HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 6/13/2019Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, June 13, 2019
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Bayfield County Annex, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Brett Rondeau, Jeff Silbert, Jeremy Oswald, Dennis Pocernich, Fred Strand,
Members Excused: Tom Gordon
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator, Doreen Kuberra, Assistant Clerk
1, Sheriff Paul Susienka, Craig Parks-Maintenance Supervisor, Larry Fickbohm, Tom Renz,
Jason Bodin (5:30pm).
Meeting Called to Order at 4:00pm by Rondeau.
Public Comment: None
Motion Silbert, Oswald to approve Minutes of May 9, 2019. Motion Carried
Jail Design Project: The Sheriff’s Department is working with an architect regarding the
special needs cells in the County Jail. With an increase in severe drug issues there is a need for
special needs or “padded” cell areas to protect both inmates and jailers. At present the jail has
two holding cells to use when someone first is brought into the jail. County Sheriff Paul
Susienka was present to explain the need for the jail renovation. There are two options to the
plan. Option one is similar to the plan that was developed and proposed with two new holding
cells, one padded. Option two proposed by Venture Architect, increases the number of cells by
three instead of two and places the holding cells closer to the entry area. The estimated cost of
option one is $275,00 and the estimated cost of option two is $360,00. Both proposals are higher
than what the $200,000 that the County has budgeted for the project.
Motion Pocernich, Oswald to recommend option two to the full County Board. (Motion carried
5-0)
Department Budget Presentations: Tom Renz, Bayfield County Coroner, discussed two items
of the County Coroner budget. He has a request for a laptop for the Deputy Coroner. He also
discussed budgeting for the costs of autopsy transports.
County Fund Balance Policy: The auditors have stated that the County needs to adopt a formal
Fund Balance Policy. The proposed policy includes five fund balance categories. Highlights of
the policy included maintaining 25% balance/three months of expenditures, unassigned fund
balances will not be used for recurring expenses, allowing for exceptions for exceeding theses
levels if a financial emergency is declared by 3/4s of the board, and stipulates that the board shall
determine assignments of fund balances.
Motion Rondeau, Silbert to approve the Fund Balance Policy and recommend it to the full
board. (Carried 5-0)
County Fund Balance Allocation: The auditors have noted that the $3 million the county holds
for cash to make taxing entities whole is an unassigned balance. Abeles-Allison recommends
assigning $2.5 million over the next five years ($500k per year) for the next five years toward
highway projects. This item will be brought to the full county board.
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, NWRPC: NWRPC is asking for County
projects that are part of the Economic Development Strategy. Five project proposals were
reviewed and recommended. These included: Nursing home, business park, offender treatment,
County Highway A and Broadband funding projects.
Youth Government Scholarship for 2020: This year the county gave out 4 scholarships
totaling $2000. Recommended changes were to submit an essay to the newspaper and present it
at a school.
Motion Oswald, Strand to continue with four $500 scholarships to county residents and add the
criteria of presenting the essay to a school. (Carried 5-0)
UNIVERCITY Program: The University of Wisconsin has a program which is a partnership
between the County and the University. Applications are due the end of July. If awarded, the
County would select a project and work with the University students over three years to
accomplish it. Theme costs would be $20,000 over three years with up to 15 projects per theme.
Consensus of the Committee was to have them on a conference call at the next committee
meeting.
Pigeon Lake, Highway, and Lake Levels Update: Estimated cost of the road elevation is
$500,000 over the past two years. A meeting was held with the DNR, Forest Service, Lake
Association and County staff to review other options.
Cervid Study Committee: A meeting was held last week, and a report will be filed for the June
25th, 2019 County Board meeting.
2020 Census Education Efforts: A UW Census Educator will visit the end of July and in
September to speak with groups and the County Board. It is important to have accurate
population and demographic recordings for property state and federal funding.
Delta Landfill Site: Decided no closed session.
Jason Bodin was present to inform the Committee about the Delta Landfill Site issue. The Landfill
was operated in the 1970’s-1980’s by the Town of Delta. In 2002 there were some DNR Grants
for Erosion Control. However, there are no real records found. Through tax delinquency it became
the property of Bayfield County. Nothing has been done to it since 2002. It needs repair. The
question is whether the Town of Delta is responsible for the repairs. It will take a certified engineer
to do the repairs. There is an option to move the drainage channel. There may be $300,000
available from FEMA, however moving the drainage channel is not reimbursable.
County Meal Policy: Tabled till next meeting.
Reports:
• NACO TestIT: This is an app for phones to test broadband/internet speeds.
• Thank you letters: Received from scholarship winners Alexis Nestle and Steven
Kavajecz.
• Pigeon Lake Camp: The State Bureau of Public Lands is trying to figure out what to do
with it. The committee will hear public comment and ideas on the parcel in the months
ahead.
• Financial report for the end of May was reviewed. General Fund and Human services
revenues and expenditures down from last year. Highway department revenues down,
expenditures up.
• Treasurer report: County bank balance $1.475 million down from last year.
• Opioid/Methamphetamine/Crisis Effort: Canine effort events brought in $10,000-
$12,000.
Meeting Adjourned at 6:02.
Minutes submitted by Doreen Kuberra