Ok, it’s past noon, but hey . . . this is what you get for free! 🙂 And sorry, I always save the who voted for what for last . . . but that’s kind of the way it works.
Questions of Speakers
Jack Martz thanks Amesqua for coming. Asks her to explain how it works for the City of Madison and Fitchrona and a few other medical emergency providers for communities outside Madison metro area. Some of the communities directly related to intercept program and they might not participate because of cost. What would happen if Madison is on this system and Belleville opts out, what impact on intercept if someone has a heart attack and they are covered by and EMT and not a paramedic? What problems would it cause?
Debra Amesqua says intercept means life or death critical care, without communications will respond based on info we get and would not know from time get info until reach location any other info about the patient. If the patient crashes we would not be ready for what we see, vitally important to have direct communication as incident develops. To not have info would be critical and could mean difference between life and death.
Martz says without everyone participating there could be life and death situations that could end in death.
Amesqua says this is not just to communicate in the field but also with hospitals and others involved.
Mike Willett asks for Village President from Belleville, Terry Kringle but first thanks him for coming and thanks the village for supporting what we are doing. He asks, at the meeting he went to, he learned some things that would be good to share, so ask questions about that. When talking about the system, there was a conversation regarding cost, and one of items in discussion was number of radios and as discussion went on, what would they change to if had to pay based on radios?
Terry Kringle says that discussion pertained to if paying for air time for public works, better to look at system where only have 2 radios, one for not communicating with county but one for our purposes.
Willett says paying to pay for less radios, within village?
Kringle says yes.
Willett also asks about if radio system doesn’t go through and communities don’t participate, how would you deal with it?
Kringle says he doesn’t know how to answer, don’t know what county is going to do. He wants to clarify that they feel that 100% is important for county as a whole so everyone is on the same system and the only way for that to happen is for county to pay. Always supported emergency services, fire and EMS and doubt if they would not pay whatever we need to make sure their fire and EMS have what they need.
Willett says if county program goes away, no plan B?
Kringle says that is correct.
Scott McDonell asks if it is true the different communities have different levels of radios.
Kringle says Belleville always had the equipment necessary to work with whoever they need to work with wherever they work. They live on county line, they have to communicate with Green County also.
Wiggie (David Wiganowski), asks Joel Plant if he says that mayor supports it if they get the same level of service, you have 23 channels but support 22 channels?
Joel Plant says 23 channel system currently, enhanced cell phone technology made it so they no longer need the 1 channel for telephone interconnect capability, no longer need it, can go from 23 to 22 and not lose capacity or grade of service.
Wiggie asks about funding system, Mayor not opposed to county paying full cost?
Plant says that they’d be willing to have the county pay, but this is a compromise to move forward they would consider cost sharing model.
Wiggie says 13 communities opted out on shared payment plan, what if half opt out and some in?
Plant says that is the $64,000 question, how many communities are need to be on to make it work better, can’t answer where tipping point is.
Eileen Bruskewitz asks Joel Plant how interoperability worked in other counties in Wi, in counties where full interoperability and have 100% participation, county foots the bill. It’s not the county or mayor but people of county, taxpayers are paying it, all county taxpayers, where systems that have 100% interoperability and participation, are they counties that have not opted for 100% payment by the county?
Plant says he knows enough to be dangerous. One county is Waukesha, taken time to get to near operability, gradually moved toward nearly interoperable system, took them several years.
David DeFelice asks Amesqua in terms of ineteroperability is it possible now to communicate with police when at scene of fire, do you have to switch or patch?
Amesqua says in the City of Madison all are on the same system, right now, also with many of areas of outside the city, the rest have a patching system through 911 center, but migrating to new system and its going to take a concerted effort to make sure everyone can speak with each other, they worked out the details, outlying areas most concerned about, if we do the plan on the table, believe will have interoperability we are all looking for.
Patrick Downing asks Plant, we’re hearing that city of Madison would like 22 channels yet seen info from 911 director that 18 will provide everything and more than have with current 22 channels, explain your take on that.
Plant says that Dejung says 18 are sufficient, more than city needs, it woudl be adequate, their position is currently have this much capacity (he holds his hands out as wide as they can reach), that is what we want to move forward. He holds his hands closer together to indicate what the new system would provide. He says Dejung probably has a very learned opinion, but our position is that we are not willing to go backwards.
Downing asks if willing to pay for the four channels?
Plant says no.
Downing says he thought that is what he said (As did I)
McDonell says he didn’t hear that.
Discussion/Substitute 3
Hesselbein moves sub 3, she says it is a cleaner document. She says it is exactly like sub 1, take out Hendrick/McDonell amendment and put in words 22 channels, kept O’Loughlin/Ripp amendment on governance board. Seconded by Hendrick.
Hesselbein says the City of Madison has been visionary in acquiring 22 channels, used not only by City but Capital Police, Monona, Maple Bluff and Shorewood Hills and our own deputies. Realize passed a budget for $30M she prefers another $1.5M to do the job right, we need Madison to sign on, need 22 channels to secure safety of system. She has some of same notes as Davenport, we are not doing this for the average day, we are building a system for the worst day The Stoughton tornado, the stranding of vehicles on the Interstate and before the Oklahoma bombing the biggest terrorist event was here in Madison in 1970. She is confident that they will have more weather events. Vote yes for 22 channels, vote yes for cost sharing so municipalities have local control, vote yes and get Dane com system done as the Wisconsin State Journal urged.
Willett asks Dejung about maintenance and operating, $1.5M document that showed the breakdown, one line item on there, varies a little, but refers to City of Madison getting over $400,000 over a year to City of Madison, why pay for maintenance of system?
Dejung says that day to day maintenance of the system they are using City of Madison radio shop instead of Motorola or commercial maintainers. If commercial, would have been larger than $400,000 so in a way to partner with City of Madison, chose more economical way to do the maintenance.
Willett asks if that is something we are currently paying to maintain current system?
Dejung says $400,000 is to cover entire county system in partnership with some tier 2 kind of maintenance with Motorola, what Madison pays for system now is less than $400,000 but not just Madison maintenance.
Willett asks what is Madison’s share of that cost.
Dejung doesn’t know.
Martz asks about the amendment. Do we need a fiscal estimate on this, above and beyond what budgeting.
McDonell says $1.5M more, this commits in a future budget. So have to actually then do it in the future budget.
Marrz asks if 2/3 vote.
McDonell says that would only be when it is put it in the budget, majority at budget time or 2/3 to amend later.
Martz asks if this is not binding?
McDonell says nothing is binding until put in budget and then spend it. They have frozen most capital spending.
Martz asks if municipalities are aware of that.
No one answers that question.
Amendment to Substitute 3
Willett asks staff to pass out amendment, this amendment takes sub 3, removed lines 23 to 43 that pertain to percent paid and replace those lines. Basically says “Now therefore be it resolved that Dane county pay 100% of the annual operating and maintenance of the infrastructure of the interoperability radio system.” 2nd by Schlicht.
Willett says line 20 not 23 is where it starts.
Willett says that all the speakers in favor are in favor of interoperable radio system. Without this, we are cutting out villages and his district, towns and cities voted against this. This will vote down the system, by the time they all opt out, this will be a problem. Doesn’t like spending money, especially in the capital budget. This is public safety and life and death and most important things we pay for. Taxpayers pay for it, we have to add staff, cut number of radios, to get it done this way, yes burden on county taxes and yes take heat for it and we deserve it but doing it in the name of public safety, doing what is right. We’ll find a way to make it work.
Wiggie says that got email from Mayor Chase and letter in mail, they want 100% participation if they are to play in the game. Dane County Fire Chiefs are asking for 233/234 combination. This isn’t the time to short anything, this will make a system everyone will use. Groups are talking about opting out, 6 villages, 6 towns and 1 city have opted out according to the Fire Chiefs. 233 in committee was in committee and got alot of discussion and 234 only discussed a few minutes and on the next agenda. Some of the people who spoke if saw other resolution would favor that rather than not. If do the other, dead in the water, only half will use it, they will still be using cell phones and scattered all over again. This is a lot of money, but do it right, you wouldn’t do minor surgery when need major surgery, do it right.
Mark Opitz asks for clarification on the line numbers, sub three says line 47 board shall consist of a certain composition, not squared with Willett motion, what is he replacing with the governance board?
Willett says he was confused cuz many subs, start at line 10 where talks about cost sharing, or line 11 where the language starts.
McDonell says start on line 20, because lines 10 – 20 don’t count because they are not resolved language.
Willett says it ends at line 44, his amendment leaves governance committee in.
