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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 9/20/2016Minutes of the Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting 4:00PM, September 20, 2016 County Board Room, Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn, WI Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Jeff Silbert, Fred Strand, Shawn Miller, William Bussey, Harold Maki Members Excused: Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-Assistant, Jane Bucy-BCEDC, Scottie Sandstrom-BCEDC, Ben Dufford-County Conservationist, Dennis Pocernich, Sara Wartman-Health Director, Mary Motiff-Tourism Director, Larry Fickbohm (5:30pm), Rusty Williams (5:33pm) Meeting called to order at 4:00pm by Chairman Rondeau. Public Comment: None Minutes of September 13, 2016: Motion Miller, Strand to approve minutes of the September 13, 2016 Executive Committee meeting. Motion Carried. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2017 Proposed Budget: Economic Development Corporation: Jane Bucy presented the 2017 BCEDC budget request. Bucy provided examples of how BCEDC is leveraging donations of time and materials from various vendors to supplement the actual budget. The current director is a contracted employee, with no benefits. The BCEDC is requesting that the committee consider funding at their original request, which was reduced in the recommendation presented by the County Administrator. $74,500 is what was recommended by the County Administrator ($5000 over 2016). $85,400 is the original request by BCEDC. The original request was made anticipating the retirement of the current Director and the need to provide an enticing wage for a new Director. Public Health: Health Director, Sara Wartman. Their over all budget request is up about 13% from 2016, primarily due to personnel costs and the addition of a .5FTE support staff position. It was noted that the Health Department has reduced staff over the past few years and professional staff are now taking on many of the general clerical duties. The budget reflects a 1.1% levy increase request, so the majority of the expense increase is being offset by new revenues. There are 13 programs offered within the health department. A brief overview of the programs was presented. Well water testing/data collection & analysis will be an emphasis going forward as a result of the recommendation of the Large Scale Livestock Committee. Hydrogeologic Atlas project will be planned over a 3 year period, spreading the cost of the $100,000 project. The committee discussed the cost impact that has been generated by the CAFO topic. Committee members pointed out that the recommendations of the Large Scale Livestock Committee address general public health concerns, not necessarily specific to the CAFO. Suggestion by the committee is to talk with the USGS about whether the data collected in the first year of the Atlas project could be structured so that is could be utilized as a stand alone, and then just be expanded if funding is secured to provide further data points in the subsequent years. Land & Water Conservation: Ben Dufford provided an overview of the Land & Water Conservation proposed budget. No new grants are anticipated for the coming year. Several recommendations from the Large Scale Livestock Committee are incorporated into the Capital Improvement Projects Fund with oversight by this department. Projects include: Farm Succession Planning, Field Edge Monitoring Study (one quarter of the cost budgeted in 2017). Dufford provided photos as example of a potential study sight. Well abandonment (10 well closures), CAD licensing update. The LWCD Committee made it clear that if grant funding is not secured, the Field Edge Monitoring Program will not be implemented. It was pointed out that the Executive Committee will make a recommendation to the County Board including all modifications identified at the executive committee level. Capital Improvement Projects are paid primarily from Fund Balance. The committee will scrutinize the proposals closely before making their recommendation to the County Board. Tourism/Fair: Mary Motiff reviewed the Tourism and Fair budgets. Slight reduction in the overall Tourism budget expenses is primarily a result of new staff at lower wage levels. Motiff explained that the savings observed as a result of hiring a new part-time staff person in place of the previous shared full-time staff person will be offset by increased budget for advertising expenses. Requesting that the advertising line item be increased further. Capital Improvements related to the Fair were reviewed. Estimates were received last week indicating that electrical improvements could require an additional $25,000 above what is included in the budget. UW Extension: Tim Kane reported that some small adjustments were recommended by the County Administrator. The department has also requested floor mats for their standing desks through the Capital Improvement Fund. County Board: Includes $500 for a fraud hotline. Anonymous call line that can be used by multiple departments. Youth Local Government program is included. $5000 for employee trainings. $50,000 line item for security upgrades in various offices as well as an office space study. Interdepartmental (00 Fund): $1000 additional for Cable Airport. Small audit increase. Sales Tax figures for 2017 have not yet been received from the state. Employee Wellness Fund: Funds were set aside several years ago. Some of these funds are being included in the budget to construct a shower facility for the employee fitness center and additional fitness equipment. Next meeting scheduled for Thursday, Sept 20 at 2:00pm. Meeting Adjourned at 5:45 pm.