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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance 08-11-1998ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Chairman Thomas Dorsey St. Croix County Board FROM: Donald Brown, Chair COMMITTEE TITLE: FINANCE DATE: August 11, 1998 8:30 A.M. LOCATION: Government Center CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: September 9, 1998, 8:30 A.M. ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Amend Register of Deeds Request for Part Time Help From $1,000 to $1,500 2. Glen Hills Dam Safety Study Phase II NEW BUSINESS: 1. Review of Vouchers 2. Administrative Coordinator's Report A. Lake Mallalieu Dam Repair Costs B. Print Bid Award 3. Finance Director's Report A. Contingency Fund Transfer for Boat Repairs - Sheriff Dept. 4. Corporation Counsel Report A. Removal of House on Cedar Lake B. Personnel Legal Matters S. County Clerk Report A. Tax Deed Property Bids B. Line Item Transfer C. WCA Convention Policy *D. Dog Damage Claim - Duane D. Lyon, Town of St. Joseph 6. New Position Requests Including Security Staffing 7. Set Budget Review Dates 8. Closed Session Pursuant to s.19.85 (1) (e), WI Statutes to Conduct Specified Business that Requires Bargaining - Regarding Marketing of Incinerator Site 9. Reconvene in Open Session Pursuant to s . 19.85 (2) , WI Stats . CORRESPONDENCE ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) DATE: 7/30/98 COPIES TO: County Board Office News Media/Notice Board County Clerk County Board County Departments *ADDITIONS/CHANGES/CORRECTIONS FINANCE COMMITTEE Regular Meeting August 11, 1998 Meeting called to order by Chair Brown at 8:30 a.m. Members present: Don Brown, Robert Boche, Tom Dorsey, Herb Giese and Tom O'Connell. Staff present: Administrative Coordinator John Krizek, Finance Director Rich Loney, Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman and County Clerk Sue Nelson. Others present: Suprs. Art Jensen, Chris Bethke, Dave Hense, Julie Speer, Gerald Larson and members of the press. Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Boche to adopt the agenda. Next meeting set for September 9, 8:30 a.m. Motion to approve the July minutes by Giese, 2nd by O'Connell. Carried. Glen Hills Dam Safety Study Phase II: Land and Water Cons. Chair Jensen explained more money is needed for Phase II. County Technician Bob Heise said the bid for safety study on all dams was $65,000. Finance granted $36,500 at the last meeting and $28,500 is needed for dams 7 and 8. Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Giese to recommend to County Board expenditure of $28,500 from Contingency Fund for Phase II of Dam Safety Study. Carried. This amount was later revised to $27,700. See explanation later. Timmerman noted he had a call from a DNR Attorney who said he would check into the issue of payment for this study. Chair Brown asked a letter be sent advising the DNR the study was underway and determination needs to made as to who pays - DNR or the County. Register of Deeds: Committee approved $1000 for part time help at the July meeting, however the Planning, Zoning and Parks Committee had previously approved $1500. Supr. Hense supports the $1500 figure and stated it is needed to keep up with the work and transition to the Land Records program. Motion by O'Connell, 2nd by Boche to add $500 to the original request of $1000. Carried. Vouchers: Chair Brown had reviewed the vouchers and one was questioned regarding mini storage unit rental by Sheriff's Dept. Loney will check further to determine need for this rental. Motion by O'Connell, 2nd by Giese to approve other vouchers presented. Carried. Administrative Coordinator: John Krizek reported the dam repair bid on Lake Mallalieu came in much higher than expected - $452,000 total. The County is a 501 owner along with City and Town of Hudson and Village of North Hudson. The County's share is $126,000 of which $16,000 has been paid leaving a balance of $110,000. Giese questioned the future of the structure and if this repair is just a bandaid. Both Krizek and Zoning Administrator Cindy Sherman agreed this should be a long term repair on the structure. Krizek will tell the Hudson City Council to proceed with the repair. 1 Printing Bids: Central News presented the lowest bid for a contract for Government Center printing of stationery, envelopes, business cards and forms. Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Boche to award the bid to Central St. Croix News for one year. Carried. Budget Update: New position requests was lowered to $115,004; two dozen computers failed the Y2K test so about $25,000 will be spent on new equipment. Clerk of Court will decrease by $28,000 for 1 1/2 positions after Child Support check issuance program changes. Supr. Hense said Planning, Zoning and Parks Committee is raising fees to be more in line with area counties. He stated more enforcement of County Zoning Ordinance is needed. Sherman added fees haven't been increased for years, a new fee is proposed for soil test review and Board of Adjustment fees will increase from $150 to $250. The current levy is $11,941,171. Some of the budget presentation was highlighted for the benefit of