HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 3/9/20231
Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, March 9, 2023
Meeting was held Remotely through Microsoft Teams and in person in the Bayfield County
Board Room, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Fred Strand, Dennis Pocernich, Brett Rondeau, Jeff Silbert, Jeremy Oswald,
Mary Dougherty
Members Excused:
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-Human
Resources Director, Kim Mattson-Accountant, Bill Bussey, Jason Bodine-Forest Administrator,
Paul Houck-IT Director, Judge John Anderson, Marty Milanowski, Kim Lawton-District
Attorney, Madeline Rekemyer, Meagan Quaderer-Emergency Management Director, Larry
Fickbohm
Called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Rondeau.
Motion Oswald, Strand to approve minutes of the February 9, 2023 Executive Committee
Meeting. Motion Carried (6-0).
Public Comment:
Bill Bussey: Provided comments supporting the FCOR and CCOR modifications being
considered at this meeting.
County Board Information Technology: Houck reported that iPads are devices primarily
intended to consume/access data, they are not intended to draft documents. An upgrade to
Office365 would be required to provide MSOffice software. The cost would be an additional
$400 per year, per user. Houck reported that there is a portal that board members can use as well.
Suggestion is to upgrade those board members that need it.
IT Policy Regarding TikTok on County Devices: The State of Wisconsin and Federal
Government has banned the use of the TikTok and several other applications listed on federal
and state computers. The Bayfield County IT department recommends that the county follow
suit on county equipment.
Consensus of the committee is to authorize Houck to move forward with development of a
county policy fashioned after the state Executive Order on this topic.
Justice Programs and County Supervision Options: Lawton reported on a pilot program that
is being trialed in 2023 that will bridge a current gap in the system pre-sentencing. A total of 5
participants is the goal for 2023. The mission of the Bayfield County Community Supervision
Program, which is a joint venture between the Bayfield County District Attorney’s Office and
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Bayfield County Criminal Justice Department, is to decrease the number of individuals convicted
of criminal offenses and overall recidivism by increasing the efficacy of deferred prosecution
agreements via evidence-based, risk-needs-assessed case management and supervision.
The Bayfield County Supervision Program is a deferred entry of judgement program allowing
low to medium risk offenders to have their charges reduced or dismissed upon successful
completion of their program.
Courthouse Hours: Courthouse doors are currently open until 8:00pm. Judge Anderson and
Court Security Officer recommend modifying the hours that the doors are open. Departments
were surveyed for input on this topic. As of March 20th, exterior doors will be locked at 6pm and
departments that have meetings after that time will be responsible for ensuring access to the
building after that time.
Carbon Offset Reserve, County and Forestry, Plans: Bodine reported that an outline for the
FCOR program has been in development for the past year. The FCOR program is ready to be
forwarded to the County Board for approval. Abeles-Allison reviewed the CCOR program
outline that will be forwarded to the County Board for approval.
Motion Silbert, Strand to forward the proposal on to the full county board for approval.
Discussion: Comment that this is a living document that may require modifications as the
program is implemented. Question was asked if a County Board supervisor should be included
on the oversight committee.
Motion Carried (6-0)
Consolidated Dispatch: A memo was handed out to committee members explaining the current
status of discussions/consideration of a consolidated dispatch. Initial grant proposal was denied
by the state. The state is supportive of this project with further information/action. Quaderer
reported on her discussions with authorities of this funding. One of the 2 counties must have a
minimum of 2 dispatchers on duty at all times by May 1, 2023 and there must be a complete
implementation plan. The committee was asked to authorize funding for additional staff to meet
the requirements for the grant. A proposal has been shared with Ashland County to fund a
portion of this cost.
Motion Oswald, Pocernich to create a consolidation planning committee, authorize hiring 2
additional CCO’s, reapply for the grant on May 1, and extend the contract with Mission Critical
Partners to complete the implementation plan. Motion Carried (6-0)
Budget Amendment for Jail Kitchen Hours: The Personnel Committee approved adding
21 hours to the Jail Kitchen for core staffing. Estimated additional cost is $25,000
funded through additional boarding revenues this year and/or contingency if needed for
2023.
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Motion Silbert, Dougherty to authorize funding for 21 additional hours per week in the
jail kitchen. Motion Carried (6-0)
2022 Multi-Departmental Budget Amendment: $80,822 is the additional fund balance that is
needed to offset the cost of additional personnel costs in 2022 that resulted from the wage
schedule adjustment that was approve in April 2022. The committee reviewed a resolution
outlining the exact budget line items that are impacted.
Motion Pocernich, Silbert to approve the 2022 year-end budget amendment for multiple
departments and forward to the full county board for approval. Motion Carried (6-0)
Congressionally Designated Funding Requests: Abeles-Allison reviewed a list of several
recommendations that were forwarded to Senator Baldwin’s office for Congressionally
Designated Funding. The requests were due earlier this week.
Countywide EMS Funding Expenditures: All EMS Services have signed on to the
Countywide EMS funding agreement.
Motion Strand, Pocernich to move forward with the $20,000 payment to each EMS service as
budgeted. Motion Carried (6-0)
Appointment Confirmation of Sandra Naas to the State of Wisconsin Natural Resources
Board: Motion Pocernich, Silbert to support the appointment of Sandra D Naas to the DNR
Board and forward to the full county board for approval. Motion Carried (6-0)
Courtroom Security Glass: Review of estimates for different levels of security glass for the
court security cubicle in the courtroom.
Motion Silbert, Dougherty to approve the Level 5 court security glass estimate. Motion Carried
(6-0)
Cable Airport 2023 Budget Allocation: Report from the County Administrator that local
towns are contributing $10,000 per year for airport expenses. Traditionally, the county has
matched the contributions of the towns. The 2023 budget currently includes $5,000 for the
Cable Airport.
Motion Silbert, Pocernich to authorize an additional $5,000 from Contingency for the Cable
Airport, increasing the 2023 total contribution to $10,000. Motion Carried (6-0)
$1,500 FY 2023 Levy Adjustment: To ensure that the levy did not exceed authorized levels, the
budget was modified prior to submittal to the state. Contingency was reduced by $1500. The
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County Administrator is reporting this to the committee and asking for formal authorization for
audit purposes.
Motion Pocernich, Silbert to approve a modification of the 2023 levy by $1500 to ensure that the
levy did not exceed the authorized levy limit. Motion Carried (6-0)
a. Reports:
a. Financial Reports end of February 2023 and End of Year 2022: Report included in
the meeting packet.
b. Treasurer’s Report, end of February 2023: Up about $800,000 over this time last year,
primarily due to strong forestry revenues.
c. Courthouse Hours: Discussed earlier in the meeting.
d. Utility Feasibility Study and Business Park: Town of Eileen received approval for a
feasibility study.
e. WCA Platform Issues for 2024, Discussion: A list of topics was reviewed, with the
intent to modify the list prior to submittal later this Spring.
f. Construction Project Updates: Review of proposed office layout plans for the Annex
Building (Health, Land Conservation, Emergency Management). Review of proposed
plan for Cable Highway Garage replacement.
g. Opioid Update: Second settlement details will be presented at the County Board
Meeting for consideration.
Motion Pocernich, Dougherty to move into Closed Session pursuant to §19.85(1) (e)
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. Discussion and Possible Action, February 9, 2023
Minutes and Business Park Land Negotiations. Motion Carried (6-0) Entered closed session
at 5:55pm.
Motion Pocernich, Dougherty to return to open session. Motion Carried (6-0) Returned to open
session at 6:00 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz.