EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Administrative Center – Room 3220
4:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Doyle, George Hammes, Tara Johnson, Vicki Burke, Charles Spiker, Roger Plesha, Don Meyer, Ralph Geary, Jim Ehrsam
MEMBERS EXCUSED: None
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF & GUESTS: Steve O’Malley, Gary Ingvalson, Marion Naegle, Bill Shepherd, Bob Taunt, John Parshall, David Lange, Jeff Bluske, Chris McArdle Rojo, Noreen Kuroski, Jerry Huber, John McDonald, Jim Speropulos, Karl Green, Brian Fukuda, Don Neitzel, Sharon Hampson, Jill Billings, Ray Ebert, Kent Pehler, James Hintz, Cheryl Stephen
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Board Chair Steve Doyle called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Ehrsam/Geary to approve minutes of January 9 and 17, 2008. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Hammes/Burke to accept the following Consent Agenda items:
Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None requested.
APPROVAL OF LEASE EXTENSION WITH BRENNAN MARINE FOR HINTGEN ISLAND FLEETING SITE
David Lange reviewed. This is an extension of the lease with Brennan Marine for another 10 years, expiring on June 30, 2018. Brennan Marine has leased Hintgen Island as a barge fleeting site. MOTION by Ehrsam/Meyer to approve the lease extension with Brennan Marine for Hintgen Island Fleeting site expiring on June 30, 2018. Motion carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF STRAP GRANT
MOTION by Spiker/Johnson to accept the Supplemental Transportation Rural Assistance Program (Strap) grant from the WI Dept. of Transportation in amount of $111,484. Motion carried unanimously.
QUOTE BID FORM FOR PURCHASE OF LAKEVIEW WIRELESS EQUIPMENT
John Parshall reviewed the bid as submitted by Berbee as a reseller for Cisco hardware, software and maintenance under the WI state contract. The project includes installation of 19 wireless access points and associated equipment for Lakeview Health Center; it will provide wireless coverage throughout the building and enable point of service network access. MOTION by Hammes/Plesha to approve the bid from Berbee in amount of $41,259.94 per WI state contract for the purchase of 19 wireless access points and associated equipment as needed for Lakeview Health Center. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION RE SUPPORT OF CITY OF LA CROSSE AND DOWNTOWN MAINSTREET, INC., JOINT APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN PROGRAM FOR DESIGNATION AS A MAIN STREET COMMUNITY
MOTION by Johnson/Burke to approve the resolution. Steve O’Malley reviewed the joint application effort by Downtown Mainstreet, Inc. and City of La Crosse to the State of Wisconsin Main Street Community Program. If approved, this program offers technical assistance, including volunteer and program manager training, advanced training on specific downtown issues, such as marketing, business recruitment, volunteer development, and historic preservation, on-going onsite visits to help each community develop its strengths and plan for success, onsite design consultations and onsite small business consultations. Various officials and agencies have also submitted letters of support. The $2,500 as stated in the Fiscal Note has been a yearly donation to Downtown Mainstreet, Inc., and is included in the 2008 budget and will be considered for future budgets; this is 4th year that this membership donation has been paid. Motion carried unanimously. Supervisor Billings suggested a staff member or elected official with expertise serve on the Downtown Mainstreet Board of Directors. O’Malley said that interest has been relayed to them.
RESOLUTION RE AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE TWO DISHWASHERS AND TRANSFER FUNDS FROM AGING UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE
MOTION by Spiker/Hammes to approve the resolution that authorizes the purchase of two dishwashers, as replacements, for two senior nutrition site locations for total cost of $7,200 paid from the Aging Undesignated Fund balance. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION RE CONSOLIDATED COUNTY LIBRARY
MOTION Johnson/Burke to approve the resolution which approves the La Crosse County Library being recognized as a consolidated library pursuant to Wis. Stats. 43.57(1). Motion carried unanimously. The State requested clarification of the County’s consolidated library system which is stated within the resolution.
RESOLUTION RE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT REORGANIZATION
John Parshall reviewed. He noted for 2nd half of 2007, four IT employees left for retirement or other jobs; also noted the impact on IT relating to formation of MCO; the additional work requests by other departments for assistance in automation and installation of new or enhanced software. Jeff Bluske noted the need for additional IT assistance for his department, relating to GIS and land records; land records are shared between various departments (Health, Surveyor, Register of Deeds, and Land Information Office), and there are funds in the Land Records Fund balance to help pay for such position. The reorganization includes the following: (1) PC/LAN Technician (replacement of retired position), (2) Help Desk Supervisor/Trainer (replacement of retired position), and (3) Application Developer (new position and paid from Land Records Fund balance). Supervisor Johnson requested clarification on the position hired for CMO and new MCO as strictly for that purpose; John noted yes for doing the core work, except for attending required staff meetings. Other miscellaneous questions. MOTION by Hammes/Burke to approve the resolution. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION RE JUVENILE DETENTION SUPERVISORS
MOTION by Johnson/Meyer to approve the resolution which will compensate Juvenile Detention Supervisors as hourly employees and not salaried employees. Bob Taunt briefly reviewed the need for the change; the Fiscal Note of the resolution indicates estimated $5,800 in yearly salary savings. Supervisor Johnson noted the Health & Human Services Board approved the resolution unanimously. Motion carried unanimously.
REPORT ON GRANICUS PROPOSAL FOR WEB STREAMING OF MEETINGS
Referred to a future committee meeting as more time is needed to pull together the information.
