Executive & Legislative Committee Meeting

MINUTES

 

Executive & Legislative Committee
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.

Sauk County West Square Building, Room 213, 505 Broadway, Baraboo WI

 

Members Present: Rego, Polivka, Carver, Detter, Peper, Krueger, Eberl, Deitrich and McCumber   

Members Absent:

County Personnel: Tony Tyczynski, Veteran Service Officer; Jed Seidl, Emergency Management Director;

Brian Desmond, Corporation Counsel; Lisa Wilson, Administrator and Becky Evert, County Clerk

County Personnel Absent:

 

Chair McCumber called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and compliance with the open meeting law was verified.

 

MOTION (Rego/Peper) to adopt the agenda. Motion carried unanimously. 

 

MOTION (Rego/Polivka) to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Communications: None.

 

Public Comment: None.

 

Tony Tyczynski Veteran Services: 

a) Monthly Report/Review and Approval of Vouchers:

     Tyczynski presented the monthly report and list of bills for the department. 

     MOTION (Eberl/Deitrich) to approve the bills in the amount of $218.40. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Jed Seidl, Emergency Management: 

a) Monthly Report/Review and Approval of Vouchers:

    Seidl presented the monthly report and list of bills for the department. 

    MOTION (Deitrich/Carver) to approve the bills in the amount of $47,772.29. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Becky Evert, Sauk County Clerk’s Office: 

a) Monthly Report/Review and Approval of Vouchers:

    Evert presented the monthly report and list of bills for the department.

    MOTION (Peper/Carver) to approve the bills in the amount of $645.70. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Brian Desmond, Corporation Counsel Department: 

a) Monthly report/review and approval of vouchers:

    Desmond presented the monthly report and list of bills for the department. 

    MOTION (Deitrich/Detter) to approve the bills in the amount of $31,028.70. Motion carried unanimously.

Lisa Wilson, Administrator:

a) Administrator Monthly Report/Review and Approval of Vouchers:

    Wilson presented the monthly report and list of bills for the department.  

    MOTION (Deitrich/Eberl) to approve the bills in the amount of $38,603.42. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Discussion and Possible Action on Resolution to Approve a Property Maintenance Agreement with the City of Baraboo for the UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County Campus:

MOTION (Polivka/Eberl) to postpone this resolution to a special e&l meeting prior to the September county board meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Discussion and Possible Action on proposed changes to the Rules of the Board:

 

2025 Proposed Rule Changes:

Change #1:

Line #: 136

Proposed By: McCumber

Current Rule: Chair receives salary of $650.00/Month

Proposed Change: $900.00 Per Month

Legal Review: Legal to adopt

 

Committee Decision: 

MOTION (Deitrich/Eberl) to recommend the proposed rule to the full county board for approval.  Motion carried unanimously. 

 

Change #2:

Line #: 235

Proposed By: Deitrich

Current Rule: Rule III. G.

Proposed Change: Delete “The Chair shall preserve order and decorum”. 

Legal Review: Legal to adopt.  Note: This language is contained in the proposed rule below starting on line 442.

 

Change #3:

Line #: 442

Proposed By: Deitrich

Current Rule: None

Proposed Change: Add “All attendees at the County Board and Committee meetings are expected to maintain appropriate decorum during the meeting.  Talking, shouting, outbursts, clapping and similar gestures are prohibited.  Any attendee may be requested to cease any activities, including the use of signs, banners or displays, that unduly disrupt a meeting consistent with applicable law. Citizens in the audience are not to audibly respond to comments being made during a meeting or to make demonstrations either in support of or in opposition to a speaker or idea.  The Chair of the meeting is responsible for enforcing meeting decorum.    

Legal Review: Legal to adopt. 

 

Committee Decision for Change #’s 2 & 3:

MOTION (Deitrich/Carver) to recommend the proposed rule to the full county board for approval. 

VOTE: AYES (8) Polivka, Carver, Detter, Peper, Krueger, Eberl, Deitrich and McCumber.  NAYS (0).  ABSTAIN (1) Rego. 

Motion carried.   

