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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 3/8/2012 (2)Minutes of the Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting 4:00 PM, March 8, 2012, Emergency Operations Center, Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Kenneth Jardine, Beth Meyers, Dee Kittleson, Marco Bichanich, William Kacvinsky Others Present: County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison, Kristine Kavajecz-Confidential Secretary, Dan Anderson-County Treasurer, Patricia Olson-Register of Deeds, Scott Fibert- County Clerk, Wanda Moeller-Ashland Daily Press Meeting called to order at 4:00pm by Chairman Rondeau Motion Jardine, Meyers to approve minutes of the February 13, 2012 meeting. Motion Carried. Newspaper of Record: Abeles-Allison explained that the County currently utilizes the County Journal as the newspaper of record. Wisconsin Statutes state that counties with a population less than 200,000 do not need to designate a newspaper of records. Discussion took place regarding the difference between the County Journal and the Daily Press including: Journal is a weekly publication, Press is 5 times per week (6 electronically). Deadline to submit items for publication for the Journal is very restrictive. Cost of advertising in each publication was reviewed. Both newspapers are owned by the same company. Department Heads have expressed support for the proposed change. Editor Moeller provided information to the committee and state that if the County went with the Daily Press as the primary advertising paper, it would not have a negative impact on the County Journal. She will provide a cost analysis of advertising in the two papers. Motion Meyers, Bichanich to recommend to the County Board that the newspaper of record be changed to the Ashland Daily Press. Motion Carried. Elected Official Wages: Abeles-Allison reviewed the terms of Bayfield County elected officials. Compensation must be set prior to April 15. Handouts that were provided in the meeting packet were reviewed. No written decision on the Eau Claire County case has been received yet. Abeles-Allison reviewed the impact if the county were to re-pay the elected officials for WRS contributions made since September 2011. Several options were discussed with regard to “compensation” including an option to set a specific dollar amount of total compensation, not breaking out benefits separately. Fibert exited the meeting at this time. Abeles-Allison was asked to research further and provide 3 options for consideration at a special meeting, which was set for March 20th at 4:00. Motion Kacvinsky, Bichanich to table action regarding elected official compensation until the March 20th meeting. Motion Carried. Olson and Anderson exited the meeting at this time. Memorandum of Understanding: Abeles-Allison provided background on recent interaction with the US Department of Justice as a result of complaints received involving the treatment of Native Americans. Members of the Red Cliff Community and Bayfield County Government, along with the Department of Justice has met several times over the recent months and have L:\COMMITTEES AND BOARDS\EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE\2012\Executive Committee Minutes 030812.doc Page 2 of 3 developed a draft Memorandum of Understanding. The Memorandum of Understanding was reviewed. Motion Meyers, Kacvinsky to approve the Memorandum of Understanding and forward to the County Board and appropriate County Committees for consideration. Motion Carried. NACo Rx Program: Bayfield County citizen utilization of the program was reviewed. A new option is being offered by NACo, which would return $1 to the county for each prescription. If the county opts not to participate in the revenue sharing, the savings would be passed on to the citizens. Motion Meyers, Jardine to continue participation in the NACo Rx Program as is, allowing the savings to remain with the citizens. Motion Carried. County Board Orientation Agenda: Agenda was reviewed for input. Training tentatively scheduled for April 17th, following the swearing in ceremony and regular county board meeting. Reports: County Treasurer Report: February is showing fund balance slightly higher than January, but down $530,000 from February 2011. Electronic Agendas: Planning for an April role-out of the electronic agenda program. Currently working on training and procedures. Library Board: Continuing to investigate ideas for retaining more library funds within the county. Industrial Development Agency: Otto Rusch has resigned as Secretary. The agency is working on economic development projects in conjunction with BCEDC. Capital Improvements: Reviewed a letter from the engineer on the generator project. Cost estimates are double what were anticipated. Will be discussing first doing electrical upgrades and installing the generator at a later date. Will be meeting with Xcel Energy and the engineer and Kelly in the near future. More information on this topic to be brought back to the committee as it is available. Dome Project: Working with Chequamegon Bay Engineering on a design. Restroom Upgrades: Planning to update and deep clean the restrooms by the Zoning and Forestry offices as well as the restrooms by Human Services. Vent cleaning, groutwork, tiling, and possible facility upgrade in the men’s room are planned. Cell Towers: No further information has been received from Norvado. Superior Days: 911 legislation was a primary talking point. Severe Weather Policy: Consensus of the Committee was to keep the current policy with no changes. L:\COMMITTEES AND BOARDS\EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE\2012\Executive Committee Minutes 030812.doc Page 3 of 3 Motion Kacvinsky, Bichanich to enter in and out of executive session pursuant to Stats. 19.85(1)(e,g) for discussion and possible action regarding Executive Session Minutes of February 13, 2012, Consider Written or oral advice from legal counsel with regard to potential or ongoing litigation, and Sale of Public Property. Motion Carried. Entered executive session at 5:55pm. Motion Jardine, Bichanich to return to open session. Motion Carried. Returned to open session at 6:01pm. Abeles-Allison provided an informational update regarding a conversation he had with Gene Jordan with Northern Lights Health Care. Northern Lights may be requesting a waiver of lease covenants and may request authorization to use or reduce the depreciation fund. More information will be provided on this topic at a future meeting and will ultimately need to be acted on by the full County Board. Handout was provided. Meeting adjourned at 6:05pm