Green Lake County, WI Article III Appointed Committees

§ 9-29 General requirements.

A. The County Board Chair shall designate the membership of all appointed committees pursuant to his/her authority under § 9-7, unless the appointment is made by the County Administrator as required under statute. These appointments shall be for a term of two years until their successors are appointed and confirmed by the County Board.

B. Each committee shall elect its own officers unless said elections are inconsistent with federal or Wisconsin laws.

C. The County Board Chair (or the County Administrator) shall also designate an alternate member for each appointed committee, who shall serve at such time as may be necessary to form a quorum for the regular conduct of business. The Committee Chair or the County Clerk shall notify the alternate member of the need for his/her services.

D. Regular meetings of appointed committees shall be held at a time and place as advertised by the committee. Special meetings may be held as determined necessary by the committee and shall be duly advertised.

E. Committees shall keep appropriate minutes of all actions taken at their meetings. All minutes shall be placed on the County website within three business days of the meeting at which the minutes were taken. Committee Chairs shall present reports to the County Board on request.

§ 9-30 Agriculture-Extension Education and Fair Committee.

A. The Agriculture-Extension Education and Fair Committee shall consist of five Supervisors appointed by the County Board Chair and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors. Each Committee member shall serve a term of two years.

B. Section 59.56, Wis. Stats., governs the powers, duties and responsibilities of this Committee. This Committee shall serve as the governing committee for the University of Wisconsin-Extension Department, its agents, the Cooperative Extension Education Program, and the County Library Services.

C. For the purposes of § 59.56(3)(g), Wis. Stats., the university extension program shall be a department of County government, and the Agriculture-Extension Education and Fair Committee shall be the committee which is delegated the authority to direct and supervise the department.

D. Program functions are established under § 59.56(3)(f), Wis. Stats., and authorization is given to this Committee to direct, conduct and supervise these programs.

E. The Agriculture-Extension Education and Fair Committee may enter into joint agreements with the University of Wisconsin - Extension or with other counties and university extension if County funds committed in such agreements have been appropriated by the County Board. The County Administrator is authorized to execute such agreements and copies of such agreements will be filed in the County Clerk's office.

F. The Agriculture-Extension Education and Fair Committee shall administer and maintain those items as listed in the fair inventory of the Green Lake County Junior Free Fair as filed annually with the office of the Green Lake County Clerk and for the purposes of administration shall be the governing Board of Directors for the Green Lake County Junior Free Fair. The Committee shall work in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin - Extension Office in coordinating activities relating to the County Fair. Section 59.56(14), Wis. Stats., Fairgrounds and Fairs, § 93.23, Wis. Stats., Local Fairs, and Ch. ATCP 160, Wis. Adm. Code, shall govern the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Fair Board, state aids, premium lists, fair rules, regulations and financial reporting.

G. The Agriculture-Extension Education and Fair Committee shall have the power and duty to manage and maintain the fairgrounds during the Green Lake County Junior Free Fair. The Committee shall have the authority to contract entertainment services. The Committee shall have the authority to contract services and/or hire such personnel as it deems necessary for the adequate management and maintenance of said facilities and grounds (in preparation for and during the fair and cleanup) within the limit of funds appropriated for this purpose by the County Board, state aid, donations and grants.

H. The Board of Directors shall submit an annual financial report to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in a format as required by § ATCP 160.92, Wis. Adm. Code. Publication of the financial report shall be in accordance with § ATCP 160.92(6), Wis. Adm. Code, and § 93.23(1)(a) to (i) and Ch. 985, Wis. Stats.

§ 9-31 Judicial/Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Committee.

A. The Judicial/Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Committee shall consist of five members appointed by the County Board Chair and confirmed by the County Board of Supervisors. The members shall serve for two years or until a successor has been elected or appointed. The County Board Chair shall designate the chairperson of the Judicial/Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Committee pursuant to § 323.14(1)(a)3, Wis. Stats.

B. The Judicial/Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Committee shall have the powers, duties and responsibilities required by § 323.14, Wis. Stats.

C. The Judicial/Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Committee will be the governing committee for the following departments to the extent allowed by Wisconsin Statutes and common law:

(1) Clerk of Circuit Court.

(2) District Attorney.

(3) Sheriff's Department.

(4) Register in Probate.

(5) Circuit Court Judge.

(6) Coroner.

(7) Family Court Commissioner.

(8) Emergency Management.

D. It shall be the responsibility of the Judicial/Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Committee to establish policy and procedures and assist the department heads listed in Subsection C, above, to correlate and harmonize all phases of law enforcement in Green Lake County, including support of the department heads listed in Subsection C, above, in performing their principal duties under Wisconsin Statutes.

E. In addition to such general duties and responsibilities, the Judicial/Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Committee is specifically authorized and empowered to perform the following duties:

(1) The Committee shall review the rules developed by the Sheriff relating to the conduct of law enforcement personnel and the performance of their duties and the established hours of employment.

(2) Once each year, the Chair of the Committee and the Sheriff shall schedule a special meeting for the examination and inspection of all equipment being used in the operation of the Sheriff's Department and at that time determine the needs for the coming year, prior to preparing the department budgets. The Committee, along with the Sheriff, shall make an impromptu examination of the menu being served all prisoners and sample the same and also determine the fiscal impact on the Sheriff's Department budget. Once each year, the Committee shall inspect the jail as required under § 59.54(15), Wis. Stats.

(3) The Committee shall have the right to establish the criteria for reports deemed necessary to oversee and advise each department.

§ 9-32 Health and Human Services Board.

A. The Health and Human Services Board shall consist of nine members appointed by the County Administrator and confirmed by the County Board, five of whom shall be County Board Supervisors and four of whom shall be citizens at large. At least one member shall be an individual who receives or has received human services or shall be a family member of such individual. The remainder shall be consumers of services or citizens at large. No public or private provider of health and human services may be appointed to the County Health and Human Services Board.

B. Citizens at large on the County Health and Human Services Board shall serve for terms of three years so arranged that, as nearly as possible, the terms of 1/3 of the members shall expire each year. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. In the event that a County Board Supervisor (elected for a two-year term) is not re-elected to this position, the County Administrator shall fill this vacancy as described above.

C. The responsibilities, powers and duties of the Health and Human Services Board are as follows: to ensure that the Department of Health and Human Services provides programs and services to all County residents as provided and directed by § 46.23 et seq., Wis. Stats., and the Wisconsin Administrative Code. The Health and Human Services Board, in conjunction with the Director, shall develop policy and procedures to be followed in providing services required by appropriate directives within the Department's budget. In addition, the Health and Human Services Board shall be the governing committee for the Veterans' Service Office.

D. The Health and Human Services Board may appoint such subcommittees as may be necessary for the purpose of receiving community, professional or technical information concerning particular policy considerations. All meetings of any subcommittees shall be duly advertised and posted in accordance with the open meeting laws including the preparation of an agenda. Minutes shall be kept of any such meetings, and members attending shall receive meeting payments and reimbursement for mileage in accordance with the County resolution pertaining to the same.

E. The Personnel Committee shall be notified by all committees when holding personnel interviews for hiring so that representation can attend, observe and, if needed, confer.

§ 9-33 Finance Committee.

A. The Finance Committee shall consist of five Supervisors appointed by the County Board Chair and confirmed by the County Board for a two-year term or until a successor is appointed and confirmed.

B. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Finance Committee shall be as follows:

(1) Pursuant to § 59.52(12)(a), Wis. Stats., the Committee shall examine and settle all accounts of the County, and all claims and demands against the County that do not exceed $5,000 and cause to be issued orders therefor.

(2) The Committee shall facilitate the efforts of the County Administrator in the development and submission of the annual County budget with the County Administrator and submit it to the County Board at the annual meeting. Revenues and expenditures proposed by the several committees and departments of County government shall be considered in the preparation of this budget.

(3) The Finance Committee is hereby authorized, pursuant to § 65.90(5)(b), Wis. Stats., to transfer funds between budgeted items of an individual County office or department, if such budgeted items have been separately appropriated. The County Administrator is hereby authorized to approve the transfer of funds between budgeted items of an individual County office or department, if such budgeted items have been separately appropriated and are in an aggregate amount of $500 or less. Transfers from the contingency fund shall be processed and approved in the same manner as any budgeted amendment pursuant to § 69.90(5)(a), Wis. Stats.