Ag. and Extension Comm. Chair Bethke who received his notice late for the July meeting. Corporation Counsel: Greg Timmerman received a bid of $2500 for removal of the house on Cedar Lake from Rouleau and Stephens. Earlier the Court ordered the owner to remove the house. The owner did not remove the house and the Court order allows the county to charge the owner for removal. Supr. Hense commented the house was built with no permits being obtained and it violated the zoning ordinance. The owner has removed the windows and doors from the two story home. Motion by Boche, 2nd by Dorsey to approve $2500 from Contingency Fund for removal of house and restoration of the lot. Carried. Comment from Supr. Larson: Larson, also Chair of Town of Kinnickinnic, had to leave to attend a funeral. He commented on the support for the proposed zoning enforcement position by both himself and the Town of Kinnickinnic. Supr. Bethke indicated his support plus the Town of Richmond for this position. Personnel Legal Matters: Personnel Director Deb Kathan was present. Timmerman read the Attorney General's opinion stating Corporation Counsel has the authority over legal matters. Timmerman disagreed with a 1993 memo from Labor Attorney Steve Weld that stated the Personnel Committee can hire their own legal person. However, the County Board may hire an outside attorney for special legal matters. In a survey of counties, 44 responded. Thirty-five have an in- house Corporation Counsel and 32 of these have Corp Counsel do personnel legal matters (St. Croix, Rusk and Walworth do not). Timmerman said there could be a savings if Corp Counsel does legal E matters. Timmerman claimed Weld and Assoc. have been paid $13,500 so far this year which is a non -negotiation year and was paid $18,000 in 1997. He is not proposing that the Corp Counsel do negotiations, however, if an attorney is involved in a grievance matter it should be the Corporation Counsel. Kathan said she would check the records on costs. Some costs are paid by the State for the Nursing Home and Highway Dept. Health and Human Services also receive grant monies used for negotiations. Kathan said the financial impact to the County was $9,000 in 1997. She stated grievances are an outgrowth of negotiated issues and therefore could be handled by the negotiator. Dorsey asked if a contract is a legal document, doesn't a grievance violate a legal contract. Motion by Boche, 2nd by Giese that all Personnel legal matters be routed through the Corporation Counsel office. If outside Counsel is to be used it will be decided by the Personnel Director and Corporation Counsel. Chair Brown said he cannot support this motion because the Finance Committee should not dictate this matter. The parties involved should meet and try to resolve problems. Krizek said it is not healthy to have barriers between department heads. Giese withdrew his second and suggested Krizek, Timmerman and Kathan meet to iron out the situation and bring the results to both the Personnel and Finance committees. O'Connell seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Giese - no, O'Connell - yes, Dorsey - no, Boche - yes, and Brown - no. Motion failed, 2 yes, 3 no. Finance Director: Rich Loney requested funds to replace the engine on the motor on the Sheriff's Department boat. Motion by Giese, 2nd by Dorsey to take $3,590.28 from the contingency fund for boat repair. Carried. The equalized evaluation figures for the County will be released on August 14 and Loney will have an analysis for County Board on the 18th. The 1997 audit has been completed. Reconsideration of Dam Safety Study: Timmerman pointed out that the money requested for the Dam Study had been increased $800.00 from the original bid for Phase II. Ayres had agreed to accept $36,500 for the Phase I study which was approved by Finance at the July meeting. Both Dorsey and Giese withdrew their original motion. Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Giese to recommend $27,700 to the County Board to complete Phase II Glen Hills Dam Safety Study. Carried. New Position Requests: Chair Brown said we need to prioritize requests and determine necessity of these positions. He asked the 3 Committee to vote on each position after all requests are heard. Zoning Technician (Code Enforcement Officer)• Vice Chair of Planning, Zoning and Parks Hense was present due to Chair Raymond's attendance at a Stillwater Bridge meeting. Zoning Administrator Cindy Sherman said the salary and°fringes -would be $40,878 and computer, mileage and office furniture would add another $7,400. Increased user fees would generate $70,000. Sherman showed a back log of complaints and explained current office staff assignments. Sanitary permits have increased from 284 in 1991 to 530 in 1997. The Towns are requesting help with enforcement. Letters of support and comments were received from Towns of St. Joseph, Troy, Richmond, Kinnickinnic and Cylon. Discussion on job description with the suggestion it include a broader scope of duties. Patrol Sergeant, Sheriff's Dept.: Public Protection Chair Speer and Sheriff Burch were present. Speer said this position has been talked about for many years and committee requested