Opitz says handout strikes it out.
Willett says that was a a mistake.
Some don’t have copies, they got held up somewhere and they find them and hand the rest out.
Opitz says 48 remains at part of sub 3.
Patrick Miles says in opposition to Willet amendment, it removes the very things that make sub 3 fair and responsible approach and compromise. Appreciates that includes back in the governental board, however, wouldn’t make sense to pay 100% and then give control to others to decide how spent. Fair thing to do is to share in cost and then they have a seat at the table, local control and help control costs to system. If want to get as much participation, this would take out channels Madison desires, they have 40% of population, for 2013 is 45% of equalized value and big chunk we would lose.
McDonell says line 64 is where 22 channels are and Willett amendment still includes that.
Miles says crux is share in cost and voice at table to participate in decisions about system and controlling costs.
Martz asks about relevance of 50% or 100% in discussion in as much as the point is moot, not budgeting at this point, only resolved next fall in budget, new county board at that time, so, Willett amendment with 100% may get a lot of cooperation that are on the borderline on participating and work can move forward on the infrastructure without having argument yet about who is going to pay. Maybe look at even closer and see if we can get the most people on board an argue who pays what at budget instead of now. Thinks that Willettt amendment might resolve it to get max number of municipalities to participate between now and fall and start ironing out whether we pay 50% or 100% a little bit of time could resolve that. We can fight over who pays for what and come to compromise at that point. That is why vote for 100% to get people back to the table, thinks important to get infrastructure in place. If we disagree on who pays for what – throwing out baby with bathwater – maybe we should just remove all language referring to money, moving to 18 channels is good idea, we should deal with it at budget.
Bruskewitz, keeps going back to this issue of 100% interoperability and participation, we have a precedent in Dane County for county doing a good job once it takes over a function of government, we have 100% of airport and landfill. Madison and other communities use the services and we run it. After 30 years 100% health department, took a long time to put that together. The fact that have mandate in 2013 indicates to her and situation in Waukesha is that it is a problem and not 100% interoperability and participation, trying to parse it out in a way that doesn’t make sense, supports Willett amendment. It’s not county exec or mayor’s wallet that will pay for this, it’s the people of this county that want it for their own public safety, let’s go with 100%, works real well.
Melanie Hampton says that have a resounding theme that everyone is for interoperability and that’s good. She asks Dejung if communities that are contemplating participating is only about cost, but also factor of time, time deadline, sense of urgency for the system to be developed on a timeline, can he speak to urgency?
Dejung says that there is a federal communications deadline for narrow banding that is end of 2012, a lot of enhancements aren’t mandated by that deadline, but trying to produce a system that complied with the deadline but also enhance system over all. As narrow band is implements and they meet the deadline, coverage would be poor if do nothing else, so need to enhance system, trying to put system together all at once, 20% reduction in coverage won’t work. As we build towers and get equipment we need plenty of time, running out of timeline, will have trouble meeting the timeline if not move quickly.
Hampton asks about with VHF frequencies, that is a risk factor in the system to obtain the frequencies, that should be done as soon as possible, to identify the frequencies and procure them and then put them in operation. They can set the consultant to work on prior to the next budget cycle.
Dejung says holding off to procure until can build the system and contract is signed, then procure the frequencies, they have them identified but holding off on starting negotiations for now.
Hampton says so time is of the essence.
Dejung doesn’t say anything.
Paul Rusk says he thinks original was a good compromise, thanks supervisors who work on that. Hard time passing budget last fall and worries that $30M is approximately 2 to 3% tax increase already and if don’t have shared mechanism to pay for ongoing maintenance, budget problems will be more difficult, seems to him that system is complicated and very very good but take a lot of work by all users to make it work well at top efficiency and if they pay in, they will work harder to make it work well and if one party taking care of everything, less commitment to work when things get tough. Vote no on Willett and go back to original. Love to have 100% of everyone in Dane County, but a couple of places, no matter what we do won’t participate, won’t have 100% no matter how we proceed.