(4) The Committee shall examine and investigate all requests for County borrowing and submit its recommendations thereon to the County Board at its meeting next following the completion of said investigation.

(5) The Committee shall direct all office procedures of the County Treasurer, and secure compliance with recommendations made by the State Department of Audit in relation thereto, and shall supervise the investment of all County funds not needed for immediate operation of the County and shall direct the Treasurer with regard to such investments.

(6) The Committee shall have the authority to designate a representative to monitor and give input to the Personnel Committee during negotiations with labor unions and groups of professional employees.

(7) The Committee shall perform duties relating to illegal assessments and tax deed lands in accordance with Wisconsin Statutes and County ordinances.

(8) In the absence of the County Administrator, the Finance Committee may approve payment of vouchers and/or claims from any committee or department to ensure timely payment of bills.

(9) The Finance Committee shall be the oversight committee of the Economic Development Corporation.

C. As relates to the Green Lake County Economic Development Corporation, the Chairperson of the Finance Committee or his/her designee from the Finance Committee shall also serve on the Board of Directors of the Corporation, per Resolution No. 11-90.

§ 9-34 Personnel Committee.

A. The Personnel Committee shall consist of a five-member committee of Supervisors appointed by the County Board Chair and confirmed by the County Board for a two-year term or until a successor is appointed and confirmed.

B. The Green Lake County Board delegates to the Personnel Committee full authority to make all decisions relating to management rights/recognition on behalf of the Green Lake County Board as defined in the employee labor contract.

C. The Personnel Committee, on behalf of Green Lake County, shall negotiate contracts with the employee labor unions and associations of professional employees, through authority vested by the County Board, with all contracts subject to ratification of the County Board. A copy of all such contracts will be filed with the County Clerk.

D. The Personnel Committee shall:

(1) Establish policies for all County employees, and publish and maintain the County Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, and Administrative Policy Manual.

(2) Establish a period of probation for all new employees and employees transferring from one position to another.

(3) All personnel matters needing County Board approval shall be submitted by the governing committee with "recommendation of approval or disapproval of the Personnel Committee" being indicated on the resolution.

§ 9-35 Property and Insurance Committee.

A. The Property and Insurance Committee shall consist of five Supervisors, appointed by the County Board Chair and confirmed by the County Board for a two-year term or until a successor is appointed and confirmed.

B. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Property and Insurance Committee shall be as follows:

(1) The Committee shall maintain and keep an inventory of all capital items of furniture, fixtures, and general and specialized equipment used in all County operations along with an inventory of surplus equipment. The Committee shall have the authority to determine if surplus equipment is to be serviced and stored for future use or disposal.

(2) The Committee shall oversee the maintenance of the Green Lake County Government Center, highway buildings, outbuildings on County premises, and maintain the yards, walks, and parking lots adjacent thereto and plan, develop and supervise all new construction and renovation unless a specific building committee is appointed by the County Board. For acquiring, developing and maintaining snowmobile trails whenever possible, the Committee shall make application for grants and aids from the state and federal snowmobile maintenance funds.

(3) The Committee shall oversee the County's insurance needs for:

(a) Insurance.

[1] Public liability and property damage insurance, either through commercial companies or by self-insurance created by setting up a fund for such purpose or by a combination thereof, covering, without exclusion because of enumeration, motor vehicles, malfeasance of professional employees, maintenance and operation of County highways and parks, and any other activities involving the possibility of damage to the general public;

[2] Fire and casualty insurance for all County property;

[3] Health, life, and disability insurance for County employees as appropriate;

[4] The protection of the County and the public against loss or damage resulting from the act, neglect, or default of County officers, department heads, and employees.

(b) Any plan for self-insurance under this subsection shall be specifically approved by the County Board before it may be commenced.

(4) The Committee shall have the responsibility for arranging for the printing of public notices, County Board proceedings, and any other printing required by County ordinance, except for the printing of notices, etc., that are the special concern and responsibility of other committees of the County Board or departments of County government.

