Commission weighs timing for fees, RFP and required housing hearing

Commissioners considered the sequencing of a request for proposals (RFP), fee schedule changes and a required housing hearing amid the staff workload imposed by new statutory requirements.

Staff said the commission could prepare the RFP for review next month but warned that any new fee schedule cannot take effect until approximately 180 days after approval by both the commission and county commissioners. "It can't take effects until after 180 days after it's approved by both," a staff member said. Commissioners discussed whether to prioritize clearing statutory House Enrolled Act obligations before progressing the RFP or fee changes given staff capacity.

The group agreed to continue preparing draft documents and to discuss the RFP and fee schedule at the next meeting; staff noted required public-notice steps including publication in the Brown County Democrat and the administrative time needed for mailing and posting materials.

Why this matters: Timing and sequencing affect when new fees and plans take legal effect and how quickly projects and services that rely on the fee structure can proceed.