HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance 02-09-2000 ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Chairman Thomas Dorsey
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Robert Boche, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE TITLE: Finance C` �
DATE: ThicxEs day, 19, 2999 :3Q--A A.M M. W 1Lcj V% .4ck0,y, �Qb ruo�rt�9.ZoOd
LOCATION: Government Center
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Friday, March 10, 2000 8 : 30 A.M.
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS:
1 . Review of Vouchers
2 . Interim Administrative Coordinator' s Report
A. Expansion Space for Register of Deeds
B. Relocation of Victim Witness
**C. Discussion on Section 125
3 . Finance Director' s Report
A. Contingency Fund Transfer for Copy Machine
**B. Direct Deposit
4 . County Clerk
A. Tax Deed Bids
B. Safety and Security Report
S . Corporation Counsel
A. Contingency Fund Request for Computer Upgrade
6 . Library Plan Discussion 9:00 A.M.
7 . Recycling Request
8 . Insurance Discussion
9 . Community Development Revolving Loan Fund 9:30 A.M.
*10 . Clerk of Court
A. Exceeding Rate Limit for Hotel Accomodation
**11 . Computer Services - Job Descriptions
CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
Date: 01/21, 01/27/ 02/07
COPIES TO: County Board Office News Media/Notice Board
County Clerk County Board
County Departments
ADDITIONS/CHANGES/CORRECTIONS
ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Chairman Thomas Dorsey
St . Croix County Board
FROM: Robert Boche, Vice Chair I
COMMITTEE TITLE: Finance C�►Wn9�d
DATE: Thursday, Febr44ai=y-19-s—''2 8 :30 A.M. 1 Q. r Q,.Sdm � F0Qru4Y4 oil 7-ow
LOCATION: Government Center
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Friday, March 10, 2000 8 :30 A.M.
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Review of Vouchers
2 . Interim Administrative Coordinator' s Report
A. Expansion Space for Register of Deeds
B. Relocation of Victim Witness
3 . Finance Director' s Report
A. Contingency Fund Transfer for Copy Machine
4 . County Clerk
A. Tax Deed Bids
B. Safety and Security Report
5 . Corporation Counsel
A. Contingency Fund Request for Computer Upgrade
6 . Library Plan Discussion 9 :00 A.M.
7 . Recycling.Request
8 . Insurance Discussion
9 . Community Development Revolving Loan Fund 9 :30 A.M.
*10 . Clerk of Court
A. Exceeding Rate Limit for Hotel Accommodation
CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
Date: 01/21, 01/27
COPIES TO: County Board Office News Media/Notice Board
County Clerk County Board
County Departments
ADDITIONS/CHANGES/CORRECTIONS
Regular Meeting FINANCE MINUTESFebruary 9, 2000
Meeting called to order by Vice Chair Boche at 8 : 30 a.m. Members
present: Robert Boche, Herb Giese, and Tom Dorsey (one vacancy) . Tom
O' Connell was absent and excused. Staff present: Administrative
Coordinator Don Brown, Finance Director Rich Loney, Corporation Counsel
Greg Timmerman and -County Clerk Sue Nelson. Others present: Suprs .
Speer and Standafer.
Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Giese to adopt the agenda. Next meeting
scheduled for March 10 . Motion by Giese, 2nd by Dorsey to approve the
January minutes. Carried.
County Clerk: Tax Deed Bids : Last month there was a tie bid on
property on Bushnell Lake. Both parties were asked to re-bid. Larry
Hinchman bid $7100 and Richard Pearson bid $8139 .
Motion by Giese, 2nd by Dorsey to accept the bid of $8139 from Richard
Pearson. Carried.
Sue Nelson reported the Safety and Security Committee will review
security issues in the Court Commissioner' s area. The security window
has been installed in the Child Support office. Clerk of Court and
District Attorney offices are next for installation. Supr. Chuck Mehls
will meet with the committee to discuss a lock down exercise.
Vouchers: Loney said the vouchers would be reviewed February 10 .