C. The Property and Insurance Committee will appoint a Loss Control Subcommittee, and this Subcommittee shall administer and support the Insurance Loss Control Program of the County in coordination with the County Clerk, who shall serve as the Safety Coordinator/Risk Manager. Additional guidance to this Subcommittee shall be provided by loss control specialists provided by the County's insurance providers at no cost to the County. Subcommittee meetings shall be held at such intervals as are deemed necessary to properly carry out the several functions of the Subcommittee, but at least quarterly. Such meetings shall be duly noticed in accordance with open meeting law and shall keep minutes and post an agenda.

§ 9-36 Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee.

A. The Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee shall consist of five Supervisors appointed by the County Board Chair and confirmed by the County Board for a two-year term or until a successor has been appointed and confirmed.

B. It shall be the purpose of the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee to promote the public health, safety, convenience, and general welfare; to encourage planned and orderly land use development; to recognize the needs of agriculture, forestry, industry, and business in future growth; to encourage uses of land and other natural resources which are in accordance with their character and adaptability; to preserve wetlands; to conserve soil, water, and forest resources; to protect the beauty and amenities of landscape and man-made developments; to provide healthy surroundings for family life; and to promote the efficient and economical use of public lands.

C. The Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee shall be the governing committee for the Land Use Planning and Zoning Department.

D. The Committee shall be responsible for developing a Comprehensive Plan under §§ 66.1001 and 59.69(2) or (3), Wis. Stats., for all unincorporated areas of the County.

E. The powers and duties of the Committee shall be as specified by Green Lake County Ordinances Chapter 350, Zoning; Chapter 338, Shoreland Protection; Chapter 315, Land Division and Subdivision; Chapter 300, Floodplain Zoning; Chapter 334, Sewage Systems, Private; Chapter 323, Nonmetallic Mining, and any other ordinance deemed necessary by the County Board. The Committee shall assist in the implementation of the enforcement of the Farmland Preservation Plan and any other plan(s) as deemed necessary by the County Board and shall further have the responsibilities delegated to it by said ordinances in relation to the Green Lake County Zoning Maps, together with such other powers and duties as are specified in §§ 59.69, 59.692, 87.30 and 281.31, Wis. Stats., as well as any other sections of the statutes relating thereto and affecting the general area of responsibility of the Committee as set forth herein and any further duties and responsibilities as may be designated from time to time by the County Board.

§ 9-37 Commission on Aging.

A. The Commission on Aging shall consist of five members appointed by the County Administrator and confirmed by the County Board. No more than one member shall be an elected County official, but the elected official shall have an alternate appointed to serve in the absence of the elected official. Members shall serve for terms of three years, so arranged that, as nearly as practicable, the terms of 1/3 of the members shall expire each year, and no member may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. At least 51% of the members of the Commission shall be senior citizens, 60 years of age or older.

B. The Chairperson of the Commission shall be appointed by the County Board Chair.

C. The duties and powers of the Commission are as prescribed in Green Lake County Ordinance Chapter 19, Article I, Commission on Aging.

D. A meeting of the Commission on Aging shall be held as required at a time and place as advertised by the Commission. Special meetings shall be held as determined necessary by the Commission or its Chair and shall be duly advertised.

§ 9-38 Land Conservation Committee.

A. The Land Conservation Committee shall consist of five members, two of whom shall be appointed from the County Agriculture-Extension Education and Fair Committee, two members at large from the County Board of Supervisors not on the Agriculture-Extension Education and Fair Committee, and one member shall be the Chair of the County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee created under 16 U.S.C. § 590h(b) or other member of that latter committee designated by its Chair.

B. If a member of the Agriculture-Extension Education and Fair Committee declines appointment to this Committee, the County Board Chair shall appoint a replacement from the remaining County Board Supervisors. Section 92.06, Wis. Stats., requires that at least two members shall be Supervisors elected to the County Agriculture-Extension Education and Fair Committee.

C. The Land Conservation Committee shall have those powers, duties, and responsibilities as designated by the County Board and § 92.07, Wis. Stats., and may develop and adopt standards and specifications for management practices to control erosion, sedimentation, and nonpoint-source water pollution.

D. The Committee may allocate and distribute federal, state, and County funds made available for cost-sharing programs and other incentive programs.

E. The Committee shall encourage research, educational and informational public service programs and advise the University of Wisconsin system on educational needs.

§ 9-39 Administrative Committee.