Ronn Ferrell says Willet amendment more than about public safety, but safety of our first responders, can’t afford holes in our safety net. Other agencies not buying in are creating holes in our safety net, we can’t afford that. This is the amendment we can take a stand. Local control lines 59 and 60 talk about final approval of capital improvements with county board and executive, can be operating expenses as well, still need to be funded, governing board can make recommendations, but not authority to tax and raise the funds, they still need buy in. We don’t get buy in if too many cooks in kitchen, Dane county needs to make decision, we are making this decision for 2020 or 2030 not just 2015, we likely won’t be here, can’t wait like Waukesha, this amendment will fill the holes tonight, move forward tonight, urgency to project, if take financing off the table, county can bite the bullet, if have to spend more money for public safety, will spend it. Everyone benefits, everyone will know someone who uses the system, County should pay, please support.
Hesselbein says firefighters were here to ask for radios, she sat on the committee that worked through the issues, as read through 911 communications board reports she found out since 2002 Waukesha was not pay operating and maintenance costs. They looked at all ways for it to be done, keep hearing about Waukesha, completely different model, 50/50 split. We are paying $30M, would like it to be $31.5. We’re not saying that, we are paying huge infrastructure cost, 2.4% on levy, encourage you to not vote for 100% and vote for her amendment.
John Hendrick speaks against the amendment, he will not repeat what others said, this is about public safety and financial responsibility, vote for Willettt amendment because other communities creating holes, we are designing system that covers everyone that wants to be covered, if other community want to create holes, we can’t force them to join. People are saying if we just change this one thing other communities will come flooding in, he has not seen documentation of that. Sun Prairie has two condition, as does Belleville, others have said they will not come in. No basis that 100% coverage if just vote for this. Take step backwards with financial responsibility and local control. Others have said communities can control own usage and radios. On financial responsibility, two sections deleted in this amendment are independent financial audit. This says if county pays, let county taxpayers pay and we don’t care if audited as long as on the county levy we can spend as much as we want. Other deletion refers to operating expenses and requiring them to be reasonable, necessary and approved and consistent with industry standards. Without that language, we don’t need to be careful, that is his concern about financial responsibility. They will have a role and governance committee determines costs and that gives local control and financial responsibility. Thinks sub 3 will get us to full interoperability.
DeFelice says that he has questions for Dejung. He thanks him for his work, goal is laudable. He has technical questions. What is estimate of life of system? How long before replace?
Dejung says towers are long lasting part of system, software needs more frequent upgrades, computers less long lasting, radios will last 8 to 10 years.
deFelice asks about transmitters.
Dejung says they are like computers in this case.
deFelice asks about in the field, on the towers. (I didn’t understand that)
Dejung says that if they stick with current technology, everything needs to be replaced in 8 years or so, with new technology, can double that.
deFelice says 16 years for tower, less for software, have to spend money to upgrade.
Dejung says towers will last more than 16 years, computer hardware last 16 years, software will need upgrades, as major releases will spend money to upgrade. Quite possible will be spending money to upgrade.
deFelice says that in reading, he understands that with 800 MHz band there is just one phone company, Nextel is the problem, deal is to put them on one end of the band and counties on other end and Nextel required to pay cost of transition and they agreed, have we gotten any of the money?
Dejung says that rebanding is underway throughout the country, we don’t get any of the money. Not typically available, its probably two separate issues, if have to move usage to another spot because of interference of Nextel, that would be covered, we are talking about a separate topic.
deFelice asks if the other issue is interoperability.
Dejung says yes.
deFelice says he is trying to distinguish between what is being proposed and what they need to do.
Dejung says rebanding is different than narrow banding, narrow banding in not a 800 MHz issue, its a VHS issue. None of this has to do with rebanding.
deFelice says deadline is because of narrow banding, not interoperability.
deFelice asks if extensions to deadlines, first it was 2008, then 2009 now 2012, extended over the years, will there be more?
Dejung says pretty good notion no more extensions to deadline.
Wiggie asks about opt in, by end of 2012 narrow bandwidth, but not mandate interoperability, if not required what will they do?
Dejung says two different issues again, heard from agencies how important it is, not a FCC requirement with narrow banding, but taking opportunity to enhance system to include ability to talk to each other, improve the coverage (made worse by narrow banding) increasing capacity, 12 channels around the county outside of Madison, so really 30 channels and reliability of the system, replacing aging equipment, backups where need them, in case of lightening strike can have power. Number of facets interrelated.
Wiggie asks if communities don’t opt in what would they do?
Dejung says they would be on their own, we would have silos, systems that don’t talk to each other, would have to narrowband if not VHS and would have worse coverage, no county wide interoperability great capacity system, we would be shortchanging people of Dane County.
