HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 9/13/2002 29
Executive Committee Minutes
September 13, 2002, Human Services Conference Room A
Members Present: John Blahnik, Kenneth Jardine, Brett Rondeau, Dee Kittleson, Harold Maki, Marco
Bichanich
Others Present: Tom Gordon, Mark Abeles-Allison, Bill Kacvinsky, Kris Kavajecz, Kay Cederberg, Paul
Lundberg, Elizabeth Skulan, Amelia Lindsey, Lynn Frechette, Catherine Ekholm, Craig Haukaas
Meeting was called to order at 10:00am by Chairman Rondeau.
Abeles-Allison handed out a tentative agenda for the meeting and his recommendations for budget
consideration.
Paul Lundberg presented several graphs and information regarding the varying types of wood to be
harvested from the county forest as well as harvest trends for each species. Lundberg explained that in
order to realize more profit from the county forest an additional forester is being requested. The Forester
would be involved in all aspects of the forestry department. Lundberg also explained that the assistance
from the DNR has been reduced significantly over the past several years, which has also impacted our
ability to harvest optimum amounts from the county forest. Several questions were posed by committee
members. Maki stated that he would support the addition of a Forester if allowable cut was increased from
current levels.
Lundberg requested that revenues from the sale of timber be reflected in the Forestry Department budget
rather than in the general fund as is currently the practice. By doing this, it reduces the levy by eliminating
the levy dollars currently budgeted for the operation of his department. He anticipates that in excess of $1
million dollars would be realized as excess revenues after operating expenses are deducted from the timber
sale revenues. A discussion regarding timber sales followed. Lundberg explained that it can take up to 5
years to receive all profits from a timber sale.
Kay Cederberg from the Clerk of Courts office explained that the Clerk of Court, Circuit Court Judge and
Register in Probate budgets were all combined. Cederberg reviewed her original budget request and
explained the reason for the figures she presented. In all, 10 items were identified totaling $25,233.
Specific items of discussion included jury fees, attorney fees and the law library.
Amelia Lindsey was present to explain the budget request for the Home Health Care Program and answer
questions the committee may have. Catherine Ekholm and Lynn Frechette were also present to answer
questions. As presented in the July Executive Committee Meeting, if the Home Health Care Program were
eliminated it would result in an approximate increase to the Health Department budget of $80,000 because
Home Health Grants also help to fund part of the General Health Budget. Committee members discussed
the impact of this program on citizens of the county and how they would be served if the program were
eliminated.
The committee recessed from 11:40am until 12:30pm for lunch.
Elizabeth Skulan presented the committee with an overview of the Human Services Department budget
proposal and answered questions regarding the proposal. A hand out was provided, which outlined
increased provider costs as well as how the waiting list is established and the criteria for low or high risk
consumers on the waiting list. A brief discussion was held regarding the waiting list.
Craig Haukaas presented a hand-out of proposed budget considerations for the District Attorney’s Office.
He explained that there was a slight miscommunication between he and Mark and that it appears that all of
his budget requests have been addressed in the proposed budget. Haukaas provided a tour of his office
work area and explained his proposal for moving the entry door and front wall out approximately 8-10 feet
to make additional office space. Haukaas also explained the statute pertaining to the Victim/Witness
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Coordinator position and the increase in case load over the last several years. There was a brief discussion
regarding the request for additional secretarial assistance on a 1/10 time basis to help cover vacations, sick
leave, etc.
Abeles-Allison explained his proposal to eliminate the ½ time position in the Register of Deeds office. The
reasoning behind this is that the new technology being implemented in the near future is expected to reduce
the amount of time necessary to record documents. In addition, the casual employee position would still be
included in the budget to assist in heavy workload and vacation situations.
John Blahnik presented a hand out of information pertaining to Bayfield County Economic Development,
Northwest Regional Planning, and the County Revolving Loan Fund. Blahnik explained that both NWRP
and the Revolving loan fund have shown positive results from their efforts, however, he has not seen results
from BCEDC. A lengthy discussion was held regarding the various entities that support economic
development in Bayfield County. Abeles-Allison provided a hand out of statistics showing a comparison
of Economic Development Budgets and funding mechanisms by county.
Motion by Jardine, Second by Bichanich to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 2:15pm