 

Change #4:

Line #: 658

Proposed By: McCumber

Current Rule: None

Proposed Change:

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

1. Definition and Purpose.  The Committee of the Whole is a device in which a legislative body, such as the County Board, is considered one large committee.  All members of the legislative body are members of such a committee. Under Robert’s Rules, when an assembly (i.e. legislative body) has to consider a subject which it does not wish to refer to a committee, and yet where the subject matter is not well understood and put into proper form for its definite action, or when, for any other reason, it is desirable for the assembly to consider a subject with all the freedom of an ordinary committee, it is the practice to refer the matter to the “Committee of the Whole.”  These Rules of Sauk County also permit the calling of a Committee of the Whole for any reason deemed appropriate by the party having the authority to call a meeting of the Committee of the Whole.  Matters appropriate for a meeting of the Committee of the Whole will generally involve issues having a countywide impact. 
2. Causing a Meeting of the Committee of the Whole.  Meetings of the Committee of the Whole shall be at the call of the Board Chair or at the call of the County Board Vice-Chair or caused to occur by means of a motion to refer the matter to the to the Committee of the Whole in an action taken during a meeting of the County Board.
3. Scheduling of the Meeting.  When a meeting of the Committee of the Whole is caused to occur as provided in this rule, then the Board Chair or in the Board Chair’s absence, the Vice-Chair, shall take steps to schedule the meeting as soon as shall be practical. 
4. Presiding Officer.  While the Chair of the Board may serve as the Chair of the Committee of the Whole, it is the first preference of Sauk County to have the Vice-Chair serve as the presiding officer.
5. Quorum.  A quorum of the Committee of the Whole is the same as that of the County Board.
6. Actions of this Committee.  The Committee of the Whole may make and present recommendations to the County Board or a Standing Committee.  Minutes are to be taken of the meetings of the Committee of the Whole in a manner similar to minutes of Standing Committee meetings. 
7. Rules of procedure.  There shall be no public comment during meetings of the Committee as a Whole.  All other rules that are applicable to standing committees shall be in full force and effect.

Legal Review: Legal to adopt. 

 

Committee Decision: 

MOTION (Eberl/Rego) to recommend the proposed rule to the full county board for approval.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Change #5:

Line #: 489

Proposed By: Pocernich

Current Rule: Each committee shall, at its first meeting following the organizational meeting of the Board, select those officers required by Rule IV.L., and it shall thereafter be the responsibility of said officers to ensure that accurate, written minutes are made of each meeting of the committee and submitted to the County Clerk for filing. The presiding officer at any meeting shall ensure compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

Proposed Change: Each committee shall, at its first meeting following the organizational meeting of the Board, select those officers required by Rule IV.L., and it shall thereafter be the responsibility of said officers to ensure that accurate, written minutes are made of each meeting of the committee and submitted to the County Clerk for filing. The presiding officer at any meeting shall ensure compliance with the Open Meetings Law. After election of Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary, each standing committee will elect a supervisor to serve on the Executive and Legislative Committee. No committee chair may serve on the Executive and Legislative Committee.

Legal Review: Legal.

 

Change #6:

Line #: 539

Proposed By: Pocernich

Current Rule: EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Responsible for proposing amendments and monitoring the operation of Rules of the Board; responsible for the conduct of all intergovernmental relations and affairs; monitors State legislative and administrative activity affecting Sauk County; proposes legislation or action on pending legislation affecting Sauk County; considers matters not specifically assigned to other committees. Responsible for policy direction and oversight to the following departments: County Administrator, Corporation Counsel, County Clerk, Emergency Management. This committee shall also have oversight of the Veteran Services Office. Comprised of members from: The Executive & Legislative Committee shall be composed of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board, along with the Chair of the other Standing Committees. No supervisor may represent more than one committee. The Chair of the Committee shall vote only in the case of a tie. The Chair and ViceChair of the Board shall serve in the same roles on the Executive and Legislative Committee. The County Clerk shall serve as secretary to this committee. The County Administrator, Corporation Counsel, and County Clerk shall serve as ex officio members of this committee without voting privileges. Members: 9.

Proposed Change: EXECUTIVE & LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Responsible for proposing amendments and monitoring the operation of Rules of the Board; responsible for the conduct of all intergovernmental relations and affairs; monitors State legislative and administrative activity affecting Sauk County; proposes legislation or action on pending legislation affecting Sauk County; considers matters not specifically assigned to other committees. Responsible for policy direction and oversight to the following departments: County Administrator, Corporation Counsel, County Clerk, Emergency Management. This committee shall also have oversight of the Veteran Services Office. Comprised of members from: The Executive & Legislative Committee shall be composed of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board, along with the Chair of the other Standing Committees one supervisor elected by each of the standing committees. No supervisor may represent more than one committee. The Chair of the Committee shall vote only in the case of a tie. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Board shall serve in the same roles on the Executive and Legislative Committee. The County Clerk shall serve as secretary to this committee. The County Administrator, Corporation Counsel, and County Clerk shall serve as ex officio members of this committee without voting privileges. Members: 9.

Legal Review: Legal.

 

Committee Decision change #’s 5 & 6: 

MOTION (Deitrich/Polivka) to recommend denial of the proposed rule to the full county board.  Motion carried unanimously. 

