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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 3/11/2003Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting March 11, 2003 4:00pm County Board Room Members Present: John Blahnik, Harold Maki, Brett Rondeau, Kenneth Jardine, Marco Bichanich, Delores Kittleson Others Present: Tom Gordon, Mark Abeles-Allison, Bill Kacvinsky, Jan Karlen, Tim Kane, Paul Lundberg, Rick Olivo, Clendon Gustafson, Judge John Priebe, Bob Kent, Mitch Hamm, Kris Kavajecz Meeting called to order at 4:00pm by Chairman Rondeau. Motion by Blahnik second by Bichanich to approve the minutes of the January 14, 2003 Executive Committee Meeting. Motion Carried. Presentation by Cable Union Airport Commission: Motion by Jardine, Second by Bichanich to table this item until the next meeting. Motion Carried. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Juvenile Truancy Ordinance: Judge Priebe thanked the committee for allowing him to present this information and for considering a change to the current ordinance. Priebe gave a brief background on his interest in the Truancy Ordinance. He believes that because of the lack of values being taught in the home, that the school districts are key in promoting values in our county's youth. Priebe reviewed the current ordinance and process for processing truancy issues. He would like to modify the system to allow the school districts to issue citations on the spot and coordinate with the District Attorney's office to set an immediate court date, reinforcing the importance of the truancy issue. Jardine requested the definition of truancy. Priebe read the definition of Truancy and explained the difference between simple truancy and habitual truancy. Priebe explained that he, Human Services and the school districts are working together in an informal committee, to draft a revised ordinance. The draft has not been finalized at this point. Maki asked how severe the problem with truancy is. Bob Kent of the Bayfield School District stated that he would estimate approximately 10-12 unexcused absences per week at Bayfield High School. Parents are notified when a student is truant. Kent stated that the Tribe uses a similar system to the one being proposed and it has had a positive impact on the truancy rate. Kittleson questioned if this could potentially overburden the courts with truancy citations. Priebe does not foresee this as a problem. Priebe would like to see the ordinance state that the student and the parent be required to appear in court. Priebe explained that the Board will be asked to entertain a change in the current ordinance in the near future. Mitch Hamm stated that the City of Washburn has an ordinance, however, it requires the school to contact an officer and the officer then has to come to the school to issue the citation. From that point, the citation is handled through the court system, and in most cases, the juvenile pays the fine and does not have to appear in court. The issue has not been brought formally to each school board, however, informal discussions have taken place and support is perceived. The committee agreed that the proposed ordinance changes should be reviewed by the Human Services Board and Executive Committee when they are finalized. A public hearing may be required. Tire Clean-Up Status Report on Participation: Tim Kane provided a summary of the current responses from municipalities regarding support of a county-wide tire clean-up program. Tim provided a handout of the specific commitments received from towns that have responded. Kane explained that the next step is to designate the collection sites. RFP's will need to be sent to contractors and contracts executed. Volunteers will need to be organized to staff the collection points. It is possible that the WCC crew may be able to assist as the collection points. Maki questioned where the wheel tax monies go that are paid when tires are purchase. Kane explained that the tax used to go for tire clean-up efforts, however, the DNR tire disposal program was sunsetted in 1997. Tim Kane will check into this. Maki suggest that the Federal Forest Service be asked for a donation to assist with the program since many tires from National Forest Lands will be cleaned up. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Forestry Land Acquisition Fund: Paul Lundberg presented a request to change the county’s policy regarding the balance in the Forest Land Acquisition Fund. Current ordinance says this is account will maintain a $50,000 balance, As funds are spent to purchase forest lands, the fund is replenished by applying 10% of each stumpage sale to the fund, until it is brought back to the $50,000 balance. Lundberg is requesting that the fund balance amount be raised to $150,000. He explained that with approval of the Forestry and Executive Committees, the fund may be increased. Discussion was held regarding what authority would be required for land acquisitions. Lundberg explained that the Forestry Committee has