EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Administrative Center – Room 3220

4:00 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Steve Doyle, George Hammes, Tara Johnson, Vicki Burke, Charles Spiker, Roger Plesha, Ralph Geary, Don Meyer, and Jim Ehrsam    

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  None        

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None 

STAFF & GUESTS:  Gary Ingvalson, Bill Shepherd, Bob Taunt, Marion Naegle, John Parshall, Jim Speropulos, Bryan Jostad, Maureen Freedland, John Medinger, Jason Gillett, Sharon Hampson, Reid Magney, and Cheryl Stephen

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Steve Doyle, Committee Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. 

CONSENT AGENDA

• December Investment Report (handout by County Treasurer)

• 2006 Year-end Account Transfers/Adjustments

• January 2007 Account Transfers/Adjustments

• Committee Minutes of December 13 and 21, 2006

• Check Requisition – Payable to Communications Services Inc. in amount of $56,431.05 as payment for annual radio service contract per service agreement including modifications for 2007.

MOTION by Plesha/Ehrsam to approve the above noted consent agenda items.  Supervisor Spiker requested correction to the minutes of December 13^th, that being additional RFP/bid information for the following:

• Quote/Bid for Approval of Printing/IT Dept. Production Output Equipment – Three vendors submitted proposals.  An evaluation team evaluated each based on equipment/function, cost, support and training, optional software, qualifications and experience and demonstration.  Based on highest score, the team recommended IKON Office Solutions at a cost of $3,023/month (score of 643 points of possible 800).  The other two vendors were:  EO Johnson @$2,537/588 points and Xerox Corporation @$3,220/566 points.

• Approval of La Crosse County Banking Service Vendor – Two vendors submitted proposals.  An evaluation team evaluated each based on cost, qualifications and references, relevant experience, key personnel experience, understanding and approach to providing services, and interview.  Based on the highest score, the team recommended Wells Fargo at cost of $74,829.15 over 5 year period (score of 950 points of possible 1,000).  The other vendor was Associated Bank @$163,496.05/472 points.

• Extension of Voice Only Cellular Contract – US Cellular contract for Voice Only will end April 2007.  The County also has a contract with US Cellular for wireless data service which will end November 2008.  Because US Cellular has provided excellent service, support and equipment, it was recommended to extend the contract with US Cellular for Voice Only so that all of these related contracts would have the same contract expiration date. Estimated annual cost for voice only is $45,000.  For the next RFP cycle, all voice and wireless data service will be placed under one contract. 

Motion carried unanimously.  

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested.

QUOTE/BID FORM FOR PURCHASE OF 2007 BUDGETED PCs

John Parshall briefly reviewed.  He noted this as the yearly purchase of desktop PCs.  He recommends the bid from CDW-G in amount of $39,300.00 to purchase 60 PCs - HP Compaq Business Desktop dc5700.  The other two bids were:  HP-WSCA in amount of $48,600.00 and SoftChoice in amount of $51,616.80.  Supervisor Johnson asked about disposal of the old computers.  Parshall said the hard drives are cleared and then the PCs are placed on the County auction.  MOTION by Hammes/Geary to approve the low bid of CDW-G in amount of $39,300.00.  Motion carried unanimously.

ORDINANCE TO CREATE S. 4.14 ENTITLED “DEBT LEVY MILL RATE FREEZE” OF THE GENERAL CODE OF LA CROSSE COUNTY, WISCONSIN (Proposed by Board Chairman Doyle) AND

ORDINANCE TO CREATE S. 4.14 ENTITLED “DEBT LEVY MILL RATE” OF THE GENERAL CODE OF LA CROSSE COUNTY, WISCONSIN (Proposed by Supervisor Ebert)

Board Chairman Doyle requested discussion on both of the ordinances.  Chairman Doyle reviewed his proposal in detail.  Supervisor Geary distributed revised copies of Supervisor Ebert’s proposal per his request.  Currently, s. 67.045(1)(b) Wis. Stats., provides that the County Board may issue debt that will not cause the debt levy rate to exceed the 1992 rate of $.78 per $1,000 of assessed valuation by a majority vote of the supervisors who are present.  Differences between the two proposed ordinances:

• Chairman Doyle’s:  The ordinance freezes the debt levy mill rate at the rate set in the 2007 budget of $.52 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for the 2008 and 2009 budgets.  The County Board would not be able to issue debt that would cause the debt levy mill rate to exceed the 2007 rate until the 2010 budget.  Commencing in the 2010 budget, the County Board may issue debt that will increase the debt levy mill rate above the 2007 rate by a 2/3 vote of the supervisors who are present.  However, a ¾ vote of the entire County Board is required if the board decides to issue debt in 2010 or beyond that raises the debt levy mill rate above the 1992 rate of $.78 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

• Supervisor Ebert’s:  The ordinance provides that the County Board shall pass a resolution to issue debt that will cause the debt levy mill rate to exceed the 2006 rate of $.40 per $1,000 of assessed valuation by a ¾ vote of the entire County Board.

Lengthy discussion ensued.  Some Supervisors preferred the majority vote; some preferred the idea of a “tougher’ vote.  Chairman Doyle’s concern is with the upcoming jail/building project as being proposed by the Carey Group and the need to get a ¾ vote.  Gary Ingvalson distributed “Debt Levy Mill Rates” comparison for the past 15 years.  Jim Speropulos reminded the committee of the building project needs of the Administrative Center as well as the jail project.

MOTION by Hammes/Doyle to merge the two ordinances and make it 2/3 vote of the entire County Board.  More discussion followed.  Pointed out that the Ebert proposed ordinance has the $.40 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in it while the Doyle proposed ordinance is at $.52 for years 2008 and 2009 and $.78 commencing 2010.  Bill Shepherd clarified that if the County Board has a reasonable expectation that the issuance of debt will cause the County to increase the debt levy rate above the 1992 rate, then state law requires that the resolution to issue such debt shall be adopted by a vote of at least ¾ of the members elect. 

Page 3 – Executive Committee Minutes of January 10, 2007

Again, after lengthy discussion, Supervisor Hammes withdrew his motion.

MOTION by Hammes/Doyle to reject both ordinances as presented and authorize Corporation Counsel to draft a new ordinance as follows:  The County Board shall adopt a resolution to issue debt by a vote of at least ¾ of the Supervisors who are present or by such larger vote as may be required by law.  Motion carried on 8 to 1 vote:  Burke-no.

RESOLUTION RE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF CHANGES AND ADDITIONAL INCREASES TO CERTAIN LA CROSSE COUNTY PERMITS, FEES AND CHARGES FOR 2007

MOTION by Johnson/Geary to approve the resolution.  The 8-page listing showed those listed in bold print as the ones being changed and/or increased.  Discussion following.  Supervisor Spiker expressed concern of possible overcharging as way of generating extra revenue.  Supervisor Johnson noted as done in Health and Human Services, they look at cost recovery and that all departments should be doing this.  Ingvalson noted that most departments do comparisons with other counties.  Supervisor Ehrsam suggested the penalties should also be looked at.  Supervisor Hammes called the question.  Motion carried unanimously.  (The complete list of the La Crosse County fees is available in the Board Chair Office or the Finance Dept.) 

ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA

• Supervisor Meyer requested an update on Park Plaza

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION by Hammes/Plesha to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 5:08 p.m.

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder