Iron County committee approves aerial imaging

HURLEY - The Iron County Finance Committee Thursday approved moving forward with aerial imaging of the county in 2015.

Zoning administrator Tom Bergman discussed imaging, saying it is part of a consortium effort in northern Wisconsin. The plan is a for a plane to fly over using orthophotography, which uses lasers to measure the exact contours of the surface below.

A similar program was used a few years ago, with pictometry software. According to Bergman, the software is "great technology," and can be used for a variety of reasons, including forestry, damage assessment and re-evaluating flood plains.

Because multiple counties are participating in the project, the overall cost is decreased, an advantage for Iron County.

"Normally, we wouldn't be able to do this, because the price is so high," he said. "This allows us to have reduced costs because of the number of partners involved."

According to Bergman, the first year of the project in 2015 will cost around $108,000. Bergman said $67,000 would be covered under a grant, $21,000 would come from retaining fees throughout the year through the register of deeds office and $20,000 is budgeted in preparation for the project.

"The payments would be split over two years," Bergman said. "We are allowed to do that, so it would be over 2015-'16."

In 2016, the cost increases to $139,000 because the "software process is cumbersome," Bergman said. A total of $85,000 would come from a grant, $14,000 from retaining fees and $40,000 from the county's share.

Despite the hefty bill, Bergman said the budget for the information technology budget will be going down "around $20,000 to $30,000," and wanted to know if the extra funding could be rolled over to the project.

Also, because of additional investors, the $40,000 fee may decrease.

"It could go down, but it is a safety net right now," Bergman said. "I'm asking if the $40,000 could be budgeted just in case."

The contract will be signed very soon, and the committee decided to allow Bergman to move forward with the project.

"Once the contract is signed, we're committed," he said.

Jail locks­­­

Sheriff Tony Furyk and maintenance administrator Bill Nasi updated the committee about locks for the county jail.

Nasi spoke to a company tht will get proposals from other contractors.

Fifty-one locks need to be replaced, with an estimated cost of $30,000.

"They are just wore out," Nasi said. "They are high-security locks that are used every hour to check on inmates."

The locks have been worked on, but Furyk said the cost of fixing them will "nickle and dime you to death."

Nasi hopes to have prices within the next couple of weeks.

Other business

Carolyn Kolson-Janov, director of Iron County Human Services Department, asked the committee to approve a pay raise for two employees, and change the title of one of the employees.

"We cannot afford to lose these employees," Kolson-Janov said. "They have vital information regarding our complex systems of funding."

Kolson-Janov asked if the program manager could be moved into an administrative role if the program manager and financial manager receive pay raises. The money has already been budgeted for 2015, and clerk Mike Saari said the raises would begin on Jan. 1.

The committee approved the request.

Committee members also approved expanding the courthouse cleaning position from 20 to 30 hours per week. The employee will also clean the highway/forestry building, human services and sheriff's department, in addition to the courthouse.