HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 5/8/2014Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00PM, May 8, 2014
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Washburn, WI
Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Shawn Miller, Dee Kittleson, Harold Maki, Kenneth Jardine
Members Excused: Beth Meyers
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison, Bayfield County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-
Assistant, Dennis Pocernich, John Bennett, Marco Bichanich, Bo Belanger, John Adams, Bill
Bussey, Mary Motiff, Jason Fischbach
Abeles-Allison called the meeting to order at 4:00pm
Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman:
Motion Jardine to nominate Rondeau for Chairman. Abeles-Allison asked 3 times for any further
nominations. Motion Miller, Kittleson to cast unanimous ballot for Rondeau. Motion Carried.
Motion Kittleson to nominate Miller for Vice-Chairman. Motion Maki to nominate Meyers for
Vice-Chairman. Rondeau asked 3 times for any further nominations. Ballots were distributed. 4-
Miller, 1-Meyers.
Minutes of April 10, 2014: Motion Jardine, Miller to approve minutes of the April 10, 2014
Executive Committee meeting. Motion Carried.
Motion Kittleson, Jardine to amend the agenda to allow presentation by Cable Chamber prior to
public comment. Motion Carried.
Presentation Regarding 2015 Paralympic Games that will be held in Cable: Cable Chamber
Director, James Bolen made a presentation. A request letter was included with the meeting
packet explaining the impact of the event on the local economy. Original $10,000 request, with
$5000 in 2014 and $5000 in 2015. Request has been increased to $15,000. US Olympic
Committee has requested that a classification course be offered in advance of the Paralympics.
Junior Nationals will be held in Cable in 2016. State has committed $20,000 so far. Surrounding
towns are also contributing to the event. The committee discussed where funding could be
allocated within the budget. Several options were considered including Contingency Funds, Fund
Balance, or to wait until 2015 to budget the full amount. Further discussion will be held at the
County Board Budget Planning meeting on May 13.
Public Comment: Memorial Medical Center Conduit Bonding representatives reported on the
status of the Cancer Center. Northwest Wisconsin Cancer Center is planned to be constructed at
Memorial Medical Center in partnership with Essentia Health. A new 60,000 sq ft clinic building
will be constructed, which will include the cancer center. Cost for the center, less equipment, is
anticipated to be near $20 million. Public Finance Authority information was also shared with
the representatives. As part of the financing process, Bayfield County is being asked to provide
conduit bonding, which earmarks a certain amount of Bayfield County’s borrowing capacity, but
does not make Bayfield County Financially liable in any way. The next step in the process will
be to hold a public hearing on the matter.
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Kittleson exited the meeting at this time.
Abeles Allison will continue discussions with MMC and plan for a public hearing to be
scheduled on this topic.
Bo Belanger, owner of South Shore Brewery, addressed the committee about how the proposals
for use of the Ag Station were handled. Belanger expressed concern with the perceived lack of
review of the proposals before action was taken and explained the amount of effort that was put
into his proposal.
John Adams commented that he supports keeping the buildings and land as one, not divided and
sold separately.
Belanger commented that his business helps to drive tourism.
Ag Station Proposals: At the last meeting the Committee voted to reject all proposals. Abeles-
Allison reported that he met with all of the entities that submitted proposals for the Ag Station to
notify them of the decision. He also reported on a couple of potential business developments that
Bayfield County Economic Development is working on relative to the Ag Station site. A brief
summary of the proposals and highlights were reviewed.
Abeles-Allison reviewed his recommendations:
1) Extend AERC lease until the end of October 2014.
2) Offer Belanger a 5-year lease on 5 acres, drying building and dairy barn.
3) Allow UW Extension to continue Biomass trials. A map of the existing trial plots was
reviewed.
4) Consider selling a portion of the property, retaining approximately 100 acres on the
western half of the property.
Motion Maki, Jardine to extend the lease for AERC through October 31. Motion Carried.
Items 2-4 referred to the County Board for discussion.
