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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 1/13/2004117 East Fifth Street ▪ Washburn, WI 54891 ▪ markaa@bayfieldcounty.org Phone 715-373-6181 ▪ FAX 715-373-6183 BAYFIELD COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING Minutes, January 13, 2004 Bayfield County Board Room Members Present: John J. Blahnik, Kenneth Jardine, Marco Bichanich, Brett Rondeau, Delores Kittleson, Harold Maki Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison, Bill Kacvinsky, Fred Morke, John Hawksford, Kris Kavajecz Call to Order; Meeting called to order by Chairman Rondeau at 4:00 pm. Motion Regarding Minutes of the December 9, 2003 Executive Committee Meeting; Motion by Bichanich, Second by Jardine to approve the minutes of the December 9, 2003 meeting as presented. Motion Carried. The committee agreed to address item # 4 on the agenda while awaiting the arrival of representatives of the Cable Airport Authority. County Cleanup Proposal, May 1 – May 8. Bill Kacvinsky explained that a clean-up has been proposed county-wide for those communities interested in participating. There should be no or minimal cost to the county for this program. The county’s role is mainly to endorse the concept of a concentrated clean-up effort and to provide pick-up of refuse along the highways. Maki questioned the Highway Department’s role in the roadside clean-up effort and also suggested that a tire clean-up be held every other year, rather than on a random basis every several years. Blahnik suggested that if the “Adopt-a-Hwy” program is not currently available on county roads, that the county consider sponsoring this program. Motion by Jardine, second by Bichanich to designate the week of May 1 to May 8 as county-wide clean-up awareness week. Motion Carried. Fred Morke and John Hawksford, representing the Cable Airport Authority arrived at the meeting at this time. Discussion and Possible Action regarding Airport Funding: Fred Morke briefly explained some of the main goals of the 5-year plan for the existing Cable Airport. Planned improvements include: Resurfacing the N/S runway, constructing a terminal building, replacing the existing runway lighting system, developing hangar areas, and adding turn-arounds on the existing runways. Hawksford explained that the existing approach beacon was replaced recently on Telemark Hill. Several engineering firms have submitted proposals to plan the proposed projects. One suggestion received was to consider relocating the airport due to the fact that the existing airport cannot be expanded and it could be eliminated in the next 20 years for this reason. Other factors for considering airport relocation include: the opportunity to create a 5000 foot runway, which is the minimum length recommended to encourage economic development. The existing airport is currently operating under a conditional use permit and the land is actually zoned residential, business, and recreational. Surrounding property owners have expressed 117 East Fifth Street ▪ Washburn, WI 54891 ▪ markaa@bayfieldcounty.org Phone 715-373-6181 ▪ FAX 715-373-6183 concern for any expansion of the existing runways and there are also physical barriers to expansion. Morke explained that several organizations have expressed interest in purchasing the airport property, which is currently owned by the 3 towns. Hawksford commented that SC Johnson has been contacted about the possibility of donating land to relocate the airport. It was reported that the Bureau of Aeronautics has estimated that a new airport would cost approximately 7 million dollars to construct, including the purchase of the land. The airport commission will meet later this evening to discuss options for a feasibility study and to discuss the engineering proposals. Maki questioned the need for an airport in Cable with 5000 foot runways when there are airports in both Hayward and Ashland that have this capacity currently. The committee briefly discussed where the funding would come from if it was decided to relocate the airport. Morke and Hawksford explained that Federal and State funding would cover 80% of the project and that the 20% local match could possibly be covered by the sale of the existing airport property and the proposed donation of land by SC Johnson. Any remaining local match would need to come from the sponsoring agencies, including the 3 towns and the county. Abeles-Allison asked for clarification on the request for funding for the 2004 budget year. Morke requested that $5000 be submitted to the airport commission and that as additional dollars are needed, they would request them from the county. The maximum they would request should not exceed $14,475, which is what the 3 towns have also committed to. Budget Updates: a. 2003 Budget: Abeles-Allison reviewed year-to-date revenue and expenditure figures and gave an overview of the overall revenue and expenditure figures 2003 –vs-2002.. b. Budget amendments. Abeles-Allison explained that several departments will be making requests to carry over funds not used, but budgeted in 2003. He also explained that the $30,000 budgeted for Video Conferencing in 2003 may be requested to carry over to 2004, depending upon the outcome of a couple of grant applications. Administrator’s Performance Evaluation: Kacvinsky reported that he and John Blahnik would meet with the Administrator in the coming week to review his evaluation. A summary of the evaluation would be provided at the next meeting. Maki asked for clarification on the construction of the Iron River Business Incubator. He was approached by citizens who questioned why the existing building was enclosed within the new structure. This will be clarified through discussion with NWRPC. Reports and Any other topics of discussion as presented by the committee members or County Administrator: a. Organizational Review: Abeles-Allison reported that memo went out this week to department heads to start looking at how some new office configurations could improve productivity. He will be meeting with two groups of Department Heads in the coming week to begin dialogue regarding office relocation and co-location. He asked for and received support from the committee with regard to this dialogue. The committee agreed that beginning this dialogue made sense considering the timing and 117 East Fifth Street ▪ Washburn, WI 54891 ▪ markaa@bayfieldcounty.org Phone 715-373-6181 ▪ FAX 715-373-6183 current economic situation. Bucky Jardine requested a copy of the job description for County Board Supervisors. Groomer Report: Abeles-Allison provided a handout, which outlined the accident, which one of the trail groomers was involved in. He explained that the equipment is owned and insured through Bayfield County and that the Snowmobile Alliance would be reimbursing the county for all expenses including the deductible. The committee discussed the impact that the claim could have on the county’s insurance premiums. Abeles-Allison explained that any impact the claim had would be passed on to and paid by the Snowmobile Alliance. Committee members expressed concern with rumors they had heard regarding a passenger in the vehicle at the time that the accident occurred. The contract./policy will be reviewed and clarified with the Snowmobile Alliance regarding passengers. Adjournment Motion by Blahnik, Second by Bichanich to adjourn. Motion Carried. Meeting adjourned at 5:35pm.