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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Protection 04-10-09 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE APRIL 10, 2009 - 8:30AM ST. CROIX COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER ROOM 1281 1101 CARMICHAEL ROAD HUDSON, WISCONSIN CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: March 11, 2009 DATE OF NEXT MEETING: May 13, 2009 OLD AND NEW BUSINESS 1. Web Browser/Visions Update 2. Bills, Vouchers, Capital Outlay* 3. Motel/Hotel /Travel Expenditures* 4. Mission Statements /Goals* 5. Medical Examiner — Casey Swetlik 6. Child Support Administrator — Katy Kapaun 7. District Attorney Eric Johnson, Victim/Witness Coordinator Ann Gustafson a. Justice Assistance Direct Grant 8. Sheriff Dennis Hillstead, Chief Deputy John Shilts, Patrol Captain Scott Knudson, Jail Captain Karen Humphrey, Accountant/Office Manager Mary Martell a. Expenditures: Drug Fund/Confiscated Acct. /Jail Assessment b. Justice Assistance Direct Grant c. Federal COPS Hiring Program d. Brandon Hessler Case ** ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE ADJOURN (Items may be taken in different order) * These items may be heard by each Department ** Additions /Changes /Corrections Submitted by: Julie Speer Date: March 24, 2009 Copies to: County Board office News Media County Clerk Committee Members Respective Department Heads Items for County Board approval must be submitted to the County Clerk's office by Wednesday morning preceding a County Board meeting. 4/7/2009 7:59 AM ST. CROIX COUNTY PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE MEETING April 10, 2009 Official Minutes MEMBERS PRESENT: Julie Speer, Laura Gunderson - Tommerdahl, Roger Larson, Cindy Leonard and John Borup. Absent: None. STAFF PRESENT: Medical Examiner Casey Swetlik, Child Support Director Katy Kapaun, Sheriff Dennis Hillstead, Chief Deputy John Shilts, Patrol Captain Scott Knudson, District Attorney Eric Johnson, Assistant District Attorney Amber Hahn, Administrative Coordinator Chuck Whiting and Recording Secretary Amy Geurkink. OTHERS PRESENT: County Board Chair Roger Rebholz. Meeting called to order at 8:32am by Chair Speer. Motion by Borup, 2nd by Larson to adopt the agenda. Carried unanimously. Motion by Larson, 2nd by Leonard to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2009 meeting. Carried unanimously. The next regular meeting will be Wednesday, May 13 at 8:30am, the June meeting will be on the 10 and the July meeting on the 8th MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT: Swetlik presented March 2009 Medical Examiner bills in the amount of $1.69, and outlined the activity report and the year -to -date budget summary. Motion by Borup, 2 by Gunderson to approve the bills as presented. Carried unanimously. Swetlik reported four recent autopsies totaling approximately $15,000 have considerably affected his budget figures. Swetlik noted the average cost per autopsy is $2,200 but specific cases may cost significantly higher depending on complication and legal aspects, etc. Swetlik provided an update regarding the geographical cancer death study. He presented a county map and outlined specific concentrations such as nursing homes, etc. Swetlik noted a couple weak points of the study such as segment of time at a specific address, migration to hospitals, etc. Swetlik stressed this study is nowhere near final and indicated once it is he will provide the committee with the finished product. CHILD SUPPORT REPORT: Kapaun presented March 2009 bills in the amount of $1,263.66 and clarified some specific expenses. Discussion regarding current economic hardships; Kapaun reported revenues remain solid despite the suppressed economy. Kapaun reported the federal stimulus package will result in funding of approximately $65,000. Kapaun reported there is not broad support for a statewide call center because of maintenance costs involved to individual counties and the overall value of the center; discussion regarding regionalization. Kapaun reported she is anticipating a retirement in her department and indicated she hopes to fill that vacancy. Kapaun reported over a million dollars in collections last month and noted she is somewhat surprised with the figure as other counties are down; Kapaun credits her staff noting they continue to do more with less. Kapaun reported they are down approximately $19,000 for tax intercept because of increasing unemployment rates. Motion by Borup, 2 by Larson to approve