2021 WCA Annual Legislative Exchange

Madison Concourse Hotel (Map)

1 West Dayton Street

Madison, WI 53703

Phone: 608-257-6000

www.concoursehotel.com

The two-day meeting provides a briefing on legislative proposals affecting counties and reports by WCA legislative staff and state officials.

Early Registration Begins: 12/17/2020

Late Registration Ends: 1/23/2021

Register

DELEGATE REGISTRATION FEES
WCA Member County Delegate - $150.00 (Late Registration Fee: $160.00)
State Official/Employee or Private Sector - $225.00 (Late Registration Fee: $240.00)

TUESDAY SPOUSE/GUEST FOOD TICKETS
WCA Member Spouse/Guest Tuesday Lunch Ticket - $16.00 (Late Registration Fee: $16.00)
Non-Member Spouse/Guest Tuesday Lunch Ticket - $25.00 (Late Registration Fee: $25.00)

WEDNESDAY SPOUSE/GUEST FOOD TICKETS
WCA Member Spouse/Guest Wednesday Breakfast Ticket - $16.00 (Late Registration Fee: $16.00)
Non-Member Wednesday Spouse/Guest Breakfast Ticket - $25.00 (Late Registration Fee: $25.00)
WCA Member Spouse/Guest Wednesday Boxed Lunch Ticket - $10.00 (Late Registration Fee: $10.00)
Non-Member Wednesday Spouse/Guest Boxed Lunch Ticket - $10.00 (Late Registration Fee: $10.00)

WCA COUNTY RECEPTION
WCA Member County Delegate - $0.00 (Late Registration Fee: $0.00)
State Official/Employee or Private Sector - $0.00 (Late Registration Fee: $0.00)

WCA COUNTY RECEPTION SPOUSE/GUEST
WCA Member County Spouse/Guest - $0.00 (Late Registration Fee: $0.00)
State Official/Employee or Private Sector Spouse/Guest - $0.00 (Late Registration Fee: $0.00)

For information contact:
Cheryl A. Fleck -- Email
866.404.2700

CANCELLATION POLICY
A full refund of registration fees will be made if written notice of cancellation is received at the WCA office by Friday, January 22, 2021. Cancellations made after January 22 and before January 29, 2021 will be subject to a $25 handling fee. The will be no refunds after January 29, 2021. All cancellations must be submitted in writing to the WCA office.

2021 Annual Conference & Marketplace

September 26-28, 2021

La Crosse Center

300 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse, WI 54601

WCA Annual Conference

Questions?

Contact Cheryl Fleck, WCA Marketing and Events Manager at 866.404.2700 or via email.

2020 WCA Annual Conference Virtual Workshops

• Preparing for the Emergency You Hope Never Happens (11/9/2020)
• Watch the full 2020 WCA Annual Conference Virtual Workshop, Preparing for the Emergency You Hope Never Happens, here.


• Serving Our Aging Population (11/2/2020)
• Watch the full 2020 WCA Annual Conference Virtual Workshop, Serving our Aging population, here.


• PFAS: What You Need to Know (10/26/2020)
• Watch the full 2020 WCA Annual Conference Virtual Workshop, PFAS: What You Need to Know, here.


• Large Livestock Siting: Where Do We Go From Here? (10/19/2020)
• Watch the full 2020 WCA Annual Conference Virtual Workshop, Large Livestock Siting: Where Do We Go From Here? by clicking here.


• Implementing Pretrial Justice in Wisconsin (10/12/2020)
• Watch the full 2020 WCA Annual Conference Virtual Workshop, Implementing Pretrial Justice in Wisconsin here.


• Promoting Diversity on County Boards (10/6/2020)
• Watch the full 2020 WCA Annual Conference Virtual Workshop, Promoting Diversity on County Boards, here.


• Cyber Threats to Public Safety (9/28/2020)
• Watch the full 2020 WCA Annual Conference Virtual Workshop, Cyber Threats to Public Safety, here.

2020 WCA Webinars

• Cybersecurity Awareness 3: Building Your Cyber Defense Playbook (11/17/2020)
• This third webinar (of four) focused on Wisconsin County Government cybersecurity. From understanding the threat landscape of cybersecurity (Webinar 1) and the prioritized threats (Webinar 2), we can now focus on the details of policies, procedures, and practices that accompany a cyber defense playbook. Watch the webinar here.


