HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 4/5/2018Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
5:30pm, April 5, 2018
Emergency Operations Center, Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Jeff Silbert, William Bussey, Fred Strand, Shawn Miller, Brett Rondeau,
Harold Maki
Members Excused:
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kris Kavajecz-Assistant, Scottie
Sandstrom-BCEDC, Jeremy Oswald, Dennis Pocernich, Bob Peltonen-World Class
Manufacturing, Charles Beedlow-World Class Manufacturing, John Calrson-Corporation
Counsel, Sheldon Johnson-Northwest Regional Planning (via phone), Mark Staff-Department of
Administration (via phone)
Meeting called to order at 5:35 pm by Chairman Rondeau.
Public Comment: None Received
Motion Silbert, Maki to approve Minutes of March 8, 2018. Motion Carried (6-0).
Introductions were made around the room.
Community Development Block Grant/Loan: A synopsis of the CDBG Public
Facilities Block Grant program was reviewed. The job retention/creation criteria would
be 24 months following the close out of the project. Mark Staff with the WI Department
of Administration joined the meeting by phone. He confirmed there is a 24-month period
to create the jobs with a grace period of 12 months to extend. There is no requirement to
retain the jobs past the 24 months.
Local Match Requirement: The grant would be issued to the county and would require a
50% match. Business could reimburse the county for the 50%. County could request a
waiver for the 10% match. The 10% would be based on the Grant Request, not the full
project cost.
The 51% LMI requirements must be met, or full repayment is required. A pro-rated
repayment may be authorized depending upon the number of LMI staff positions filled.
An Economic Development Grant (different than the Public Facilities grant) would go to
the county, who could then loan the funds to the business. The county would need to
choose between the Public Facilities or the Economic Development Grant Program.
With the Public Facilities Grant, the county would be the grant recipient. The county
could have a development agreement with the business. If the terms of the grant were not
met, the state would go to the county for repayment and the county would have to collect
from the business.
Corporation Counsel suggested that a Surety Bond could be considered in the event the
jobs creation requirement was not met.
Business Park Rezone: The proposed business would need to be in an Industrial zoning
area. The proposed location in the park is currently zoned commercial. Corporation
Counsel did not think there would be an issue with the rezone of the 5 acres to the
Industrial Zoning designation.
If the county wants to move forward with this project, they would need to do 3 things:
Approve a grant application
Create a Development Agreement with World Class
Rezone the property from Commercial to Industrial
Motion Miller, Strand to move forward with the block grant application and development
agreement to be brought to the County Board on April 17. Motion Carried (6-0)
Motion Strand, Silbert to recommend to the full county board a rezone of the 5 acres
being discussed from Commercial to Industrial and to hold the public hearing at the
same time. Motion Carried (6-0)
Sandstrom, Peltonen, Beedlow, Johnson and Staff exited the meeting at this time.
County Mineral Rights: A local construction company would like to utilize sand and
gravel from a parcel that was purchased through the in-rem process. The County retains
the mineral rights on in-rem parcels. Carlson reported that the legal definition of mineral
rights includes inert material (which would include sand and gravel). The county passed a
resolution in 2000 which states that mineral rights do not include sand and gravel.
According to Corporation Counsel, the county currently has 2 options: lease the mineral
rights or reaffirm/rescind the county’s 2000 resolution stating that sand and gravel are not
included as mineral rights. Consensus of the committee is to do nothing. Corporation
Counsel left the meeting at this time.
Resolution Authorizing The Submission Of A Wisconsin Department Of Transportation
Facilities For Economic Assistance (TEA) Grant Application:
The committee reviewed the language of the proposed resolution. Two recommendations were
made for language changes:
First Whereas, Bayfield County and World Class Manufacturing have mutually agreed to
develop a site for the construction of a facility for the World Class Manufacturing business; and
First resolved, last line, change “they are” to “he is”.
If secured, this funding would likely be used to extend the business park road past the KV Tech
business location.
Motion Bussey, Strand to recommend this resolution to the county board with the wording
changes incorporated. Motion Carried (6-0)
Focus on Energy Incentives: Abeles-Allison reported that he and Maintenance
Supervisor, Craig Parks, met with Focus on Energy Representatives to review potential
energy saving projects. Six projects were recommended, which would cost and estimated
$9,850 to implement. Annual energy savings resulting from the projects is estimated at
$17,254, which would equate to a 6-month pay-back on these projects. In addition, Focus
on Energy would provide incentives for the project totaling $17,438.
Motion Silbert, Bussey to recommend a budget amendment in the amount of $9,850 for
the Focus on Energy projects. Motion Carried (6-0)
County Solar Project: $29,539 solar project for the Mason Highway Garage and
Washburn Forestry garage. Projected 12 year pay-back of the projects.
Motion Bussey, Strand to approve the proposal for the solar projects discussed and
forward the recommendation to the county board. Motion Carried (6-0)
Oswald exited the meeting at this time.
Reports
a. Local Emergency Planning (LEPC) Hazard Mitigation Matrix: ongoing
b. Strategic Planning: ongoing
c. Treasurer Report March, 2018: not available
d. Financial Report for March, 2018: handout provided
Motion Bussey, Silbert to enter in and out of closed session pursuant to Wisconsin
Statutes §19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchasing or public properties, the
investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever
competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, and;
§19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering
oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to
litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved:
a. Approval of minutes of the March 8, 2018 meeting.
b. Bargaining with prospective Business Park Tenant
a. Discuss possible investment of public funds for Business Park Improvements
b. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the South Fish Creek Watershed Animal
Waste Storage and Management Ordinance litigation.
Motion Carried. Entered closed session at 7:05pm
Motion Bussey, Maki to return to open session. Motion Carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:15 pm. Minutes submitted by Kristine Kavajecz