Special Judicial/General Government Committee-Updated Packet — Agenda Packet

PORTAGE COUNTY MEETING AGENDA JUDICIAL/GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE PORTAGE COUNTY ANNEX CONFERENCE ROOM 1 & 2 1462 STRONGS AVENUE STEVENS POINT, WI 54481 Monday, September 14, 2026 3:30 PM REMOTE ATTENDANCE & COMMENT To attend this meeting by telephone : dial 1-872-242-7813 , after dialing the number you will then be asked to enter in a meeting number. Use the following meeting number: 725 398 124, then press # To attend this meeting by video: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/297336902725646?p=wFIqcfm7zfrt7SXHgH Page 1 of 1 CALL TO ORDER Committee Members enter Per Diem and Mileage CORRESPONDENCE PRESENTATIONS REPORTS 1. Special Meeting Attendance Reports (Portage County Ordinance 3.1.47 & 3.1.48) PUBLIC NOTICE Members of the public who wish to address the Committee on specific agenda items must register their request at this time, with such comments subject to the public comment ordinance and the reasonable control of the Committee Chair as set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. August 24, 2026 minutes DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION 3. Discussion/Possible Action: Transferring Justice Programs and its staff into the Health and Human Services Department and revising the corresponding code of ordinances sections. 4. Discussion/Possible Action regarding 2027 New Position Request -Family Court Commissioner-Administrative Associate III- 10 hours/week. NEXT MEETING DATE 5. October 26, 2026 at 3:30 P.M. ADJOURNMENT Notice: Any person who has special needs and plans on attending this meeting in-person or remotely should contact the Facilities Office at 715-346-1598 as soon as possible to ensure that reasonable accommodations can be made. Notice: Remote comment by the public during the meeting will be at the discretion of the Chair. Notice: A quorum of the Portage County Board of Supervisors, or any committee thereof, may be present at this meeting. Page 1 of 14 PORTAGE COUNTY MEETING MINUTES JUDICIAL/GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE PORTAGE COUNTY ANNEX CONFERENCE ROOM 1 & 2 1462 STRONGS AVENUE STEVENS POINT, WI 54481 Monday, August 24, 2026 3:30 PM REMOTE ATTENDANCE & COMMENT To attend this meeting by telephone : dial 1-872-242-7813 , after dialing the number, you will then be asked to enter a meeting number. Use the following meeting number: 275 302 887, then press # To attend this meeting by video: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/232420296415053?p=K94MDN6F8s4SRHa1Ci Page 1 of 2 CALL TO ORDER Committee Members enter Per Diem and Mileage The Judicial General Government Committee was called to order at 3:30 P.M. Members Present: Supervisor Bassett, Supervisor Potocki, Supervisor Oehlke, Supervisor Stingle. Members Attending online: Supervisor Bachman. Staff attending: Clerk of Courts Roth, Verterans Service Director Olson, Justice Programs Director Kostuchowski, Register of Deeds Wisinski, Family Court Commissioner Kessler, Finance Director Jossie. CORRESPONDENCE None PRESENTATIONS None REPORTS 1. Special Meeting Attendance Reports (Portage County Ordinance 3.1.47 & 3.1.48) None 2. Clerk of Courts a. 2026 Budget Update b. Office Operations c. 2027 Budget Review 3. Justice Programs a. 2026 Budget Update b. Office Operations c. 2027 Budget Review 4. Family Court Commissioner a. 2026 Budget Update b. Office Operations c. 2027 Budget Review 5. Veterans Services a. 2026 Budget Update b. Office Operations c. 2027 Budget Review Page 2 of 14 Judicial/General Government Committee Meeting Minutes August 24, 2026 Page 2 of 2 6. Register of Deeds a. 2026 Budget Update b. Office Operations c. 2027 Budget Review PUBLIC NOTICE Members of the public who wish to address the Committee on specific agenda items must register their request at this time, with such comments subject to the public comment ordinance and the reasonable control of the Committee Chair as set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 7. June 22, 2026 Minutes A motion was made by Supervisor Oehlke, seconded by Supervisor Potocki to approve the June 22, 2026 meeting minutes. Motion to approve carried by voice vote with no negative votes. DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION NEXT MEETING DATE 8. October 26, 2026 @ 3:30 PM ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned