HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board of Supervisors - Minutes - 11/5/1980November 5, 198o
MEETING OF THE BAYFIELD COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
November 5, 1980
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chairman Walter Barningham.
The following members answered roll call: No. 1
Present - Erickson, Meierotto, Barningham, Sneed, Maki, McGillivray, Seidel, Strom, Rave,
Soderstrom, Johnson, Carter, Diamon, Anderson, Wickman, Ludzack, Renoos
Absent - Sechen
Present - 17
Absent - 1
TOTAL 18
A prayer and pledge of allegiance were led by Larry Seidel, board member. Clerk Pajala
stated that the board was meeting in spedial session according to a petition signed by: Anderson,
Erickson, Rave, Renoos, Seidel, Johnson, Strom, Sechen, Wickman, Barningham, McGillivray,
and Meierotto.
1. .No. 2
A motion was made by Rave and seconded by Soderstrom to dispense with the reading of the
minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried.
The following letter was_ read: No. 3
Joel E. Bromberg
Apartment 202
241 S. Madison St.
Waupum, WI 53963
Mr. Richard Fredericks, Sheriff
Bayfield County Courthouse
Washburn, WI 54891
Dear Mr.Fredericks:
It has been called to my attention that the procedure I used in my letter of resignation from
the Bayfield County Board was not according to statutes.
This letter, which I will have hand delivered to your office, will confirm my resignation as
Supervisor, District 2, Bayfield County Board, as of October 31, 1980, as previously stated
in my letter of resignation to Walter Barningham.
Sincerely,
Joel E. Bromberg
Received this 11-3-80 day of November 1980 by the Bayfield County Sheriff's Office.
Richard Fredericks, Sheriff
Moved by Seidel and seconded by Diamon that the resignation be received and placed on file.
Motion carried.
The clerk next read the following letter from Chairman Walter Barningham: No. 3a
Bayf eld County, Wisconsin.
Office of County Board Chairman
Star Route
Bayfield, WI 54814
November 5, 1980
TO ALL COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS,
Gentlemen:
Due,to the resignation.of.Joel-Bromberg, District No'. 2:, I have appointed Carolyn Sneed to fill
the vacancy.
I trust the county board will confirm the appointment.
Very truly yours,
Walter Barningham
Co. Board Chairman
lmm
November 5,1980
Moved by Johnson and seconded byStrom to receive the letter and place it on file and that
the appointment be confirmed. Motion carried.
Robert Sechen arrived at this time.
The following resolution was read: No. 4
WHEREAS, The Bayfield County Executive Committee has advertised for bids for building a new
county jail attached to the former Bayfield County Rest Home and for renovating a portion of the
Bayfield County Rest Home to be used as a Law Enforcement Center and
WHEREAS, Bids have been received by said county Executive Committee and were opened on
October-30, 1980, and
WHEREAS, The following bids were the low bids: General Construction: Frank Tomlinson,
Constr., $348,737.00, Alt. $16,675.00; Plumbing and Heating: Tri-State.Mechanical, $82,990.00;
Ventilation Construction: Tri-State Mechanical, $25,930.00 (includes sprinkler); Electrical
Construction: Doty Electric, Inc., $64,710.00, and
WHEREAS, The low bids were substantially less than the estimated construction costs and
WHEREAS, The committee is of the opinion that the new jail facility and law enforcement
center be built and
WHEREAS, The committee is of the opinion that the low bids as shown above should be accepted,
now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the bids of Frank Tomlinson Construction for general construction, including
the alternate; TrirState Mechanical for plumbing and heating and ventialtion construction; and
Doty Electric for electrical construction, in the amounts as shown above be accepted and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the county clerk and the county board chairman be authorized and directed to
execute on behalf of.the county contracts covering the aforementioned bids.
SIGNED: Johnson, Carter, Seidel, Renoos, Meierotto
Moved by Erickson and seconded by Meierotto to adopt.
Strom suggested that the meeting be opened up to the floor.
Representatives from.Foss Electric, Washburn, Wisconsin, spoke to the board stating that
they felt the electrical contract should be awarded to a local contractor instead of one from
out of the area. They stated that if a trend like that continues contractors from here will have
to leave this area to find work.
Seidel then stated for the board's benefit that the committee's recommendation was to
award the electrical bid to the low bidder, Doty Electric, a firm from So. International Falls, MN.
Bill Rave then stated that it might be hard to get service from a firm that far away .
Diamon questioned the amount of difference between the two bids.
Seidel stated that the difference was $1,153.
Johnson sympathized with the representatives from Foss Electric stating that he also felt
that local work be generated and kept here, however, he felt that it is not good business to
advertise for bids over a large area and then show favoritism to a local firm. In all fairness
he stated that the bid should go to the low bidder.
November 5, 1980
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Resolution No. 4 with the following
results: No. 4a.
Ayes - Erickson, Meierotto, Barningham, Sneed, Maki, McGillivray, Soderstrom, Johnson, Sechen
Carter, Diamon, Anderson, Wickman, Ludzack, Renoos
Nayes - Seidel, Strom, Rave
Ayes 15
Nayes - 3
TOTAL 18
Motion carried.