this be a union position. The Law Enforcement union did not agree. Total budget impact would be $85,000 (salary, fringes, car, uniforms, etc.). Brown suggested taking an existing employee, moving that person into the position and reduce the patrol by one. Sheriff did not agree because there is no decrease in activities the past two years and complaints are on the rise daily. Brown said this should be a union position so the person can also do work on the job. The US Marshal's report on security issues for the Government Center will be coming in four to six weeks. Security staffing will be discussed after the report is received. Child Support Specialist: Speer and Child Support Administrator Lynn Holmes present. The position was requested to begin October 1, 1998 and not January 1, 1999. Holmes gave background on new laws and federal mandates - the more mandates; the more specialists needed. It is recommended a Specialist be employed up to four months before attending State training sessions in January and February. Some Child Support duties will be transferred from the Clerk of Court starting in April of 1999. Chair Brown said the County Board passed a resolution on August of 1997 stating no new or upgrades in positions will be granted in 1998. Finance cannot override a County Board action for an October 1 starting date. Holmes indicated funding is changing to performance base on the paternity adjudicated rate. Present rate is 89.6% and the county must keep or increase this by 3% to get share of $75,000. Victim/Witness Specialist: Director Ann Gustafson and District Attorney Office Manager Deb Staberg present. Gustafson requested the 1/2 time assistant go to full time because of Enabling Legislation which increases the right of victims. Victims must be 4 notified in writing of certain rights and a contact person. In bad check cases, the victims are not addressed presently. This position has been 1/2 time since 1995 and Gustafson described the duties of the Victim/Witness office. Cost to the county is $2,955. Action on Positions: Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by Giese to approve the Zoning Technician with an April 1, 1999 start date and with a broader job description written. Carried. Motion by Brown, 2nd by Giese to recommend to County Board the creation of one full time lead patrol officer position and that this position be covered by the Labor Association of WI, Local 108 contract. Carried. Motion by Boche, 2nd by O'Connell to approve the Child Support Specialist starting January 1, 1999. Carried. Motion by O'Connell, 2nd by Giese to approve the 1/2 time Victim Witness position to full time beginning January 1, 1999. Roll call vote: Giese - yes; O'Connell - yes; Dorsey - no, Boche - no, Brown - yes. Motion carried, 3 yes, 2 no. Budget Review Dates: September 23 and 24 starting at 8:30 a.m. Discussion on possible joint meeting between Personnel and Finance at 8:00 a.m. on August 18th prior to County Board. Krizek will check with Chair of Personnel Committee. Motion by Boche, 2nd by Giese to present the hiring freeze resolution to the County Board on August 18th. Carried. County Clerk: Door Damage Claim: Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by O'Connell to pay Duane Lyon, Town of St. Joseph $17.50 for. loss of chickens. Carried. Tax Deed Parcels: Clerk Nelson reported the Village of Star Prairie agreed to purchase two lots that are currently tax deed parcels for $1 each plus $12 recording fee for each. Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by O'Connell to sell two lots along West First St.to Village of Star Prairie. Carried. Motion by O'Connell, 2nd by Boche to accept bid of $300 from Fern Johnson for tax deed parcels located in Lots 9 and 10. Carried. WCA Convention Policy: Nelson asked the committee if they would like to change policy on attendance at the annual WCA convention. Currently the Chair and Vice Chair are paid mileage, hotel, meals and registration and other Supervisors only get registration paid. O'Connell suggested and committee agreed to budget for four people attending with all expenses paid (no per diem is paid to any Supervisor who attends). 5 Line Item Transfer: Nelson delayed this request to transfer money for glass to cover the quilt. The first bid was too costly - $1200. She will talk to Maintenance staff for another option. Closed Session Per WI Statute 19.85 (1) (e) to Conduct specified business that Requires Bargaining - Re: Marketing of Incinerator Site. Motion by Dorsey, 2nd by O'Connell to move into closed session. Roll call vote: all yes. Motion by O'Connell, 2nd by Boche to come out of closed session. Carried. No action taken. Comments: Giese asked about (1) status of $50,000 requested by Deer Park Librarian Kathy Setter to start SCINET program to tie municipal libraries together. She will be notified of budget review dates. (2) Town of Kinnickinnic's interest in purchasing county property for new Town Hall. No further interest shown. (3) Parties being held in the former Seim residence on Perch Lake. Complaint will be checked. ion by O'Connell to adjourn r '& asr O' Connell Secretary Meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.