by Chair Bassett at 4:25 P.M. Page 3 of 14 RESOLUTION NO. TO: THE HONORABLE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PORTAGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: RE: TRANSFERRING JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND ITS STAFF INTO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND REVISING THE CORRESPONDING CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTIONS WHEREAS, the stated mission of the Justice Programs Department is to achieve justice for the community, victims, and offenders through effective and appropriate responses to crime and its prevention; and WHEREAS, the Justice Programs Director position became vacant on September 13, 2026; and WHEREAS, Justice Programs was formed as a stand-alone Department by County Board resolution in 2006; and WHEREAS, after thoughtful and diligent consideration among the County Executive and the Circuit Court Judges, in consultation with departments that work with the Justice Programs, the consensus was to move Justice Programs away from a stand-alone department and transfer the program into the Health and Human Services Department; and WHEREAS, the new Justice Programs section will be in the Division of Community Programs and will have a Justice Programs Supervisor and the staff as set forth in the attached organizational chart; and WHEREAS, corresponding to the organizational transfer in this resolution, the legislative oversight of Justice Programs will move from the Judicial / General Government Committee to the Health and Human Services Board as set for in the attached Code of Ordinances revisions to sections 3.1.16 and 3.1.11; and WHEREAS, transferring Justice Programs in this resolution does not modify the nature of the work that staff carry out and will have minimal impacts on day-to-day operations. The Justice Programs staff will continue to work with the Courts to effectuate its mission of achieving justice for the community, victims, and offenders through effective and appropriate responses to crime and its prevention. This move to Health and Human Services will assist both the Courts and Health and Human Services to provide greater collaboration in decision-making based on objective data and the goal to further reduce recidivism through treatment-based outcomes as well as improve stewardship of county resources. FISCAL NOTE: This resolution transfers the Justice Programs budget from the General Fund to the Health & Human Services Fund beginning in fiscal year 2027. There will be no changes to the 2026 budget for the remainder of the fiscal year as a result of adopting this resolution. This is not a budget adjustment resolution as the changes will be incorporated as part of the County’s budget process. Due to the timing of this resolution coinciding with the County’s 2027 budget document in process, Finance staff recommended the necessary changes be proactively incorporated into the 2027 proposed budget to avoid additional future changes to the budget document and a potential budget Page 4 of 14 amendment. If this resolution fails adoption, Finance staff will immediately prepare the necessary budget amendment to restore the budget in the General Fund prior to the adoption of the 2027 budget. The timing of any adjustment to the budget shall not impact the timing of the organizational transfer. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Portage County Board of Supervisors hereby orders, directs and authorizes the transfer of Justice Programs into the Health and Human Services Department and the position changes as set forth in this resolution, and hereby approves, enacts, and ordains the attached revisions to Code of Ordinances Sections 3.1.16 and 3.1.11. