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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 9/22/2016Minutes of the Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting 6:00PM, September 22, 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, Jim Crandall, Kay Cederberg-Clerk of Court, Tom Toepfer-Highway Commissioner, Larry Fickbohm (6:38pm), Dennis Pocernich, Jeremy Oswald (6:46pm) Meeting called to order at 6:00pm by Chairman Rondeau. Public Comment: None Minutes of September 20, 2016: Motion Strand, Silbert to approve minutes of the September 20, 2016 Executive Committee meeting. Motion Carried. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2017 Proposed Budget: Highway Department: Tom Toepfer reported that the budget request for routine and summer maintenance figures are the same as the past 3 years. Administrative expenses are the same as the previous year. Machinery expense is expected to be lower in 2017 and includes the purchase of two patrol trucks, four ¾ ton pickups, two 12-ft fixed plows. CTH D 6 miles of construction is anticipated (CTH M is an alternate if necessary). New expenses include CTH E bridge construction and CTH F bridge north of Mason re- decking. Capital Improvement projects include heating systems for the Cable and Port Wing garages. New revenues are anticipated through the CHIP program and discretionary funds from the state. Abeles-Allison explained that in the past, the Northern Lights Debt Service was allowed to be levied, and was used for highway funding of about $500,000 per year. $1.48 million is planned to be transferred from the General Fund Fund Balance to Highway for the 2017 budget. Several counties in the state are currently borrowing (issuing debt) on an annual basis so that those funds can be levied and are then used for highway work. Some counties are also implementing a wheel tax. Review proposed budget and changes: The committee discussed changes to be made to the proposed budget. Changes were noted on a spreadsheet. $148,000 is tentatively budgeted in the contingency fund. Items noted for modification include: Reducing the Forestry Capital Project request by $5,000 (Twin Bear Overflow Parking) Increasing Highway work for the County by $5000. Add $10,000 for additional fairground electrical work. $20,000 reduction of revenue related to the purchase of a drone (fees for use by others). Motion Bussey, Silbert to include $25,000 for a 1-year lease for a drone in 2017. The committee discussed the pros and cons of this project and heard project rationale from Zoning Committee members. Fickbohm joined the meeting at 6:38pm. Straw vote was taken to determine support for this expense. Jeremy Oswald joined the meeting at 6:46pm. (Motion failed (2-4) Field Edge Monitoring Program funding is recommended by the Land Conservation Committee provided that a 75% grant could be found to help fund this project. The project will not take place if grant funding is not secured. Motion Bussey, Strand to keep the funding for this project in the budget as currently proposed. Abeles-Allison noted that this is a 3-year project, for a total cost to the county of $27,000 ($9000 per year). Straw vote of all board members present indicated support for this expense. Motion Carried (5-1) Farm Succession Planning programming is proposed at $5,000 in the Land Conservation budget. Comment was added that this should be a Business succession plan, not just a Farm Succession plan. Straw vote indicated support for this expense. Hydrogeological Atlas currently budgeted at $33,000 for the first year of the 3-year project. Abeles-Allison reported that Coastal Management Grant Funding could cover $42,000 of the $100,000 project cost (would cover Lake Superior communities). The 60% grant would allow for the budget to be reduced to $28,000 expense for 2017. Motion Miller, Maki to remove this item from the proposed budget. Motion fails (3-3). Abeles-Allison reviewed other items that have been discussed in previous budget meetings that are proposed to be included in the 2017 budget. Committee members were asked to identify any of these items that should be modified or removed. • Microphones in the County Board Room replacement at $20,000. • Security upgrades, 50,000 • Space Study $10,000 • Courtroom technology upgrade originally requested at $16,000, County Administrator suggest to reduce by $6000. Motion Miller, Silbert to suspend the rules to allow Kay Cederberg to speak. Motion Carried (6-0). Kay Cederberg reported on the cost savings related to using video conferencing equipment. • Health Equipment for Wellness: Proposal to install a shower facility.