Wiggie asks about committee, no way to be involved if not a player, how communicate to get them back on board if not part of committee?
Dejung says there would be an opt in the future, like Waukesha, true in Twin Cities area, not every one there on day one, as joined, let in to governance structure and were able to get involved.
Wiggie asks about Waukesha he says it took 10 years, what percent of people are participating?
Dejung says 38 of 38 or there is some debate, it could be 37 of 38.
Gerry Jensen supports Willett amendment, argument he is making, which he is hesitant to do lest it put thoughts in somebody’s mind, but he likens it to county highway system, they plow snow, patch holes, fill cracks and rebuild highways if necessary and all time at Town of Oregon, didn’t get a bill for work on county roads based on number of trucks or employees or amount of blacktop, same thing to him, put it on the levy and be done with it, get everyone in and go forward.
Bob Salov asks Dejung. Asks to clarify about where money went, when bands were asked to go to go to narrow banding, some of bandwidths were auctioned off and 2% have been granted through getting radios through fed interop – is that somewhat true?
Dejung says we did get some payments for radios, not sure where the money came from, it could be true.
Salov asks about holes, Village of Marshall will be a hole cuz may not jump on board, 911 center get the call and dispatches to Chief Hildebrand, what happens? How would they communicate and respond?
Dejung says if not Dane Comm system, have to build their own, quite a few people who rely on current system, others on own system such as some of suburbs would have to do narrow banding and have to cobble it together.
McDonnell asks if opt out cuz can’t afford it, what would it cost?
Dejung says it depends on system, they’d need to locate transmitters, buy frequencies, it would be an expensive undertaking if did it right.
Salov says incredible convergence, last night at cities and villages meeting he had conversations with municipalities that say we will opt out if county doesn’t pay and levy countywide, can’t imagine a system we are not all on board with. Imagine if you ride along in ambulance, law enforcement alerted where person has history of mental illness, violent, so law enforcement goes there first, standing by is EMS and fire half a block away and call is severe enough, need ALS advanced system intercept, 4 agencies are needed, local police department and supported by Dane County deputies, now have 5 agencies, patient is now in ambulance, hooked up to a monitor that is hooked up by phone to hospital, 7 communications, patch request from ambulance to hospital for verbal communication to get doctor or P.A. involved, 8 communications for 1 patient, there is not superimposing another possible local communication system that is unable to touch those 8 communications, so going back and listening to them last night, saying people on my board will not let me go for this unless county picks up the levy. This is a compromise with whom, county executive, don’t think that is the issue, if don’t have a fully interoperable system, compromising with that patient who has 9 layers of communication to address their medical need. Could urge you to vote for it, go 100% and get the municipalities on board and get this behind us.
Miles backs up to point or concern by Martz, concern about sub 3, making commitment on a future budget, could change. Worried we are exposing communities to risk and then it changes. In sub 3, there is language about intergovernmental agreements, commitments will be made there, once we go down the road, that is a commitment as well. One other element, cost share vs. 100% the idea of fairness, cost shared where cost is driven, those putting demands on system are the ones paying. If 100% equally across the county, then lower use communities subsiding higher use communities. Those communities concerned about levy limits, cost related to costs in intergovernmental agreements not subject to levy limit. What will they do if opt out? Alternative is need to either sign on with another community with dispatching or building infrastructure and buy licenses for channels. So whether participating with another community, they might have lower quality, less coverage and greater expense. Cost share will lead to more cooperation.
Brett Hulsey asks Dejung about silos and multiple layers of service. How is it now? Are there silos now?
Dejung says yes, in Marshall their radio communications supplied by county but not that well, transmitting from Verona, not giving them coverage that is optimal, with new system would be covered better.
Hulsey says when he did a ride along, deputy was telling him holes in system right now where no coverage.
Dejung says yes, likely in that corner of county, there are coverage holes, transmissions from Verona. New system towers and transmissions simulcast around the county, they will have a tower closer to Marshall and Waunakee, fewer holes and on street level no holes, except maybe far reaches of county.
Hulsey says $30M system, impression I get from colleagues around county, is this a Cadillac.
Dejung says good system, excellent, much better than have now and probably state of the art the way we are talking about it.
Hulsey asks if anyone else in Wisconsin have anything approaching this?
Dejung says not that he is aware of.