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that appropriate County officials, including the County Executive, as well as staff are authorized to sign any documents and take all actions to effectuate this resolution. DATED THIS 6th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, JUDICIAL/GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Date: September 14, 2026 _____________________________ ______________________________ Travis Bassett, Chair Stan Potocki, Vice-Chair _____________________________ ______________________________ Suzanne Oehlke Doug Stingle _____________________________ Joe Bachman HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BOARD Date: September 21, 2026 Suzanne Oehlke, Chair Jeanne Dodge, Vice Chair Grek Hakala Barry Jakowski Robin Falk Landon Elgersma Amber Garner Bev Laska Joseph Jarabek Page 5 of 14 HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE Date: September 24, 2026 Matt Jakowski, Chair Steve Cieslewicz, Vice Chair Jonathan Schlice Janell Wehr Larry Raikowski Page 6 of 14 CH PlannerCH EducatorPH PlannerSanitarianSanitarian (90%)Sanitarian (60%)Comm Nutrition Edu (80%)Comm Nutrition Edu (73%)Comm Nutrition Edu (63%)Breastfeeding Peer (C)WWWP Progam Coord (80%)Comm Hlth Nurse-LeadComm Hlth Nurse-Lead (83%)Comm Hlth NurseComm Hlth NurseComm Hlth NurseComm Hlth Nurse (90%)Comm Hlth Nurse (78%)Comm Hlth Nurse (50%)Comm Hlth Nurse (25%)Comm Hlth Assistant (75%)Comm Hlth Assistant (50%)PsychiatristPsychiatrist (20%-C)Mental Health ClinicianCommunity Health NurseOWI Assessor (C)Social WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerProgram SpecialistCase ManagerCase ManagerNight SecurityNight Security (60%)CCS Program AssistantCCS Program AssistantCCS Program AssistantCCS Program AssistantCCS Program AssistantCCS QA Program AssistantSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial Worker (80%)Occupational Therapist (C)Speech & Lang Pathologist (C 75%)Spec Needs Program Assist (55%)Physical Therapist (C 58% )CLTS QA Program AssistantSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerChild Welfare AssistantSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerES Specialist-LeadES Specialist-LeadES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES SpecialistES Specialist (ED)CS Specialist-LeadCS SpecialistCS SpecialistCS SpecialistCS Finacial SpecialistCS Assistant-LeadCS AssistantCS Assistant (50%)Paternity SpecialistAdministrative Assoc IAdministrative Assoc IAdministrative Assoc IIAdministrative Assoc II L = LTE PositionC = Contracted PositionLD = Lead WorkerED - End Date*=Listed TwicePercent reflects approved FTE'sSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial Worker (ED)Social Worker (46%)Social Worker (50%)Social Worker (50% ED)Child and Family AideChild and Family AideChild and Family AideChild and Family AideChild and Family Aide (ED)Child and Family Aide (50%)Child and Family Aide (50%)Child and Family Aide (50% ED)Child and Family Aide (50% ED)Social WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerFinancial Assoc IFinancial Assoc IFinancial Assoc IISocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerSocial WorkerJustice Program Specialist-LeadJustice Program SpecialistJustice Program SpecialistJustice Program Technician (PT)Administrative Assoc II (PT)Social Worker Organizational Chart By NameHealth and Human Services DepartmentProposal Rev. 8/17/2026 County Executive DIRECTOR DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH Public Health Manager Public Health Engagem… Supervisor WIC/Nutrition Supervisor Public Health Supervisor DIVISION OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Community Programs Manager Outpatient Services Supervisor Portage House Supervisor Children's Long Term Support Waiver Supervisor Special Needs Programs Supervisor Comprehensive Community Services/CSP Supervisor CCS Quality Assurance Supervisor CCS Mental Health Professional Supervisor Justice Programs Supervisor DIVISION OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES Children and Family Services Manager Child Welfare Assess… Supervisor Child Welfare Ongoing Supervisor Child Welfare Resources Supervisor Youth Justice Supervisor Child Support Supervisor Economic Support Supervisor DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION/BUSINESS SUPPORT Admin Support Supervisor DIVISION OF HHS FINANCE Accounts Receivable Supervisor Portage County Board of Supervisors Page 7 of 14 Created: 2026-06-27 08:48:47 [EST] (Supp. No. 9) Page 1 of 1 3.1.16 Judicial/General Government Committee. (1) Five members. (2) All members shall be appointed by the Executive/Operations Committee as specified in section 3.1(3)(a). (3) Term of two years coinciding with the term of the County Board of Supervisors. (4) Members to be County Supervisors. (5) To set policy and provide guidance and legislative oversight for county-related activities of the offices of Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds, Family Court Commissioner, Veterans Service, and Portage County Circuit Court