Planning, Zoning & Land Records Committee


DATE: April 10, 2007

Committee Members Present: Sprecher, Ashford, Wiese, and Lehman

Committee Member Absent: Gaalswyck

Others Present: Lance Gurney, Mary White, Brent Bailey, Kathy Schauf, Ann Burton, Pat Carignan, Bill Wenzel, Dave Tremble, and Steve Pate.

Chairman Wiese called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and compliance with the open meetings law was noted.

Motion by Ashford, seconded by Sprecher to adopt the agenda.
Motion carried, 3-0.

Action on the March 27, 2007 Committee Meeting Minutes will be taken at the next meeting.

Mr. Lehman joined the meeting.

Public Comment:

None

Communications:

Mr. Gurney received an e-mail from the Dohner's indicating that they will not be pursuing their rezone application at this time.

There was no report by the Mapping Department.

Mr. Brent Bailey, Register of Deeds, appeared. He gave a brief departmental report. The review of the 2008 Budget Mission and Vision Statement followed. 2007 Goals, as well as short and long term goals were discussed. Increasing transfer fees was also discussed. Motion by Lehman, seconded by Ashford to approve the 2008 Budget Form 1 as submitted by the Register of Deeds.
Motion carried, 4-0.

Register of Deeds vouchers were then reviewed. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Sprecher to approve the vouchers in the amount of $4,404.79.
Motion carried, 4-0.

The County Surveyor was not in attendance.

Mr. Lance Gurney, Planning and Zoning Director, then appeared, along with Ms. Pat Carignan and Ms. Ann Burton from the Treasurer's Department. Discussion followed on the collection of fees for the maintenance program. Sheboygan County had been contacted regarding the way they were handling this program. Administrative costs and computer systems were discussed.

There could be public resentment for putting this fee on the tax bill. Further information on this program would be needed.

Ms. Kathy Schauf, Administrative Coordinator, then appeared regarding work being done to find a replacement for Mr. Gurney. She explained that the two options were a restructuring of the department or outside recruitment. Her recommendation would be restructuring with the Land Conservation Department. This option would save a modest amount of money. This would also allow the County to use existing resources and allow integration of services and flexibility of operations. This step would be an on-going progressive effort. She further explained structuring of the two departments. The Land Preservation position and conservation projects were discussed. Both departments would be under one administrator. Discussion followed regarding an in-house promotion. Oversite committees were discussed. Ms. Schauf stressed this would be an ongoing process over a period of time. She felt restructuring was a window of opportunity that deserved consideration. Recruiting, rather than promoting from within, for this joint department head was discussed. The timely continuation of planning projects was a concern of the Committee. Ms. Schauf agreed that the consensus of the Committee was to go through a recruitment process. She would begin recruitment and appoint an interim director.

Mr. Gurney appeared and reviewed the 2008 Budget Form 1 with the Committee. The 2007 goals were reviewed as well as the short and long term goals for 2008. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Sprecher to approve the 2008 Budget Form 1 as presented.
Motion carried, 3-0, with Lehman no longer in attendence.

Motion by Sprecher, seconded by Wiese to approve the resolution recognizing Lance Gurney for his years of service to Sauk County.
Motion carried, 3-0.

Motion by Ashford, seconded by Wiese to approve the resolution recognizing Dorothy Coens for her years of service to the Natural Beauty Council.
Motion carried, 3-0.

The Committee personally commended Gurney for his service to the County.

Motion by Sprecher, seconded by Ashford to adjourn.
Motion carried, 3-0.

Respectfully submitted: Judy Ashford, Secretary

Notes by: mary white.