• Cybersecurity Awareness 2: Assessing Cyber Risk Readiness at Your County. (11/10/2020)
• This second webinar (of four) focused on Wisconsin County Government cybersecurity. This session provided how-to guides to assess the current level of readiness to defend and protect the safety, security, and continuity of your county services. Watch the webinar here.


• Cybersecurity Awareness 1: Understanding the Shifting Landscape of Cybersecurity (10/27/2020)
• This is the first webinar (of four) focused on Wisconsin County Government cybersecurity. This session details the fast-changing landscape of cybersecurity, the increasingly sophisticated attacks on county government, the anatomy of a cyber breech, and what to do about it all right now. Watch the webinar here.


• Guidance on First Amendment Auditors (10/7/2020)
• On October 7, 2020, Attorneys Andrew Phillips, Kyle Gulya and Ryan Heiden of von Briesen & Roper, s.c. provided guidance on interactions with first amendment auditors, along with strategies in managing the safety and confidentiality concerns related to the affairs of county business.


• Advancing Broadband in Wisconsin (9/9/2020)
• This WCA Webinar, Advancing Broadband in Wisconsin, was held September 9, 2020 and includes speakers Jack Votava of Forward Analytics and Tom Asp and Jim Weikert of Power System Engineering.
  
  Watch the September 9, 2020 Advancing Broadband in Wisconsin webinar by clicking here.


• Virtual Meeting: What Stays the Same and What has to Change (8/6/2020)
• While trying to juggle all the complexities of operating during a pandemic and continuing to meet the needs of constituents, most leaders try to force the same old in-person meeting format and content onto a video platform, hoping for the best. But even the most effective teams are learning there are all new pitfalls to look out for and new ways of communicating that are needed in order to be successful virtually. Join Kim Clist Fons, from Blue Wysteria Coaching and Consulting, and explore how to have consistently effective meetings on-line and how this one step is an integral part of being a Highly Effective Team. Speaker: Kim Clist Fons, M.Ed., ACC, UWCPC - President and Founder of Blue Wysteria Coaching and Consulting, a Certified Leadership and Team Coach, community and organizational development facilitator, and professional skills educator.
  
  Watch the August 6, 2020 webinar, Virtual Meeting: What Stays the Same and What has to Change by clicking here.


• County Officials Workshops (COWS) - WI Public Records Law / Ethics & Conflicts of Interest (6/29/2020)
• TOPICS OF THIS WEBINAR: Wisconsin's Public Records Law, and Ethics & Conflicts of Interest. This webinar is a unique opportunity for both newly elected county government officials and veterans of the county board to learn from experienced educators about best practices and avoiding the pitfalls of governance.
  
  Watch the June 29, 2020 COWS webinar by clicking here


• County Officials Workshops (COWS) - Running Effective Meetings / County Budgeting (6/22/2020)
• TOPICS OF THIS WEBINAR: Running Effective Meetings and County Budgeting. This webinar is a unique opportunity for both newly elected county government officials and veterans of the county board to learn from experienced educators about best practices and avoiding the pitfalls of governance.
  
  Watch the June 22, 2020 COWS webinar by clicking here


• County Officials Workshops (COWS) - WI Open Meetings Law / Agendas & Minutes (6/15/2020)
• TOPICS OF THIS WEBINAR: Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law, and Agendas & Minutes. This webinar is a unique opportunity for both newly elected county government officials and veterans of the county board to learn from experienced educators about best practices and avoiding the pitfalls of governance.
  
  Watch the June 15, 2020 COWS webinar by clicking here.


• County Officials Workshops (COWS) - Who We Are / Roles & Responsibilities (6/8/2020)
• TOPICS OF THIS WEBINAR: Who We Are: The UW-Madison Division of Extension Local Government Center and the Wisconsin Counties Association and Roles & Responsibilities.This webinar is a unique opportunity for both newly elected county government officials and veterans of the county board to learn from experienced educators about best practices and avoiding the pitfalls of governance.
  
  Watch the June 8, 2020 COWS webinar by clicking here.