Hulsey supports sub three, good offer on he table, willing to work with City of Madison and others and this is a partnership and expensive for them to buy their own system and hopefully see greater support.
Gau says that he learned a lot and appreciates the debate. Interesting thing he saw was this is about regional system, have to increase 911 system, he was village administrator in Deforest and knows terrible situations deputies were in and citizens because of inoeprable system. What we are talking about is technical jargon, public safety is number one priority, we all feel that way, interesting is policy decision for Dane county no matter what municipality or town it is in, we need to take leadership and policy role an say yes fund the total system, no way any of us want to see something different in a different area, then deal with negotiating system out there now. Finds it inappropriate dealing with negotiation, this is public safety and people’s lives and we are talking about taxes, county should take the responsibility, this is a county policy and jurisdiction and should tax at that level. Debate was good, thinks knows results. County should divvy up on tax payers, taking public service issue and debating as if who pays what, get back to public safety.
Salov says Mayor of Stoughton understands ratio that lower use may pay for higher use, worth it for him to have interoperable system, worth the cost, and secondly, first responders that use radios use it according to protocols, they are on and off as soon as possible, no misuse, not going to use it more because county is paying. Not holding button on, unless sit on button and then people call you and tell you to get off. No misusing or using without regard, they know how valuable leaving the radio open is, shouldn’t’ be a concern.
Hendrick, says willing to have tax payers pay more for 100% participation, 100% on levy but this will not guarantee 100% participation, still not have 100% participation, but 100% of the cost. Voting no.
ROLL CALL on Willett Amendment
AYE: Jensen, Martz, Salov, Schlicht, Wiggie, Willett, Bayrd, Bruskewitz, Downing, Ferrell, Gau
NO: Hampton, Hendrick, Hesselbein, Hulsey, Kostelic, Levin, Manning, Matano, Miles, Opitz, Richmond, Ripp, Rusk, Schmidt, Stoebig, Stubbs, Vedder, Veldran, Wheeler, deFelice, DeSmidt, Duranczyk, Erickson, McDonell
ABSENT: O’Loughin, Solberg
Motion fails 11 to 24, 2 absent
Discussion on Main Motion – Amendment to Sub 3.
DeFelice, amendment to sub 3 that reads: “Intergovernmental agreements shall be reached with communities with the goal of representing 75% of the population of Dane County” – add it to the 3rd bullet point, second by Hendrick.
McDonnell re-reads, that is our threshold, 75%.
No discussion.
ROLL CALL on deFelice amendment.
AYE: Hendrick, Hesselbein, Hulsey, Levin, Manning, Opitz, Richmond, Rusk, Stoebig, Stubbs, Vedder, Veldran, deFelice, Duranczyk
NO: Hampton, Jensen, Kostelic, Martz, Matano, Miles, Ripp, Salov, Schlicht, Schmidt, Wheeler, Wiggie, Willett, Bayrd, Bruskewitz, DeSmidt, Downing, Erickson, Ferrell, Gau, McDonell
Fails, 14 to 21, 2 absent.
Discussion on the Main motion
Wiggie, asks not $30M in the budget this year?
McDonell says no.
Wiggie says no money, new board will vote on it, this is just a resolution, could be moot, new board could change it.
McDonell says correct, tend to honor agreement, we don’t sign intergovernmental agreement and not honor it.
Wiggie says could overturn it correct?
McDonell says sure.
Hulsey disagees, says it is budgeted in 09 and 2010. $30M blend but will be about 2.5% budget.
McDonell says the bonds are not issued correct?
Hulsey and staff say yes.
McDonell apologizes for his mistake.
Hampton speaks to question of colleague Wiggie, on timing, point she was making with director is time is of essence to get contract signed to get the process started, can’t delay til next board comes on, important project we all heard people make and made themselves statements to that effect. Supervisors understand the importance of the system, appreciate, respect and value work that went into it in 10 years, heard proposals of city and villages association from Jan 14, much of it very reasonable and used our leadership in legislative branch to get ball rolling to get contract signed to address timing issues. Heard desire and importance and understand importance of interoperability, public doesn’t understand all nitty gritty details but talked to group of people in Wisconsin Women in Government and a justice of the Supreme Court was a member of group, she took a while to explain and then they said this could be the most important legislation you ever do. It is important, system designed not for average or busy day but worst day, sterling hall bombing, Stoughton tornado, imagine tornado on west side of Madison, there was one in 2004 not during business hours, damaged her daycare and closed for two days, system needs to be done, can’t falter on that, this is our job, this resolution is best chance at getting it done, vote yes.