A. The Administrative Committee shall consist of the following members: the County Board Chair, a member of the Highway Committee, the Judicial Law/Emergency Management Committee, the Agriculture-Extension and Fair Committee, and the DHHS Board, appointed by the County Board Chair. The County Board Chair shall be the Chair of the Committee and the County Clerk acts as Secretary to the Committee. Committee members shall serve for two years or until a successor has been elected or appointed.

B. The Administrative Committee will be the supervising committee for the following elected and appointed officials: County Clerk, County Treasurer, Register of Deeds, County Administrator and Corporation Counsel.

C. The Committee shall review and recommend to the County Board the salaries for elected officials, constitutional officers and the County Board of Supervisors.

D. A regular meeting of the Administrative Committee shall be held at least quarterly at a time and place as advertised by the Committee. Special meetings shall be held as determined necessary by the Committee and shall be duly advertised.

E. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Administrative Committee shall be as follows:

(1) The Administrative Committee shall review and recommend policy, not otherwise vested in other County Board committees, to the County Board, represent the County's point of view on legislation affecting Green Lake County and consider matters not specifically assigned to other committees.

(2) The County Board Chair and Vice Chair shall act as the members for Inter-county Coordinating Committee (ICC) and any other member of the Administrative Committee can act as an alternate.

(3) When the County Board Chair becomes ill and/or incapacitated and the Vice Chair assumes the duties for over 30 days, the Administrative Committee may authorize the Vice Chair to receive an amount of compensation equal to the County Board Chair's pay. If the Vice Chair must assume the duties of the County Board Chair, the County Board Chair shall not receive pay during the time the Vice Chair is acting as Chair.

(4) As per § 59.15, Wis. Stats., the Administrative Committee shall review situations of any Supervisor who refuses or neglects to perform any of the duties which are required of the Supervisor by law as a member of the Board, and the Administrative Committee may recommend to the County Board forfeiture as allowed by statute.

(5) The Committee will be the governing committee for the Information Technology Department and develop policy and procedure for its operations and acquisition and redistribution of hardware and software. Further, the Committee shall:

(a) Set criteria for computer hardware and software, fee structures for information management, standards for employee computer usage, education, and security and coordinate interdepartment computer relations and communications (network).

(b) Develop a five-year computer operations plan which will be reviewed and updated yearly.

§ 9-40 Parks Commission.

A. The Parks Commission shall consist of seven members, three of which shall be members of the Green Lake County Board of Supervisors. The County Board Chair shall appoint the members, in writing, and shall file the appointments in the office of the County Clerk.

B. The term of each member, except for County Board members, is seven years following July 1 of the year in which the appointment is made and until the appointment and qualification of a successor, except that the first seven members shall be appointed respectfully for such terms that on July 1 in each of the seven years following the year in which they are appointed the term of one member will expire. After the original appointments, one commissioner shall be appointed annually in the month of June to succeed the member whose term will expire on July 1 following. The term of any Park Commissioner who is a County Board member shall end when the Commissioner's membership on the County Board terminates, unless thereafter reappointed to the Commission. [See § 27.02(1), Wis. Stats.]

C. The powers, duties and responsibilities of the Parks Commission are as prescribed in Green Lake County Ordinance Chapter 19, Article II, Parks Commission.

§ 9-41 Land Information Council.

[Added 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 17-2020[1]]

A. The Land Information Council shall consist of not less than eight members and shall include the register of deeds, the treasurer/real property lister, and the following members appointed by the County Board for a one-year term or until a successor has been appointed and confirmed:

(1) A member of the County Board.

(2) A representative of the land information office.

(3) A realtor or a member of the realtors association employed within the County.

(4) A public safety or emergency communications representative employed within the County.

(5) The county surveyor or a professional land surveyor employed within the County.

(6) Any other members of the County Board or public that the County Board designates.

B. Notwithstanding Subsection A, if no person is willing to serve under Subsection A(3), (4), or (5), the County Board may create or maintain the Land Information Council without the member designated under Subsection A(3), (4), or (5).

C. The Land Information Council shall review the priorities, needs, policies, and expenditures of the land information office established by the County Board and advise the County Board on matters affecting the land information office.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former § 9-41 as § 9-42.