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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 3/14/2013Minutes of the Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting 4:00PM, March 14, 2013 Emergency Operations Center, Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Marco Bichanich, Shawn Miller, Beth Meyers, Dee Kittleson, Kenneth Jardine Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-Bayfield County Administrator, Paul Houck, Dennis Pocernich, Kelly Westlund, Tom Cogger, David Nortunen, John Adams, Callie Lehman, Rick Geisen Rondeau called the meeting to order at 4:00pm Minutes of February 12, 2013: Motion Jardine, Bichanich to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2013 Executive Committee meeting. Motion Carried, 5-0. Presentation by Bremer Bank: Callie Lehman and Rick Geisen made an investment presentation regarding $3 million in trust funds the county has invested with Bremer Trust. Current balance of $3,034,372 is in the investment fund. The county set levels of 50% in Mortgage backed securities (MBS) and the remainder in taxable and municipal bonds. At present there is approximately 35% is in MBS with the Remainder in taxable muni’s and municipal bonds (65%). The County started the investment with two million in May of 2011 and increased that to three million in May of 2012. The Committee and County Administrator expressed comfort at retaining the three million dollar investment level for the year 2013. Motion Bichanich, Jardine to authorize the County Administrator to sign the Asset Allocation Letter, authorizing the continuation of the fixed and cash investments policy form as shown in the packet. Motion carried 5-0. Information Technology Report-Paul Houck: Houck reviewed the Information Technology Update of 3-14-2013 included in the committee packet. Particular mention was made of the inventory showing more computers than anticipated (closer to 200 instead of 150 deployed), the recent capital project including the SAN storage unit and 12 switches. Houck reviewed that the web committee is looking towards future upgrades of the County web site in addition to dramatic wireless usage increases over the past 12 months. In addition to board iPads, approximately 20 more units are being used around the courthouse. The Committee agreed to meet and tour the server room prior to the next meeting (3:30pm) on April 11, 2013. L:\COMMITTEES AND BOARDS\EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE\2013\Executive Committee Minutes 2013-03- 14.doc Page 2 of 4 District Attorney Presentation-Fred Bourg: Agenda modification: Fred Bourg was not at the meeting. Motion Miller, Bichanich to amend the agenda and move on to the next item and come back if necessary. Motion carried, (5-0). Regional Food Producer Lease, Ag Station: Kelly Westland, Tom Cogger and David Nortunen spoke on behalf of the Bayfield Regional Food Cooperative. The group submitted a proposal to rent the machine shed at the Ag Station for a 60 month term. The Cooperative includes 18 area farms, 14 of which are located in Bayfield County. The committee expressed general support but had concerns with some of the terms. The committee directed the County Administrator to work with the group to come up with an equitable agreement. The Committee discussed terms for cancellation of the lease. Both sides were generally agreeable to a breaking of the lease if the property was to be sold and if the Cooperative would have an option to bid on it. The Committee supported this issue being added to the County Board agenda as a discussion item to ensure that the full board was supportive of this direction. Tourism, Fair and Forestry Areas of Responsibility: Over the past two months the forestry, tourism and fair committees have reviewed a proposal prepared by the County Administrator, Tourism Director and Forestry Administrator. The intent of the reorganization is to move trails to forestry, increase tourism’s focus on tourism by adding an additional .3 FTE to the Fair. The proposal would also drop Tourism support staff by .5 FTE. Miller stated that he approved of moving trails to tourism but forestry had not acted on the other section. The suggestion was made to retain full time tourism support and have that position also provide support to the fair. Kittleson noted that was not what was presented to the other committees. Miller asked if it made sense to increase another employee to full time status. The committee discussed these and related topics. Motion Jardine, Kittleson to approve the six bulleted items and forward to the full board. Roll call vote. Motion carried, (3-2) Miller and Rondeau opposed. County Board Rules regarding meeting attendance: The committee reviewed the proposed Remote Participation draft policy included in the packet addressing both committee and full board meetings. Pocernich expressed opposition about board members attending Executive Sessions remotely. The committee supported board members participating in open session meetings remotely but NOT allowing board members to participate in Executive Session remotely. The committee also discussed voting. Committee members supported voting in open session remotely provided the board member was present for the entire agenda item. The committee did NOT support voting in Executive Session or on Executive Session topics in open session. L:\COMMITTEES AND BOARDS\EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE\2013\Executive Committee Minutes 2013-03- 14.doc Page 3 of 4 Kittleson requested that board members provide 24 hours notice if they are unable to attend a meeting to ensure staff can set up a phone conference call if necessary. The Board will receive a draft policy in final form at the April Executive Committee meeting, in time for this to be added on the April County Board meeting agenda. County Board Member Conference Travel: Motion Kittleson, Jardine to approve the request for additional hotel fees provided that this was charged to the UW Extension budget and that the department head affirmed sufficient funds were available. Motion carried, (5-0). Rezone Requests of County Fairgrounds and Ag Station Land to Planning & Zoning: The planning and Zoning Director recommended rezone of the Fairgrounds property to municipal to reduce permit requirements for new construction on Fairgrounds property in Iron River. Right now the property is zoned both Agricultural and Residential. Motion Bichanich, Miller to rezone the Fairgrounds property to Municipal. Motion carried (5- 0). The committee also discussed the topic of zoning permit fees for municipalities. Several committee members thought municipalities should not pay for permits. More information on this will be provided at a future meeting. Abeles-Allison reported on the progress of the Ag Station rezone. The Town of Eileen supported changing the land use plan to Commercial. The County submitted a rezone request to the Town and County Planning and Zoning Committee to rezone the western 40 acres along State Farm Road to Commercial. Last night the Town approved the request. The issue will go to Planning and Zoning in April then on to the full board in May. Motion Kittleson, Jardine to allow John Adams to speak. Motion carried (5-0). Adams stated his support for local food production at the Ag Station not manufacturing. He also expressed opposition to rezone of the Ag Station property to commercial. Healthy Food Policy: The healthy food policy for Bayfield County is part of the County’s wellness initiative. It was prepared by the Health Department at the request of the County’s Insurer to participate in wellness programs at no cost. Motion Miller, Bichanich to approve the healthy food policy as presented. Motion carried, (5-0). Reports: 1. YTD 2012 Budget Performance: Abeles-Allison provided a review for end of year 2012. 2. YTD 2013 Budget Performance: Abeles-Allison reviewed end of February financials. 3. BOA Budget: Legal expenditures in January of 2013 exceeded budgeted legals by double. Expenditures were due to CFS lawsuit preparations. A budget amendment will be presented. 4. County Treasurer Report: Year to date balances are $600,000 over this time last year, primarily the result of additional tax receipts. 5. Superior Days Report: no report L:\COMMITTEES AND BOARDS\EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE\2013\Executive Committee Minutes 2013-03- 14.doc Page 4 of 4 6. Northern Lights Refinance review: Continuing to look at this. The committee did not go into Executive Session. Meeting Adjourned, 6:20pm.