HomeMy WebLinkAboutTourism & Fair Committee - Minutes - 3/31/20202020_03-31 Minutes
Minutes of the
BAYFIELD TOURISM & FAIR COMMITTEES
Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 4:30 PM
Via Web Conference Call
Members Present: Larry Fickbohm, Jeremy Oswald, James Crandall, Fred Strand, Tom Snislberg.
Others Present: Mary D. Motiff, Tourism Director; Ursula M. Garrison, Fair Coordinator; Sarah Kreinbring, Bayfield
County 4H Equine Council Key Leader.
I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 4:33 PM by Fickbohm.
II. Motion: (Strand/Oswald) to approve the minutes from the January 28, 2020 Tourism/Fair Committee Meeting.
Motion Carried.
III. Public Comment – No public Comment.
IV. Budget Review – Motiff went over the potential impacts of the COVID-19 emergency on Tourism and Fair areas.
For Tourism, we anticipate a potential decrease in Advertising and added that collection of outstanding invoices
may be delayed. In the Fair area the realized impact will be determined after we decide if the Fair will take
place. Motiff reported that we will see decreases in the following revenue areas: Sponsorships, Exhibitor Fees,
Gate Fees, Beer Sales and Camping to name a few. Expenses would also decrease in the areas of Entertainment,
Supplies, Contractual Services, Personnel (no OT). The overall impact will not be known until a decision is made.
Language will be added to the Winter Storage web page to address the pick-up of items, which are scheduled to
be released at the end of April.
V. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Equine Council Request – The Committee discussed the Equine
Council’s Request. No Action was taken.
VI. Tourism Update – Motiff shared Department Activities and reviewed Measurable Data including Analytics &
Sales Tax revenue. 2019 ended with an all-time high in December as well as an all-time high for the year-end
total. We received notification that Sales tax is projected to be down. Tourism is really going to be affected.
Local businesses are hurting, and the stimulus package was not geared towards small, owner-operated tourism
businesses. On a positive note, Motiff reported that Information requests to date are 47% higher than the
previous year.
VII. Fair Planning –
A. Possible impacts due to COVID19 - We are on hold with regards to Fair planning (e.g. Sponsorships,
Vendors, Printing of the Premium Book, etc.) The possibility of just having a digital premium list this year
was discussed.
B. Personnel – We have one person that has applied for the Groundskeeper position. We have not had an
interview at this time.
VIII. Buildings & Grounds Update
A. Electric Phase III– Motiff has been in touch with Rick Boya. We have received updated plans and bid
paperwork. Now that we’ve lost some snow we can meet at the fairgrounds. We received an inquiry about
the possibility of using the Saferoom as a detainment center; we don’t have details at this time.
2020_03-31 Minutes
B. Handicap Accessibility – Two people have requested we provide better accessibility to people in
wheelchairs at the fairgrounds. One area in question is the Market Sale pavilion. Discussed adding a pad or
have an area where wheelchairs can have access. The other is the Safe Room where the lip going into the
door makes the entrance problematic for accessibility.
IX. Future Agenda Items and Next Meeting Date – Next meeting will be held on April 28, 2020 via online conference
call.
X. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 5:36 PM.
Respectfully submitted by:
Ursula M. Garrison
Fair Secretary