HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 3/20/2012Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00 PM, March 20, 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, Kay Cederberg-Clerk of Court, John Bennett, Shawn Miller, Sheriff Paul
Susienka, Dawn Bellile, Jack Olson, Gene Jordan-Northern Lights (4:17pm)
Meeting called to order at 4:00pm by Chairman Rondeau
Motion Bichanich, Meyers to approve minutes of the March 8, 2012 meeting. Motion Carried.
Elected Official Wages: Kittleson stated she would abstain from voting on this item, but had
provided her opinion at the previous meeting. Abeles-Allison reviewed how the wages for
elected officials have been established in the past. There are two groups of elected officials, with
overlapping terms. In the two years where the two groups overlap, traditionally the county has
mirrored the wages of the group in effect for the first two years of the terms that are being
established.
Three resolutions with different proposals were reviewed.
1) Resolution following the recommendation of WCA, which is to set specific wages, but
have fringe benefits that fluctuate based on rate changes for said benefits, including
health insurance premiums. Wages reflect 0,0,3,3% wage increases.
2) Very similar to #1 with the exception that instead of 0,0,3,3% wage increases, uses a
$1200 per year increase in years 3 and 4, which equals about an average 2% increase.
3) Total compensation package the same for all elected officials. Total compensation would
be paid as wage, where the elected official would then use the wage to pay for the
benefits they select.
Comparables from counties around the state were reviewed with respect to compensation for
elected officials that have been approved so far. Compensation amounts fluctuated greatly.
Abeles-Allison reported that no county in the state uses a total compensation package.
A fourth resolution proposal was presented which reflected a 2.5% wage increase in years 3 and
4. This resolution is identical to resolution number one except for the % wage increase.
Motion Kacvinsky, Jardine to recommend resolution number 2 to the County Board for
consideration. Motion Carried. 1 abstention by Kittleson.
All non-committee members exited at this time with the exception of Bellile, Susienka and
Jordan.
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Northern Lights Funding: Gene Jordan with Northern Lights presented information regarding a
request to temporarily modify the lease covenant agreement in order to allow Northern Lights to
meet their payment obligations without needing to secure private borrowing.
Jordan reported that the organization did well through August, however, lost $400,000 in the last
4 months of the year. Ended the year about $375,000 short overall.
The existing lease covenant requires that Northern Lights maintain funding of 125% above bond
payments. They are currently at 50%, so are requesting a waiver for one year to allow them to
get back up to the 125%. Northern Lights is also requesting to use $112,000 of the reserves
toward bond payments. Their goal is to repay the reserve by the end of 2012 and have return to
125% by 2015.
In an effort to address shortfalls, they have reduced from 75 to 65 beds, allowing for more
private rooms which are more desirable and produce greater revenue, reduced staff by 5%, froze
wages through agreement with employees. Continuously looking for additional savings and
revenue opportunities.
Abeles-Allison reported on his discussion with the bond attorney. Reminder that Bayfield
County is backing these bonds, so if Northern Lights is unable to pay, the county would be
responsible for the payments (about $450,000 per year).
Motion Kacvinsky, Jardine to approve a modified lease covenant and use of reserves as outlined
in the request by Northern Lights and to forward a resolution outlining the terms to the county
board for approval. Motion Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 4:46pm.