Committee discusses representation and reimbursement policy for WCA conference

Committee members discussed representation at the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) conference and how Richland County should manage reimbursements and delegate selection.

The county's current board rule (Rule 15.d) allows supervisors to be reimbursed for registration fees, mileage and lodging for up to two multiday conferences per year, with finance-and-personnel approval required for out-of-state events. Members noted the rule does not limit how many supervisors may attend a permitted conference.

Chair Brewer and other supervisors proposed limiting county-paid representation by rotation (for example, chair, vice chair and standing-committee chairs) in order to balance cost and coverage of concurrent breakout sessions. Others noted networking and session coverage benefits if multiple supervisors attend and suggested researching how comparable counties manage attendance and reimbursement.

Staff and supervisors agreed to gather information before the committee's next meeting: examine the county board budget, research peer-county policies, and propose a process for supervisors to request reimbursement or county sponsorship. No policy change was adopted at the meeting.