• 2021 Decennial Redistricting Overview Webinar (4/28/2020)
• WCA hosted a webinar on April 28, 2020 on the 2021 Decennial Redistricting, which featured Ben Conard of von Briesen & Roper, s.c.
  
  Watch the April 28, 2020 webinar, 2021 Decennial Redistricting by clicking here.


• 2020 U.S. Census Webinar (2/24/2020)
• WCA hosted a webinar on the U.S.Census, which featured Becky Schigiel of the U.S. Census Bureau.
  
  Watch the February 24, 2020 WCA webinar on the U.S. Census by clicking here.

2020 WCA Educational Seminars

• Cyber Security: Threats to Local Government (7/13/2020)

• This educational seminar focused on cyber security and its impact on county government. Topics will include elections security, employee training and risk management best practices, and security concerns. Our panel of experts include those from the National Association of Counties (NACo), the Wisconsin Elections Commission, Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation, and von Briesen & Roper, s.c.
  

  Session One

  Emerging Cyber Threats, Employee Training & Cyber Incident Response Plans
  Presented by Josh Dirkse, Aegis Corporation
  
  Session Two
  Investigating Cyber Breach and Security Concerns in the Year of COVID-19
  Presented by Joseph M. Russell, von Briesen & Roper, s.c
  
  

  Session Three

  Election Security in Wisconsin
  Presented by Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin Elections Commission
  
  

  Session Four

  NACo Cyber Security Part 1
  Presented by Rita Reynolds, Chief Technology Officer, National Association of Counties (NACo)
  
  

  Session Five

  NACo Cyber Security Part 2

  Presented by Rita Reynolds, Chief Technology Officer, National Association of Counties (NACo)


• Preparing for the County Board Organization Meeting and Orientation for Newly Elected county Board Supervisors (1/13/2020)

• This seminar will cover in detail, county government authority, roles and responsibilities of county supervisors, election of officers, adoption of the county board's procedural rules, and county board organization. Topics also include committee structure; how committee members are appointed; resolutions and ordinances and how they are introduced and processed; and, agendas and who is responsible for them and how items get on the agenda. Eau Claire County officials will also present information on their orientation program for newly elected county supervisors.



• County Government Authority, Administrative Structure Options, and the Roles and Responsibilities of County Board Members (1/13/2020)


• County Board Organizational Meeting (1/13/2020)


• Running Effective Meetings - Rules of Decorum (1/13/2020)


• 2020 Wisconsin Counties Association Board Orientation (1/13/2020)


• Three Forms of County Government (1/13/2020)


• Basic Information on Motions (1/13/2020)


• County Supervisor Job Description (1/13/2020)


• Questions on Roles and Responsibilities Presentation (1/13/2020)


• Wi County Code Administrators: The Latest and Greatest on Zoning WisconsinGovernment Structure Map (2018) (1/13/2020)

2019 WCA Webinars

• Update on Forward Analytics Research (12/16/2019)
• During this webinar, we will discuss Forward Analytics latest research on job creation in Wisconsin; i.e., what kinds of jobs are being created and what that might mean for counties. You will also learn about some exciting research currently in progress, including a major project on rural depopulation both in Wisconsin and nationally. Speaker: Dale Knapp - Forward Analytics
  
  
  View the December 16, 2019 webinar here.


• Water Quality in Wisconsin-Where We're At (9/11/2019)
• Matt Krueger, Executive Director, WI Land+Water will be presenting a one hour webinar providing you with: an introduction to WI Land+Water; an overview of water quality in Wisconsin; water quality improvement "toolbox"; water quality challenges and water quality successes.
  
  
  View the September 11, 2019 webinar here.


• Public Safety's Journey to the Cloud (8/5/2019)
• During this hour webinar, you will learn how public safety applications are moving to the cloud, security fundamentals of cloud computing and securing your data and how to migrate your on premise solutions at your own pace to the cloud. Speaker: Karen Carlson - Motorola Solutions, Inc.
  
  
  View the August 5, 2019 webinar here.


• Agenda & Minutes for County Board & Committee Meetings (7/22/2019)
• It is important for county officials, the public and the media to easily view agendas and meeting minutes.
  
  This July 22, 2019 webinar focused on topics such as: where are the sources of procedural rules, who is responsible for setting and posting agendas, what are the public notice requirements, information on closed sessions, what is required to be included in meeting minutes, and what is the proper way to correct minutes of previous meetings.
  
