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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 1/9/2014Minutes of the Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting 4:00PM, January 9, 2014 Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Washburn, WI Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Shawn Miller, Marco Bichanich, Kenneth Jardine, Beth Meyers Members Excused: Dee Kittleson Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison, Bayfield County Administrator, Scottie Sandstrom- Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation, Kristine Kavajecz-Assistant, Fred Bourg- District Attorney, Judge John Anderson, Paul Houck-Director of Information Technology, Dennis Pocernich, Richard Kettring-AERC, Rick Roesser-NWRPC, Sheriff Paul Susienka, Brenda Spurlock-Criminal Justice Coordinator, Kay Cederberg-Clerk of Court, Patricia Olson- Register of Deeds, Tim Kane-UW Extension, Scottie Griffiths-Washburn Mayor, representatives of AERC. Rondeau called the meeting to order at 4:00pm Minutes of December 12, 2013: Motion Bichanich, Jardine to approve minutes of the December 12, 2013 Executive Committee meeting. Motion Carried. Treatment Alternatives and Diversion Program (TAD) Budget Amendment for Case Manager: Abeles-Allison presented an overview of this request, which is for one additional day per week of Case Management. Funding will be received for a criminal justice training program that was held recently. Funds that were originally budgeted for employee wages will be redirected to pay for the additional day of case management. Motion Meyers, Jardine to use the $10,384 that will be received as reimbursement from the CIT Training, toward for one additional day per week of Case Management for the TAD Program in 2014. Motion Carried. Spurlock, Bourg and Susienka exited the meeting at this time. Iron River Incubator-Rick Roeser, NWRPC: Roesser reviewed the background of the Iron River Incubator and explained they are trying to find additional start-up businesses for this location. A flyer was distributed that is promoting the location. 15,000 sq ft of business space suitable for manufacturing and 2000 sq feet of office space are available. Lease cost is about $3/sq ft annually. Signage at the site has been an issue in the past. Steps are being taken to address the signage issue. Roeser is encouraging everyone to get the word out about the availability of the space to encourage new tenants. Information Technology Report: Consensus of the committee to move this item up on the agenda. Paul Houck reported that there is a significant CODY upgrade scheduled in February including hardware and software. Working to replace and upgrade computers with Windows XP and Vista, this includes about 90 computers by April, 2014. Web site design is coming along very well. Content has been updated. Preview will be revealed to a select group on January 22. Training on using and updating the website will take place on Feb 10 with a go live date for the public of Feb 20. The new back-up solution has been installed and is working perfectly. An off- site back-up is housed in Sawyer County. Houck exited at this time. L:\COMMITTEES AND BOARDS\EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE\2014\Executive Committee Minutes 2014-01- 09.doc Page 2 of 3 Bayfield County Economic Development Quarterly Report: Sandstrom asked if anyone had questions on the report that was distributed earlier in the week to the committee. He also reported on goals for 2014. Heat-Treating Facilities, Makani Power follow-up, Aqua-culture Industry, Telemark CXC Opportunity, Focus on Tele-commuting, Marketing of the Bayfield County Business Park at the Ag Station. Met with Medical College about interest in the Ashland/Bayfield County area. Broadband infrastructure will also be an initiative. APEX is an economic development firm in Duluth that has been contracted to assist with specific economic development efforts. Broadband Access Presentation and Resolution: Tim Kane reviewed a draft resolution supporting high-speed broadband access in our county. Kane reviewed some statistics regarding broadband and the impact on the economy. Motion Jardine, Meyers to approve the resolution with the removal of the last two paragraphs and forward to the County Board for consideration. Motion Carried. Elected Official Wage Resolution Timeline for 2015: Abeles-Allison explained that a dialogue has been started with elected officials to get input on establishing wages for the upcoming terms. The committee reviewed the most recent wage resolution. This topic will be discussed over the next couple of months, along with meetings with the elected officials for input. Several statewide comparables have been obtained for elected positions. Rondeau will be the County Board liaison for the meeting with elected officials. Olson exited the meeting at this time. Draft Ag Station RFP 2014-2019: Abeles-Allison reviewed recent action of the committee approving the solicitation of proposals for future use of the Ag Station property and facilities beginning in July 2014. A draft RFP was reviewed. A modification was made to the withdrawal clause. March 31, 2014 deadline for proposals to be received. Proposals will be accepted for just the land, or land and buildings. Abeles-Allison reported that Beau Belanger is interested in continuing the hops trials on the site. AERC representatives exited the meeting at this time. Business Park Marketing and Ag Station Sign: A summary of the 3 proposals received for construction of a sign at the Ag Station was reviewed. Action will be taken on this topic at the next meeting. Sandstrom exited the meeting at this time. Budget Amendment Resolutions: Action to be taken at the next meeting. Preliminary figures were reviewed for several funds that may require 2013 year-end amendments including: Squad Car Fund, 292 UW Extension Fund, and Ag Station. Contingency Fund transfers: Abeles-Allison reported that the General Fund as a whole is within budget, however, several individual departments will be over budget for 2013. There were sufficient funds budgeted and available in the Contingency Fund to cover these overages. This will require transfers from contingency to the appropriate department budgets. Largest transfer will be in the Emergency Management Department related to 911 fees. Specific amendments will be presented at the next meeting. L:\COMMITTEES AND BOARDS\EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE\2014\Executive Committee Minutes 2014-01- 09.doc Page 3 of 3 Ethics Ordinance Amendments: Ethics Board met for the first time recently. Legal counsel suggested that the ordinance be modified to include the definition of “political activity”. The amendment also corrected a couple of incorrect statutory references. Motion Miller, Bichanich to recommend the ordinance amendment to the county board as presented for consideration. Motion Carried. Community Wind Support Letter: Abeles-Allison presented a document for consideration, which asked if the county would commit to using energy generated by the wind if the cost were equal to or less than the cost of existing electrical rates. He reported that there is 5 years worth of wind data collected from the Mt Ashwabay site which supports the feasibility of wind energy at that site. Washburn Mayor Scottie Griffiths reported that the City has stated their support for this effort. Several committee members expressed concern with the concept. Motion Miller, Bichanich to reject participation in the wind support letter. Motion Carried (4-1). Reports: 1. 2013 Budget (Year-End Projection): General fund revenues have exceeded budget, primarily due to Forestry Revenues. Overall expenditures are under budget, with final year-end expenditures yet to be paid. Review of other funds which were all within budget. 2. County Treasurer Report: Ended 2013 with a balance of about $14 million, which is approximately $2 million over the balance at this time last year. 3. Northern Lights Financial Reports: Review of a summary from Northern Lights. 2013 showed about a $500,000 loss. Census is up in 2014 and financials are expecting to improve. Motion Jardine, Miller to enter in and out of executive session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c,e,f,g) for discussion and possible action regarding approval of closed session minutes from December 12, 2013 and review correspondence from legal counsel with regard to a lawsuit involving Bayfield County. Motion Carried. Entered closed session at 5:50pm. Motion Miller, Bichanich to return to open session. Motion Carried. Returned to open session at 5:55pm. Meeting Adjourned at 5:55 pm