deFelice wants to echo what Gau said, learned a lot, learned that radios that now cost $400 – 500 now cost $2400, Madison does not need to do anything, federal government not requiring interoperability, only 7 of 61 municipalities have agreed to participate and one has a condition, 13 have said they are not going to participate, 41 sitting on sidelines, we don’t have an alternative if they say no, he learned that there is no plan B, not really riding the crest of wave of success in convincing towns cities and villages this is a good idea. Learned that $3M in debt service, now when put together budget, people were pleading for $15,000 for an organization funded for 10 or 15 years who help kids sexually assaulted by parents, now we can afford $3M. $30M is 2 to 3% levy increase, we shed sweat blood and tears, 8% budget increase, next year not anyone in room thinks it will be any better than was for this year, stimulus money gone, more state cuts and add 2 to 3% increase in levy, double digit tax increase, that doesn’t calculate right, voting on second largest expenditure in county history and we don’t know the total cost. We don’t know what debt service is, don’t know how much tax payers will really pay based on participation, don’t know replacement schedule for the equipment, don’t know life of system its between 10 to 16 years. He is wondering what we are preparing for, September 11, are we being driven by that, heck people in our own country don’t think Wisconsin is a state, are we preparing for terrorist, bridge disaster, this system we are proposing compared to system now, which gives us one busy in 100 attempts would being increased to 1 busy in 2500 attempts, 25 times system in Minneapolis bridge collapse. City of Madison has a system way above the norm, San Francisco has a population of 809,000 uses same number of channels Madison now has and seeking more system wide. Does Argyle, Primrose and Roxbury need September 11th capability? I can imagine that when idea first broached it was a good idea and then got to cost and people said no. We went to buy a Buick, ended up with a Bentley, got a system that is above San Francisco, that is a earthquake area, we get tornado and floods, as often as lightening strikes, are we preparing for lightening strikes. Saying to you, should it be based on people using the system the most, address the plan, and we need to scale down the cost, cuz we are being driven by fear not prudence, and when driven by fear, make bad decisions, voting against this, start over, this ain’t happening.
Salov, says that there is overwhelming support from system form fire chiefs, EMS directors, cities and villages, and from the towns, no questions raised saying it is less than what is wanted and can function in this county. Wants to speak to you about support for sub 3, thinks wrestled with this, done a good job with coming up with something that needs to pass unanimously, please get on this train, we can all go out and get our districts and municipalities to get on the train with us, up to us, we must get them on board, we need all to vote for this now and then go do work in our communities and on the budget, we have a huge task ahead of us, voting this down won’t make next fall any more easier or difficult, we have to rethink budget process, urge you to put doubts aside, supports 100% but putting that aside and have to convince all 61 municipalities to get on board, I know we can do it, start for voting for it.
McDonell says making it hard on Bruskewitz with train reference.
Willett says they should take about buses. He says there were really good points, as he rises, and worked hard to get the other through, that is not an option, Salov is right, hopes authors are right, hope a year from now he was wrong, but right now this is the best we got and all those who supported this resolution please support this.
ROLL CALL on Sub 3 unamended
AYE: Hampton, Hendrick, Hesselbein, Hulsey, Jensen, Levin, Manning, Martz, Matano, Miles, Opitz, Richmond, Ripp, Rusk, Salov, Schlicht, Schmidt, Stoebig, Stubbs, Vedder, Veldran, Wheeler, Wiggy, Willett, Bayrd, deSmidt, Downing, Duranczyk, Erickson, Ferrell, McDonell
NO: Kostelic, Bruskewitz, deFelice, Gau
ABSENT: O’Loughlin, Solberg
Passes 31 to 4, 2 absent.
Vote on Main motion.
Passes on a voice vote.
Reconsideration
They missed and amendment on K2.
Stoebig moves reconsideration, seconded by Hendrick.
Reconsideration passes on voice vote without discussion.
Stoebig moves K2, Resolution 240 with the finance amendment. Hulsey seconds.
No discussion, McDonell asks if there is any objection to recording a unanimous vote. No objects.
Adjourn
Moved by Opitz, second by Levin and that passes.
