MARATHON COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING

AMENDED AGENDA

Date & Time of Meeting: Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at Noon

Meeting Location: Courthouse Assembly Room B-105 – 500 Forest St., Wausau

Committee Members: Craig McEwen, Chair, Jim Schaefer, Vice-Chair, Sherry Abitz, Jack Hoogendyk, Karen Kellbach, Jean Maszk, Yee Leng Xiong

Marathon County Mission Statement: Marathon County Government serves people by leading, coordinating, and providing county, regional, and statewide initiatives. It directly or in cooperation with other public and private partners provides services and creates opportunities that make Marathon County and the surrounding area a preferred place to live, work, visit, and do business. (Last updated: 12-20-05) Committee Mission Statement: Provide leadership for the implementation of the Strategic Plan, monitoring outcomes, reviewing and recommending to the County Board policies related to public safety initiatives of Marathon County.

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Public Comment (15 minute limit)

3. Approval of the Minutes of the Public Safety Meeting on August 9, 2017

4. Educational Presentations/Outcome Monitoring Reports A. Report from Clerk of Courts on Legal Research B. Update on Uniform Addressing C. Report on Full Implementation of Screening and Controlled Entry

5. Policy Issues Discussion and Committee Determination to the County Board for its Consideration A. Resolution Committing to Provide Support Services for a Sixth Circuit Court Judge in Marathon

County B. Court Related Support Department Staffing Needs, (Some Current, Some Needed to Support an

Additional Court) C. Change “Uniform Addressing System Policy and Administrative Guidance” to Provide for the

County Paying the Full Municipal Cost of Implementing the New Addressing System

6. Next Meeting Time, Location, Announcements and Agenda Items: A. Committee members are asked to bring ideas for future discussion B. Next meeting: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at Noon the Courthouse Assembly Room

7. Adjournment

“Any person planning to attend this meeting who needs some type of special accommodation in order to participate should call the County Clerk’s Office at 715-261-1500 or e-mail infomarathon@mail.co.marathon.wi.us one business day before the meeting.

SIGNED /s/ Craig McEwen Presiding Officer or Designee

FAXED TO: Wausau Daily Herald, City Pages, and NOTICE POSTED AT COURTHOUSE FAXED TO: Other Media Groups FAXED BY: M. Palmer BY: M. Palmer FAXED DATE: DATE: FAXED TIME: TIME:

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MARATHON COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

Wednesday, August 8, 2017, at 12:00 p.m. Employee Resources Conference Room (C-149), Courthouse, Wausau

Attendance: Members Present Absent

Craig McEwen, Chair X Jim Schaefer, Vice-Chair EX Sherry Abitz X Jack Hoogendyk EX

Karen Kellbach X Jean Maszk X Yee Leng Xiong X

Other Present: Brad Karger, Scott Parks, Bill Millhausen, Chad Billeb, Greg Huber, Theresa Wetzsteon, Susa Byrnes, Phil Rentmeester, Media,

1. Call Meeting to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Craig McEwen at 12:00 p.m.

2. Public Comment – None.

3. Approval of the Minutes of the July 12, 2017, Public Safety Meetings MOTION BY MASZK; SECOND BY XIONG; TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 12, 2017, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING. MOTION CARRIED.

4. Educational Presentations/Outcome Monitoring Reports A. Life Saving Awards (Sheriff Parks)

Discussion: The Sheriff presented Lifesaving Awards for three separate incidents: Citizens Buckley Birkholz, David Fenske and Justin Slack received the award for aiding an individual in the Town of Rib Mountain. The individual’s vehicle entered a pond. Birkholtz, Fenske and Slack entered the pond and pulled the person from the half submerged car saving the person’s life. Corrections Division: – Melissa Fleischman, Andrew Tackes, Lucas Volden and Nurse John Meixner for saving the life of an inmate who ingested several tubes of toothpaste and stopped breathing. CPR and The Heimlich Maneuver were performed and the inmate started breathing. Patrol Division – Deputies Cassandra Seubert, Troy Deiler with K9 Leo, Lloyd Faulkner and Brandon Stroik with K9 Csibi – In the Town of Eau Pleine there was an incident in a home and a female and her family were attacked. The person fled the scene into a swamp in the middle of the night. He was tracked by K9’s and when located took a 9” knife to his neck and body and severely cut his trachea. The Deputies started life saving measures and then had to help cart him out of the swamp so EMS personnel could provide services.

B. Update on the Family Mediation Evaluation Process Grant for the Clerk of Courts

Discussion: Kelly Schremp from the Clerk of Courts Office gave an update on a grant they applied for and received for Family Mediation Evaluation Process through the Community Foundation in the amount of $7,500.

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C. Update on Uniform Addressing Discussion:

Dave Mack, Conservation, Planning and Zoning, gave an update that proposals were submitted in July. A panel was put together to review and analyze proposals and have started interviews. Negotiations will begin soon. By September 1, 2017, a verdict will be given by the courts on the Rib Mountain law suit.

D. Progress on Implementing Screening and Controlled Entry

Discussion: Chief Deputy Chad Billeb – Court Security started a soft opening today. They are working on finishing touches. They are getting some kickback due to frustration. Facilities has been amazing in the short time they have had to get the building ready. September 5th will be full implementation. Handicap accessible ramp will be ready after the September 5th implementation. City of Wausau is working with the County on signage and crosswalk from the mall.