Corporation Counsel guidance with regard to a Policy for handling Requests for County
Contributions:
Review of corporation counsel opinion regarding handling of requests for donations by the
county. Recommendation from the committee to include this item in the 2015 budget planning
discussions.
Motion Jardine, Miller to include contribution to the Paralympic event as a discussion at the
May 13 Budget Planning meeting. Motion Carried.
Fairgrounds Pavilion: Budgeted amount is $14,000. Original bids came in between $25,280-
$34,275. The project is in the process of being re-bid to be returned next week.
It looks as though approximately $20,000 in additional funds may be required for this project. A
budget amendment could be approved and come from fund balance.
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Motion Miller, Maki to approve the draft resolution as presented, with correct figures to be
added once bids are received. Forward to full board for approval. Motion Carried.
County Mission Statement:
Input from county department heads was to modify the county mission statement to read: “To
provide government services in an accessible, transparent, and cost effective manner to our
citizens.”
Motion Miller, Jardine to approve the revised county mission statement and thank the
department heads for input. Motion Carried.
Natural Gas Extension to the Ag Station: Xcel Energy is evaluating costs to extend natural gas
to the Ag Station. Ashland Ford, Superior Sauna and Bayfield County would benefit.
We have discussed splitting the approximately $25,000 estimate three ways. This would benefit
all parties by reducing heating expenses.
WCA Resolutions: The Wisconsin Counties Association is requesting resolutions from local
governments for their annual Conference. Resolutions help set the agenda for the State
Association for the new year and reflect positively on Bayfield County. Topics raised by
departments include:
1. Land Records: Scott Galetka: A resolution relating to the Wisconsin Land Information
Program. The strategic initiative grants need to have a Land Area Calculation associated
to the grant funding so that large counties like ours have sufficient funding to undertake
projects such as PLSS, LIDAR, Aerials, etc. All of which are less expensive for smaller
counties.
2. Emergency Management: 911Funding, Support efforts to encourage a statewide 911
overseen by the Public Service Commission
3. Forestry: PILT Payments: Encourage State Approval of legislation that encourages
reimbursement of lost taxes to towns with county forest.
4. Forestry: Encourage modified legislation that increases incentives for permanent trail
easements.
5. Treasurer: Encourage legislation that requires developers to provide bonding for public
infrastructure properties until sold.
Highway Financial Update: The Highway Financial Report was recently completed and
reviewed at Highway. Four Year Financial Snap Shot was reviewed.
2010 2011 2012 2013
CASH $2,738,000 $1,565,000 $1,305,742 $850,883
FUND EQUITY $6.8 million $5.9 million $5.7 million $5.4 million
EARNING/LOSS $118,579 -$767,542 -$1,005,955 -$1,413,197
We need to be cognizant of our focus on road infrastructure. We have spent nearly $2 million of
reserves over the past 4 years. Fund Equity is dropping as our cash position drops. Our
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earnings/losses are changing as we make these increased expenditures. This information will be
used in the Budget Planning process.
Budget Survey: 250 responses received, plus 8 county board members. Surveys are currently
being tallied.
Sales Tax Year to Date Figures: Review of the sales tax trend.
2014 Budget: General Fund, Human Services and Highway are at the 31%, 23% and 21%
marks. Fourth month of the year we should be at 33% as a general rule (Different for highway
due to large summer/fall construction projects).
Treasurer’s Report: April shows a balance of $19.84, highest level ever, due to tax receipts for
the other entities. Net change of county major funds in April was -$428,000.
Northern Lights: A summary memo regarding northern lights financials was included in the
meeting packet.
Motion Miller, Jardine to enter in and out of closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats.
19.85(1)(c,e,f,g) for discussion and possible action regarding: Approval of closed session
minutes from April 10, 2014. Motion Carried. Entered closed session at 6:00pm.
Motion Miller, Maki to return to open session. Motion Carried. Returned to open session at
6:01pm.
Meeting Adjourned at 6:01pm
Respectfully Submitted by Kristine Kavajecz, Assistant to the County Administrator