06-19-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--June 19,2000 2143 15. REGIONAL CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT, Request to hire additional secretary Kathy Ziegelmann, Regional Child Support Enforcement Director, appeared before the Board to request an additional full-time legal secretary, which is an unbudgeted position. She said the child support case load has been steadily increasing and with changes in federal mandates, State laws, and implementation of FACSES, the amount of work required on each file has also increased. She said the three legal secretaries have not been able to keep up with the case work and are three months behind now, as opposed to being one month behind a year ago. Mrs. Ziegelmann said the Child Support Task Force, whose members are representative of the counties in the southeast region of the State, met on May 30, 2000, and voted to recommend approval by the Cass County Commission to hire a full-time legal secretary to begin July 1, 2000. In her correspondence to the Board for today's meeting, Mrs. Ziegelmann included information from the Auditor's Office on where funds for the unbudgeted position could be found within the salaries line item of the Regional Child Support Unit (RCSEU) budget. The proposed motion authorizing the new hire included a budget adjustment for RCSEU and for Social Services. Mrs. Schneider asked why Social Service funds are affected, and Mike Montplaisir, County Auditor, said this would not affect the Social Service budget. Mr. Wieland said it would cost more money to hire a temporary worker, and approving this position will make it easier for Mrs. Ziegelmann to budget next year. He said the FACSES program is an example of an unfunded mandate by the federal government. Mrs. Quick said this board needs to stop hiring more and more staff for this one department, as other county departments are busy also, She questioned where the staff increases will end in this department. Mrs. Schneider agreed that someone has to say no to adding staff every time a new government program is implemented without the corresponding revenue. Mrs. Ziegelmann does not see an end to it, and she said not meeting deadlines leaves the county susceptible to possible fiscal sanctions. She said it could also affect Social Service funds. Mr. Koenig said he can imagine the frustration level of the people working in that office because of the amount of work and the deadlines that need to be met. MOTION, passed Mr. Koenig moved and Mr. Wieland seconded to authorize Regional Child Support Enforcement Unit to hire an additional permanent full- time Legal Secretary in July, 2000, and authorize a budget adjustment to the RCSEU as follows: increase expenditures by $14,650 for the cost of the position including salary, benefits, telephone and computer expenses with $12,200 coming from account #101-3106- 419.10-05, full Time Salaries, and $2,450 coming from account #101- 3106-418.74-02, Office Equipment. On roll call vote, the motion carried with three members voting "Aye"; Mrs. Quick and Mrs. Schneider opposing. 16. VOUCHERS, Aooroved MOTION, passed Mrs. Schneider moved and Mr. Wieland seconded to approve Voucher No. 140,933 through No. 141,514. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.