  
  View the July 22, 2019 webinar here.


• WEXA Webinar (5/30/2019)
• View the May 30, 2019 WEXA webinar here.


• A Practical Approach to Cyber Security (5/20/2019)

• County governments rely on technology to deliver services to citizens, and the infrastructure behind these technology systems is under near-constant attack. This educational session will focus on practical ways that municipal governments can think about and respond to the risks associated with cyber security. Speaker - Sean Maday, Google Cloud, Cloud Engineer - Government

  
  Listen to the 05/20/19 webinar here.
  
  


• Next Generation 9-1-1 and What It Means for Your County - Now (3/25/2019)

• The future of 9-1-1 is now. Your 9-1-1 Agencies are facing a paradigm shift requiring them to implement new technology in order to accept text messages, images, video and other data to come. A crucial component of the paradigm shift is the move to IP, affecting how calls are routed and enabling communication across jurisdictions. Find out about the challenges affecting 9-1-1 Agencies in this new world and how to safely overcome them. Join our free webinar, hosted by Motorola Solutions, and learn what this vital service must do to better meet citizen expectations. Speaker - Tim Miller, NGCS Business, Motorola Solutions

  
  Listen to the 03/25/19 webinar here.
  
  


• Digital Counties Outcomes & What Comes Next (1/21/2019)

• The Digital County Symposium was a three-event series held in Eau Claire, Green Bay, and Cedarburg over the last 12 months sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association. This was a collaborative effort to reimagine how counties can provide various services while using modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence. This early vision has transitioned to a reality as Advancing AI Wisconsin's "The Digital County-Documentation of Outcomes" recaps the journey of 14 working groups and provides a detailed summary of the events. But what is the next step?

  Oliver Buechse, My Strategy Source will host this webinar to discuss the outcomes of the Digital County events and provide ideas on how counties might take the next steps in artificial intelligence through the services they provide.

  
  Listen to the 01/21/19 webinar here.
  
  

2019 WCA Annual Conference

• Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Session-Evidence-Based Decision Making: County Examples (9/24/2019)


• Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Session-Wisconsin Extension Committees Update (9/24/2019)


• Tuesday 8:30 a.m. Session-County Redistricting (9/24/2019)


• Tuesday 8:30 a.m. Session-County Mental Health Programming (9/24/2019)


• Tuesday 8:30 a.m. Session-County Mental Health Programming: St. Croix County (9/24/2019)


• Tuesday 10:30 a.m. Session-Embracing the Cloud for IT Efficiencies (9/24/2019)


• Tuesday 10:30 a.m. Session-Organizational Culture of Continuous Improvement (9/24/2019)


• Tuesday 10:30 a.m. Session-Badger State Sheriffs Emergency Detentions (9/24/2019)


• Tuesday 10:30 a.m. Session-Ready for 2030? How Coming Demographic Changes Will Impact Counties (9/24/2019)


• Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Session-WEXA Committee Updates (9/24/2019)


• Challenges to Groundwater Quality & Quantity (9/24/2019)


• Monday 1:45 p.m. Session-Utilizing the Talent of Veterans (9/23/2019)


• Monday 1:45 p.m. Session-Broadband Expansion in Wisconsin (9/23/2019)


• Monday 2:45 p.m. Session-NextGeneration 911 (9/23/2019)


• Monday 2:45 p.m. Session-Steps for Your County to Address Workforce & Senior Housing (9/23/2019)


• Monday 3:45 p.m. Session-Managing Bond Proceeds (9/23/2019)


• Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Session-Wisconsin Energy Status (9/23/2019)


• Tuesday 9:30 a.m. Session- Digital Counties Progress from Brown and Racine Counties (9/23/2019)


• Monday 1:45 p.m. Session-Becoming a Debt-Free County (9/23/2019)


• Monday 3:45 p.m. Session-The Attack on Qualified Immunity (9/23/2019)


• Monday 3:45 p.m. Session-Elections Security (9/23/2019)


• Monday 1:45 p.m. Session-Water Quality Task Force (9/23/2019)


• Monday 3:45 Session-Future Regions: Local Governments Forging a New Path (9/23/2019)


