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Committee disallows child-death claim, approves carryforwards and raises capital threshold
Summary
Marathon County's HR & Finance Committee voted to disallow a claim related to a child's death, set minimum sale prices on two tax-deeded parcels, approved carryforward of restricted funds including a veterans relief replenishment, and moved to raise the county's capital asset threshold from $5,000 to $10,000.
The Marathon County HR & Finance Committee voted to disallow a December 5 claim filed by Mercedes Holmes concerning the death of her child, Zalen Bernett, a three-year-old placed in a treatment foster home licensed by another agency. Staff told the committee that law enforcement and social service investigations found no wrongdoing and outside counsel and the county's insurance carrier recommended disallowance. Chair Gibbs moved to disallow the claim "in conjunction with the recommendation from our insurance carrier," and the motion passed.
The committee also approved revised minimum sale prices for two tax-deeded parcels the county plans to relist on Wisconsin Surplus. Chair Gibbs moved to set the minimum for 529 Mullen Street at $9,000 and for 738 South 3rd Avenue at $7,500; the motion carried unanimously. Staff said prior bids had failed to meet appraised value and that one prior bidder was marked non-pay and barred from future Wisconsin Surplus auctions.
On a separate vote the committee approved resolution R20-2026 to carry forward program revenues and restricted funds into 2026. The packet highlighted multi-year projects and targeted uses, including replenishing the veterans relief fund by transferring unspent 2025 budget authority into 2026. Sam presented the resolution and the committee approved it.
The body also approved an amendment to the county's capital assets threshold, moving the minimum reporting threshold for general assets from $5,000 to $10,000, citing Government Finance Officers Association guidance. Supervisor Hart moved the resolution to send the amendment to the full county board; the motion carried.
What happens next: the carryforward resolution and the capital threshold amendment will proceed to the full county board per the committee's action. The disallowance is the committee's formal action on the claim; staff said no county liability was found and outside counsel recommended the disallowance.
