HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 4/14/2016Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00PM, April 14, 2016
EOC, Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Shawn Miller, William Bussey, Kenneth Jardine
Members Excused or Absent: Harold Maki, Dee Kittleson
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz, Dennis
Pocernich, Kathy Wendling, Scottie Sandstrom, Jeff Silbert, Jon Hochkammer-WCA (via video),
Lynn Parins (via video), Jason Stringer (via video)
Meeting called to order at 4:00 pm by Chairman Brett Rondeau.
Public Comment: None
Minutes of March 10, 2016: Motion Bussey, Miller to approve minutes of the March 10, 2016
meeting. Motion Carried.
PACE Presentation, Wisconsin Counties Association: Abeles-Allison introduced Jon
Hochkammer with the Wisconsin Counties Association. Lynn Parins and Jason Stringer also
joined Jon for the presentation. Jon thanked the county for becoming a Green Tier Legacy
Community. Stringer explained the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (PACE). PACE
is a financing mechanism, endorsed by the Wisconsin League of Municipalities and the
Wisconsin Counties Association. §66.0627 statute allows for the PACE program. The program
is designed to provide funding for specific utility improvements that result in energy savings.
Commercial properties, multifamily units above four units, agricultural facilities would all be
considered for this program. Residential initiative would be addressed in a future phase of the
program.
Lynn Parins explained how the funding mechanism works and the Wisconsin PACE
Commission.
Clarification provided on questions asked by the committee:
Is the county responsible for the special charge if the property owner defaults? The special
charge is the responsibility of the property owner and would not be levied to the general county
if it is not paid. The charge remains with the property, so even if the property changes owners,
the charge remains and transfers to the new owner.
Do the loans reduce the county’s allowable debt service levy? The loans do not impact or reduce
the county debt service entitlement.
Who pays for the third party vendor / consortium that oversees the funding mechanism? There is
a service charge assessed to the property owner which covers the cost of the third party vendor
who administers the program.
The program would be available to new and existing property owners.
If a business goes bankrupt, the loan is attached to the property, so a future owner would be
responsible for the loan repayment because they would be receiving the benefits of the energy
improvements. Hochkammer commented that there has not been a PACE loan nationwide that
has gone to bankruptcy.
What happens in the instance that the property is tax foreclosed? Would the county be
responsible for the PACE payments while it retains ownership of the property? Proceeds from
the sale of the liquidated property would be used to pay taxes and special charges.
Hochkammer, Parins and Stringer disconnected from the meeting at this time.
Bayfield County Business Park Planning Committee recommendations: The committee has
met three times. The most recent minutes were included with the meeting packet. The consultant
has recommended that a wetland delineation and an endangered species survey be done at the
site in anticipation of them being required for future development.
Wetland Determination at Bayfield County Business Park: The committee reviewed a
proposal for a wetland delineation .
Motion Bussey, Jardine to authorize an RFP be solicited for wetland delineation and to contract
with the WiDNR for an endangered species survey. Motion Carried.
BCEDC Quarterly Presentation: Scottie Sandstrom provided a quarterly update.
Contingency fund transfer to Land Conservation for 2010 Weed Project: Abeles-Allison
explained that the US Forest Service was overbilled for some grant work several years ago. The
Forest Service has requested the overpayment be returned to them. The Land Conservation
Department has repaid the monies and is requesting that their budget be increased by this amount
to offset the additional expense, since the monies would have been put to the general fund
balance when they were received.
Motion Bussey, Jardine to transfer $5425.74 to the Land Conservation Department from the
Contingency Fund to cover the cost of the USFS overpayment. Motion Carried.
2016 Budget Survey: The draft budget survey was reviewed with the committee. County Board
Supervisors will be surveyed separately from all other citizens.
Motion Miller, Bussey to approve the survey for distribution. Motion Carried.
Reports:
1. Northern Lights Licensure: A letter from Northern Lights was reviewed. Kathy Wendling,
County Board representative on the Northern Lights Board, provided a report and
suggestions for consideration with regard to Northern Lights operations. Comment was
shared from the committee that the debt service funds for Northern Lights should not be sent
to the Highway Department until Northern Lights makes their payments. A copy of
Wendling’s report is included with the minutes.
2. End of March 2016 Financial and Cash Report: Overall, the general fund is at about 28%
of expenses for the year. Human Services is slightly higher on expenses over the same time
last year. Highway Department is about $100,000 less on expenses under the same time last
year. The Treasurer’s cash report shows strong cash balances.
3. April 19 Reorganization Meeting Plans: Agendas and meeting materials are available in
the drop box.
4. Budget Planning, May 24, 4:00pm
Jardine reported to the committee that several towns along the South Shore will be declining to
support the Marine Sanctuary.
Wendling thanked the board and expressed that she enjoyed working with them.
Board members saluted Jardine for his years of service to Bayfield County.
Board members thanked Wendling for her diligent work to the county in such a short amount of
time.
Motion Miller, Bussey to enter in and out of closed session pursuant to Wis. Statutes 19.85(1) (c)
to approve Minutes of March 10, 2016 and 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchasing
of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business,
whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. The committee will be
having discussions with Impact Seven regarding the Town of Bayfield Business Park properties.
Scottie Sandstrom, Current and Future Board members were invited to remain in the closed
session. Motion Carried. Entered Closed Session at 5:47pm.
Motion Miller, Jardine to return to open session. Motion Carried. Entered open session at
6:10pm
Meeting Adjourned at 6:10 pm.
Respectfully Submitted by Kristine Kavajecz, Assistant to the County Administrator