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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance 01-09-1998ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Chairman Thomas Dorsey St. Croix County Board FROM: Donald Brown, Chair COMMITTEE TITLE: FINANCE DATE: January 9, 1998 9:00 A.M. LOCATION: St. Croix County Government Center CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: February 9, 1998 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Review of Vouchers *2. Building Security NEW BUSINESS: 1. Administrative Coordinator's Report A. Ag Center Update 2. Finance Director's Report A. Finalization of ARR Settlement *B. Consider Disposition of Incinerator Site 3. County Clerk Report A. Dog Damage Claim - Cecile Ormston, Town of Hammond B. Committees and Commissions Budget *C. Dog Damage Claim - David Hallstrom, Town of Hudson 4. Corporation Counsel 5. Disposition of Onstott Property 6. Request to Purchase Road Easement on Onstott Property *7. Tax Collection Report - Mary Jean Livermore, County Treasurer CORRESPONDENCE: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) DATE: 12/30 COPIES TO: County Board Office News Media/Notice Board County Clerk County Board County Departments *ADDITIONS/CHANGES/CORRECTIONS FINANCE COMMITTEE Regular Meeting January 9, 1998 Meeting called to order by Chair Brown and guests, press and Supervisors were welcomed. Special welcome was given to new committee member Herb Giese who replaced Robert Boche. Members present: Don Brown, Tom Dorsey, Herb Giese, Tom O'Connell. Absent and excused - John Bradley. Staff present: Administrative Coordinator John Krizek, Finance Director Rich Loney, Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman and County Clerk Sue Nelson. Others present: Suprs. Raymond and Mortensen, Parks Director Joe Grant, Planning Director Dave Fodroczi and Pat Collins. Motion by O'Connell, 2nd by Dorsey to adopt the agenda. Carried. Next meeting scheduled for February 9, 9:00 a.m. at the new Ag. Center in Baldwin. Motion by O'Connell, 2nd by Dorsey to approve the December 9 and December 16, 1997 minutes. Carried. Administrative Coordinator: John Krizek announced January 28 and 29 would be the dates for moving into the new Ag. and Education Center south of Baldwin. The State DILHR codes have changed and dual controls are needed for the florescent lighting. This change order would cost $6,000. The contractor will fix the water seepage in the basement. Total cost for land, building, furnishings and payment to Peters is $1,552,000. Krizek thanked Ralph Robole and the maintenance staff for moving furniture and panels from the former County Library building to the garage area of the new Ag. Center. The punch list will be done on January 25, 26, and 27. Dorsey commented he is pleased with the new building complex. Building Security: Emergency Communication Director Bruce Brantner secured bids for intrusion alarms, motion detectors, glass break detectors and video monitoring systems. Discussion on building security. Chair Brown cautioned that a building can have too much security and cause more false alarm problems. Giese suggested making an initial start and adding more security devices each year. Brantner noted some counties have panic alarms and some have video monitoring which can be a deterrent to harmful incidents. Jail personnel could monitor the video and would call the Sheriff's Dept. if a problem is noted. Corporation Counsel Timmerman commented the goal should be to have the building more secure while staff and the public are here and safer against intrusion when we are not here. Krizek and Brantner reported that panic alarms will be installed soon and magnetic door locks placed on back doors of the Courtrooms, an armored car is used and a public address system is in place. Krizek suggested getting input from Department Heads at their next meeting and Brantner will check further into security equipment. 1 Facilities Manager Ralph Robole gave projected installation dates for security devices and also noted things are falling in place now for the new Ag. Center. Robole is concerned about the icicles hanging from the roof and will check further. County Clerk Sue Nelson thanked the maintenance department for the new lighting in the lobby. Onstott Property: Krizek reported having a $288,000 offer from Sean O'Connell who later declined the extension offered by the county and withdrew his original offer. There was difficulty in getting the certified survey map approved but the Town of St. Joseph did finally approve it. The County Board has set perimeters for the sale of the Onstott property and these are in place until the Board changes them. Krizek