The board voted 30-0 to approve the ADRC hiring one full-time Disability Benefit Specialist to overlap for transition and training purposes due to the ADRC director’s retiring. The board amended the budget to include $47,000 in wages and benefits to be funded through the ADRC fund balance.
The board voted 30-0 to designate the county depositories and establish investment procedures. The county will utilize the following financial institutions. Bank of Prairie du Sac, Bank of Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo State Bank, Community First Bank, Farmers & Merchants Bank, First Business Bank, The Peoples Community Bank, PMA Financial Network, Inc, PNC Bank, Prevail Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Wisconsin Investment Service Cooperative, Wisconsin Local Government Investment Pool, Westby Co-op Credit Union.
The Board voted 30-0 to accept the donations and gifts presented to Sauk County in 2024.
The board voted 30-0 to approve an ordinance amendment assessing service fees on worthless checks and processing overpayments received by the county. The county’s threshold of $2.00 over/under payment has not changed in many years. The current labor market and materials cost to refund overpayments or collect short payments typically exceeds the $2.00 limit set. So, we raised the threshold to $10.00.
The board voted 30-0 to adopt amendments to the Land Resources and Environment department fee schedule. The main increase comes from re-posts for public hearings.
The board voted 30-0 to authorize participation in the State of Wisconsin Motorized Recreation Grant Program for snowmobile trails, ATV/UTV trails and off-highway motorcycle events. These grants are funded through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The board voted 30-0 on a resolution urging Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Legislature to support the county courts. In 2023 the state funded 12 percent of the $237 million that was spent running all the counties circuit courts. Counties are responsible for bailiffs, court security officers, courthouse building maintenance, Clerk of Courts and Register in Probate, staff salaries and benefits, jury costs, psychological exams, guardians ad litem and court-appointed attorneys, expert witnesses, interpreters and translation fees, court commissioners, law libraries, corporation counsel, courtroom technology, office supplies, furniture, recruitment and training, financial collection efforts, mail fees, printing costs, exhibit and file storage, insurance, service of court documents judicial staff attorneys, and equipment repair. And maybe donuts. The state covers Judges, court reporters, CCAP equipment, and the circuit court cost appropriation.
The board voted 29-1 to authorize the director of Land Resources and Environment to accept multi-discharge variance funding. The board also amended the budget for this project. The original budgeted amount was $22,951; however, the final total was $156,673.97. This is the amount of funds we are receiving from grants, not expenditure. The one vote against came from Supervisor Brian Pepper. He stated that he will vote against every Land Resources and Environment resolution until he is made whole and granted a special permit that he is seeking. Due to flooding that first occurred last July he has several acres of farmland that he states is now an island. He requested a special permit to remedy the flooding but was denied the request.
The board voted 29-1 to amend the Land Resources and Environment budget and award a contract to The Lakota Group for an update to the Sauk County Comprehensive Plan. The county is required by statute to update the plan every 10 years. The total cost is $299,177.
A claim has been filed against Sauk County and all the other counties in the state of Wisconsin over the surplus proceeds when a county sells a foreclosed property. The issue raised is if the sale price exceeds the amount of debt owed, who gets the proceeds. Wisconsin has for decades allowed itself to keep most if not all of the surplus proceeds generated by the sale of a tax-foreclosed property. In July of 2024 the Sauk County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance change to reflect the changes at the state level. It would appear that going forward any surplus funds beyond the debt owed from the sale of a tax-foreclosed property will go back to the owner.
As always, any opinions expressed here are my opinions and do not represent the Sauk County Board.
