HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 5/9/2019Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, May 9, 2019
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Jeff Silbert, Jeremy Oswald, Dennis Pocernich, Fred Strand,
Tom Gordon (phone)
Members Excused:
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kris Kavajecz, Jim Crandall
Meeting Called to Order at 4:00pm by Rondeau.
Public Comment: None
Motion Pocernich, Oswald to approve Minutes of March 14, 2019. Motion Carried
Supplemental County Highway Funding for 2019 for County Highway A: The Highway
Department budgeted for four miles of paving in 2019. The plan was to pave from Faye Rd to
Hennesey Rd on County Highway A. The proposal is to increase by six miles for a total of 10
miles, to go from Faye Rd to County Highway B. Six additional miles will cost approximately
$1.5 million more. Funding for the additional paving can come from anticipated Highway Fund
Balance and General Fund balances. At the end of 2018 highway had zero fund balance, but they
are getting reimbursed for several projects. The financial statement shows they are owed $1.3
million. Assuming that ½ of this or $650,000 comes in in 2019, there will still be a shortage of
$850,000 which would require General Fund Balance.
Motion Gordon, Oswald to recommend a 2019 budget amendment to allocate an addition $1.5
million in fund balance to be used for an additional 6 miles of County Highway A
reconstruction. This item to be forwarded to the full county board for consideration.
Committee discussed the status of County Hwy M and the delayed federal funding for that
project, now anticipated in 2020 or 2021. Motion Carried
Short Term Highway Borrowing Proposal for 2020: The Highway Committee has
recommended that the County Board consider a short term (1 year) bond issue to begin
supporting a six year, 8.6 mile per year highway reconstruction plan. This topic is featured in the
county’s 2020 budget survey. Consensus of the committee is to hold off on this discussion until
the results of the budget survey are received.
Industrial Development Agency, Amendatory Promissory Note and Loan: The original
agreement expired in 2015. A loan modification memorandum of understanding has been
drafted, which would run through 2027. Approximately $160,000 outstanding on the loan. The
current lease with World Class will expire in 6 months. If they were to discontinue the lease,
there would be no revenue coming in unless the structure would sell.
Motion Gordon, Oswald to recommend the Memorandum of Understanding be forwarded to the
full county board for consideration. Motion Carried.
Use of Contingency Funds for Records Management System:
Motion Pocernich, Silbert to allocate up to $2,000 from contingency for the purchase of
Laserfishe access licenses. Motion Carried.
County Committee Ordinance regarding quorums and designation of alternates:
Suggestion was made to amend the ordinance to allow the County Board Chair or Vice-Chair to
serve as a committee member in the event of a lack of quorum. Another option would be to
allow the Chairman to appoint an interim alternate for the committee. This could also take the
form of an ordinance. Ashland County’s ordinance allows these alternate members only to vote
in the event that there is not otherwise a quorum available.
Motion Gordon, Silbert to designate the County Board Chairman and Vice-Chairman as ex-
officio members of committees if a quorum is needed and that an ordinance amendment be
drafted to address this. Motion Carried.
Youth Government Scholarship: Abeles-Allison reviewed applications for the Youth
Government Scholarship program.
Motion Pocernich, Silbert to allocate an additional $1000 from contingency and award each of
the 4 applicants $500. Motion Carried.
WCA Resolutions for the 2019 Annual Conference: The committee reviewed several draft
resolutions for submittal to the Wisconsin Counties Association for consideration.
• Abeles-Allison reviewed a suggestion from Sheriff Susienka to modify the resolution
addressing mental health issues in county jails. The modification recommended by the
Sheriff were reviewed and will be incorporated into the resolution.
• Resolution supporting extending the OARS program to the rest of the state.
• Resolution supporting funding for Assistant District Attorneys
• Resolution supporting non-refundable emergency tax credits for volunteer emergency
responders.
• Resolution supporting and increase in the PILT Program.
Deadline for submittals is the day before the June Bayfield County Board Meeting, so approval
will be needed at the May County Board Meeting.
Silbert proposed additional resolutions: Urging the legislature to accept the governor’s proposal
to accept Medicaid Expansion Funding. Resolution supporting HR763 regarding climate
change. Silbert will work with the Health Department and County Administrator’s Office to
draft these resolutions.
Strand suggested that the county could also consider resolutions supporting prevention of
Chronic Wasting Disease.
Consensus of the committee is to draft all of these resolutions for consideration at the May
County Board meeting.
Social Media Policy Amendment: Input is being gathered that will be provided at a future
meeting for modifications to this policy.
Reports:
a. Construction Projects: C&S Design is working on the Department of Human Services
office design. Venture Architects will be here next week to begin work on the jail cell
construction project. The three new staff for the CCS program are currently occupying
the Family Resource Room.
b. Financial Report, end of April: Revenues are on track and are about $150,000 over the
same time last year. Expenditures are approximately $300,000 less than this time last
year. This is a result of the change related to the nursing home debt payment. Highway is
at 68% of revenues for the year. Highway expenditures are up slightly over last year.
c. Treasurer Report, end of April: Balances are about $1.6 million less than this same
time last year.
d. Opioid/Methamphetamine Epidemic/Crisis Effort: Two staff with North Lakes Clinic
made a presentation at the last Department Head Meeting discussing identification and
addressing substance use in the workplace.
Gordon exited the meeting at this time.
Motion Pocernich, Silbert to move into Closed Session pursuant to §19.85(1)(c)(g), Considering
employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee
over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility and 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 5:10pm.
Motion Silbert, Oswald to Approve Closed Session Minutes of March 14, 2019. Motion Carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 5:13pm.
Minutes submitted by Kristine Kavajecz