Public Protection Comm. Chair Speer indicated a new stainless steel work
table is needed in 'the Jail and asked if this should be paid from the
Maintenance budget or the Jail Assessment fund. Administrative
Coordinator Brown said this would be paid from the Jail fund but any
changes or repairs in County property or equipment should come to the
attention of the Maintenance Dept .
Motion by Boche, 2nd by Giese to approve payment of $342 for stainless
steel table from the Jail Assessment fund. Carried.
Finance Director: Rich Loney reported the Direct Deposit of pay checks
should be available in March. This is optional and those who chose to
have direct deposit will be given a notice of deposit . The problems
encountered with the new payroll system are being worked out .
Loney said a new copy machine was purchased last fall for the main copy
room. The old copier was placed in the Administration suite but it has
failed in its performance. The repairman is called often. He requested
a new one be purchased.
Motion by Giese, 2 nd by Dorsey to approve $6, 394 from the Contingency
fund for a Canon Image Runner 3305. Carried.
Administrative Coordinator: Don Brown said a solution has been reached
in the relocation of the Victim Witness waiting room and more space for
Register of Deeds . Present for this discussion were : Register of Deeds
Kay Walsh, District Attorney Eric Johnson, Victim Witness Coordinator
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Ann Gustafson, Office Manager Deb Staberg, and Gregg Moore, District
Court Administrator.
Kay Walsh presented statistics on the growth of the Register of Deeds
office since 1993 which included equipment added and the increase in
documents recorded, 3000 in number of subdivision plats (which require
large storage cabinets) and 3300 increase in number of title companies
who do research in this office.
The Victim Witness room will be moved from first floor where it was
adjacent to Register of Deeds to the second floor using part of the law
library space and evidence room from Clerk of Court area. Register of
Deeds will expand into the former V/W room.
Gregg Moore agreed to the plan and believes it will meet everyone ' s
needs. He thanked Brown for his efforts.
Timmerman noted the Clerk of Court will need more filing space but the
Law Library will likely use less books and rely more on computer
technology.
Motion by Giese, 2nd by Dorsey to make the recommended changes for
Victim Witness waiting room and more space for Register of Deeds .
Carried. Brown thanked everyone for using consensus in arriving at a
solution and those involved thanked Brown for his problem solving
efforts .
Library Plan: Kathy Setter, Deer Park Librarian, stated Act 150
requires a minimum payment of 700 of rural circulation costs . The
Baldwin and Deer Park libraries will take a big cut using the Act 150
guidelines as opposed to the present reimbursement by the County. Deer
Park Library would operate on $10, 000 less. She asked how the payment
could be made equitable.
Barb Hauer, River Falls Librarian, thanked the County for their support
of libraries. The Pierce County Board has voted to provide $90, 000 a
year to the River Falls library a year before Act 150 is effect . Hauer
asked the County to help libraries who are harmed by Act 150 . New
Richmond Librarian Nancy Miller asked the committee to consider
reimbursement across county lines because New Richmond has many Polk
County clients .
Setter said more people are using library computers to download from the
Internet and this service is not counted in the rural circulation costs .
Giese said this should be discussed at the next budget review and
suggested the County Board Chair appoint a Supervisor to work with the
Librarians along with the Administrative Coordinator, Finance Director
and Corporation Counsel .
Revolving Loan Fund: Administration Comm. Chair Standafer said the
County has accepted the block grant requirements in order to develop a
revolving loan fund. Two loans have been made (Prism Plastics and
Emerald Dairy) and repayment has started. Standafer suggests the County
look at all resources to minimize County staff time because there is
concern regarding staff time needed to make further loans from the
revolving fund. He also recommended the County be a participating
entity rather than a direct loan agency. The County' s loan fund could
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become a part of the bank loan made to an individual or company. County
staff would not have to determine loan eligibility, debt financing,
owner' s equity, and other criteria.
Standafer introduced Ann Raid from West Central Regional Planning
(WCRP) . Raid meets with County staff to determine roles and
responsibility. She said Clark County chose to transfer all revolving
loan responsibility to their Economic Development Corporation. A loan
committee was formed comprised of two County Board members and three
Economic Devlopment members (preferably one of these five would have
lending experience) . This could be an option for St . Croix County to
consider.
