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Commission Minutes—June 3, 2024 5870 <br />most cost-efficient approach. Option two would be to identify the best layout for the Annex and move <br />IT and the State's Attorney offices to the Annex second and third floors, directing Human Service <br />Zone divisions with the most walk-in traffic to the first floor of the Annex. Mr. Wilson said this option <br />frees up space in the Courthouse for the County to approach the State Legislature with the potential <br />to collaborate on future courtroom planning and funding and allows the County to review future <br />needs of other departments to plan for growth and efficiencies in space. He said challenges with the <br />option include cost, complexity, and length of time to plan and implement. <br />Mr. Grindberg said since the last Commission action to table discussion on space utilization in early <br />2024, he has reviewed the space in the Courthouse and Annex which gave him a different <br />perspective and understanding of the situation. He said the County pays approximately $60,000 per <br />year on court operating expenses and the County needs to use space and taxpayer dollars wisely. <br />Mr. Peterson said the Commission needs to decide whether to think long term or short term. <br />Mrs. Scherling said she favors looking holistically at the County's space utilization. Mr. Breitling said <br />he would like to see cost projections for both options before making a decision. Mr. Kapitan said he <br />would also like to see cost projections. Mr. Grindberg said a rough estimate is that option one would <br />be about $400,000 and option two would be about $2 million. Mr. Wilson said he will go back to TL <br />Stroh to get a cost projection for both options and a master plan to get portions of the project done <br />before legislative action. <br />17. COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, 2.5% approved for budgeting purposes <br />Mr. Wilson said on May 29, 2024, County Department Heads recommended a cost of living <br />adjustment (COLA) of 2.5% for County employees in 2025. He said the County has a long-standing <br />practice of Department Heads making a COLA recommendation for the following budget year based <br />on the Midwest size B/C3 April to April consumer price index (CPI). Mr. Wilson said during the <br />Department Head discussion, Mr. Fracassi shared with the group that he was curious about the <br />figure the County has traditionally used and contacted the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and <br />connected with an economist that recommended the county would fall better into the Midwest West <br />North Central category rather that the Midwest B/C3. Mr. Wilson said at this time, the Department <br />Heads recommended staying with traditional practice and in the future consider looking into which <br />figure is best suited for Cass County. <br />County Finance Director, Brandy Madrigga was present and said the West North Central category <br />was added in 2017. She said when looking at the average of the CPI over the last several years, <br />there would be no difference in the percentage of COLA. She said the County can look to change <br />the practice in the future if desired. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Breitling moved and Mr. Kapitan seconded to adopt a 2.5% COLA for use in <br />developing the 2025 Cass County budget. On roll call vote, the motion carried <br />unanimously. <br />18. VOUCHERS, Approved <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Grindberg moved and Mrs. Scherling seconded to approve Voucher No. <br />242822 through Voucher No. 343237 for a total of $1,963,101.84. On roll call <br />vote, the motion carried unanimously. <br />19. MEETING UPDATES, Committee reports <br />Commissioners and staff reported on meetings they have attended or will be attending in the <br />upcoming weeks. <br />20. ADJOURNMENT <br />MOTION, passed