E. Benefits of Crime Statistics Reporting – Billeb

Discussion: Each standing committee is taking lower quadrant programs and looking to see if any funding can be moved from quadrant 4 to quadrants 1 or 2. Crime Statistics Reporting, which we are learning about today, is a quadrant 4 program. This is not a mandated program, however many grants require statistic reporting. The Sheriff’s Department is moving from uniform crime reporting moving to incident based reporting. The cost of the new program for this is approximately $7,000. The whole suite is about one million dollars. If we didn’t do reporting it would impact many grants relating to law enforcement and justice. Six police agencies in Marathon County currently share all data and statistics. The goal is to bring all Marathon County police agencies on the same system (Superion) and to have standardized forms and information sharing.

F. Update of Staffing Study of Current and Future Public Safety Telecommunication Positions

Discussion: A study was done a while ago on the public safety telecommunication positions. It will take between 10 and 13 thousand dollars to get the old study updated. The study would include immediate and long-term needs. One area of expertise is in current and new technology.

Action: MOTION BY XIONG; SECOND BY KELLBACH TO APPROVE UPDATING THE STUDY OF CURRENT AND FUTURE PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATION POSITION NEEDS. MOTION CARRIED.

5. Policy Issues Discussion and Committee Determination to the County Board for its

Consideration A. Resolution Committing to Provide Support Services for a Sixth Circuit Court Judge in

Marathon County Discussion:

Judge Huber gave the background on how long we have been working to get a 6th Judge in Marathon County and why it’s important. In 2013 and 2015 the County Board approved the 6th judgeship but it didn’t go anywhere in the State and nothing was done. Now it has come up again. Two handouts were given showing the increase in cases filed and pending cases. Cases filed

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have increase from 17,268 in 2014 to already 8,196 cases through June of 2017 which will bring us close to 18,000 or more cases this year. Pending Cases in 2014 were 2,787 and through June of 2017 we already have 3,498 cases pending. The Judge is requesting that we be included in the current Bill that will be introduced in September or October. If approved, the earliest we would get a new Judge would be August 1, 2019. If we don’t stay in the running now, it could be many years before we would be looked at to receive another judge. State wants a solid commitment that we support another judgeship and will provide a location. Can courtroom operations be streamlined to relieve pressure on other departments? There would be the same number of cases but more courtrooms. Sub specialties courtrooms are being considered, but will it alleviate the problem? It takes a long time for inmates to go through the system. Technology may be a faster route sometimes, but not all the time. There is a lack of Public Defenders. Can the reimbursement rate be increased, how can the State attract more attorneys for public defenders? What is the incentive to do this instead of private practice? The number of cases won’t change for DA or public defenders, but with a new judge it should expedite the cases being processed.

Action MOTION BY XIONG; SECOND BY MASZK TO POSTPONE THIS AGENDA ITEM TO THE SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 MEETING. MOTION CARRIED.

Follow through: County Administration will meet with the department heads of the departments impacted Clerk of Court, District Attorney, judges, public defenders, Sheriff’s department, on how their departments are impacted and get their input. Bring back in September.

6. Next Meeting Time, Location, Announcements and Agenda Items: A. Committee members suggested these ideas for future discussion

What is the legality of doors closed during public meetings? Brad Karger will check with Scott Corbett.

Phil Rentmeester, Emergency Management Director, in October and November there is a plan to have table top exercises for emergency response

B. Next meeting: Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at Noon the Courthouse Assembly

Room

7. Announcements: The Regional Morgue Task Force will meet next Wednesday, August 16th at 9:00 a.m. in the Assembly Room

8. Adjournment MOTION BY MASZK; SECOND BY ABITZ TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at 1:11 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted by Mary Palmer

DRAFT RESOLUTION R‐ _____ ‐ 13 

 

AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR A SIXTH CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE FOR MARATHON COUNTY   

  WHEREAS, the Director of State Courts of the Wisconsin Supreme Court has informed the Marathon County Board of Supervisors that the Marathon County Circuit Court caseload, based on the 2011 Wisconsin Weighted Caseload Study, indicates a current need for seven (7) judges in Marathon County; and    WHEREAS, Marathon County is currently authorized five circuit judges and the rate of growth of case filings in Marathon County has consistently warranted seven (7) judges for the past five years; and    WHEREAS, the Director of the State Courts has indicated to the Chief Judge of the Ninth Judicial District that it is anticipated that a bill will be introduced in the State Legislature to allocate additional judgeships; and    WHEREAS, Marathon County’s judge need has been identified as one of the highest in the state.  NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Marathon 

hereby requests the Director of State Courts to request the Wisconsin State Legislature to allocate a sixth judgeship for Marathon County; and 

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors reaffirms that it will support both 

space and personnel requirements deemed necessary for support of a sixth circuit judge.  Dated this ____ day of __________________, 2013. 

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE  

                                                                                                                      

FISCAL IMPACT ESTIMATE (2013 projections):  Maximum staff anticipated is one courtroom clerk and one judicial assistant:   Clerk gross salary and benefits:  $55,967   Judicial Assistant gross salary and benefits:  $61,020 If a sixth judgeship is created, Marathon County would receive the court support grant base 

amount of $42,275 per year times six judges rather than five judges.  The addition of a sixth judge will result in the need to construct a sixth permanent 

courtroom consistent with the 20 year Courthouse plan.