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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance October 31 1988WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE October 31, 1988 The meeting was called to order by Committee Chairman Dan Warner at 1 :30 p.m. with Committee members Don Hansey and Mary Vanderpol present. Also present were Shirley Van Zanten, County Executive; Tom Sutberry, Budget Director; N.F. Jackson, Clerk of Superior Court, Vic Battson, Assessor; Pat DeHaan, Assessor's Office; Shirley Forslof, Auditor; Ed Henken, Engineering; David McEachern, Prosecuting Attorney; Kathy Walker, Office Administrator, Prosecutor's Office; Evert Velthuisen, Dairy Farmer; Harry Zemel, Board of Realtors; Cynthia Weed, Preston, Thorgrimson, Ellis d Holman, Seattle; Steve Yagels, Harper, McLean and Company, Seattle; Dr. Jones, Health Department; and Brad Bennett of Public Works. N.F. Jackson stated that Whatcom County is developing a growing backlog of cases. The Courts are able to keep up with the criminal caseload but are far behind in handling civil cases. Probation, juvenile, and estates are tied up forever. Jackson requests another Commissioner be hired to increase efficiency by handling petitions, hearing domestic violence and anti - harassment cases, and collecting fines that are not presently being collected. Jackson feels another Commissioner would pay for himself in the collection of fines. Jackson made a plea on behalf of himself, the Court Reporters, Medical Examiner, and Commissioners whose salary increases have not kept pace with other workers. Jackson passed out a chart showing the amounts being lost by not having any increment other than the 2% cost of living raise. 2 :00 p.m. Vic Battson explained that each year the tax levy is increased 6% but this only occurs up to $1.80 per $1,000 assessed valuation. Battson said we are nearing our levy lid. Handouts were given to the Council members. Battson stated that there are many properties that are not being added to the tax rolls because that department does not have the personnel to assess them. The personal property addition would be $30, 523,000. His solution is to hire 1.5 more people by bringing part time staff up to full time.. There would be no new hires. 2 :30 p.m. David McEachran and Kathy Walker discussed the extreme need for better file storage. They were allotted $25,000 in the budget and are requesting an additional $20,000 to triple current storage facilities and put up acoustical dividers in the office. These would be mobile and could be moved easily to a new area in the future. McEachran requested that his salary be raised to $59,500 to bring him up to an amount comparable to his peers in other counties. The State pays half of his salary so the amount of the raise the County would have to pay would be $3,801. 3 :00 p.m. Dr. Jones stated that his calculations include unpaid legal fees and he wants the new figures included in the Executive's decision on the Health department. Finance, 10/31/88, Page 2 Discussion on tuberculosis control not paid for by the State which is $81,000. There is some relief on Amnesty people. Hospital bills are usually covered on medical plans now. There are 30 -60 people on treatment at any time. General Finance Committee meeting commenced at 3:10 p.m. ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS NOT TO EXCEED $4,950,000 TO OBTAIN PART OF THE FUNDS FOR PLANNING, SITING. ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTING AND INSTALLING A SOLID WASTE LANDFILL Ordinance was amended to read "not to exceed" rather than "in the amount of" throughout. Van Zanten explained that the intent was to borrow the money and draw interest on it. The County would float 20 year bonds to repay this loan. These bonds would be available to anyone in Whatcom County except Council members. HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE AMENDED ORDINANCE. The motion carried. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF REGISTERED WARRANTS BY DRAINAGE DISTRICT N0, 3 Evert Velthuisen, commissioner of Drainage District No. 3, explained the need for this motion. HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. Motion carried. RESOLUTION FOR HEARING AND NOTICE OF HEARING ON SALE OF COUNTY TAX "TITLE PROPERTY (REQUEST NO, 2) HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. The motion carried. RESOLUTION TO SELL PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY THE COUNTY ON TAX FORECLOSURE (REQUEST N0. 1) HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. The motion carried. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF BIDDERS LIST FOR A CONVENIENT, CONTINUOUS AND READILY AVAILABLE SOURCE AND SUPPLY OF CONCRETE CULVERT PIPE FOR 1989 HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST. The motion carried. BID AWARD RECOMMENDATION FOR A SELF - PROPELLED DOUBLE DRUM VIBRATORY ROLLER TO THE LOW BIDDER, NC MACHINERY, FOR A CATERPILLAR CB314 ROLLER AT A TOTAL PRICE OF 425,800, INCLUDING SALES TAX VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION. The motion carried. Finance, 10/31/88, Page 3 RESOLUTION INITIATING PROJECT NO. 99166, RECONSTRUCTION OF LAKE WHATCOM BOULEVARD BID AWARD RECOMMENDATION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF A PORTION OF LAKE WHATCOM BOULEVARD, CRP NO, 99166, TO THE LOW BIDDER, ONE -WAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, IN THE AMOUNT OF $558,027.50 (BID ALTERNATE "B "), INCLUDING ITEM 1 UNDER INTRO AND PAGES 99 -102) Ed Henken explained the need for contingency funds included in the above proposals. HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AND BID AWARD RECOMMENDATION. The motion carried. ORDINANCE TO REVISE THE 1988 REAL ESTATE EXCISE TAX CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. The motion carried. ORDINANCE TO REVISE THE 1988 CURRENT EXPENSE FUND, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND JAIL APPROPRIATIONS THEREIN There is a need to move $5,000 from the Jail overtime budget to cover vacation payout. HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. The motion carried. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STUDY Shirley Forslof asked if the continuance of the Ad Hoc Committee would be discussed at this meeting. Warner asked that the committee bring forward a proposal showing costs and administrative impacts so the Council can evaluate at a later date. Forslof also mentioned she is getting a better idea of actual election costs. Forslof expects that we will be able to recover a much larger portion of next year's election costs. Van Zanten handed out a memo to each of the Council members and said she would have more information on it by November 18. She also said that Tom Sutberry would prepare a resolution for Thursday night regarding the Ad Hoc Committee continuing to review the Financial Management study. The meeting was adjourned at 3 :50 p.m. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Ba bara Maher Daniel M. Warner, member Clerk of the Council