the County can take a tax deed on
unknown parcels. He suggested a quit claim deed to Mac Graham for
one parcel adjoining his property. Clerk Nelson said technically
this is not in the County's name because it was erroneously deeded to
the Village of Star Prairie.
O'Connell opened the nine bids received. Motion by Krueger, 2nd by
Dorsey to reject any and all bids and Timmerman to write a letter of
explanation to all bidders. Carried.
Administrative Coordinator: Whiting is working on establishing a
Health Insurance policy with Timmerman. Both Personnel and Finance
Committees agree with the funding of 125% of anticipated claims.
Loney, Timmerman and Whiting should finalize this policy for full
Board approval. Whiting said he is having problems getting revised
budgets with new health insurance rates from departments.
Finance Director: Loney distributed a list of items to consider
borrowing for from the State Trust Fund Loan: Ballot on Demand,
Wiring project and storage equipment for Computer Services, Master
Voice Recorder for Central Communications, Courtyard project at H&HS
and Structure #11 Alarm and Signal for Land Conservation. These
items total $304,000.
Motion by Krueger, 2nd by O'Connell to remove picnics, employee
appreciation banquet, motivational speaker and clerical person from
the Personnel budget. Tie vote; motion failed.
Discussion on how to present budget to the Board. Whiting suggested
going with the big picture. Swenson indicated he cannot support a
23% levy increase. Tuesday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. scheduled for a
Finance meeting.
Building maintenance, information Services and Risk Management: No
report requested.
Correspondence: Krueger shared a Performance Enhancement Program
developed by Burnett County Administrative Coordinator Myron
Schuster.
Committee directed Whiting, Dorsey and Nelson not to sign the Ayres
contract for a study on a Huber addition.
Motion by Swenson, 2nd by Krueger to adjourn at 2:05 p.m.
Stan Krueger, Secretary 4