Offices., and Department of Justice Programs. (6) Per Diem: County Supervisors shall be entitled to per diems and mileage. Page 8 of 14 Created: 2026-06-27 08:48:47 [EST] (Supp. No. 9) Page 1 of 1 3.1.11 Health and Human Services Board (Wis. Stats. §§ 251.03 and 46.23(4)). (1) Nine members. Six members to be County Supervisors and three citizen members. At least one member appointed to a county human services board shall be an individual who receives or has received human services or shall be a family member of such an individual. The remainder of the county human services board members shall be consumers of services, or citizens-at-large. Portage County will make a good faith effort to appoint a registered nurse and a physician to the Board, in compliance with Wis. Stats. § 251.03. No public or private provider of services may be appointed to the county human services board. (2) A three-year term for citizen members and three-year term for County Board members. Each year on the Monday before the third Tuesday in April, the terms of one citizen member and two County Board members will end to provide for the staggered terms. A County Board member may be removed for failure of re-election as provided by law. All terms to end on the Monday in April before the third Tuesday and shall begin on the third Tuesday in April. (3) All members shall be appointed by the County Executive as specified in section 3.1(3)(b). (4) To set policy and provide policy guidance and legislative oversight for the activities of the consolidated departments of Health, Social Services and the 51.42 Board, and Wis. Stats. § 46.23, including the Division of Health Services, the Division of Community Programs (including Justice Programs), and the Division of Children and Family Services (including the Child Support Enforcement section). (5) Per Diem: County Supervisors and Citizen members shall be entitled to per diems and mileage. Page 9 of 14 PORTAGE COUNTY FAMILY COURT 1516 CHURCH STREET, STEVENS POINT, WI 54481 Commissioner Sheila J Kessler Family Court Commissioner 715-345-5703 Ashlyn Lotzer Administrative Associate III Judicial General Government Committee Re: Request to maintain Admin Assoc position at 30 hours. Dear Committee Members, In 2020, the Family Court Commissioner and Family Court Services became a separate department with its own budget and moved to offices on the first floor of the Courthouse. Prior to that it was included as part of the Clerk of Courts. The initial staffing for the new Department was a Part-time Family Court Commissioner at 30 hours a week with a Part-time Administrative Assistant II at 20 Hours a week. A Supplemental Court Commissioner served as the Assistant Family Court Commissioner on an as needed basis to take overflow FCC duties or conflict cases. The expense for this position was absorbed through the COC’s appointed attorney budget until I began in 2023 when the Supplemental Position was not renewed. From the beginning, hours of operation were problematic with the staffing assigned to the department. Because the FCC position is judicial, with very limited exceptions, the FCC is not permitted to engage with litigants outside of court proceedings. Those would be considered ex-parte communications. While the department was located in the COC office, the assistance provided by the COC counter staff provided A buffer to prevent ex-parte communications. When neither the FCC nor the Assistant had full time hours, the hours open to the public was limited. The previous FCC requested an increase of the Admin Associate position to match her 30 hours. That request came about the same time as the county had an opportunity to obtain a federal grant due to the Covid pandemic. Ten hours were added from those grant funds to provide a 30 hour a week Admin. Associate to the FCC. The funding will cease at the end of this year. The workload has not decreased as the grant in expiring. If anything, it has increased. The contract program for FLIC gave less than 30 days notice they would no longer provide service to the County early in 2023. Judge Zell and my office were able to find another agency to help but we were only able to Page 10 of 14 acquire 12 hours a month of service to replace the 40 hours a week previously provided. My office had to fill that gap in service. We have stewarded our resources as best we can to make sure the community is