JUDICIARY AND LAW COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Administrative Center – Room 3220

2:30 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Vicki Burke, Joe Bilskemper, Tara Johnson, Joe Veenstra, Ray Ebert, Maureen Freedland, Bridget Flood             

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  None           

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None 

STAFF & GUESTS:  Steve Helgeson, Jeff Wolf, Mike Horstman, Kurt Papenfus, Jay Loeffler, Tim Gruenke, Keith Butler, Steve O’Malley, Gary Ingvalson, Mary Powell, Don Meyer, Sharon Hampson, Cheryl Stephen

CALL TO ORDER

Committee Chair Vicki Burke called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION by Flood/Johnson to approve minutes of September 9, 2008.  Motion carried unanimously. 

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION by Johnson/Freedland to accept and file the following Consent Agenda items:

• Criminal Justice Management Council minutes of September 17, 2008
• Criminal Justice Management Council Executive Committee minutes of September 10, 2008
• Local Emergency Planning Committee minutes of September 17, 2008
• Highway Safety Commission minutes of August 13, 2008

Motion carried unanimously.  

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested.

REPORT ON BOAT PATROL - 2008 SEASON

Captain Mike Horstman reviewed.  Supervisor Don Meyer was also present as a member of the Joint City/County Board of Harbor Commissioners.  Highlights of the overview as follows:

• Sheriff’s Dept. Boat Patrol runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day; usually Saturdays and Sundays unless holidays fall on weekdays.  Estimate 2/3 time spent within city waters as that is where most of the boating occurs.  Each year, the City of La Crosse gives the County $4,500 to be used toward the Boat Patrol.
• For 2008, spent $15,000 on wages & fringes and $1,300 on supplies – total of $16,300.
• Each year, the DNR has given reimbursement based on enforcement efforts and available dollars; have not received for 2008, but for 2007, received $5,000; it usually ranges between $3,000-9,000.
• Issued 34 citations; 10 related to flotation device failures and 6 for OWI, plus issued 129 warnings.  Views education as most important part of the Boat Patrol vs. issuing of citations.
• The County and DNR did not issue any citations relating to non-compliance of the new city/county slow, no-wake ordinance located within the City of La Crosse.  Distributed copies of Aerial photo showing the one-mile stretch of slow, no-wake on the Mississippi River.  There is lack of signage and the need for better buoying; hopefully this will be corrected by 2009 season.  A County issued citation relating to the slow, no-wake zone will be $249 while a DNR citation will be approximately $160.

Miscellaneous questions and discussion. 

REVIEW 2009 BUDGETS FOR FAMILY COURT COMMISSIONER, MEDIATION & FAMILY COURT SERVICES, SHERIFF, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, CLERK OF COURTS, EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND MEDICAL EXAMINER

Steve O’Malley gave an overview of the following 2009 budgets, noting health insurance was originally projected at 15% increase and he reduced that in lieu of actual figures.   He also noted that all departments have increases in wages & benefits.

Family Court Commissioner – slight increase over 2008.

Mediation & Family Court Counseling Services – slight increase over 2008 that also includes some revenue decreases.

Sheriff’s Dept./Law Enforcement & Jail – budgets increased - minor changes in operational costs.  Noted difficulty of providing coverage during vacations, etc., as many are long-time employees.    The Dive Rescue Team has requested $12,500 which was reduced to $7,700; the request was based on payment for liability insurance as the members are volunteers.  The Law Enforcement Services budget increased by approximately $140,000.  Included five (5) new positions in the Jail with plan to start April/May; the Jail budget increased by $444,000.  Miscellaneous questions and discussion.

District Attorney – less than 2008 budget; holding line on expenses.

Emergency Services Public Communications / Emergency Government & SARA/Hazmat– slight increase in Emergency Services budget.  Emergency Government budget was decreased though an increase in SARA/Hazmat budget.

Medical Examiner – very similar to 2008 budget.

Consolidated Courts – has 3^rd highest tax levy increase; had some revenue decreases, plus expense increases in Legal Fees, Legal Guardian, and Psychologist C.A.T. 

ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS

None requested.

NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, November 4^th at 2:30 p.m.

NEXT LEC CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE MEETING

Today, October 7^th at 4:00 p.m.  Next one scheduled for October 15^th for bid approvals.  

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION by Veenstra/Freedland to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 3:18 p.m. 

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

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder