October 8, 2024 Minutes(PDF, 64KB)

* * MINUTES * * * * OUTAGAMIE COUNTY BOARD * * Office of the County Clerk, October 8, 2024. The Board met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by Chairperson Gabrielson at 7:00 p.m. in the County Board Room, located at 320 South Walnut Street, Appleton, Wisconsin. ROLL CALL: 29 present, 7 absent. Members present: Thompson, Johnson, Patience, Gabrielson, Kostelny, Hammen, Lawrence, Krueger, Lamers, Ferguson, McCabe, Hermes, MacDonald, Spears, Heiser, Mitchell, Cuff, Hagen, Thiede, Janke, Weinberg, Culbertson, Nejedlo, Clegg, Thyssen, VanderHeiden, Rettler, Koury, and Lautenschlager. Members absent: Supervisors Smith, Wegand, Schroeder, Croatt, Klemp, Monfils, and Winterfeldt. The Board Chairperson requested the Board's confirmation to excuse Supervisors Smith, Wegand, Croatt, Klemp, and Monfils. No objections; so ordered. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chairperson Gabrielson. MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 COUNTY BOARD MEETING Supervisor Krueger moved, seconded by Supervisor Patience, to approve the minutes of the September 24, 2024, County Board meeting. ROLL CALL: 27 yes, 2 abstain (MacDonald, Koury), 7 absent. MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 24, 2024, COUNTY BOARD MEETING ARE APPROVED. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS – 2025 Proposed Budget Remarks – County Executive Thomas Nelson County Executive Thomas Nelson provided an update on the 2025 Budget. Specific highlights included: o The total tax levy is $69,193,320, which increased from last year (+2.38%), and the tax rate is $2.815 which is a decrease from last year (-3.15%). o Net new construction is 1.799% (down from last year). o This translates to $1,606,265 in “new money” compared to last year’s tax levy. o Wages and salaries:  Budgeting for 1% cost-of-living increase (COLA).  3% step increases for employees and a “double bump” for employees who have longevity in their positions with Outagamie County.  Health insurance is increasing by 7.5% (with the employee share remaining left unchanged).  There are 34 new position requests (which will be paid through $708,000 of the tax levy), with the exception of the funded District Attorney positions, which will be funded in 2025 with ARPA funding. o Capital Budget includes prior year appropriations of $23,558,981 and 2025 proposed expenditures of $13,282,727, for grand total capital appropriations of $36,841,708 for the County. o New electronic (online) budget book format through OpenGov software to review proposed budget; departments input data into the OpenGov software. October 8, 2024 County Board Minutes Page 2 Finance Director Michelle Uitenbroek and County Executive Thomas Nelson provided a quick navigation overview to the OpenGov interface, which is available to view on Outagamie County’s website; additional items included navigating the table of contents, reviewing department proposed budget breakdowns and capital requests, and the general functionality of the website. Supervisor questions and comments followed. 2025 County Board Budget Process – Finance Committee Chairperson Chris Croatt / Board Chairperson Dan Gabrielson County Board Chairman Gabrielson provided a general overview of the 2025 budget review process. Specifics of the presentation included: o A reminder to the County Board about the division of responsibility – the County Board of Supervisors serves the legislative role (makes policy decisions and supervises administration though committee work), whereas the executive role is carried through the County Executive and staff, who administer the policies decided by the Board. o Chairperson Gabrielson explained the process of the budget is created and distributed by the County Executive, whereupon the budget is then turned over to committees of jurisdiction and the Finance Committee for further review and recommendation to the full County Board prior to Budget Adoption. He continued by expressing the importance of being organized, prepared, and be willing to ask questions (urged Supervisors to attend committee meetings to hear the departmental presentations and provide feedback as a way to get involved, and make informed decisions). Committees will vote to either support budgets of jurisdiction or recommend changes. o Chairperson Gabrielson reiterated that the new budget software provides additional functionality, including providing narratives for each department (accomplishments, achievements, goals, department changes, and comparable budget data).  Chairperson Gabrielson provided the Budget Meeting Timeline for the Finance Committee Budget Review Meetings which will take place every Tuesday and Thursday for the next four weeks at 11:00 a.m., with the exception of Thursday, October 17th, 2024, which has an adjusted time of 9:00 a.m.  The Budget Public Hearing will take place Tuesday, October 22 nd, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. before the County Board meeting.  The Annual County Board Budget Adoption Meeting will be held Monday, November 4th, 2024, in the County Board room at 5:30 p.m. The process has been built for transparency, full participation of committees and the public, and to avoid marathon budget meetings.  During the County Board Budget Adoption Meeting:  The Executive proposes the annual budget; the County Board approves the unchanged or modified budget.  A majority vote is required for budget and table of organization changes.  Please contact the Finance Chair or Committee Chairs with any questions.  Chairperson Gabrielson mentioned the importance of being prepared for the Adoption Meeting. Supervisor questions and comments followed. October 8, 2024 County Board Minutes Page 3 ESTABLISH ORDER OF THE DAY– Chairperson Gabrielson reported the request to have Resolution No. 55—2024-25 locked in at the meeting. COMMUNICATIONS – Chairperson Gabrielson summarized the following communications:  Supervisors received an e-mail from Sara Hickey on October 8th, 2024 in the afternoon regarding the 2025 County Executive Proposed Budget, along with the Finance Committee Budget Review Calendar. Supervisors are encouraged to attend as many meetings as possible.  Outagamie County United Way campaign is well underway. To contribute or learn more, please review the e-mail sent out by Executive Operations/Public Relations Specialist Anne Van on October 2nd, 2024. Pledges need to be submitted by October 18th, 2024.  County Supervisor online security training update – one (1) Supervisor still needs to complete the July training and eleven (11) Supervisors still need to complete the October training.  Chairperson Gabrielson thanked Supervisor Hagen and Supervisor Monfils who accompanied him in the Transit Tour for “A NEW Avenue Corridor Vision Project”. The project focuses on providing growth and better transit access from on the Westside of College Avenue from Downtown Appleton to the Appleton Airport. The group had the opportunity to ride the bus and see the public transit challenges for that area. The mission hopes to attain some future grant funding to help improve that portion of College Avenue.  Chairperson Gabrielson stated that there are no County Board Supervisor birthdays for October. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO ONLY MATTERS LISTED ON THE AGENDA AND FOR A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN MINUTES WHICH MAY BE EXTENDED TO 30 MINUTES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR – None. APPOINTMENTS – County Executive Nelson nomination for appointment of Marian Moberg to the Health and Human Services Board; term expires December 31, 2026. Supervisor Koury moved, seconded by Supervisor McCabe for confirmation of the above-listed appointment. ROLL CALL: 29 yes, 7 absent. MARIAN MOBERG IS APPOINTED TO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BOARD. REPORT BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE – County Executive Thomas Nelson provided an Administrative update. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None. NEW BUSINESS Resolution No. 55—2024-25 – Legislative/Audit and Human Resources Committee. Approve an in-year Table of Organization request for the Veterans Service Office, effective August 25, 2024, to delete one full-time Deputy Veterans Service Officer position and add one full-time Senior Benefits Specialist position (as noted on the resolution and attachments); and increase the line items of Veterans Service Salaries by $2,551 and the Veterans Service Fringe Benefits by $433 and decrease the line item of Reserve for Contingency by $2,984, as noted on the fiscal note. Supervisor Kostelny moved, seconded by Supervisor Spears, for adoption. October 8, 2024 County Board Minutes Page 4 ROLL CALL: 29 yes, 7 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 55—2024-25 IS ADOPTED. RECONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 55—2024-25. Supervisor Krueger moved, seconded by Supervisor Nejedlo, to reconsider the above listed resolution. Vote for reconsideration. ROLL CALL: 27 yes, 2 no (Ferguson, Thiede), 7 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 55—2024-25 IS RECONSIDERED. Vote for lock in. ROLL CALL: 29 yes, 7 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 55 —2024-25 IS ADOPTED & LOCKED IN. REPORTS – None. ADJOURNMENT Supervisor Patience moved, seconded by Supervisor MacDonald to adjourn until October 22nd, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. VOICE VOTE CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. ___________________________________ Kelly Gerrits, County Clerk ROLL CALL SUMMARY OCTOBER 8, 2024 COUNTY BOARD MEETING NO. OF ROLL NO. VOTES CUMULATIVE NO. VOTES CALLS TAKEN CAST THIS CALLS TAKEN CAST THIS DIST./NAME THIS MEETING MEETING THIS TERM TERM 1. Thompson 5 5 129 120 2. Johnson 5 5 129 96 3. Smith 5 0 129 119 4. Patience 5 5 129 129 5. Gabrielson 5 5 129 129 6. Kostelny 5 5 129 129 7. Hammen 5 5 129 129 8. Lawrence 5 5 129 129 9. Krueger 5 5 129 112 10. Lamers 5 5 129 129 11. Ferguson 5 5 129 102 12. McCabe 5 5 129 129 13. Wegand 5 0 129 64 14. Hermes 5 5 129 64 15. MacDonald 5 4 129 76 16. Schroeder 5 0 129 41 17. Croatt 5 0 129 74 18. Spears 5 5 129 129 19. Heiser 5 5 129 128 20. Mitchell 5 5 129 126 21. Cuff 5 5 129 112 22. Hagen 5 5 129 120 23. Klemp 5 0 129 124 24. Thiede 5 5 129 65 25. Janke 5 5 129 128 26. Weinberg 5 5 129 128 27. Culbertson 5 5 129 129 28. Monfils 5 0 129 118 29. Winterfeldt 5 0 129 92 30. Nejedlo 5 5 129 120 31. Clegg 5 5 129 124 32. Thyssen 5 5 129 81 33. VanderHeiden 5 5 129 107 34. Rettler 5 5 129 129 35. Koury 5 4 129 102 36. Lautenschlager 5 5 129 129 Member(s) absent: Croatt, Klemp, Monfils, Schroeder, Smith, Wegand, and Winterfeldt