HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 2/10/20221
Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, February 10, 2022
Meeting was held Remotely through Microsoft Teams and in person in the
Bayfield County Board Room, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Jeff Silbert, Dennis Pocernich, Fred Strand, Brett Rondeau, Larry
Fickbohm, Mary Dougherty (remote)
Members Excused:
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-Human
Resources; Marty Milanowski-County Board, Jeremy Oswald, Mike Cariveau-Bayfield Wireless
Called to order at 4:00 by Chairman Rondeau.
Public Comment: None Received
Approval of Minutes of January 13, 2022: Motion Fickbohm, Strand to approve Executive
Committee minutes of January 13, 2022. Motion Carried (5-0)
Bayfield Wireless Annual Report, Mike Cariveau: Cariveau provided an annual report as
required by the contract. There were 190 retail, 1681 service months. Bayfield County
revenue sharing is $1,681. For business services 20 customers, 204 service hours, $408
revenue sharing. Currently providing high speed internet at the 3 towers in the service
area.
Cariveau made a request to enter into another grant project, similar to the most recent
one, utilizing the Port Wing Tower.
Cariveau expressed concern with the recent agreement Bayfield County has made with
Norvado, which covers the same area that is covered by Bayfield Wireless.
USDA RD Business Park Utility Feasibility Study: Town of Eileen will be submitting
an application in conjunction with Bayfield County for this project.
Motion Pocernich, Silbert to support the Town of Eilleen application for USDA RD
Business park Utility Feasibility Study application.
Drummond Dam Grant Engineering and allocation of contingency funds: Proposal
to utilize contingency funds to facilitate an engineering study, which will improve the
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changes of the grant award. The full cost of the project and engineering will be included
in the grant application, which has a 50% reimbursement.
Motion Silbert, Strand to authorize the use of $19,000 from contingency for Drummond
Dam Grant Engineering. Motion Carried. (6-0)
Audit Contract: Review of contract for extended audit services through 2025.
Suggestion to have Corp Counsel review the contract before signing. Suggestion to put
the audit services out to bid in 2023 in anticipation of the contract ending in 2025. The
services of the current contractor have been very good so far.
Motion Fickbohm, Silbert to extend the contract with BakerTilly through 2025. Motion
Carried (6-0)
Grant Consultant work: Several proposals were received from departments. Abeles-
Allison will place the details on the proposals in the Executive Committee drop box for
committee members to review.
Joint Tribal County Meeting topics, April 28: The meeting will take place in Red Cliff
and will include dinner. A draft agenda was reviewed. EMS and Broadband services were
suggested as topics.
Superior Days Topic Review: 3 legislative issue: tuition reciprocity, ½% sales tax for
roads, Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes. Several agency meetings are
planned with DNR, DOA, DOT, DHS, Workforce Development, DOR. Very few
participants this year, just Strand and Abeles-Allison from Bayfield County, no youth. If
board member have additional specific topics, Strand and Abeles-Allison will be meeting
with several offices while in Madison.
WCA Policy Platform Topics: Deadline for topics is May.
Fund Balances: end of year 2021 balances are currently estimated at just over
$18million, with approximately $4.8million unassigned. The county’s practice in the past
has been to attempt to keep approximately 25% of funds unassigned. Abeles-Allison
reviewed a list of Assigned funds.
Five Year Capital Planning: Future capital planning will need to consider space
constraints/needs, and wage adjustments as a result of the current market and wage
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analysis. Other considerations include: infrastructure updates and the increasing age of
the population, and services such as an on-site day care.
Reports:
a. Financial Report, end of January 2022: First month of the year. Nothing of note.
b. Treasurer’s Report, end of January 2022: $23.3 million at end of 2021. About 1
million over the previous year.
c. Housing Committee: Summary was included in the meeting packet from the
committee.
d. EMS Committee: Focusing on 5 key topics. Very good participation to date.
The committee did not go into closed session.
Meeting Adjourned at 5:12pm