COMMISSION MINUTES, DECEMBER 29, 2006         

 

The Board of Washington County Commissioners met in regular session on Friday, December 29, 2006, in the commission room at the Washington County Courthouse.  Present: Alison Mueller, 1st District Commissioner; Marcia Funke, 2nd District Commissioner, Chairwoman; Gene Helms, 3rd District Commissioner, Jason Brinegar, County Attorney and Lou Kern, County Clerk.

 

Chairwoman Funke called the meeting to order.

 

County offices will be closed on Monday, January 1, 2007, for New Year’s Day.  The commission declared that county offices will be closed on Tuesday, January 2, 2007, for the National Day of Mourning for the death of former President Gerald R. Ford.

 

 There will be no commission meeting on January 2.  The next commission meeting will be Monday, January 8, 2007, at 8:00 A.M.

 

The board approved payroll and bills in the amount of $136,347.05.

 

Alison Mueller moved to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Barnes for participation in the Restated and Amended Revitalization Plan that was previously adopted by Washington County.

 

Upon recommendation of the Kimeo Township Board, Gene Helms moved and Alison Mueller seconded to appoint Kelly Weiche as Kimeo Township Clerk for a term of four years.  Motion carried.

 

The board approved and Chairwoman Funke signed official bonds and oaths of Greg Peterson as Brantford Township Clerk and of Ronald J. Wurtz as Mill Creek Township Clerk.

 

Alison Mueller moved to enter into an agreement with the City of Washington for law enforcement services from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for 2007 for a minimum of 2190 hours in 12 months in exchange for $25,000.00.  Gene Helms seconded and motion carried.

 

The commission approved and signed change order nos. 2006-36 through 2006-39.

 

Alison Mueller moved and Gene Helms seconded to enter into a contract with Pierce, Faris and Co., Chartered for auditing services for the year 2006.  Motion carried.

 

The board approved and Chairwoman Funke signed cereal malt beverage license for Pony Express Service Center, Hanover.  The board approved and Chairwoman Funke signed application for cereal malt beverage license application for 15 x 36 Truck Stop, Morrowville.  Upon verbal approval of the Coleman Township Clerk, Chairwoman Funke signed cereal malt beverage license for 15 x 36 Truck Stop.

 

Don Richardson, custodian, reported on routine matters.   Approval was given for Don to purchase a new vacuum next year from Arden Nitz.  Alison Mueller moved to adopt Resolution No. 33-06 transferring $1,000.00 from the Janitor’s budget to the multi use equipment reserve fund.  Gene Helms seconded and motion carried.

 

Francine Regan, County Appraiser, asked to transfer $10,000.00 from her budget to multi use equipment reserve to prepare for the CAMA system to be moved to the ORION system.  Alison Mueller moved to adopt Resolution No. 34-06 transferring $10,000.00 from the Appraiser’s budget to the multi use equipment reserve fund.  Gene Helms seconded and motion carried.

 

Gene Helms moved to adopt Resolution No. 35-06 transferring $2,000.00 from the Emergency Management budget to the multi use equipment reserve fund.  Alison Mueller seconded and motion carried.

 

Janice Kearn, R.N., County Health Administrator, presented evaluation for Shelley Beikmann and Chairwoman Funke signed payroll change notice effective January 1, 2007.  Gene Helms moved to adopt Resolution No. 36-06 transferring $10,000.00 from the County Health budget to the Multi Use Capital Improvement Reserve Fund. 

 

The commission examined and approved inventories for the Sheriff’s Department, Communications Department, Clerk’s Office and Register of Deeds Office.

 

Ann Hawk, Deputy County Treasurer, reported that the Treasurer’s office has collected four million dollars in tax payments.  The County Treasurer’s budget as well as County Auto fund was discussed.