$28,000 Motion Miller, Maki to remove this item from the budget. Motion Carried (3-2) Strand abstained. • WISCom project. Abeles-Allison, after discussion with the Sheriff and Emergency Management proposes to include additional funding in the budget related to this project. Maki suggested extending the platform for secretarial staff in the County Board room to allow for better visual of the projection screen for board members. Committee members agreed. • WISCom recorder, to record WISCom communications (currently not recorded), $15,000. • Motor Pool: The committee previously heard a presentation from a leasing company to manage the county fleet. Further investigation resulted in the County Administrator and County Clerk’s office recommending to implement some of the concepts presented by the leasing company, but to manage them on our own rather than through a separate company. • Motion Bussey, Silbert to add $105,000 to the budget for the purchase of 7 fleet vehicles. Motion Carried (5-1). • County Trail Development Project: • Suggestion to increase County Administrator iPhone purchase to $1000 • Dog License Fund: The budget includes a donation of $2500 for the new Chequamegon Humane Association Animal Shelter and $2500 for 2 free rabies clinics. • Veteran’s Relief Fund: $1500 is levied each year for this fund. The committee discussed increasing the expense budget for this fund. • Human Services: $52,000 one-time purchase for computerized accounting system. • Public Health: Half time support staff person. Abeles-Allison explained the need for this position and reported there is an anticipated retirement in 2017. • Northern Lights: Maki is suggesting that $50,000 be donated to Northern Lights to be used toward energy efficiency projects and other operating expenses. Discussion was held regarding legalities and concerns with donating. Motion Maki to donate $50,000 to Northern Lights. Motion was rescinded. This topic will be researched further. The committee had a lengthy discussion regarding wages and new staff proposals included in the proposed budget. Four new staff are in the proposed budget. 2 benefited and 2 non-benefited. .5% cost of living adjustment is included in the proposed budget for wages. Abeles-Allison reviewed some data/statistics regarding wage and benefit costs over the past 8 years. Total wages and benefits have increased an average of 1.49% per year. Abeles-Allison reported that preliminary health insurance increases are slightly over 10% and it is anticipated that slight changes to the plan design can bring the increase down to the budgeted level. Pocernich suggested that current staffing levels should be maintained. Bussey reported that the Personnel Committee heard presentations on the proposed new positions and explained the Personnel Committee’s recommendations regarding each. DHS position will be cost neutral. The current surveyor is retiring. Suggestion was made that the positions be added, but forego the cost of living increase to help offset the cost of the new positions. The topic of Teamsters (collective bargaining, wages, health insurance) will be discussed at the next Personnel Committee meeting. .5% cost of living adjustment would equate to approximately $40,000 in the budget. Cost to add the 4 new staff would be approximately $200,000. Straw poll was taken to see how many board members would choose to approve a cost of living increase (3) Straw poll was taken to see how many board members would choose to approve additional staff (4). Straw poll was taken to see how many board members would approve both (1). How many would approve neither (1). Recommend Levy for 2017: $9,166,007 million dollar levy is proposed. This is the maximum that is allowed to be levied. County Administrator will research whether the county could borrow for highway without going to a referendum. 3.95 mill rate. Motion Miller, Maki to levy the same amount as 2016 and make up the difference between the 2016 levy and proposed 2017 levy by borrowing $382,603 provided that no referendum is required. The borrowed amount would be dedicated to road construction. Motion Carried (6-0) Full Budget (Expense/Revenue) Recommendation to Full County Board: Abeles-Allison reviewed the list of changes discussed by the committee. The budget for publication will include wages and new staff as presented, but may be modified by the full county board. Motion Bussey, Miller to set total expenditures of $30,248,329 as included in the proposed budget and to be modified to reflect the changes previously discussed. The recommendation to be forward to the county board for consideration. Motion Carried (6-0). Authorization to publish budget summary and public hearing notice. Motion Bussey, Miller to authorize the County Administrator to set the public hearing for October 18 and to publish the notice. Motion Carried (6-0). Meeting Adjourned at 8:50pm.