HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 9/22/2014Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00PM, September 22, 2014
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Bayfield County Annex Building, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Kenneth Jardine, Harold Maki, Dee Kittleson, Brett Rondeau, Shawn Miller
Members Excused: Beth Meyers
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison (Bayfield County Administrator), Kristine Kavajecz-
Assistant, Marco Bichanich, Paul Houck-IT Director, Neil Shultz, Gary Hagstrom, Jason
Bodine-Forest Administrator, Bonnie Chivers-Child Support Director, Mary Motiff-Tourism
Director.
Rondeau called the meeting to order at 4:00pm.
Public Comment:
Neil Schultz: Health Insurance is a big item for the county. Under the ADA, the county is under
no obligation to have both husband and wife under the county policy. Suggest the county find
out how many employees would have a spouse that could be required to take health insurance
through their employer.
Regarding the Tourism Department, Schultz commented that the Bayfield Chamber has
commented twice that the County Tourism Department is not relevant to them. Suggest that the
BCEDC gets much more done than the Tourism Department and the Tourism Dept should be
combined with the BCEDC.
Gary Hagstrom: Worked 35 years in private industry. Building a budget based on last years
budget always results in increases. Suggested to question all expenditures, not just increases over
last year’s budget. Challenge departments on how they can provide efficiencies. Zero based
budgeting, start from zero and justify every dollar.
Discussion Regarding 2015 Budget:
Information Technology: Page 228 of the budget document. Request is for a $4,000 (1.5%)
increase over 2014. Increase is for maintenance costs that could not all be absorbed into the
budget. Capital Improvement projects within the department budget are $63,600 to replace 30
computers, 2 firewalls and miscellaneous expenses for unexpected purchases. Houck reviewed
the purpose of the department, highlights from 2014 and goals for 2015.
430 Fund requests for the Information Technology Department include a request for $194,300.
Review of the 5 items making up this request.
Abeles-Allison reported that the contractual services line was reduced from $15,000 to $10,000,
but will need to be reinstated to the original $15,000. The budget also did not include a second
server, which will be an additional $13,000.
Child Support: Page 95 of the budget document. County levy request will be increased due to
reduced reimbursement for overhead costs from the state. County levy projected at about
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$19,000. Chivers reviewed accomplishments of 2014 and goals for 2015. Staffing changes are
not expected to have a significant impact on the bottom line of the budget.
Forestry: Page 233 of the budget document. About 12% increase of revenues projected and
same for expenses. 2014 expecting to bring in $4.6 million in revenues (nearly $2 million over
budget). Question from the committee if the harvest is sustainable, which was confirmed by the
Forest Administrator. Bodine reported that there is some potential to harvest some wood on
county land that is non-county forest. Trails are money-in, money-out, net zero. Expense
increase for reforestation (higher than usual to make up for not doing this project in 2014). 10%
of stumpage revenues go to towns. Minimal revenue obtained from parks. Several improvements
planned for parks in 2015.
430 Fund Capital Requests for Forestry were reviewed; ATV replacement (operate about 10-15
years before replacement). Workbenches for new Forestry Garage. Mooring docks at Twin Bear.
Picnic Tables to replace decayed. Playground set at Twin Bear. Sub-meter GPS technology for
establishing property lines. Landscaping of Forestry Garage (mandated by City Building Permit).
Recreation Trail Development (new initiative to generate revenues).
Tourism/Fair: Page 177 of the budget document. Bottom line shows an estimate of 8% increase
over 2014. 2015 revenues were budgeted as averages of the past several years. Committee has
recommended a significant increase to advertising expenses for tourism to market county events.
Motiff suggested that the temporary employee amount budgeted could be reduced by about
$2000. Department request for 75,000 for entertainment was reduced to $71,000 at the
administrator level. Committee suggest this be increased to $75,000. Comment that the new
pavilion is nice, need to add concrete when possible. New expense for ITBEC membership.
430 Fund Capital Requests for Fairgrounds were reviewed. Portable sound system, dump trailer,
beef barn electrical, beef barn ventilation, exhibit hall upgrades, green horse barn electrical
upgrades.
Interdepartmental: Page 49 of the budget document. Abeles-Allison reviewed the revenues for
this department. This includes taxes, HRA, county auction proceeds, and fund balances being
used as well as several other revenue sources. Abeles-Allison explained that he originally
budgeted use of $759,000 in highway fund balance. Revised figures show that only $150,000
will be available. The committee discussed that the cost per mile of highway reconstruction is
$250,000. The county is committed to 6 miles of reconstruction per year. Overlays would cost
less than the $250,000 per year. Based on the changes to the budget that are determined as the
budget progresses, the balance needed for highway projects may be budgeted from General Fund
Balance. Expenses in this fund include: corporation counsel, contingency, workers
compensation, insurances, bridge aid, agency requests (airports, NGLVC, libraries, Bart),
Superior Days, Tri-County Corridor, Dams, Regional Planning, BCEDC, Transfers to the Capital
Improvement Fund, Highway Fund Transfer, Motor Pool, as well as other expenses.
Health Insurance: Review of the 2 options for 2015 health insurance premiums. 0% premium
increase if 3 co-pays are modified, or 3% premium increase if no changes are made to the
existing plan.
Other Presentations: Abeles-Allison reviewed a summary of budget modifications that have
been identified so far. Additional changes will be identified at tomorrow’s meeting.
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Meeting adjourned at 5:50 pm.
Respectfully Submitted by Kristine Kavajecz, Assistant to the County Administrator