• Monday 3:45 Session-The Opioid and Meth Epidemic's Impact on Child Welfare Services (9/23/2019)

2019 WCA Educational Seminars

• Changing Demographics and Their Impact on Wisconsin Counties (8/19/2019)

• Wisconsin's population is going through a transformation unlike anything we have seen in the past. We have a rapidly growing senior population at the same time that births have been on the decline for a decade.In addition to an overview of the demographic challenges the state and its 72 counties face, we will explore: how changing demography is affecting the workforce; how an aging population will create significant challenges for counties; and how shifting migration patterns could help or hinder these challenges.The challenges created by our demographic shift are broad, making this seminar informative for county employees working in nearly all areas. County employees working with aging issues or economic development will find the topics particularly relevant.



• Is Demography Destiny? Or Can Migration Save Us? (8/19/2019)


• The Impact of an Aging Population on Counties (8/19/2019)


• Impact of Home & Community Based Services (8/19/2019)


• Wisconsin's Growing Workforce Challenges (8/19/2019)


• Wisconsin Demography: Present Profile and Future Trajectory (8/19/2019)


• Fraud Risk, Awareness, Prevention, Management, and Response (6/17/2019)

• Is your county taking steps to ensure financial fraud does not occur? What is the role of county elected officials and county employees in managing risk related to fraud? Who is responsible to put processes and procedures in place to prevent fraudulent activity? This WCA Educational Seminar offers county officials an opportunity to hear from experts on how to create awareness of fraud risk, prevent, manage, and create internal controls opportunities to mitigate the risk of fraud. You will also hear examples of schemes where fraud occurred in other organizations.



• Fraud Awareness and Management in County Government (6/17/2019)


• Fraud Risks in Current Times (6/17/2019)


• Fraud Prevention (6/17/2019)


• We Have Fraud - Now What? (6/17/2019)


• Environment and Land Use: How Counties Protect Land & Water (4/22/2019)

• Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) is excited to host a panel of experts to explore a variety of environment and land use issues, including water quality, zoning, land use planning, and recycling. At a time when the state has identified clean drinking water as a top priority, it is important to hear how the landscape is changing from an environmental standpoint. Communities across Wisconsin are finding innovative approaches to environment and land use and Wisconsin's counties are at the forefront of this innovation. This seminar will provide an overview of what counties are doing to provide citizens with smart planning, abundant natural resources, as well as interesting approaches to making the most out of those precious state resources.



• Doing Our Part! How Municipal Waste & Recycling Programs Protect the Environment (4/22/2019)


• WI County Code Administrators: The Latest and Greatest on Zoning Wisconsin (4/22/2019)


• County Conservation Funding, Forests, and Groundwater Protection in Wisconsin (4/22/2019)


• How Counties Protect Land and Water (4/22/2019)


• The Opioid and Meth Epidemic: What Counties Can Do To Ease Wisconsin's Drug Epidemic (2/18/2019)

• The methamphetamine and opioid epidemic has hit the nation hard. Wisconsin's counties face the epidemic daily on many fronts, including child welfare services, county jails, public health departments, and social/human services departments. Many counties are addressing the meth and opioid epidemic head on and are implementing programs at the local level to address the needs of those struggling with addiction. This seminar will provide an overview of the meth and opioid crisis in Wisconsin, as well as highlight several local programs aimed at curbing the negative impacts meth and opioid use have on communities across the state.



• Wisconsin's Opioid Crisis (2/18/2019)


• Dane County's Jail Opiate Project (2/18/2019)


• Opiate Recovery Project Treatment Services Informed Consent (2/18/2019)


• Client Expectations once they are involved in the Vivitrol Program (2/18/2019)


• Vivitrol Brochure (2/18/2019)


• Sauk County Overdose Death Review Team (2/18/2019)


• Kenosha County Opioid Initiative (2/18/2019)


• Overview of Meth Epidemic In Wisconsin (2/18/2019)


• KNOW METH Initiative (2/18/2019)


• KNOW METH Barron County (2/18/2019)

2020 WCA Legislative Exchange

• State of Wisconsin Investment Board: David Villa (2/4/2020)


• Wisconsin Rural Decline in a National Context: Dale Knapp Forward Analytics (2/4/2020)