HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 1/17/2018Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:30pm, January 17, 2018
Emergency Operations Center, Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Jeff Silbert, William Bussey, Harold Maki, Fred Strand,
Shawn Miller
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kris Kavajecz-Assistant, Scottie
Sandstrom-BCEDC, Russ Fish-C&S Design, Steve Schraufnagel-C&S Design, Mike Cariveau-
Waypoint (via telephone), Ellen Heine-Xcel Energy, Chris Buboltz-Xcel Energy, Jeff Klaver-
Xcel Energy, Mike BeBeau-Xcel Energy
Meeting called to order at 4:30 pm by Chairman Rondeau.
Public Comment: None Received
Motion Miller, Silbert to approve Minutes of December 14, 2017. Motion Carried (6-0 ) Citizen
pointed out that name clarification should be Jeff Klaver in the minutes.
Motion Miller, Maki to move up item #9, Business Park Road Letting at this time. Motion
Carried (6-0)
Abeles-Allison provided a background of the project. At the last meeting, the committee
asked for the project to be broken into phases for bidding purposes.
$250,000 County funding and $99,000 Grant funding is budgeted. Two additional grants
are being investigated.
Russ Fish with C&S Design explained the revised Bid design. The base bid will be from
State Farm Road to “Station 20” on the map, with additional alternates A-D. Alternate A
will be from “Station 20” to “Station 37”, Alternate B is from “Station 37” to State
Highway 137, Alternate C is the spur road and Alternate D is the water retention pond.
A handout of projected costs, by phase, was provided for the committee. Fish explained
that the road would be unpaved, but would be built to heavy traffic standards as an all-
season road. Discussion took place regarding funding, construction type, alternates,
estimated costs, and whether the county highway department could do all or a portion of
the work.
Motion Bussey, Silbert to recommend the phased bid with alternates to the county board
for consideration. This motion was rescinded by unanimous consent.
Motion Bussey, Silbert to let bids for the Business Park road as presented at this meeting.
Committee discussion was that receiving bids does not mean that the county has to accept
the bids, but it will show where the numbers come in and further decisions could be made
at that time. Anticipated bid deadline would likely be the end of February. Anticipated
project completion would be late Fall, 2018, depending upon what portion(s) of the
project are awarded, and when. Motion Carried (6-0)
Northern Bayfield Peninsula Broadband Proposal and Memorandum of
Understanding, Mike Cariveau, Waypoint Experts: Mike Cariveau joined the meeting
via telephone. It was stated that a small cell grant application is being submitted. The
meeting packet contained a Memorandum of Understanding. Cariveau explained that he
has been working with the Town of Bayfield, City of Bayfield, Town of Russell for 2
years to improve broadband communication in the area. The state has recently expanded
broadband grant funding. The Waypoint group hopes to initiate a string of broadband
improvements over the next decade. Small Cell LTE service is the primary goal for the
group.
The memorandum of understanding provides a background of the proposed project and
identifies participation by each of the intended partners. The memorandum of
understanding would only be in place if the grant is awarded, it would not be if the grant
is not awarded. Discussion took place regarding the terms outlined in the MOU.
Suggestion was made to add clarifying language that would end the agreement if any of
the parties could not come to an agreement on terms. Mr Cariveau was asked what his
relationship is with the Waypoint Development Company. Mr Cariveau is involved with
both, but they are separate companies, which would compliment each other.
Motion Strand, Bussey to approve the MOU as presented with the understanding the if
the grant is received a future agreement would be negotiated that would include details
that are not currently included in the MOU and that the agreement would be reviewed
and acted on by the County Executive Committee and possibly the full county board.
Discussion took place. Consensus of the committee and Cariveau is that the intent of the
motion is that if mutually agreeable terms cannot be reached, the project would not move
forward and all terms in the MOU would be negotiable. Motion Carried (6-0)
Xcel Energy Update: Ellen Heine and Chris Buboltz reported that they will be meeting
with the Bayfield Peninsula Energy Group later this evening to listen to their concerns
and ideas, and to provide information to the group. Xcel Energy’s intent is to submit an
application to the Public Service Commission (PSC) including 2 different route
alternatives. Open houses will be held for public input in addition to the outreach to local
landowners. The 2 route alternatives submitted to the PSC will include a public hearing
as part of the decision process. The purpose of the meeting with the Bayfield Peninsula
Energy Group is to help answer questions and explain the need for the proposed line. The
2 route alternatives have not yet been finalized. They are being developed based on the
input being received from the public.
