New county Web site proposed Corporation counsel misses another meeting By Anna Krejci News-Chronicle The county's administration committee will consider a proposed county Web site that will coordinate the listing of classes and educational opportunities offered throughout the county. During Thursday's meeting, Brown County Sup. Ken Simons presented the concept for CountyClasses.info, an Internet directory that would help county residents find classes that suit their interests. The site would connect residents to educational resources offered by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, area universities or the Oneida Nation. The directory would encompass virtually any type of instruction with the exception of religious classes. Genealogy, hunter safety training, craft or technology classes could be better accessed by the public, Simons said. The proposed site would increase class attendance and at the same time lessen the duplication of classes. It would benefit the workforce by connecting workers with additional professional training. "I think it'd be an invaluable service to the residents of Brown County," Simons said. Simons provided a rough estimate of the Web site's start-up cost, ranging from $1,000- $2,000. Long-term maintenance costs would be minimal, he said. The committee will consider the proposal with further research. In other business, the committee will investigate whether Brown County has the ability to request certain information from employees upon applying for a job where local government is the employer. Committee member Mary Marquardt distributed an authorization form intended for Brown County employees. The form requests employees give consent for the release of records including grievances filed against them, records from attorneys or counsel representing them in criminal or civil cases and their juvenile records. The item will be discussed at a future meeting. Corporation counsel John Jacques did not attend Thursday's County Administration Committee meeting after being requested to report whether he will challenge or comply with a Department of Justice letter regarding the state's open meetings law. The county executive and Jacques have taken the position that a body created by the county executive, such as the Blue Ribbon Task Force organized to study the Mental Health Center, is exempt from the state's open meetings law. Taking an opposite stance, the state's assistant attorney general sent a letter to the county stating that groups created by the county executive are subject to the open meetings law which requires that government meetings and it's agenda be made public. Jane Hansen, chair of the administration meeting, will send a communication to the county board regarding Jacques' absences from administration committee meetings. Jacques' did not attend Thursday's meeting or February's meeting after being requested to address several agenda items.