HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 11/8/2018Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, November 8, 2018
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Fred Strand, Tom Gordon, Brett Rondeau , Jeff Silbert, Jeremy Oswald
Members Excused: Dennis Pocernich,
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kris Kavajecz-Assistant, Sheldon
Johnson-Northwest Regional Planning Commission, Rich Setzke-Maitland, Singler & VanVlack
S.C., Paul Houck-Information Technology Director, Larry Fickbohm, Christopher Hicks
Meeting Called to Order at 4:00pm by Rondeau.
Public Comment: None Received
Motion Strand, Silbert to approve minutes of the October 10, 2018 Executive Committee
meeting. Motion Carried.
Motion Gordon, Oswald to approve minutes of the October 11, 2018 Executive Committee
meeting. Motion Carried.
IT Budget Amendment: The committee reviewed a budget amendment that was included in the
meeting packet. Houck explained that the 2019 budget includes funding for network switches. If
the switches are purchased in 2018, $18,007 can be saved.
Motion Gordon to approve the purchase of network switches in 2018 and to recommend the
budget amendment on to the full county board for approval. Motion Carried. Houck exited the
meeting at this time.
Northwest Regional Planning Report, Sheldon Johnson: Abeles-Allison introduced Sheldon
Johnson, who provided an overview of recent and ongoing activities of Northwest Regional
Planning Commission. Appointment of the new BCEDC Director will need to be made to the
Visions Northwest Board of Directors. Vision for Prosperity outline will be updated in 2019.
Johnson reported that 3 businesses in Bayfield County have received loans for business
development this year totaling about $265,000. A Disaster Recovery Microloan Fund will be a
new program created through WEDC, administered through NWRPC. These micro-loans will
have a 24-month payback with 6 month deferred payments. Iron River Business Incubator was
mentioned as being full and ongoing work with the businesses for further
development/expansion. Assisting Red Cliff with Hazard Mitigation planning. Assisted the City
of Washburn with a “Place-making” grant application. Working with Emergency Management
on updating the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. Working on organizing a regional
transit/transportation summit. Working with the Town of Bayfield on their Comprehensive Plan
update. Continue to organize the regionals hazard waste collection program. Bayfield County
Housing Rehabilitation Program currently has about $42,000 available in the fund. Dec 5 will be
the NWRPC semi-annual meeting in Hayward and will feature a discussion about the impact of
FoxCon and the projected economic impact of that company locally.
Public Comment: Christopher Hicks was allowed to speak as part of Public Comment. Hicks
addressed the committee supporting legalizing cannabis. He suggested that an oversight board be
formed to develop an ordinance. He also suggested that the fees generated for various permits
could be used to fund the program oversight. Hicks provided several examples of other
jurisdictions that have implemented or are considering a cannabis ordinance and oversight
board/commission. He reported that Red Cliff recently took action to approve Industrial Hemp
and Medical Cannabis, but not recreational cannabis. Hicks exited the meeting at this time.
2017 Audit Report, Rich Setzke: A copy of the 2017 audit report was provided to committee
members. Setzke reviewed the Significant Audit Findings letter. Audit adjustments and creating
financial statements are the two findings that were noted. The county is working toward creating
their own adjustments and generating their own financial statements. Setzke reviewed the
county’s balance sheet at the end of 2017. Business type funds reflect the Highway Department
activities. The Northern Lights Bond Reissuance and new lease agreement resulted in a slight
change on how it was handled in the audit. This relationship was a net zero in the past. Now, the
property is shown as an asset, with depreciation rather than a lease receivable as in the past.
Setzke reviewed the fund balances and those portions that are restricted, committed and
unrestricted. Net change in fund balance went down about $547,000.
Motion Gordon, Oswald to receive the audit report and place it on file. Motion Carried. Setzke
was thanked for his summary and left the meeting at this time.
Workers Compensation Insurance: Abeles-Allison reported that proposals were accepted for
workers compensation coverage in 2019. The county’s experience modification factor has
increased recently due to several large claims, primarily related to the flooding situations.
Workers compensation premium is currently about $215,000 per year. Two proposals are under
consideration.
Motion Gordon, Silbert to authorize the County Administrator to evaluate the two worker’s
compensation proposals and make a determination on which company to go with. Motion
Carried.
Leadership Academy: The program involves 4 on-line sessions and 4 in-person sessions in
addition to some individual study time. Tourism Director, Mary Motiff, may be interested in and
benefit from participating in this program. The cost is $1,200 which would be paid by the
county, in addition to lodging. Consensus of the group is to allow Abeles-Allison to proceed with
coordinating this training.
Youth Scholarship: 2019 budget includes $1,000 for a youth scholarship. An outline of the
program was reviewed. Another document was also reviewed that outlines an agreement with
interested school districts that allow the county to provide the scholarship to the school, who in
turn, award the scholarship to the student.
Motion Silbert, Gordon to authorize the youth scholarship program as presented for the 2018-
2019 school year. Motion Carried.
Northern Lights Financial and Infrastructure Report: Silbert reported that an inspection was
conducted of the Northern Lights facility and a report was provided to the County Board. No
firm estimates for plant repairs have been obtained at this point. There is a plan to have a
recommendation report in January. Silbert summarized a US News and World Report finding
that nor-for-profit nursing homes generally have been found to have better care than for-profit
nursing homes. According to the report shared by Silbert, Northern Lights is the highest
performing nursing home in the region.
2019 Projects: Components of the courthouse security project continue to be completed. The
web site update has been completed. Computer system upgrades have been going well. County
Highway projects are in progress. A large electrical project is in the final stages at the
fairgrounds.
Bayfield Wireless Deferment Plan and Budget Amendment: Earlier in 2018, the county
agreed to defer some expenses for the Bayfield Wireless project. $3,000 was budgeted in 2019
for a tower permit. The proposed budget amendment will allow the permit to be obtained in 2018
and the project to commence.
Motion, Gordon, Strand to approve the $3,000 budget amendment resolution as proposed.
Motion Carried.
Reports:
a. Treasurer Report, October: It was noted that while the balances are showing over
$21million, the highway paving bills have not yet been received, which are anticipated at
over $2million.
b. Financial Report, October: Revenues are virtually identical to the previous year in the
general fund and are within budget. Human Services and Highway funds are also within
budget.
c. Highway Report Preparation: Revenues in the future will be more scarce. A plan will
be developed to address transportation costs going into the future and how to fund them.
d. Xcel Energy Second Circuit Letter: Considering 2 routes.
e. Year End Performance Evaluations: Departments are currently conducting
evaluations. Board members were asked for any input on Department Head performance
as he develops evaluations for management.
Motion Gordon, Oswald to move into Closed Session pursuant to §19.85(1)(e)(g), deliberating or
negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other
specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session to
approve Closed Session Minutes of October 11, 2018. Motion Carried. Entered closed session at
5:49pm
Motion Oswald, Silbert to return to open session. Motion Carried. Returned to open session at
5:50pm
Meeting Adjourned at 5:50pm.
Minutes submitted by Kristine Kavajecz