2018 Solar Projects: $400,000 is budgeted in 2018 for solar energy work. A variety of
options are being considered.
One option is a group buy on 5 county buildings which would yield a 6-11% annual
energy return. The estimate was provided by a local energy group, call CheqBay
Renewables. Details were provided in the meeting packet.
Option two is a Third party project. This is being considered for the Washburn
Highway Garage and the Bayfield County Jail property. This was discussed at a
previous meeting.
The third option is the Xcel Energy Solar Connect project. Jeff Klaver and Mike BeBeau
addressed the committee regarding a solar garden that is being considered in Ashland.
The project needs a certain percentage of the garden committed, which is why they are
talking to Bayfield County. The proposed garden will be south of Ashland near the
existing Xcel Facility. Specific estimates for Bayfield County, on 190KW were reviewed.
Motion Strand, Bussey to recommend to the full county board to enter an agreement with
Xcel Energy for the proposed $304,000 investment with the Xcel Energy Solar Garden.
Motion Carried (5-1, with Maki opposed).
Motion Bussey, Silbert to recommend to the full county board to enter into agreement
with CheqBay Renewables for the group solar energy buy at an estimated cost of
$59,500. Motion Failed (1-5).
Motion Bussey, Silbert to recommend that assessments be conducted on the group buy
project and be reported back to the Executive Committee. Motion Carried (6-0)
CheqBay Renewables was just notified that they were awarded a grant for an assessment of solar
planning for the Bayfield County Highway Garage in Washburn and the Jail property. There
would be no cost to the county for this.
Motion Silbert, Bussey to approve a solar evaluation of the Washburn Highway Garage and Jail
Property as part of the third party plan identified by CheqBay Renewables, with the project to be
done at no cost to the county. Motion Carried (6-0)
Abeles-Allison also reported that Focus on Energy and Johnson Controls will be providing a
report on retro-commissioning of some county equipment related to energy efficiency.
Long Term Strategic Planning Initiative, Step 1: Tim Kane reported that in 2005 the county
developed a strategic plan. In an effort to update the strategic plan, a 4-step process was
developed for departments to go through over the next several months.
The first phase of the planning process is for Department specific demographics (who are current
and future customers). Abeles-Allison reported that this information is intended to stimulate
discussion on planning at department and committee levels.
Bayfield County Economic Development 4th Quarter Report, Scottie Sandstrom:
Scottie Sandstrom reviewed his 4th quarter report with the Committee. Multiple contacts of
local business took place including Telemark Resort project updates.
Other businesses mentioned included the Thiel’s new retail development.
Other Topics Covered.
• Wisconsin Technology Council Presentation on Feb 27.
• BCEDC Business Breakfast, Feb 13
• Business on Stage event. Chris Duke, Todd Rothe. Thursday, Jan 25, 6pm.
• Meeting with Centurylink regarding broadband.
• Tech Education Collaborative event
• Upgrade of Website
• 43 businesses visited and 223 in 2017.
Elected Official Wages for the 2019-2022 term: Rondeau was designated by the committee to
meet with elected officials together with the County Administrator, either individually or as a
group, and to report input back to the Executive Committee at the next meeting.
Ice Angel Agreement, City of Ashland and Ashland County:
The Committee discussed the amount of funding, $2500 was discussed in addition to the
proposed $5000. Maki raised a question about reimbursement to other ice rescue providers in
the Bayfield area. The topic of billing for actual rescues was also brought up and what those
funds are used for and by whom.
.
Due to length of the meeting, this item was tabled until the next meeting.
Reports
a. Mining Legislation: Silbert reported that several members of the county board and the
Zoning Administrator are planning to attend the informational session presented by the
Wisconsin Counties Association later this month.
b. Treasurer Report for 2017: Report was provided in the packet
c. Financial Report for 2017: Report was reviewed by Abeles-Allison
d. Northern Lights Financial Report, Nov 2017: Silbert reported that the 2017 audit will
be available soon, $30k raised, Christmas event was very popular. Medicaid state rate has
been determined.
e. County Administrator Evaluation Process/Form
It was noted that the February meeting date will need to be changed due to conflicts in schedules.
Committee members noted that Wednesdays are better for alternative meeting dates.
The committee did not go into closed session as planned due to length of the meeting.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:15 pm. Minutes submitted by Kristine Kavajecz