complete authority to purchase Forest Land using funds from this account, however, they target properties that are completely surrounded by existing Forest Lands. Clarification was made that the Executive committee would need to approve the 10% allotment from stumpage sales. The purpose of the Executive committee review was so that the committee could evaluate the county’s financial position and determine if the monies were needed in other areas other than in the Forest Land Acquisition Fund. Motion by Maki, Second by Bichanich to approve the revised wording of the ordinance as presented. Clarification from Abeles-Allison that this will now go back to the Forestry Committee and a Public Hearing may be needed to approve the ordinance change. Blahnik questioned whether this conflicts with the goal of the county to encourage economic development. Jardine explained that the goal of Forestry Land Acquisition is to target land within current forest blocks. Motion Carried. Lundberg requested that the committee entertain a motion to replenish the current land acquisition balance to the $50,000 level per current ordinance. Motion by Jardine, Second by Blahnik to approve the designation of 10% of stumpage receipts to return the current Forest Land Acquisition Fund balance to $50,000. Motion Carried. New Forester, Mike Amman started last week. Information on the next timber sales will be presented to the Forestry committee at their next meeting. Very similar offering to last year. ITBEC Funding: Abeles-Allison explained that Bayfield County has not been a member of this organization in the past. He explained that funding for this membership would come from BCEDC, Bayfield County Tourism Association, and local chambers. By Bayfield County being the member, it benefits all organizations in the entire county. Blahnik commented that he would prefer that Abeles-Allison or Kacvinsky be appointed to be the representative from the County, in concert with Pat Thornton. Out-Of-State Travel Procedures: Abeles-Allison explained that a question was raised regarding out-of-state travel for Board members. Abeles-Allison suggested that out-of-state travel requests of board members be pre-approved by the Executive Committee. Discussion of whether a policy should be created. Motion by Jardine, Second by Kittleson to authorize Abeles-Allison to create a policy whereas County Board Supervisors must receive pre-approval of out-of state travel by the Executive Committee. Motion Carried Bio-Terrorism update: Abeles-Allison presented information on current happenings regarding bio-terrorism procedures. He explained that specific Health Department personnel will be vaccinated for small pox. Abeles-Allison handed out a copy of a letter from County Mutual Insurance Company explaining the impact on potential Worker's Compensation claims pertaining to pre-event small pox vaccinations. Abeles-Allison provided a draft copy of a proposed county policy regarding pre-event vaccinations for small pox. Approval to Sell Fleet Vehicles: 3 vehicles were discussed. Abeles-Allison explained that the vehicles are being under-utilized. He proposes selling the vehicles and not replacing them. Motion by Maki, Second by Bichanich to approve the sale of the 3 vehicles in question. Motion Carried. Maki questioned the number of vehicles the county has in the fleet and if there is a way to reduce the number of vehicles and better utilize them. Finance Report: Abeles-Allison provided two handouts of Year-to-Date Fund Balances for each Fund. Abeles-Allison explained specific points of interest on this spreadsheet. A brief discussion was held regarding the county’s General Fund Balance and how those monies will be designated in the future. Potential expenditures were discussed. Other Actions or Reports: Iron River Incubator: Abeles-Allison explained that NWRP has approached Bayfield County for partnering and providing financing to NWRP to construct a 23,000 square foot business incubator in Iron River. NWRP and Bayfield Electric have prompted this project. Discussion of whether reduced size of facility was considered. Under 18,000 square feet would eliminate grant funding for the project. Brief discussion was held regarding the benefit that this project could have for economic development opportunities in the County. Blahnik presented copy of minutes and the meeting notice from January 14, 2003, to justify his early exit from the last Executive Committee Meeting. He also explained that he is offended by name calling by attendees of county meetings and that committee members do not stop the inappropriate behavior when it occurs. Abeles-Allison noted that in the budget, $25,000 was allotted for the Highway Department to complete work for other county departments. Abeles-Allison pointed out that the Highway Dept may do some work for the Ashland Airport as an in-kind contribution in addition to or in place of monetary contribution. Motion by Jardine, Second by Bichanich to adjourn. Motion approved. Meeting adjourned at 6:00pm.