 

Change #7:

Line #: 518

Proposed By: McCumber             

Current Rule: Oversight Committee for the Healthcare Center Board of Trustees.

Proposed Change: Oversight Committee for the Healthcare Center Board of Trustees. Healthcare Center Board of Trustees.  Responsible for general oversight of the Sauk County Health Care Center as provided in Chapter 46 of the Sauk County Code of Ordinances and Wis. Stats. 46.18.  Members: 7. The Trustees shall have 4 County Board Supervisors and 3 Citizen Members.

Legal Review: Legal.

 

Committee Decision: 

MOTION (Krueger/Polivka) to recommend the proposed rule to the full county board for approval.  Motion carried unanimously. 

 

Change #8:

Line #: 86

Proposed By: McCumber

Current Rule: Unless conducting non-County Board business, Supervisors wishing to confer with a Department Head shall schedule an appointment in advance with the Department Head and a Supervisor shall not contact staff (non-department head) without first seeking permission from the Administrator or Department Head.

Proposed Change: The County Board serves as the legislative body in County government.  As such, the County Board’s role is to enact policy.  To implement the policy, the County Board shall appoint a person as the County Administrator according to Wis. Stat. 59.18(1).  The County Administrator shall perform all duties and have such authority as specified in Wis. Stat. 59.18, the job description, Chapter 33 of the Sauk County Code of Ordinances, the Board Rules and as otherwise may be authorized and directed by the County Board from time to time.  Department heads are responsible and shall report to the County Administrator.  County Board members requesting information or a report from a Department Head or other County staff shall request such information or report either in the context of a County Board or Committee meeting or from the County Administrator. Unless conducting non-County Board business, Supervisors wishing to confer with a Department Head shall schedule an appointment in advance with the Department Head. and a A Supervisor shall not contact staff (non-department head) without first seeking permission from the Administrator or Department Head.

Legal Review: Legal.

 

 

Committee Decision: 

MOTION (Detter/Peper) to recommend the proposed rule to the full county board for approval.  Motion carried unanimously. 

 

Change #9:

Line #: 91

Proposed By: McCumber

Current Rule: A minimum of one day of education for members of the Board shall be set by the Chair, said day of education to be held every two years.  Such education may be conducted through electronic means, including but not limited to videos and webinars.  The Chair may set additional days of education for Board members, including one or more days for the purpose of clarifying budget procedures and upcoming budget analysis matters.

Proposed Change: A minimum of one day of training education for members of the Board shall be set by the Chair, said day of education training will be held every two years.  Such education training may be conducted through the use of outside presenters, staff presenters, tours, and/or electronic means, including but not limited to videos and webinars.  The Chair may set additional days of education training for Board members, as needed to clarify county procedures or policy matters. including one or more days for the purpose of clarifying budget procedures and upcoming budget analysis matters.

Legal Review: Legal.

 

Committee Decision: 

MOTION (Deitrich/Rego) to recommend the proposed rule to the full county board for approval.  Motion carried unanimously. 

 

Change #10:

Line #: 19

Proposed By: Carver

Current Rule: No Supervisor may be elected as Chair for more than three (3) consecutive terms. 

Proposed Change: No Supervisor may be elected as Chair for more than three (3) consecutive terms.

Legal Review: Legal.

 

Committee Decision: 

MOTION (Rego/Detter) to recommend the proposed rule to the full county board for approval. 

VOTE: AYES (7) Rego, Carver, Detter, Peper, Krueger, Eberl and Deitrich.  NAYS (1) Polivka.  ABSENT (0). 

ABSTAIN (1) McCumber. Motion carried.     

 

Standing Committee Reports: 

Standing Committee Supervisors gave reports from the committees they Chair.  

 

The committee set the special meeting for September 16, 2025 @ 5:30 p.m. and the next regular e&L meeting to October 7, 2025 @ 4:00 p.m.

 

It is anticipated that the Committee may enter into closed session Pursuant to Wis. Stats. S. 19.85 (1) (c) considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility and, (e) deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session  (Topics: Performance Evaluation of Administrator):

MOTION (Polivka/Rego) to go into closed session. 

VOTE: AYES (9) Rego, Polivka, Carver, Detter, Peper, Krueger, Eberl, Deitrich and McCumber.  NAYS (0).  ABSENT (0). 

Motion carried unanimously.     

 

The committee went into closed session at 5:22 p.m.      

 

MOTION (Detter/Carver) to return into open session at 5.54 p.m.  Motion carried unanimously.                   

 

MOTION (Deitrich/Rego) adjourn at 5:54 p.m.  Motion carried unanimously.       

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Becky Evert

Sauk County Clerk