The strategic planning advisory committee of the Vernon County Board of supervisors is no one-trick pony.

The committee had sought to have its membership increased and be made a standing committee of the county board last month. The county’s legal affairs committee shot down that proposition, which would have given the strategic planning committee the authority to forward resolutions to the county board.

The strategic planning advisory committee met last Thursday and considered its options. Originally it looked as though the committee might disband.

"Does it make any sense to continue?" board member David Banner said.

"Well, we’re about to find that out," committee chairman Todd Overbo said.

After a short discussion, the committee decided to seek having the county board make it a subcommittee of the general government committee. The general government committee is already a standing committee. Also, the definition of the responsibilities of that committee could leave it to take on the duties of strategic planning. A review of County Board Rule No. 16 showed this could occur.

"I like making it part of general government, maybe that’s the place for it," Overbo said.

The general government committee consists of Overbo, Hebert Cornell, Frank McCoy, Frank Easterday and Kevin Larson.

County board chairman Tom Spenner said he was directed to form the strategic planning advisory committee two years ago. The committee’s goal is to look at long-term operations of the county and plan for the future.

The committee, which includes Overbo, Banner and Kevin Gobel, has been met with resistance when suggesting combining departments or trying to find efficiencies in some areas.

Overbo said one of the things he came to learn over his involvement with the committee is "how territorial the county government is."

Banner said a continued path of strategic planning for the county was essential. Currently the county is eyeing the prospects of receiving less shared revenue from the state, the potential for lower tax receipts, dealing with the state budget cap and having to repair several dams.

"By April 2010 things are going to be in a shambles," Banner said. "We need to have a plan now, so we don’t have to take draconian measures."

Corporation counsel Greg Lunde said he would write a resolution to the county board that asks it to make strategic planning a function of the general government committee.