served. We need those ten hours to meet the demands of the Department. I request that this committee approve this request. Sheila J. Kessler SHEILA J KESSLER SJK/al Page 11 of 14 Page 1 of 2 Updated 6/14/2024 COUNTY OF PORTAGE HUMAN RESOURCES REQUEST FOR NEW/ADDITIONAL POSITION Instructions: Complete fillable form with all information available for request for a new position or additional hours to an existing position and submit to Human Resources. Requests must be received by August 1st each year to be considered for budget purposes. Requests outside of budget process will be out of sequence and require Governing Committee, Human Resources Committee, Finance Committee, and County Board approval. Department: Family Court Commissioner Date: 9/10/2026 Position Title: Administrative Associate III If Existing Title, Pay Grade: 19 Projected Step to be Hired: If New Title, Requested Pay Grade: Projected Step to be Hired: Position FTE: .75 Position Type (Select one): (use percentage or hours per week) Permanent Budget Year: ____ Seasonal If Out of Sequence New Position Limited Term Employment Request – Effective Date: 1/1/2027 On-Call or Casual Below is a checklist of all items that must be included with this form: Costing of Position Including Salary & Fringe Benefit Total and Funding Sources (bottom of form) Brief Narrative of Justification for Position Job Description for the Requested Position Governing Committee Recommendation Approve Deny Date _____/_____/_____ Human Resources Requisition to Fill Vacant Position Form PD Questionnaire, only needed if a New Position Title or Duties Position Funding Type (Select one): Grant Funded Request Tax Levy Request Combination Levy/Grant Request Total Cost of Position Salary & Fringe Benefit Total (calculated on the Salary Worksheet Template for Year) $28,330 Operating Supplies $ Equipment – Desk, PC, Monitors, Phone, Etc. Annual Costing Default Amounts: $5,000 - Desk, chair, and floor mat, if needed $ 180 – Phone $ XX – Annual IT Fee, starting year $ 350 – Annual State System IT Fee, starting year $ - Other: $ Total Cost of New/Addition Position $0 Page 12 of 14 Page 2 of 2 Updated 6/14/2024 Sources of Funding Grant – $ Grant – $ Grant – $ Levy – $28,330 Total Revenues – $28,330 Human Resources Comments (limit XX Characters) : Page 13 of 14 NEW POSITION REQUESTS New Position Requests Received for the 2027 Budget DEPARTMENTS BY CLASSIFICATION POSITION SOURCE OF FUNDING SALARY BENEFITS TOTAL COST OF POSITION ADDITIONAL HOURS PER WEEK ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ADDITIONAL FTE POSITION BUDGET IMPACT Culture, Recreation & Education Library Branch Librarian - 28 hours to 32 hours per week Levy 62,964 10,162 73,126 32 0.00 0.20 9,286 General Government Family Court Commissioner Administrative Associate III* Levy 36,418 5,619 42,037 10 0.00 0.25 28,330 Finance Finance Manager Levy 76,469 43,929 120,398 40 1.00 1.00 120,398 Human Resources ERP Implementer** Levy 75,029 43,707 118,736 40 1.00 1.00 118,736 Health & Human Services Health & Human Services Economic Support Specialist*** Grant Sources 53,163 40,999 94,162 40 1.00 1.00 94,162 - Total $304,043 $144,416 $448,459 3 3.45 $370,912 *current position is 30 hours/week with 10 of those hours funded by SLFRF that ends 12/31/2026. The request is to continue at 30 hours/week funding the 10 hours with tax levy. **current position is funded 40 hours/week with SLFRF that ends 12/31/2026. Request is to continue position another year using transitional funding. ***current Consortium position due to end 12/31/2026 per resolution The process for new positon request requires submission by the Department Director to the Human Resources Director no later tha n June 1st each year. Each new position request must include completion of a request for additional staff form that includes th e following supporting documentation: a costin g for the position which includes the funding sources that include the classificati on as recommended by the Human Resources department, a brief narrative of justification for the position, a job description for the position as approved by the Human Resources department, governing committee recommendation of the new position request and the Human Resources Requisition Form. The additional hours per week reflect the additional hours in the 2027 budget. The total cost of the position is for informati onal purposes. Page 14 of 14