Don Stanius, architect, then addressed the board stating that he was very pleased with the
bids and that his estimate of the bids was not too far off.
Erickson then questioned whomas the low bidder on the bond issue.
Pajala answered that the First National Bank of St. Paul was the low bidder.
Pajala then stated that the construction on the jail should start immediately.
Stanius agreed stating however, that he does not want anyone on the job until they are
properly insured.
This concluded the discussion on the jail.
KT-
Dave Jacobson, DNR, then addressed the board on the Bibon Marsh area.
Jacobson stated that the DNR first started this project in 1975 but it had to be dropped
because of lack of funding. In 1978 the project was resurrected. The first project proposed
the use of 22,000 acres of land. The DNR then out that figure to 16:,000 acres. Jacobson
stated, however, that figure was still not acceptable to some in Bayfield County and further
cuts were made in the size of the project.
Jacobson stated that some of the complaints the people had against the DNR project were
that the agricultural lands were included in it, that they did not want a project that would
bring a lot of people into the area and make it a tourist attraction, they did not want an
advettising campaign, and they basically wanted to keep the marsh area the way it is today.
George Phillips was called on to speak before the board on the marsh project. He pointed
out to the board on a map of the Bibon Marsh areas where roads and trails have been developed
in the area without consent of the land owners. He stated that if the DNR could acquire
the land they would close off most of these access roads_ and trails. He also stated that a
snowmobile trails would be developed, also a primitive campground for the convenience of f is
ete. Phillips added that the DNR wishes this area -to remain in a natural state and without
controls .this would not continue for a long period of time.
Jacobson showed to the board maps of what the DNR would like to acquire from the county.
He stated that the size of this project was approximately 13,500 acres.
Rave then pointed out that the Hazel Hills Corporation owns a good share of lands in the
Bibon Marsh area. He questioned what is to stop them from selling their interest in the marsh
which would destroy the whole concept of preserving this natural area which the DNR is pro-
posing to do.
November 5, 1980
Ludzack asked Jacobson what kind of assurance the county has that the DNR would keep its
word about their proposed project.
Jacobson answered that if their proposal is accepted a citizen's advisory council will be
formed to watch over the DNR. The council would eonsist of the town chairmen for the Towns of
Grand View and Mason, a. Member at large from each of those two townships and himself.
Anderson then spoke expressing his appreciation for the amount of work the DNR has put into
the study of the Bibon Marsh, however, he stated that it was the feeling of the majority of
people in the Town of Mason that the county not get involved with the DNR.
McGillivray then stated that if the county does not intend to sell the land to the DNR what
would they propose to do with it.
The following resolution was read: No. 6
WHEREAS, Bayfield County has long recognized the desirability of preserving the Bibon Marsh
in its natural and existing condition, and
WHEREAS, In furtherance of this objective, the Bayfield County Board requested the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources to explore alternatives and conduct a feasibility study of the area, and
WHEREAS, In March of 1978 the County Board requested the DNR toyprepare a master plan which
would include alternatives for land control, evaluation of financial gain or loss to the county
and townships in which the swamp is located, and to consider desired or optimum acreage to be
under public ownerships it being understood that the County Board would have input into the
master plan, and
WHEREAS, The DNR has prepared the requested master plan and the Department has conducted
three public informational meetings and has modified the drafted master plan to accomodate public
concerns wherever possible, and
WHEREAS, The Bayfield County Board in session on April 17, 1979, recommended to the DNR
that an environmental impact statement be prepared and that both informational and formal hearing
procedures be followed to ensure the public the opportunity for input in the final master plan
and environmental impact statement and
WHEREAS, The DNR. has now finalized the environmental impact statement and has conducted the
informational meeting and has modified the environmental impact statement to further disclose
public concerns and
WHEREAS, It is now apparent the master plan is not likely to be subjected to significant
change because of the substantial participation by the public and the County Board, and
WHEREAS, The Bayfield County Board retains its final sanction of the project pending the
formal hearing,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Bayfield County Board hereby expresses its support
of the master plan and final environmental impact statement and the proposed Bibon Swamp Natural
Area Porject.
SIGNED: Seidel, Meierotto, Renoos, Barningham
November 511980
Renoos stated that he felt.this matter should be put up to a referendum vote so that
the people could decide.
Moved by Strom and seconded by McGillivray to adopt the resolution.
A roll call vote was taken with -the following results: No. 6a
Ayes - Erickson, Meierotto, Barningham, Sneed, McGillivray, Seidel, Strom, Rave,, Soderstrom,
Carter
Nayes - Maki, Johnson, Sechen, Diamon, Anderson, Wickman, Ludzack,'Renoos
Ayes - 10
Nayes - 8
TOTAL 18
Motion Carried.
No. 7
Moved by Seidel and seconded by Renoos to adjourn. Motion carried.
Walter C. Barninghamt, County Board Chairman
Edward A. Pajala, I
ield County Clerk