Slight Hike In County Tax Rate, First In Seven Years The Marinette County Board Public Budget Hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 10 was very brief. There was input from only one member of the public.
Harry Krass of 8850 S. Park Drive, Porterfield, asked why the tax rate was up by 3% and why didn’t the county tap into the $45 million of reserve funds instead of raising taxes. Administrator Steve Corbeille responded that only interest from the investments is used in the budget. He warned of a “spiral” if the principal was used, and dependence on that source would use it all up. He likened this to a household management that would use up all of the savings to meet current needs.
Sup. Russ Bauer asked if more of the sales tax receipts might be used to reduce the tax rate, but Corbeille noted the sales tax revenue was down this year, and preferred keeping it for some possible future need. The 1/2% sales tax was enacted in 2001, and was originally intended only for debt reduction. A 2005 amendment permitted its use for capital outlay and economic development and tourism promotion also.
The Public Hearing was closed after only about five minutes. Not only was there only one person from the public that commented, but attendance in general was scanty, with only two or three public officials in the room.
The new budget, approved 30-0 with virtually no comments by supervisors, shows an operating levy of $14.1 million, up about $500,000 over 2009, and a tax rate of $3.79 per $1000 of assessed valuation, up from $3.65 this year. This is the first county tax increase in seven years. The new budget tapped into the sales tax funds for $865,000, which is $185,000 less than for the 2009 budget.
The budget summary shows total expenditures of $77,904,220, compared to $76,962,845 in the 2009 budget. Total revenues from all sources except property tax are $61,241,843, compared to $61,668,293 in the prior budget. The total tax is $16,662,377 compared to $15,552,294. With surplus funds applied, the net operating tax levy comes to $14,175,881, compared to $13,672,178.
The board meeting began with the traditional Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, followed by a brief moment of silent prayer.
John D. Williams of Foth Infrastructures & Environment presented the Good Government Award to Marinette County and a $1000 gift to be used by the county in any way decided on.
Randy Asman of the Wisconsin DOT explained the advantages of roundabouts at intersections. He said crashes, injuries and deaths are greatly reduced because of low entry speeds and low circulating speeds, and those crashes that do happen are much less serious, with less damage to vehicles and fewer injuries and deaths. It completely eliminates the socalled T-bone crashes, caused when someone runs a red light and hits a car broadside that is proceeding on the green light.
Studies have shown a 40% reduction in crashes and a 75% reduction in fatalities at intersections formerly using automatic traffic signals that converted to roundabout design, he added.
In response to a “point of order” call by Sup. Mike Behnke at the October meeting objecting to the vigorous comments from Board Chairman George Bousley in opposition to a motion to add a sheriff deputy position, Behnke had strongly urged approval of the sheriff’s request. He said the Chairman should step down from his central position if he wants to get into the debate. Corporation Counsel Gale Mattison delivered her opinion that Roberts Rules of Order does not prohibit the chairman from joining debate. She said the same is true for chairmen of subcommittees, and even cited the National Congress, where the Speaker of the House can participate in debate.
“Our chair does not have to “step down” to participate,” she said firmly.
Behnke argued that a committee of four or five members is very different from the county board with 30 members.
Connie Seefeldt said “stepping down” doesn’t really change anything.
Behnke said a former chairman did step down when he wanted to get into the debate. Mattison responded that each legislative body can set its own rules in this matter.
Al Greason commented, “I value the opinion of the chairman.” John Guarisco said where he is sitting makes no difference. Nick Lakari, however, said he has problems with “unwritten laws”.
The board then moved on with the agenda, and vice chairman Ted Sauve said, regarding the dedication ceremony for the new US 41 reconstruction project and the bypasses, that Nov. 12 was chosen to avoid possible weather problems, deer hunting, and Thanksgiving. It will be held at the Wayside between Marinette and Peshtigo. The Peshtigo High School Band will be there, along with public officials from Marinette, the City and Town of Peshtigo, Marinette County, the DOT and others.
After a recess at 10:15 a.m. the board approved the jurisdictional transfer of a section of County Trunk A to the Town of Athelstane. Town officials wanted the change so access to all town roads can be given to ATVs and snowmobiles. Businessmen in Athelstane have said it is a matter of their survival. Recommendation for the move was voted at the Marinette County Highway Committee meeting the day previous.
After a brief explanation by Human Resources Director Jennifer Holtger the board unanimously voted continuation of what is termed a “cafeteria plan” for the changeover from the former self-insured health dental plan to a multi-county setup. “Cafeteria plan” means there are options available. The new plan takes effect Jan. 1, 2010 and is expected to save about $1 million the first year with no loss of coverage or benefits.
Also approved by unanimous voice vote were installation of a OC-3 microwave link with Oconto County at a cost of $5000, a Tactical Interoperability Communications Plan and placing it as an appendix to the Emergency Management Communications Annex.
Emergency Management Director Eric Burmeister reviewed the Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Study done following a semi-tanker truck - passenger car collision on July 18, 2008, to assess the volume of hazardous materials going through the county by truck and rail transport. An independent firm specializing in such monitoring was contracted and observations were done at the US 141 - STH 64 intersection, US 41 south of Co. T including Canadian National Railroad, the Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad at the Crivitz Yard, the US 141 and STH 8 intersection, in Pembine, US 41 and Flame Road, RR Crossing, and US 41 at the Interstate Bridge. The five page report is exhaustive in detail and quantitative. Among chemical materials were sulfuric acid, formaldehyde, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, anhydrous ammonia, and many more toxic chemicals.
Approved was purchase of two 2009 Polaris Snowmobiles and two trailers from Cozzy’s Polaris of Marinette for $16,299 and five Crown Victoria squad cars from the Motor Company of Marinette for $118,067, or $23,613 each.
The bed rental agreement with Oconto County Juvenile Detention Facility that guarantees 450 days at $110 per day for the year 2010 was also approved. The alternative would be transporting juveniles much greater distances, as Oconto County would shut down unless Marinette, Florence and Forest counties renegotiated the agreements.
For highway matters, a municipal agreement for engineering services for Co. B from Belgium Road to Co. CP between Marinette County and the Village of Coleman and an ARRA stimulus fund project right of way plat, from Co. T from Gallagher Road to south of Roosevelt Road, Marinette, with fee title, permanent limited and temporary limited easements and release of utility rights was approved.
The board completed its business by about 11:15 a.m. and adjourned.
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