the bills as presented. Carried unanimously. Short break at 9:04am; reconvened at 9:12am REPORTS OF THE SHERIFF DEPT /JAIL /PATROL CAPTAIN: Hillstead reported they are in the midst of implementing a canine training facility at the New Richmond incinerator location and noted it will be a good use of that space. March 2009 Jail bills in the amount of $64,241.62 were presented and some specific expenses were clarified. Motion by Gunderson, 2nd by Borup to approve the bills as presented. Carried unanimously. March 2009 Sheriff Department bills in the amount of $251,478.94 were presented and some specific expenses were clarified. Shilts explained benefits of his training at the FBI National Academy. Motion by Larson, 2 by Leonard to approve the bills as presented. Carried unanimously. Hillstead reported the Huber population remains low and noted Huber inmates have had no success in finding employment. Hillstead provided an update regarding the foreclosure rate and noted the numbers are higher than last year at this point in time. He explained many cases are being postponed because of bankruptcy issues and most will eventually come back through the foreclosure process. Hillstead reported call numbers remain high with regard to burglaries, sexual assault, drunk driving, domestics, child abuse, etc.; discussion regarding crime rate impact of the suppressed economy. Hillstead reported there is a person in custody concerning an attempted abduction near New Richmond. Knudson reported there have been two more county traffic fatalities. Discussion regarding the COPS Hiring Program Grant; Hillstead explained aspects of the grant and reported it will require County Board approval. Hillstead indicated he will request four positions (three patrol officers and a court security officer) and noted he sees this as a reasonable request as St. Croix County remains the fastest growing county in the state. Shilts reported they have looked at a total of six grants and indicated applications will be presented to the committee once they are finalized. Hillstead reported there have been some medical issues within the Jail noting they have had many watches over the past month and indicated what some of these inmates desperately need is -2- psychiatric care. Discussion regarding the stress impact on staff and what happens to these inmates once they are released back into society. Speer reported the Hessler case cannot be discussed because the settlement is not yet finalized. Speer reported on the time frame for designating resolutions to the WCA; this item will be placed on the May meeting agenda. DISTRICT ATTORNEY /VICTIM WITNESS REPORT: Johnson introduced Assistant District Attorney Amber Hahn. Johnson presented an authorization to exceed hotel expenses stemming from an Assistant District Attorney's attendance at a three day conference at a hotel rate of $80 per night. Motion by Borup, 2nd by Leonard to approve the authorization as presented. Carried unanimously. Johnson presented March 2009 District Attorney bills in the amount of $1,136.91 and clarified some specific expenses. Motion by Larson, 2nd by Borup to approve the bills as presented. Carried unanimously. Borup commenced discussion regarding future input from the District Attorney on law enforcement issues during the Sheriff's Department report. Johnson commenced discussion regarding parole issues and summarized there ought to be some mechanism to reduce sentences for those inmates that are no danger to society. Johnson provided a letter from the Department of Justice regarding approval for reimbursement under 950 of the WI Stats for a Victim Witness Assistant. Johnson reported he is requesting committee approval to proceed with looking at plans for grant money for that position. Discussion regarding the process and locating funding without utilizing county money. Motion by Larson, 2 by Borup for approval for Johnson to proceed with plans to look at grant funding options for the Victim Witness Assistant position. Carried unanimously. Johnson reported Victim Witness Coordinator Ann Gustafson will retire in September 2009. Speer read a letter regarding a Voca grant in the amount of $37,449.33. Discussion regarding the County Board Goal Setting Session scheduled for April 24 Johnson reported he is not able to be present at the session and indicated he will have Office Manager Cathy Halverson attend on his behalf. Meeting adjourned at 10:2 lam. Cindy Leonard, Secretary Amy Geurkink, Recording Secretary Approved May 13, 2009 -3-