Finance Committee

Finance Committee Minutes 09-10-13 (146 KB)

FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES

Room 213, West Square Building, Baraboo WI                                                           Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Members present:                Tommy Lee Bychinski, Joan Fordham, Jason Lane, and Andrea Lombard, William F. Wenzel

Others present:             Kerry Beghin, Amanda Blomberg, Cindy Bodendein, Judge Evenson, Patrick Dederich, Jessica Fry, Liz Geoghegan, Lynn Horkan, Steve Muchow, Kathy Schauf

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bychinski at 3:00 PM.  Certification of open meeting compliance was given.  Motion by Wenzel, second by Lane to approve the agenda.  Motion carried.  Motion by Lombard, second by Fordham to approve the minutes of August 13, 20 and 29, 2013.  Motion carried.

Public Comment:                  None 

Communications:  None

Review of Circuit Courts 2014 budget request.

Judge Evenson reviewed the Circuit Courts budget request.  He noted Volbrecht jury trial was moved to April 2014.  Discussed court security staffing and needs for court security coverage.  Judge does not foresee major security changes in operations needed in the short term. 

Review of Surveyor 2014 budget request.

Dederich reviewed the surveyor 2014 budget request.  No substantial changes. 

Consider approval of travel in excess of 300 miles for Sheriff’s Department staff to attend K9 training in Spring Hope, North Carolina.

Fry noted adding another canine to department due to number of calls for use.  Training and canine funded is covered by drug seizure dollars.  Only cost will be gas and hotel for travel.  Discussed dual purpose dog and its use.  Additional costs will be dog food and veterinary costs.  Motion by Wenzel, second by Fordham to authorize travel in excess of 300 miles for Sheriff’s Department staff to attend K9 training in Spring Hope, North Carolina.  Motion carried.

Consider approval of travel in excess of 300 miles for Health Department staff to attend the National Radon Conference in Springfield, Illinois.

Bodendein noted radon information center for counties of Juneau, Adams and Columbia.  Training is required and funded as part of grant.  Motion by Fordham, second by Lane to authorize travel in excess of 300 miles for Health Department staff to attend the National Radon Conference in Springfield, Illinois.  Motion carried.

Consider resolution Authorizing the Sauk County Highway Department to Eliminate One, Full-Time (1.00 FTE) Commercial Truck Driver, and Create One, Full-Time (1.00 FTE) Skilled Laborer Position Outside the Budget Process.

Muchow reviewed staff opening which allows for reorganization to enable broader use of staff.  Change is a very small decrease to labor expense.  Motion by Wenzel, second by Lane to authorize the Sauk County Highway Department to Eliminate One, Full-Time (1.00 FTE) Commercial Truck Driver, and Create One, Full-Time (1.00 FTE) Skilled Laborer Position Outside the Budget Process.  Motion carried.

Presentation and review of 2012 audited financial statements, management letter, and report on federal and state awards.

Amanda Blomberg, from Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, talked about the financial results, the report on internal control and the single audit.  Blomberg highlighted a very strong fund balance and its categories.  Reviewed general obligation debt outstanding.  Single audit anticipated findings are evidence of invoice approval, timing issue of an expense for child support, secondary review of CDBG and land conservation grant submissions, and suspension or debarment verifications.  See no issues that will result in these findings with the state or granting agencies.

Discussion of fall intergovernmental meeting.

Krueger noted meeting hosted by Finance Committee with budget as a topic.  Potential topics include engaging/lobbying state representatives and rural broadband expansion.  Fordham would like to have direction as to how the levels of government can work together.  Also discussed governmental cooperation and partnerships, particularly as options on budgets continue to narrow.

Review of credit card policy.

Reviewed use of county credit card, checks and balances, and balancing ease of use with accountability.  A strong policy can protect the County in the event of abuse.  Recommend communicating with credit card holders to inquire as to their issues, educating on appropriate use.

Discussion on 2014 budget process.

Oversight committees are approving budgets and information is being compiled.  Finance Committee budget reviews are set for September 25, 26 and 30.

Presentation of County financial reports.

County financial information was reviewed and discussed with no unusual exceptions noted.

Treasurer’s Department Update.

Geoghegan highlighted departmental activities and properties.  Reviewed status of tax collections and tax deeds to be taken.  Motion by Lane, second by Fordham to approve payment of Treasurer’s Department invoices in the amount of $9,417.33.  Motion carried.

Geoghegan presented the Treasurer’s Department 2014 budget.  Few changes to overall operations.  Highlighted decreases in payments in lieu of taxes and a known chargeback to be paid in 2014.

Accounting Department Update.

Beghin highlighted departmental activities.  Motion by Fordham, second by Lane to approve payment of Accounting Department invoices in the amount of $17,475.25 and County invoices in the amount of $3,246,702.23.  Motion carried.

Beghin presented the Accounting Department 2014 budget.  No substantial changes.

Public Comment:                  None 

Finance Committee budget meetings September 25, 26, and 30, 2013; next regular Finance Committee meeting will be October 8, 2013. 

Motion by Lane, second by Fordham to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,  

Joan Fordham, Finance Committee Secretary