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Dunn County corporation counsel outlines department work, in rem foreclosure timeline and record-retention plans
Summary
Corporation Counsel Jim McMenemy described the office’s range of services — contract review, litigation, ordinance and policy drafting, open-records guidance — and explained the timeline and statutory constraints on in rem (tax-foreclosure) proceedings.
Jim McMenemy, Dunn County Corporation Counsel, gave an overview of his office's responsibilities, described priorities for contract and records policy work, and explained why some tax-foreclosure (in rem) balances from 2023 remain on the county's books.
McMenemy said the office provides legal guidance and representation across county departments, helps manage risk and insurance claims, drafts and reviews contracts and ordinances, advises on employment and labor law, supports ordinance enforcement and responds to public-records requests. He told supervisors an upcoming focus is an updated ordinance and internal policy on records requests and record retention.
On in rem tax-foreclosure McMenemy explained the statutory timeline the county must follow. He described the sequence: a property owner becomes delinquent; a tax certificate is issued; Wisconsin law requires a two-year waiting period before a county may initiate an in rem foreclosure action; the county must then send notice to the owner and any lienholders and allow an eight-week response period (minimum) for service and response; only after those steps may foreclosure action proceed. McMenemy said those statutory timing rules explain why some sums still appear as owed from 2023 tax delinquencies and why the process can extend multiple years.
McMenemy said the corporation counsel office also supports committees and departments with meeting-law advice, ordinance drafting and litigation (including guardianship, child-support, in rem proceedings and bankruptcy-related matters). He introduced staff members in the room and reiterated the office's emphasis on careful contract review to avoid long-term legal exposure.
During the board exchange, Supervisor Thomas asked about workload and hours; McMenemy replied work volume varies but that the office handles a heavy throughput of contracts and court matters and that the time demands can spike when multiple large matters arrive simultaneously.
