The lights go off Thursday on a joint powers probation partnership spanning more than four decades.
The Crow Wing County Board Tuesday approved what County Administrator Tim Houle said were likely the last two agreements necessary to dissolve Central Minnesota Community Corrections. The scheduled dissolution of CMCC was prompted by a November 2015 decision by the board to administer probation services in-house, rather than in partnership with Aitkin and Morrison counties.
Agreements approved Tuesday outline the path forward for the benefits of both union and non-union employees and also determined how the organization's assets will be distributed among the three member counties. Employees have 30 days to decide whether they accept the terms in the transition agreement.
Eighteen CMCC employees were assigned to the Crow Wing County office, consisting of one director, 13 probation officers, one probation aide and three administrative staff. Some of the administrative staff were assigned a portion of their hours to the Crow Wing County office and a portion to assignments in other counties, according to Tami Laska, human resource director.
The county's new probation department will consist of Supervisor Ann Rivas, who was hired in February, 14 probation officers and two administrative staff members.
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Of the original CMCC employees, Crow Wing County hired six probation officers to continue working in the county's in-house department. One administrative employee from the Morrison County office was hired and one county employee was internally promoted to become a probation officer. The rest were external hires, Laska said.
Seven CMCC staff assigned to the Crow Wing County office left employment and one died in a car crash earlier this year. Of those who left, four retired and three voluntarily resigned.
Employee compensation
The transition agreement was jointly developed between the three member counties and the Teamsters Local 320, the union representing most of CMCC's employees. Houle said Crow Wing County did not hire any non-union employees as part of the transition. Addressed in the agreement is paid time off, extended leave, health insurance and unemployment compensation.
Eligible employees who have not retired as of Friday may choose one of three options regarding their paid time off compensation: to receive payment for their entire remaining balance, to receive payment for a portion of their remaining balance and have some transferred to the new county employer or to have all transferred to the new county employer. Payout for paid time off benefits will be based upon the employee's wage at the time of dissolution and will be subject to applicable taxes and deductions.
Banked extended leave time will be transferred to the new county employer, and the use of that time will be subject to the county's personnel policies.
Unemployment compensation for any employee assigned to a specific county at the time of the dissolution, who was not hired by one of the counties, will be the responsibility of the county to which they were assigned.
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Employees who retired before the dissolution and who meet the requirements under the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association will continue to receive health insurance contributions, depending upon date of hire and length of continuous employment. The health insurance plan used will be the same one offered to other Teamster Local 320 employees in Crow Wing County.
Organizational assets
The dissolution agreement outlined how the liabilities and assets of CMCC will be distributed among the member counties. The agreement calls for all liabilities to be paid before Dec. 31 and all remaining assets will be distributed to the counties based upon the cost-share ratios set forth in the joint powers agreement. Over the past five years, Crow Wing County has assumed 51.9 percent of the organizational costs, while Morrison County paid 27.7 percent and Aitkin County paid 20.2 percent.
Any liabilities to the organization after Thursday will be reviewed by Nicole Kern and Elizabeth DeRuyck, the two remaining directors of CMCC. Final approval of those liabilities will be the joint responsibility of the county administrators for each county, and Crow Wing County will continue to act as the fiscal agent as those liabilities are discharged.
The ownership of physical assets-such as desks, computers and titled vehicles-will be transferred to the county in which they currently housed. Contracts with outside organizations will be cancelled, if possible, by the end of the year. Each county will be responsible for assuming contracts with those organizations if that is the preference.
CHELSEY PERKINS may be reached at 218-855-5874 or chelsey.perkins@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchChelsey .
