HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 8/13/2009Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
3:00 PM, August 13, 2009 County Board Room, Washburn, WI
Members Present: David Good, Kenneth Jardine, Brett Rondeau, William Kacvinsky, Marco
Bichanich, Dee Kittleson
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Scott Galetka-Land Records
Administrator, Scott Fibert-County Clerk, Dag Bystrom-Information Services Director; Mary
Motiff-Tourism & Recreation Director, Dan Anderson-County Treasurer, Kay Cederberg-Clerk
of Court (4:00pm); Bill Kacvinsky 3:45; Kathleen Russell 4:05pm, Sheldon Johnson-Northwest
Regional Planning Commission.
Meeting called to order at 3:00 pm by Chairman Rondeau.
Motion Jardine, Bichanich to approve minutes of the July 9, 2009 meeting. Motion Carried.
Department Budget Discussions were made by Scott Galetka, Dag Bystrom, Dan Anderson,
Scott Fibert and Kay Cederberg.
Motion Good, Bichanich to adjourn for public hearing on CDBG Housing Project. Motion
Carried. 4:00pm
Abeles-Allison provided an overview of the purpose of the hearing and the CDBG funds granted.
Sheldon Johnson with Northwest Regional Planning was present to help conduct the public
hearing. He noted that the County had received a $402,000+ grant and no interest loan and that
recipients must qualify as Low to Moderate Income to qualify for the loans. Sheldon reviewed
the various components of the program including:
o Owner occupied
o Renter rehabilitation
o Homeowner down-payment assistance
o Acquired or demolition of blighted structures
Johnson noted that Other CDBG grants were available including CDBG Economic Development
for business assistance. Johnson noted that through the Identification of Needs they have
determined that a high demand for housing assistance is still present in Bayfield County.
Johnson continued that previous funds have not come back quickly and those that have were
loaned out again quickly. The Purpose of the public hearing is to get input on additional housing
needs. During the discussion Johnson noted t hat there is a potential for displacement of residents
from their homes temporarily as work is undertaken. Johnson gave examples such as lead paint
being found or the need for more major reparations that would make it difficult to live in the
house while work was underway. Johnson noted that temporary assistance with food and
lodging could be available in these circumstances. Johnson clarified that no funds will be used
for tearing down and permanently displacing residents against their will.
Comments from the public were received as follows:
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• Dave Good; chair of the housing committee confirmed that : demands for funds exceed
funding, numerous requests for septic and water systems are pending additional funding.
He concurred that a definite need for housing assistance exists.
• Sheldon Johnson NWWRP will be present at County Board meeting on August 25. Funds
are to be expended within the next 12 months.
• Scott Fibert:
▪ Confirm that there is no specified target area
▪ Bayfield County received what was left of the funds
▪ Bonnie Carlson will be the administrator of the program.
▪ City residents would have to use city CDBG funds before they could apply
for county CDBG funds.
• Kay Cederberg, citizen inquired about the application due date (September 11, 2009)
▪ County Board will take action at August 25 meeting
• Johnson estimated that within 60-90 days of approval funds will be available
• Kathleen Russell citizen asked
▪ When will public know about applications? Johnson noted that the county
could begin accepting applications immediately
• Kay Cederberg asked about home and businesses connected and whether this would be
fundable. Johnson responded that when businesses were involved it could affect the cost
of the project through the applicability of Davis Bacon wage rates.
• Dee Kittleson:
▪ Inquired about reservation trust lands. Johnson noted funds could be spent
on lands owned by tribal members.
▪ Asked about advertising, Johnson confirmed that the county will hold an
informational meeting for public in addition to office hours in the county
as well;
• Kathleen Russell; here as citizen of county, works as Apostle Island Reality owner.
▪ Shared positive feedback from people who have used the down-payment
assistance program and rehabilitation program. Russell noted that she is
able to direct people to the resources that are available.
▪ Many of those in need have been here a long time, or will be here a long
time. Russell as a CORE officer, a group designed to help seniors stay in
their homes; she stressed the need to make sure that marketing is done
properly to address the very rural and old housing stocks.
• Sheldon noted that CDBG funds can be used for handicap rehabilitations.
• Russell noted that many seniors are not aware of projects like this and stressed the need
to inform service providers.
Rondeau inquired about additional public comment. No one had further comments.
Motion Kacvinsky, Good, adjourn the public hearing and return to open session. Motion
Carried.(5-0)
Reopen meeting County Executive Committee meeting
Citizen Participation Plan: Housing Committee will serve as Citizen Participation Plan contact
point where comments will come to. At the upcoming county board meeting a new citizen
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participation plan will be presented, following state guidelines, to be approved in resolution
form.
Motion Good, Bichanich recommend that the county board take action on this at the upcoming
county board meeting on August 25, 2009. Motion Carried
Budget Presentations: Scott Fibert and Kay Cederberg completed their presentations
Presentation by Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation: Marian Vaughn
presented:
• Survey revealed need for help with marketing, three focus areas
o Direct training
o Access to information on funding sources, stimulus
o Access to opportunities for expansion;
• Work with World Class and Northstar Business
• Spinoff companies; goals of 50 jobs per company
• Hub Zones
• Reviewed statistics; web site info; 34,000 hits;
• Fogarty Group; 8 new employees
• New Budget; request for $65,000, same as 2009.
Northern Light Health Care Center: Gene Jordan with Northern Lights presented an update
on the construction project. While they have a full census at the nursing center, a rapidly
expanding base with home health and more residents in assisted living each month they are
strapped financially. Due to a slow start they have projected a $329K loss through June, this will
impact reserves for 2009. They are optimistic they will be ok in 2010.
Jordan noted the construction project came in under budget and that they had already used some
unexpended funds for bond debt and principal payments in July. They have $189,000 left at the
present time in their contingency for the project. Jordan estimated that they would only need
$90,000 of that and were planning on using the rest to help with debt service payments.
Jordan stated while it is not final, their ability to meet the 1.25 debt reserve coverage will be
difficult. They estimated a 1.0 coverage ratio in 2010 with a 1.25 in 2011. Jordan thanked the
committee for the opportunity to provide an update.
Motion Good, Kacvinsky to enter in and out of Executive Session pursuant to Wis Statutes
§19.85(1)(c)(e)(g) to confer with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral
or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in
which it is or is likely to become involved and: Discussion and Possible Action to Adopt Minutes
of Executive Session on July 9, 2009; Discussion on Legal Strategy Regarding Railroad Right-
of-Way which the County is Involved Regarding Johnson/Hawksford vs. Bayfield County;
Discussion and Possible Action regarding personnel issues including: grievances, performance
and employment data and bargaining strategy. Mary Motiff, Paul Susienka, Mark Abeles-Allison
and Rich Nordeng were invited to remain in the closed session participating via phone with
Attorney Rich Nordeng. Roll Call Vote: All-Yes, Motion carried (5-0). Entered Executive
Session at 5:30pm.
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Motion Kacvinsky, Kittleson to return to open session. Roll Call Vote:All-Yes, Motion Carried.
Returned to open session at 6:45pm
Northern Region Trail Advisory Committee (NoRTAC): Kacvinsky recommended
forwarding the NoRTAC Cooperative Agreement to the County Board for approval and the
budget request to the County Administrator for inclusion in the 2010 budget at the rate of $500.
Other items: Due to time constraints the remaining items on the agenda will be put off until the
next meeting.
Motion Jardine, Kacvinsky to adjourn. Motion Carried. Meeting Adjourned at 6:50pm