DATE:
Friday, February 3, 2006
TIME: 9:00 A.M.
PLACE:
County Board Room Gallery
West Square Building
505 Broadway
Baraboo, WI
Members Present: H. Sprecher, P Endres, C. Montgomery, and V. Hartje.
Members Absent: W. Wenzel
Others Present: T. Liebman, B. Mielke, K. Schauf, L. Haugen, T. Stieve, A. Carlson, T. Tyczynski, M. Koehler, and news media representative.
The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairperson, Halsey Sprecher, and compliance with the Open Meeting Law was verified.
Motion by Hartje, seconded by Montgomery to approve the agenda, as mailed.
Motion carried.
Motion by Montgomery, seconded by Endres to approve the minutes of the
January 3, 2006 regular meeting, January 6, 2006 joint meeting with the
Personnel Committee, and the January 17, 2006 joint meeting with the Property
and Insurance Committee, as printed.
Motion carried.
County Board Supervisor and Excelsior Town Chair, Robert Cassity, addressed the Committee expressing concern for securing a permanent and safe place for the keeping of certain restricted, large animals (cats) presently located in the Town of Excelsior.
Mr. Cassity reported Mr. Jeff Kozlowski, owner/operator of Big Dads Big Cats (keeper of the animals in the Town of Excelsior) had previously secured sufficient insurance and has been granted a permit from Sauk County for the keeping of his large animals. It was further noted at the time the permit was issued, the operation housed four animals; presently there are twenty-three.
Discussion followed with the Corporation Counsel verifying talks have taken place between he and the Planning and Zoning Department concerning zoning and land use issues related to this property. Attorney Liebman reported the Zoning Director intends to pursue having the property rezoned, possibly to that of Recreational/Commercial. Several Committee members felt Mr. Kozlowski should attempt to limit the number of animals under his care.
Supervisor Arthur Carlson asked that the comments he wished to present
be heard during the closed session portion of the meeting. Motion by Hartje,
seconded by Endres to honor this request.
Motion carried.
Kathy Schauf, Interim Administrative Coordinator, presented an invitation to attend an upcoming, free seminar sponsored by WCA on renewal energy/implementation process to be held in Madison on February 27th.
Receipt of correspondence was acknowledged, as signed by twenty-one County Board members and hand delivered by Supervisor Kriegl to the County Clerk following adjournment of the January 17, 2006 Board meeting. The paperwork asked that proposed changes to the Rules of the Sauk County Board be considered at the regular February 2006 County Board meeting; if not possible, a special meeting of the County Board be held at a convenient date between the February and March 2006 meeting for action on County Board rule changes. Committee members noted this item appears on today's agenda for discussion.
Committee members discussed a draft of the proposed Rules of the Sauk County Board of Supervisors, as prepared and distributed by the Corporation Counsel (copy available at Office of the County Clerk). Attorney Liebman noted his draft contained previously submitted changes and covered some of the concerns expressed in the correspondence from Supervisor Kriegl and other Board members. It was his opinion that, if adopted, some of the revisions suggested by Supervisor Kriegl would have significant, legal ramifications.
Liebman asked Committee members to review the draft and reply with any comments by next month's regular E&L meeting, with final adoption to occur at the April 18, 2006 organizational meeting of the Sauk County Board of Supervisors. However, copies of the draft Rules will be included on the February 21, 2006 County Board agenda in order to comply with the request of Supervisor Kriegl and other Board members.
Kathy Schauf, Interim Administrative Coordinator, announced receipt of notice from the City of Reedsburg concerning an upcoming change affecting their TID District #3. Gene Wiegand, previous Administrative Coordinator, had been appointed to serve as Sauk County's representative on the Joint Review Board. Motion was then made by Montgomery, seconded by Endres to appoint Kathy Schauf to replace Gene Wiegand as the County representative on the Joint Review Board. Motion carried.
Kathy Schauf informed Committee members with the passage of SB4, some groups have been forming to discuss the reduction in size of the County Board. Discussion followed and the overall consensus of Committee members was if the Board were to be reduced, only a minimal amount of savings would occur.
Kathy Schauf reported on a recent conversation held with Sauk County Circuit Court Branch 2 Judge, James Evenson, in which the Judge expressed concern over what he viewed to be an "unfunded mandate" upon the County, namely costs the County must bear in hiring attorneys for indigent defendants.
Tony Tyczynski, Veterans' Service Officer, presented his monthly report, list of bills, and noted approval had been received for a recent transportation grant. Motion by Montgomery, seconded by Hartje to approve the report and list of bills in an amount of $4,462.36. Motion carried.
Tim Stieve, Emergency Management, Buildings and Safety Director, presented the monthly report for his department and a list of bills. He advised approval has been received for a wireless 911 grant with functionality of the system taking place as time permits. Also presented was an update on the tower project and upon inquiry, assurance that emergency evacuation plans for some, if not all, Sauk County nursing homes exist. Motion by Endres, seconded by Hartje to approve the report and list of bills in an amount of $728.19. Motion carried.
Beverly J. Mielke, County Clerk, presented the monthly report, annual report of dog/kennel license sales, and list of monthly bills for her department. Mielke expressed frustration with continued delays in the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS) as well as lack of approval for handicapped voting equipment from the State Elections Board. Motion by Endres, seconded by Montgomery to approve the report and list of bills in the amount of $20,366.52. Motion carried.
Todd Liebman, Corporation Counsel, presented the monthly report and list of bills for his department. He informed Committee members there may need to be a revision made to the form which is completed by Board members authorizing mandatory direct deposit. Motion by Montgomery, seconded by Endres to approve the report, list of bills in the amount of $1,040.66, and request to attend the "How to Mediate Cases More Effectively Seminar" in Madison on February 17, 2006 at a cost of $49.00. Motion carried.
Kathy Schauf, Interim Administrative Coordinator, presented the monthly report and list of bills for her department. She advised Committee members she would be tracking the progress of a new proposal in the legislature known as the "Taxpayer Protection Amendment" (an action which would require freezing revenue/fees at the current level). The Committee was also updated on her plans for a new Board Member Manual and future training sessions for County Board members. Motion by Hartje, seconded by Endres to approve the report and list of bills for this department in the amount of $271.48. Motion carried.
Motion by Hartje, seconded by Endres to go into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the (governmental) body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. Performance evaluation of Corporation Counsel and Veterans Service Officer; Discussion of internal promotion and allow the following individuals to remain: Todd Liebman, Kathy Schauf, Beverly Mielke, Arthur Carlson, and Lowell Haugen. Roll call vote was taken on the motion with the following results: AYE: (4) Sprecher, Endres, Montgomery, and Hartje. NAYE: (0). ABSENT: (1) Wenzel. Motion carried and the meeting went into closed session at 11:40 A.M.
At 12:25 P.M. the meeting returned to open session followed with a motion by Endres, Montgomery to attempt to schedule a joint meeting with the Personnel Committee on February 9, 2006 at 5:15 P.M. for the purpose of discussing the issue of internal promotion and/or recruitment for the position of Administrative Coordinator. A brief discussion took place with M. Koehler, Personnel Director, concerning costs associated with recruitment advertising. Motion carried.
Motion by Montgomery, seconded by Hartje to adjourn and set the date of the next, regular meeting of this Committee for Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 9:00 A.M. The County Clerk noted due to a previously scheduled seminar, she would be unable to attend this meeting. Motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 12:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted: Beverly J. Mielke, Sauk County Clerk