 

Duane Bruna, Noxious Weed and Solid Waste Director, presented evaluation for Loren Mueller and Chairwoman Funke signed payroll change notice effective December 28, 2006.  Alison Mueller moved to adopt Resolution No. 37-06 abating three solid waste assessment fees for 2006.  Gene Helms seconded and motion carried.  Gene Helms moved to adopt Resolution No. 38-06 encumbering $20,000.00 from the Noxious Weed fund for chemical purchases to be made in 2007.  Alison Mueller seconded and motion carried.  Gene Helms moved to adopt Resolution No. 39-06 transferring $15,000.00 from the Noxious Weed Fund to the Multi Use Equipment Reserve Fund and $5,000.00 from the Noxious Weed Fund to the Multi Use Capital Improvement Reserve Fund.  Alison Mueller seconded and motion carried.  Alison Mueller moved to adopt Resolution No. 40-06 transferring $17,500.00 from the Solid Waste Fund to the Multi Use Capital Improvement Reserve Fund.  Gene Helms seconded and motion carried.  Duane and the board established procedures to be used by persons requesting determination of solid waste assessment fees for abatement or removal.  The forms will also be available at courthouse offices.  Hearing on abatement requests will be heard on the 3rd Monday of each month.

 

The board met with Jason Brinegar, County Attorney, Francine Regan, County Appraiser, Bev Finlayson, Deputy Appraiser, Ann Hawk, Deputy County Treasurer, Lou Kern, County Clerk, Kathy Fritz, Deputy County Clerk, and Christy L’Ecuyer, Business Coordinator, to discuss administration of the Restated and Amended Revitalization Plan.  The commission requested that Christy be actively involved in seeing that the plan is presented to existing as well as new businesses in the county and that an informational sheet be developed explaining the business owner’s responsibility and the county’s responsibility under the plan.

 

Judy Bridges from the House of Treasures advised the commission that due to space constraints that she will no longer be able to house the visitor center maps and information effective February 1, 2006.

 

Jason Brinegar, County Attorney, reported that the county attorney’s office will remain at 109 East 3rd Street in Washington.  Gene Helms moved to adopt Resolution No. 41-06 transferring $3,000.00 from the County Attorney’s budget to the Multi Use Equipment Reserve Fund.  Alison Mueller seconded and motion carried.

 

The commission adjourned at 12:10 P.M. and reconvened at 1:00 P.M.

 

David Willbrant, Public Works Administrator, was present at the 1:00 P.M. hearing on a road vacation in Brantford Township described as Beginning at the apparent north quarter corner of Section 19, T4S, R1E, and going south for one mile to the south quarter corner of Section 19.  No other appearances or objections were noted.  Alison Mueller moved to adopt Resolution No. 42-06 vacating said road.  Gene Helms seconded and motion carried.  Alison Mueller moved to adopted Resolution No. 43-06 transferring $132,102.00 from the Road and Bridge Fund to the Special Bridge Fund that was established in the 2007 budget to receive money collected from the special sales tax for bridges.  Gene Helms seconded and motion carried.  Gene Helms moved to adopt Resolution No. 44-06 transferring $49,000.00 from the Road and Bridge Fund to the Road and Bridge Special Machinery Fund.  Alison Mueller seconded and motion carried.  David and the board discussed utility easements and the requirements for utility easements will be adopted in 2007.  David gave an update on right of way procurement and work on bridges under the bridge grant.  The board examined evaluations for Marilyn Ditmars; Leon Graves; Gary Wiese, and David Moser, and Chairwoman Funke signed payroll change notices effective August 6, 2006; September 2, 2006; November 1, 2006 and December 14, 2006, respectively.  The board also reviewed 6 month evaluations for Thad Tate and Gary Rieth.

 

UnderSheriff Traci Hattesohl met with the board in the absence of Sheriff Bill Overbeck who was at the train derailment site north of Hanover.  Alison Mueller moved to adopt Resolution No. 45-06 transferring $45,000.00 from the Jail budget to the Multi Use Equipment Reserve Fund.  Gene Helms seconded and motion carried.  Alison Mueller moved to adopt Resolution No. 46-06 transferring $17,000.00 from the Sheriff’s budget to the Multi Use Equipment Reserve Fund.  Marcia Funke seconded and motion carried.

 

The commission decided that county employees shall receive a 3.3% cost of living adjustment beginning January 1, 2007.  Department head salaries were reviewed for adjustments.

 

There being no further business the board adjourned at 4:00 P.M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    BOARD OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                                                                                                                 COMMISSIONERS

 

ATTEST:                                                                      ________________________________

                                                                                    Alison Mueller, Member

 

__________________________                                            ________________________________

Louella Kern                                                                 Marcia Funke, Chairwoman  

County Clerk                                                     

                                                                                    ________________________________

                                                                                    Gene Helms, Member