Crawford County Board
The Crawford County Board posed for a photo on the steps of the Administrative Building prior to the County Board’s regular meeting Tuesday morning. In the front row are: Mary Jane Faas, County Board Chairman Tom Cornford, County Clerk Janet Geisler, Mary Kuhn and Geri Kozelka. Middle row: Duane Rogers, Larry Kelley, Henry “Buzz” Esser, Greg Russell, Gari Lorenz and Wayne Jerrett. Back row: Derek Flansburgh, David Olson, Brad Steiner, Donald Stirling and Gerry Krachey. Kersten “Rocky” Rocksvold and Wade Dull were not present.
County Board may borrow up to $800,000 for capital improvements
By Ted Pennekamp
The Crawford County Board voted unanimously at its regular meeting Tuesday morning to give itself the authority to borrow up to $800,000 for various capital improvement projects.
The vote does not commit the county to borrow anything. It simply gives them the authority to borrow at a later date, should they so choose, stressed Carol Wirth of Wisconsin Public Finance Professionals of Milwaukee. Should the board choose to borrow at a later date, it can be for any amount up to $800,000.
Any borrowing would be limited to the capital improvement projects of 911 system improvements and software, technology projects, telephone system and other communication system improvements and the acquisition of highway equipment and Sheriff’s Department vehicles.
Crawford County 911 Coordinator Julie Cipra had earlier given a presentation to the board regarding the improvements which include a new telephone system, a Highway Department phone system, an intercom/speaker system, a 911 system, a call recorder, a UPS system, wiring, 911 software, communication towers/radio system, EMS Channel simulcast, server replacement/optional VPN, and trans technology including software, maintenance and support for the departments of Real Property Lister, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Zoning and Land Conservation. The total cost is estimated at $794,025.
“We need to replace the phone system. It is more than 20 years old,” said Cipra who also noted that the 911 system is also old and needs to be upgraded. Cipra said that three phone companies were looked at and ShoreTel, an international company which has an office in Milwaukee, was the one that was chosen.
During their discussion, board members were in agreement that the improvements listed needed to be replaced or upgraded soon for the safety of emergency personnel and the citizens of Crawford County.
In conjunction with the 911, technology and communications upgrades, the board also discussed the possibility of refinancing some of is existing debt in December or January so that the debt would have a more favorable interest rate and thereby would save the county money. Carol Wirth told the board the refinancing has the potential to save the county enough money so as to make the borrowing of up to $800,000 have minimal or no tax impact on the citizens of the county. How much the refinancing would save is not yet known because the interest rate for December or January is not yet known. If borrowing should occur, it would probably be a 10-year loan.
The county has $7,071,826 in total debt service. The debt that Wirth said the county should consider refinancing involves $1.45 million in principal that has an interest rate of between 4 and 4.15 percent. If that debt is not refinanced, the interest payment on that debt would be $216,942.
In other business, the board heard a presentation by Prairie du Chien City Administrator Aaron Kramer about the Prairie du Chien Public Library expansion. Kramer told the board that Tax Incremental Finance District 2 will be liquidated and the county will soon receive a check for $67,930. Kramer asked the board to donate the $67,930 to the library expansion project. The funds were entirely collected in the city of Prairie du Chien, he said.
“The donation would help to bring the Prairie du Chien Library into the 21st Century,” Kramer said. There are 6,012 people who have library cards and 2,452 of those live outside of the city of Prairie du Chien, said Kramer, who noted that $1 million has been raised so far for the project which is expected to have a total cost of $3 million.
Board members said that the matter will go to the County Finance Committee. The County Board will decide what to do with the $67,930 at a later date.
In further business, the board approved of adopting the Crawford County Land and Water Resources Management Plan. The 10-year plan summarizes Crawford County’s soil and water resources and identifies conservation programs and actions to protect and enhance the resources. Land Conservationist Dave Troester told the board that the plan is a guide for the Land Conservation Department in its efforts to assist county landowners and policy makers in protecting and improving land and water resources.