said Pat Collins has requested to purchase a 66 foot wide easement through the Onstott property for $6500. This would not provide access to all three properties that have problems with high water on 53rd St., the present entrance road. The third property is adjacent to the park land which DNR helped purchase. DNR cannot approve an easement unless property is traded and presently there is no land to be traded. An easement through the middle of the Onstott property would destroy the value. Collins had also petitioned the Town of St. Joseph to take over 53rd Street. Pat Collins has talked to DNR regarding access through the Onstott property and DNR said it is not an insurmountable problem. O'Connell asked if Collins could just get an easement from the new owners of the Onstott property. Brown commented the county should have $288,000 for this parcel and $6500 for an easement is not nearly enough to cover the loss of value. Collins replied the Onstott property could be divided into two lots and therefore be more valuable. Timmerman advised the county wants to sell this property and get on with the business of establishing a park and the Board has set rules that should be followed unless the Board changes them. Chair Brown said the Board should make the decision regarding a realtor, purchase price and if a road easement should be sold. Dorsey stated the property should sell as one package, Town of St. Joseph advised the new owner should be aware some land on this parcel could be condemned for a road easement. Krizek said staff has spent too much time on this issue and a realtor should take over the sale of the Onstott property. Committe e will meet prior to County Board to determine a recommendation for the Board at the meeting on January 20. Collins thanked the Committee for the opportunity to speak to them. 2 Finance Director: Rich Loney worked with Greg on the ARR settlement and the $100,000 CD, which matures Feb. 3rd, has been turned over to the county. Prudential did not take any equipment from the building including a truck scale, overhead crane, turbine generator, copper tubing, etc. With $452,000 in back taxes and $40,000 costs for the highway dept. trucking, excavating and disposing of soil with leads and heavy metal, value to the county is nearly $500,000. The incinerator is located on a three acre fenced area, is a clear span building with good road access. Committee will discuss disposition of this properly in February. County Clerk: Motion by Giese, 2nd by Dorsey to pay dog damage claim of $77 to Cecile Ormston, Town of Hammond and $452 to David Hallstrom, Town of Hudson. Carried. Clerk Nelson advised the Committees and Commissions budget is over by more than $8,000. Dorsey noted the committee working on the new zoning ordinance has met often and there are more zoning hearings. Chair Brown said we need to watch our own budget to set a good example. Suggested to have County Board Chair send a memo to Committee Chairs and Giese recommended newly elected Committee Chairs be educated about attendance at conferences and conventions. Nelson thanked Rich Loney for taking committee minutes in her absence. Finance Dept. was asked to provide a running total of per diem and expenses for Supervisors each month. Dorsey commented the staff has been wonderful to work with during his short tenure as County Board Chair. Review of Vouchers: Giese had reviewed and found no problems. Discussion on previously unpaid portion of a Supervisor's voucher for attendance at a conference. Dorsey advised this should be paid because a committee chair had authorized attendance. Further discussion on attendance at conferences. The recently updated Board Rules and By Laws state, "If approval is given by a committee chair, notification shall be given to the County Board Chair." Krizek said when the Rules and By Laws were first updated it was the intent of former County Board Chair Richard Peterson to approve attendance at conferences. Supr. Mortensen said the WEMA (emergency services) conferences he has attended have been educational and worthwhile. Motion by Giese, 2nd by Dorsey to pay the $355.12 remaining on the September voucher for Supervisor Berenschot. Carried. Tax Collections: Rich Loney reported that Treasurer Mary Jean Livermore indicated the tax collections went well for municipalities that have contracted with the county to collect. Sufficient notice was given as to where to pay and money collected 3 was wired directly to the municipality's bank. There were no complaints from municipal treasurers or taxpayers. Mot' -.to adjourn by O'Connell. Meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m. Thomas O'Connell, Secretary 4