REPORT ON PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION XCEL ENERGY RATE CASE
Steve O’Malley gave an update. Previous committee action approved up to $4,000 as joint effort of the County, City of La Crosse and the La Crosse School District to participate with the help of outside legal to protest and challenge Xcel Energy’s proposed electric rate increase of 14.3%. The final award by the Public Service Commission was for an 8.1% increase. Total cost for the County was $1,700 – not $4,000 as approved. Informational.
ORDINANCE CHANGE RE CHAPTER 3, PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
O’Malley noted the proposed changes in Chapter 3 as housekeeping changes, such as: (1) Martin Luther King Day as holiday (not President’s Day) and funeral leave as similar to union contracts, (2) layoff language modernized, (3) committee name corrections, (4) removed words of Administrative Coordinator and replaced with County Administrator, (5) removed obsolete dates, and (6) simplified wording and corrected related references. MOTION by Spiker/Hammes to approve the ordinance changes, as presented, to Chapter 3, Personnel Administrative Rules, of the La Crosse County Code of Ordinances. Motion carried unanimously.
REPORT ON COST CONSIDERATION OF BENEFIT CHANGES, NON-UNION AND TOP MANAGEMENT RETENTION
Bob Taunt distributed related information. Steve O’Malley reviewed, noting the handout related to recent special meeting of the committee in which various items were reviewed relating to leadership retention. The items include: (1) cash out or deposit of vacation for retirement health insurance, (2) accumulated sick leave credit toward retirement health insurance (increase from 60% to 75%), (3) new accrual plan for vacation, (4) AFLAC benefits as 100% paid by employees, and (5) new health insurance plan for retirees. Board Chairman Doyle noted no action needed today; will consider these proposals at a future meeting.
RESOLUTION RE APPROVAL OF LA CROSSE COUNTY POST-RETIREMENT SICK LEAVE AND VACATION PAY CONVERSION MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT PLAN AND POST-RETIREMENT SICK LEAVE AND VACATION PAY
Bob Taunt and Steve O’Malley reviewed, as well as Jim Hintz, one of the co-founders of Precision Retirement Group, who was present and gave an overview of the company’s objective. The company specializes in providing professional employee benefit consultative services for governmental employers and targeted toward specific client goals on a tax advantage and cost effective basis. The plan for the County is to provide for mandatory conversion of accumulated sick leave and/or vacation pay of certain retiring employees of the County into supplemental retirement income benefits or post-retirement medical expense reimbursement for retired employees of the County. Miscellaneous questions followed. Noted the corporate address of Precision Retirement Group is in Eau Claire with other regional offices in the U.S.; also employs 50 sales representatives. The services are unique and no other companies were found that do this type of service. MOTION by Hammes/Meyer to approve the resolution. More questions followed, in particular relating to company creditability. Precision Retirement Group started seven years ago; work with cities of Madison, River Falls; counties of Dane, Eau Claire, Chippewa, Shawano, and various school districts. Participants may collect benefit payments monthly, quarterly or yearly; fees are $5.00 per month plus distribution charge of $4.00 - totaling $9.00; if paper check is requested, there is an $8 charge; the company prefers electronic transfers. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION RE COMPENSATION FOR LA CROSSE COUNTY BOARD CHAIR
Supervisor Ebert reviewed the resolution as the requester. He noted that in surveying some counties, that the salary for the La Crosse County Board Chair was higher, though still waiting on responses from other counties. Question raised why or how can the salary be changed after the budget process and after election papers are taken out. Bill Shepherd noted that the County is “self-organized’ per state statutes which allows for different compensation methods, though in the past, the Board and Board Chair salaries were always determined at time of budget approval and before election papers were taken out. MOTION by Geary/Ehrsam to approve the resolution for discussion purpose. Supervisor Ehrsam noted the self-organization came about due to providing extra committee pay. Bill said this is a new resolution and is not a reconsideration. MOTION FAILED on 1 to 8 vote; Geary-yes. Supervisor Hammes pointed out that it might be legal, but bad practice.
ORDINANCE CHANGE RE CHAPTER 1, GENERAL GOVERNMENT – APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Supervisor Ebert reviewed the change in the ordinance as the requester, that being good public policy and practice to have the committees elect their own chairs. Supervisor Spiker said it should remain as responsibility of the Board Chair, noting over the many years that he’s been on the Board, he has always agreed with the appointments, including those done by current Board Chairman Doyle and past Chairs Ehrsam and Hammes. O’Malley noted in a previous survey of other counties, there is no uniformity. Board Chairman Doyle and Supervisor Hammes spoke against the proposed ordinance change. MOTION by Geary/(no second) to approve the ordinance change in Chapter 1, General Government, regarding the appointment of the committee chairs as done by the committees. MOTION FAILED due to no second to the motion. Question asked how Supervisor Ebert could bring the ordinance before the County Board. Direction for Bill Shepherd to check this out and report back to Supervisor Ebert and Board Chairman Doyle. Supervisor Burke encouraged Supervisor Ebert to not bring the change to the ordinance before the County Board based Executive Committee dissent.
ORDINANCE CHANGE RE CHAPTER 4, FINANCE – LIVING WAGE FAIR LABOR
Referred to the March committee meeting as Supervisor Gillett was not available.
APPROVAL OF REQUESTS TO CARRY FORWARD FUNDS FROM 2007 TO 2008 FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS
MOTION by Johnson/Plesha to approve the 2007 carry forward requests for inclusion within the various 2008 departmental budgets. Supervisor Spiker had miscellaneous questions; he also noted that he would have liked the requests presented to the jurisdictional committees. Motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Hammes/Meyer to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:39 p.m.
Disclaimer: The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.
Cheryl Stephen, Recorder