Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Hurley — Given the lack of specifics available at Thursday’s meeting, the Iron County Board of Supervisors’ Finance Committee needed more information regarding a plan to purchase videoconference equipment for use by the Iron County Sheriff’s Department and court system.
The video equipment would be used by the sheriff’s department, court system and Iron County District Attorney’s office, according to Sheriff Tony Furyk, to reduce the amount of travel by county employees.
According to Furyk, the video system would be especially beneficial in eliminating the need for deputies to transport prisoners from other parts of the state to appear in Iron County.
Furyk told the committee his department has spent about $11,000 during the first quarter of the year in man-hours, mileage and other costs for transporting prisoners.
He expected the video system to pay for itself over time by reducing transportation costs, saying it could save $10,000 a year “easily.”
While the three departments continue to research costs, initial quotes indicate the system could run anywhere from $30,000 to $70,000, depending on the vendor and number of features included in the system.
He said projections show the county could spend up to $40,000 this year in travel costs and while some travel can’t be avoided, the video system would certainly reduce the cost.
Furyk told the committee the use of video systems has become common practice in Wisconsin.
“We are the only county in the state that doesn’t do this. The only one ... because of the costs, everyone else is saving (money),” Furyk said. “The technology is there and we are not using it.”
Several committee members asked about the video system used by the Department of Human Services, but Furyk said multiple reasons, including the department’s privacy requirements, prevented that from being an option.
Committee member Jim Kichak told Furyk he’d like to see firmer costs before the committee approved any purchases.
“I’d like to see the costs on (the system) and I’d like to see if the three departments could split (the costs) three ways on this,” said Kichak, “because there are tough times coming.”
In other action:
—The committee discussed a number of budget issues, including requests for funds from several departments. The budget items will be addressed more in-depth at another finance committee meeting Wednesday.
—The committee heard from county clerk Mike Saari regarding a Hurley condominium that was seized for failing to pay taxes. Saari said the county owned the property and the occupants would be evicted at the end of October.
Saari asked the committee for guidance because he had recently been contacted by one of the former owners, who wanted to send a check for $5,000 — while $12,000 is owed on the property, according to Saari — and Saari wanted to know what to do should the check arrive, as the county technically owns the property. While no formal action was taken, the committee agreed Saari should simply hold on to, but not cash, any check that should arrive and move ahead with the eviction until the full $12,000 is provided.
—Saari told the committee the county’s medical insurance policy premium was increasing by 3 percent. He said the cost could be offset by adopting a new prescription drug plan that would raise co-pays for county employees, but offset the premium increase.
According to information presented to the committee, the co-pays would go from $10, $20, $30, depending on the type of prescription to $10, $30, $50 for 30-day supplies and $20, $60, $100 for 90-day supplies. The exact co-pay amounts depend on whether it’s for a generic brand versus a name-brand, Saari said.
