Shift from Western Racine County Service Center to City Hall set for March 14
By Ed Nadolski
Editor in chief
City of Burlington officials on Tuesday approved an agreement to provide some Racine County services at City Hall.
The action by the City Council staves off elimination of those services – including marriage licenses, birth, death and real estate certificates, and property tax payments – as they are currently offered at the Western Racine County Service Center at 209 N. Main Street.
It also is a small step in the direction of Mayor Bob Miller’s dream to provide a one-stop government services building in Burlington that provides city, county and possibly state services.
In return for handling the county services – which begins in earnest March 14 – the city will receive approximately eight hours per week of human resources services from county professionals.
Miller says he views the agreement as a “win-win” for the city and it’s residents because they’ll continue to receive county services locally and the city will get much-needed help with its human resources workload, which is currently handled by City Administrator Kevin Lahner.
“We’re glad to partner with the county on this project,” Miller said. “We have staff available at our front desk, but we don’t have human resources staff to help us manage our workforce. This arrangement benefits both of us.”
Alderman Tom Vos, who joined other members of the council in voting unanimously for the agreement, agreed with Miller.
“I look at this as an absolute plus for us,” he said.
In a press release issued earlier Tuesday, County Executive Jim Ladwig said the county had considered eliminating certain services offered at the local service center as a cost savings measure. He blamed the need for austerity on cuts to state aid that the county receives.
Miller said at Tuesday meeting it became clear during negotiations that it was no longer cost-effective to pay a county staff member to maintain these services locally.
Lahner noted that the small number of people seeking those county services on the weekly basis didn’t justify the cost of providing them.
Ladwig explained that there will be no change in the availability of Human Services assistance at the county service center, which also houses the Burlington Senior Center and the local senior meal program.
However, the services provided through the County Clerk, County Treasurer, and Register of Deeds will now be shifted to the city staff, who will get a crash course from the county.
County services that will be available at City Hall include:
• Marriage license applications and issuance;
• Birth, death and marriage certificates and real estate documents; and
• Second installment property tax payments and delinquent property tax payments.
Because those payments, due in July, often create a temporary crush on the office staff, the county will provide an additional clerk to the city as needed to assist with that yearly task.
Counter services will be available at the North Main Street service center through Friday and will resume at City Hall beginning Wednesday, March 14. The gap is needed to move equipment and train employees.
The county services will be available to residents throughout western Racine County, not just those living in the city.
The memorandum of understanding approved by the City Council Tuesday provides no specific term for the agreement and allows both parties to opt out at any time.
Lahner said it is loosely worded at this point to allow for a shakeout period to best meet the needs of both the city and county.
“We’ll do it, evaluate the services and make any adjustments needed,” he said.
Ladwig said the agreement is a step toward consolidation of some governmental services. “Whenever we can save taxpayers money by working together with our municipalities, we want to do so,” he said.
Miller said he’d love to see a much greater sharing of resources in the future. Nearly two years ago Miller initiated talks with then-County Executive Bill McReynolds on the possibility of jointly constructing a government building to replace the aged Western Racine County Services Center and the current City Hall.
While the county is reluctant to pour any more money into the failing service center, officials also balked at the thought of jointly constructing a new building with the city.
At the time, McReynolds said the county would consider leasing space and sharing staff with the city in a new building constructed by the city.
Miller said he envisions a new three-story facility on the existing parcel between the city police station and the new parking structure along Dodge Street.
“A one-stop shop for government services, so to speak,” he said. “That’s my dream.”
Because the city had just began construction of a new DPW facility two years ago when the subject first arose, the city was in no position to consider another project.
Miller said the earliest he envisions the city seriously considering a new government services building is 2013.
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