HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 12/13/2018Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, December 13, 2018
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Fred Strand, Brett Rondeau , Jeff Silbert, Jeremy Oswald, Dennis
Pocernich,
Members Excused: Tom Gordon
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kris Kavajecz-Assistant, Craig
Parks, Bill Bailey, Judge Anderson, District Attorney Kim Lawton, Clerk of Court Kay
Cederberg
Meeting Called to Order at 4:00pm by Rondeau.
Public Comment: Bill Bailey provided a brief overview of a solar project being proposed to
include 4 sights. A handout was provided which outlines projected solar energy return. Estimated
cost of the project is $309,000. A list of available grants was also provided. Bailey will be available
when this agenda item is discussed later in the meeting if the committee has any questions.
Motion Strand, Pocernich to approve minutes of the November 8, 2018 Executive Committee
meeting. Motion Carried.
Bayfield County mineral rights policy and authorization: Abeles-Allison provided a
history of mineral rights. Originally, the county retained mineral rights on properties that
were sold through the tax foreclosure process. According to the State Attorney General,
in order for the county to dispose of the mineral rights, they must be put up for public
auction. Based on input from Corporation Counsel, Bayfield County passed a resolution
many years ago stating that the mineral rights do not include sand or gravel. Current
Corporation Counsel believes that this is incorrect and that mineral rights do include sand
and gravel. The county has been approached with a request to lease county mineral rights
on privately owned lands that were purchased through the tax foreclosure process. An
email to the County Administrator from Corporation Counsel was reviewed. The
correspondence outlined 3 options for the county to consider. 1) Do nothing, 2) Rescind
the prior resolution. 3) Leave the resolution in place and lease the sand and gravel rights
for a fee.
Motion Strand, Silbert to recommend to the full county board that the County
Administrator work with corporation counsel to develop a lease with Mathy Construction
for a fee to cover the cost of drafting and executing the lease and also to include a royalty
based on the amount of sand or gravel excavated from the leased property with the length
of the lease to be determined. Motion Carried.
Committee discussed that the existing resolution expires in about 10 years and that the
county has an obligation to take action at that time.
Solar Project and RECIP Grant Match: City of Washburn, Washburn School District,
Bayfield County and the Bayfield County Housing Authority partnered for a group solar
project/grant. Bayfield County’s portion would include a 160kw project. RECIP grant
was applied for at $77,915, but was rejected. Annual return on the project is estimated at
8% per year, with an estimated investment of $204,365. This would reflect a 12-year pay-
back. It is expected that the second round of RECIP grants will be available in January of
2019.
Consensus of the committee is to proceed with a grant application for this project.
Receipt of the grant will help determine whether the county will proceed with the project
or not.
Clerk of Court Legal Fee Review: Cederberg reviewed a financial report for the court
system for 2018. Legal fees for public defenders, or appointment in lieu of public
defender expenses have increased significantly and are anticipated to be near $45,000
total for 2019. Lawton reported that she and the Criminal Justice Program are
implementing a program to divert specific low-risk offenders to the criminal justice
program rather than through the criminal court process. This will provide better services
for the offender and will reduce costs for the court system. Budget for these legal fees in
2019 were increased from $20,000 to $28,000.
The committee discussed that the legislature may consider public defender compensation
early in 2019.
Resolution authorizing the Bayfield County Clerk of Circuit Court to enter into
contract with the Department of Revenue for unpaid debt collection: There is no cost
to the county for this collection service. The county will still allow a 60-day window for
the offender to pay before turning the collection over to the state. The state has more
tools available for collections, with increased likelihood of recovery.
Motion Silbert, Pocernich to recommend approval of this resolution to the full County
Board. Motion Carried.
Resolution Supporting the Landmark Fire Hill Preserve Land Acquisition Project:
107 acres in the Town of Bayfield to be acquired through the Knowles-Nelson
Stewardship grant and placed in conservancy. The project has been supported by the
Town of Bayfield.
Motion Pocernich, Oswald to approve the resolution supporting the Fire Hill Preserve
Land Acquisition Project through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant program.
Motion Carried.
2018 Capital Improvement Projects Summary Report:
A list of projects and their completion status was included in the meeting packet. Parks
was present to review all of the projects related to general maintenance and upgrades.
2019 Design and Engineering projects.: The committee discussed whether all 3 projects
should be bid at one time, or separately. Consensus of the committee is to bid all at one
time, but allow combined submittal or individual submittals.
a. Jail Renovation, padded and additional cell, design and engineering:
b. Human Services Office Space Design (lower level in back of ADRC).
c. Highway Parking (Iron River, Mason) Parking Lot Design
Superior Days Issues and Policy Statements: The committee reviewed a list of
legislative and agency issues for Superior Days 2019. Legislative Issues include:
• Medicaid Funding
• UW System Funding
• Joint Economic Development tools including “Better Superior: support and ½%
local option sales tax for roads.
A lengthy list of agency issue topics was reviewed. See the meeting packet for full
details.
Discussion was held regarding the proposed ½% local sales tax for roads option. Handout
on this topic was provided.
Courthouse HVAC Plans: Sizeable proposal was received from Johnson Controls to
convert the hot water heat system to a ductwork system in the main portion of the
courthouse, eliminating the multiple split unit air conditioning system. The current plan is
to maintain the current system and to replace the mini-split systems on a regular schedule
rather than convert the entire system.
Kavajecz and Parks exited the meeting at this time.
County Administrator Evaluation Form: Suggestion was made to utilize the “clicker”
system for the evaluation, which would reduce the amount of time to distribute/collect
and compile the evaluation and would ensure 100% response. Narrative responses could
be collected before the votes.
Contract employee agreements and terms.
Reports:
d. Treasurer Report, November
e. Financial Report, November
f. NACo Membership
Motion Silbert, 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. Motion Carried. Entered closed session at
6:02pm.
Motion Strand, Silbert to approve closed session minutes of November 8, 2018. Motion Carried.
Motion Strand, Oswald to return to open session. Motion Carried. Returned to open session at
6:04pm
Meeting Adjourned at 6:04pm.
Minutes submitted by Kristine Kavajecz