HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board of Supervisors - Minutes - 2/11/2021
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Bayfield County Clerk
Lynn M. Divine, County Clerk
Kim Mattson, Accountant Jeran Delaine, Deputy Clerk
Gail M. Reha, Bookkeeper Paige Terry, Clerk III
Ph: 715.373.6100 ● Fx: 715.373.6153 ● Email: Lynn.Divine@bayfieldcounty.wi.gov ● 117 E. Fifth Street, PO Box 878, Washburn, WI 54891
Minutes of the:
Bayfield County Board of Supervisors’ Meeting
February 11th, 2021 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Held Remotely
BAYFIELD COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Dennis M. Pocernich, Chair, Fred Strand, Vice-Chair
Steve Sandstrom, Mary Dougherty, Larry Fickbohm, Charly Ray,
Jeremy Oswald, Jeffrey Silbert, Thomas Snilsberg, Marty Milanowski,
David Zepczyk, James Crandall, Brett Rondeau
The meeting of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors was called to order at 6:06 p.m. by Bayfield
County Chairman Dennis M. Pocernich. A roll call was taken by County Clerk- Lynn Divine, as follows:
Steve Sandstrom- present virtually; Mary Dougherty- present via phone; Larry Fickbohm- arrived late
virtually; Charly Ray- arrived late virtually; Jeremy Oswald- present virtually; Jeff Silbert- present
virtually; Fred Strand- present virtually; Tom Snilsberg- present virtually; Marty Milanowski- present
virtually; David Zepczyk- present via phone; Jim Crandall- present virtually; Brett Rondeau- arrived late
virtually; Pocernich- present virtually. Total: 13 present, 0 absent. A quorum was present to conduct
business.
The following employees were also present for today’s meeting: County Administrator- Mark Abeles-
Allison virtually; County Clerk- Lynn Divine virtually; Health Director-Sara Wartman virtually; Clerk III-
Paige Terry virtually; Accountant- Kim Mattson virtually
3. Pledge of Allegiance; The pledge of allegiance was recited by all in attendance.
4. Discussion and Possible Action, Minutes from January 26th, 2021;
Motion by Milanowski, seconded by Snilsberg to approve the minutes from January 26, 2021.
Motion Carried 10-0. 3 Absent.
5. Public Comment; None.
Chairman Pocernich made the decision to move the Closed Session to the end of the meeting and
proceed with Item Nos. 8 & 9 (Reports). Additionally, Pocernich asked Abeles-Allison to review the
reports that had been missed at the previous Executive Committee meeting.
6. Reports
a) Future County Board Meeting Dates:
a. February 23
b. March 30
c. April 20, 2021: THIRD TUESDAY OF MONTH
b) COVID-19 Update;
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Wartman reported a total of 1,000+ positive COVID-19 cases in Bayfield County. The levels in
Bayfield County have been decreasing with approximately 15 new positive COVID-19 cases per
week. Approximately 1,000 COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed since December 2020 with
approximately 15% of the Bayfield County population receiving the first vaccine dose and an upper
6% receiving the second dose. Wartman informed the board that the health department has been
unable to secure additional COVID-19 funds from the state. Wartman answered a question posed by
Oswald by clarifying that the Health Department was in communication with the State in December
2020 regarding COVID-19 funds being distributed throughout the state, but Bayfield County has yet
to receive the contract for 2021.
Discussion was held regarding a health order limiting the number of participants at athletic events.
6:04 – Larry Fickbohm Joined the Meeting
6:10 – Charly Ray Joined the Meeting
6:15 – Brett Rondeau Joined the Meeting
Discussion was held regarding COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and results.
Chairman Pocernich asked if solutions had been found to ensure that Bayfield County veterans are
able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Wartman stated that she is currently working with the
Bayfield County Veteran’s Services Office to reach a solution.
Additional Reports from February 11, 2021 Executive Committee Meeting:
a) Financial Report, end of December 2020: Revenues are currently at 92% for the General Fund,
down approximately $0.9 million from 2019. County Admin expenditures are right at 100%, a
journal entry will be made to adjust the expenses. Expenditures are at 91% overall for the General
Fund, down approximately $2.4 million from 2019. DHS is at 91% for revenue and 81% for
expenditures, which is down approximately $500,000 from 2019. CIP revenue is currently at 76%
and expenditures are at 74%. Highway revenues is at 108% and expenditures are at 104%, a budget
amendment resolution will be prepared for the next board meeting.
b) Financial Report, end of January 2021; Revenues are currently on track and expenditures are at
9%. CIP has approximately $61,000 in expenses so far. Highway revenue is $3.8 million, up
approximately $80,000 from 2020, expenses are down approximately $30,000 from 2020.
c) Treasurer’s Report, end of January 2021; Around $19.1 million, down approximately $350,000
from 2020. Abeles-Allison reported that the Highway bond issue was paid off in January 2021.
d) Fund Balance Review, Tentative, end of 2020: Preliminary numbers reflect $16.2 mil compared
to $16.1 mil in 2019.
e) Front Stairs and Sidewalk Project our for bids; The bidding process is about to start for the
project. The project will be used to repair some deteriorated portion of the stairs as well as repair
approximately 500 linear feet of sidewalks.
f) WITC Board Opening; Abeles-Allison informed the board that the deadline to apply for the
WITC Board Opening was today; February 11, 2021.
g) Superior Days Topic Review; Bayfield County is planning on collaborating with Ashland County
and several legislatures to put together a mini-packet for Superior Days that would cover a variety
of topics, including: support for rural EMS; Tribal Land Repatriation, which would add language to
existing statutes to make the repatriation of land easier; and broadband expansion. Strand offered
two more topics for Superior Days, the first being State funding for County conservation staff and
the second being restoring fish passage for migratory fish in the Iron River.
h) EIGP Grant Review; The EIGP Grant will be used to replace the generator with a battery and
modified electrical systems that would be powered by the existing generator during a power outage.
i) County emails update; firstname.lastname@bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
j) County webpage updates; www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
7. Supervisors’ Reports;
Chairman Pocernich informed the board that he would like the February 23, 2021 board meeting
to be held in-person and remotely. Pocernich explained that he would like to move back to
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meeting in-person while still utilizing the social distancing guidelines and mask mandate for in-
person meetings. Pocernich asked that the Clerk’s or Admin’s Office ask board members if they
would be attending in-person or remotely when sending out the agenda for the next meeting.
8. The Board may entertain a motion to move in and out of Closed Session pursuant to
§19.85(1) (c) to consider the employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation
data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises
responsibility (e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchasing of public properties, the investing of
public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or
bargaining reasons require a closed session
Motion by Fickbohm, seconded by Crandall to enter Executive/Closed Session at 6:45 p.m.
Motion Carried, 13-0.
Discussion took place regarding the Closed Session Minutes from a previous meeting, WPPA
Union Negotiations and Contract Consideration, the appointment of the new Emergency
Management Director, and the consideration of the County Administrator Contract.
There being no further business to conduct in Executive/Closed Session, a motion was made by
Rondeau, seconded by Milanowski to return to Open session at 7:15 p.m. Motion Carried, 13-0.
Open Session;
9. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Confirmation of the Emergency Management
Director Appointment;
Motion by Sandstrom, seconded by Fickbohm to confirm the appointment of Meagan Quaderer to
the position of Emergency Management Director. Motion Carried 13-0.
10. Adjournment;
There being no further business to come before the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors, a
motion was made by Crandall, seconded by Sandstrom to adjourn the meeting at 7:21 p.m.
Sincerely,
LYNN M. DIVINE
Bayfield County Clerk
LMD/pat