Timmerman outlined past actions of the County Board. A Loan Advisory
Comm. was established in 1997 with only Suprs. Linda Luckey and Gerald
Peterson appointed. This committee has never met or been fully
established. Policy and Procedure Guidelines for a Revolving Loan Fund
were adopted by the Board on June 17, 1997 . Raid was unaware of these
Guidelines adopted. Timmerman also said he has no expertise in the loan
business .
Brown said we can decide to use the mechanism in place or propose a
different system for the loan fund. He offered to be a liaison with
staff and develop options to present to Finance at the March meeting.
Committee agreed to this proposal .
Clerk of Court: Brown said Lori Meyer Frascht plans to attend a
National Court meeting in Kansas City at a room rate of $110 per night
which exceeds the County' s $55 guideline. She obtained very low air
fare to compensate for the high room rate. Motion by Giese, 2" by
Dorsey to approve the $110 room rate for March 19, 20, 21, 2000 .
Carried.
Section 125: Personnel Director Deb Kathan explained the plan which
will be offered to non represented employees at this time. Section 125
allows an employer to take pre-tax dollars per approval of the employee
to set aside to use for health and dental insurance premiums, eye
glasses, laser surgery, orthodontist and other uncovered medical
expenses plus child care expenses . The Administrator of the plan pays
the bills as they come in. The employee needs to zero out the account
at the end of the year. Any money remaining in an employee ' s account
reverts to the employer. The County does not pay FICA (7 . 650) on the
amount set aside. Retirement is not affected.
Brown said an outside administrator is usually hired with a charge on
basis of employee use per month. The cost to the County is less than
savings from FICA and interest on the money.
Motion by Giese, 2nd by Dorsey to request bids for a Section 125 Plan
Administrator. Carried.
Insurance Discussion: Brown noted the Workers ' Comp insurance is self
funded and administered by Wausau Insurance. There is a $100, 000 to
$150, 000 savings by self funding and he recommends staying with Wausau
Insurance.
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The stop loss coverage is $300, 000 per incident or accident . Committee
may want to consider changing stop loss to $250, 000 since we have never
had an incident costing that amount .
Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Giese to continue with $300, 000 stop loss for
Workers ' Comp. Carried.
Brown received a bill from Hartford insurance for boiler and machinery
breakdown. He asked for a claims history and we do not have one. Any
property insurance claims have been paid by the WI State Government
Insurance.
Brown sent our State policy to Hartford for review to see if the County
is duplicating their insurance. The Hartford agent asked for more time
to review. The premium is $6, 000 and is due March 1 . This insurance
may have been purchased when the incinerator was in operation and there
was an old boiler at Health and Human Services. It may be no longer
necessary to carry since the incinerator is gone and the boiler has been
replaced.
Brown recommends not paying the $6, 000 premium. He will also send a
memo to departments requesting all property damage be reported to
Maintenance and then Maintenance report to Administration. The
Committee will meet prior to County Board on Feb. 15 to decide either to
drop or retain the Hartford policy.
Corporation Counsel: Timmerman withdrew his request for contingency
fund money for the new computers approved in the budget . Brown said
Microsoft 2000 is coming out in mid February with a higher price of
about $200 . However, the County is eligible for a government discount
of nearly $200 so there will be little increase in price.
Boche asked about part of the incinerator building left on the site and
Timmerman said Mr. Slowe will be removing it .
Recycling Request: A recycling event for computers, TV' s and other
electronics is scheduled for June 3, 8 : 00 a.m. to 1 : 00 p.m. Recycling
Specialist Mary Barney has requested using the lower level parking lot
at the Government Center so workers have access to bathroom facilities.
Motion by Giese, 2nd by Boche to approve use of the lower parking lot
for recycling of electronics on June 3 . Carried.
Computer Services Job Descriptions: Computer Services Director Tom
Boron said these jobs have changed since they were first done and he
recommended approval of the new job descriptions. If approved, they
will be referred to negotiations for the pay issue.
Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Boche to approve the new job descriptions as
presented. Carried.
Motion by Giese, 2nd by Dorsey to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 11 :30
a.m.
u-t �7,
Sue E. Nelson
Recording Secretary
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