HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 9/20/2018Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, September 20, 2018
Emergency Operations Center, Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Jeff Silbert, Fred Strand, Tom Gordon, Dennis Pocernich, Jeremy Oswald,
Brett Rondeau
Members Excused:
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kris Kavajecz-Assistant, Jim
Crandall, Tom Snilsberg, Jason Bodine-Forest Administrator, Mary Motiff-Tourism Director,
Jen Osmak-Child Support Director, Paul Houck-IT Director (via telephone)
Meeting Called to Order at 4:04pm by Rondeau.
Public Comment: None Received
Minutes of September 13, 2018: Motion Gordon, Strand to approve minutes of September 13,
2018. Motion Carried.
Budget Adjustment, Jail Generator Repair: Unexpected significant repair was encountered
with the generator, which supports the IT system and jail in the event of a power failure.
Motion Gordon, Silbert to authorize a $5793 expenditure from the contingency fund for the cost
of repairing the generator for the jail. Motion Carried
2019 Budget Discussion: Abeles-Allison reported that Forestry, Sales Tax, Interest Income,
grants and fees for services revenues represent about 60% of General Fund Revenues excluding
fund balances.
Bodine reviewed a chart which reflected actual revenues for the past 9 years. He reported that the
timber markets are unpredictable and that revenues are budgeted conservatively for this reason.
He explained that timber sales are set up with 3 year terms, but that those sales may be extended
for up to 3 additional years or more. He reviewed a formula that has been developed to calculate
revenues based on sales and estimated market values. Bodine explained that 2019 budgeted
revenues will be the closest to estimates that they have ever been. Bodine exited the meeting at
this time.
Mary Motiff provided 2 handouts related to sales tax revenues. The first was a WI Dept of
Workforce Development document with the county profile. The second document reflects sales
tax revenue figures by month for the past 10 years. Sales tax has increased significantly in 2018
and is expected to increase even further in 2019. The state will begin collecting internet sales tax
in the near future as well. Per capita, Bayfield County has the lowest sales tax collection in the
region. Motiff exited the meeting at this time.
Abeles-Allison reviewed the interest earnings trend. Interest earnings are beginning to rebound.
Interest is earned on back taxes and also on bank balances/short term investments.
Paul Houck joined the meeting via telephone to review Information Technology related capital
improvement proposals for 2019. Houck reported that the current telephone system is no longer
supported and parts can only be obtained through sources such as EBay. The phone system is
estimated at a cost of approximately $200,000 , including cabling to support the Voice over IP
functionality. Houck also discussed the budget proposal for Network Switches. The current
switches are 6 years old and were sized for needs at that time. The county has additional needs
supported by these network switches. Storage expansion: IT runs a back-up of all county data
every night and transfers that information to Sawyer County for storage in the event of a major
disaster in Bayfield County. Firewall is the piece of equipment that protects the county computer
network from the rest of the world. The current Firewall is underperforming and is about 4 years
old, nearing end of life. The proposed firewall provides a dual configuration. The figure in the
budget would be for a 4-year service contract. The General Fund IT budget includes expenses for
regular computer replacements on a 5 year replacement schedule. Houck disconnected from the
meeting at this time. Osmak exited the meeting at this time.
Items for the Capital Improvement Fund were reviewed. Abeles-Allison noted that some of the
office painting items have been reduced in anticipation of additional hours for a maintenance
staff person to complete the work.
The State of WI Levy Limit Worksheet was displayed for the committee to review. The
committee discussed adjustments that are allowable to the levy. Wheel tax is an option that the
county could consider.
Oswald exited the meeting at this time.
Fund Balances were reviewed on pages 16 and 17 of the proposed budget. Fund balances include
non-spendable, committed, and unrestricted funds. $15,684,000 is the fund balance for the
general fund at the end of 2017 with $6,082,334 being unassigned.
Budget Changes Spreadsheet: This document tracks changes that will need to be made to the
proposed budget before it is finalized.
Discussion took place on positions that were proposed in the budget. Specific discussion took
place regarding the current AIS grant position and the proposal to make the position a county
employee instead of a contracted employee. The position is proposed to be funded half by grant
funding, the other half of the cost would be funded by county dollars for proposed Lakes
Specialist work.
Northern Lights: Financial reports were provided in the County Board Drop box.
The closed session was postponed until the next meeting.
Next meeting is September 27 at 6:00pm. Meeting Adjourned at 6:00pm.
Minutes submitted by Kristine Kavajecz