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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTribal-County Relations Committee - Minutes - 11/10/2021 Bayfield County Administrator 117 E 5th Street, PO Box 878, Washburn, WI 54891 Ph: 715-373-6181 Fax: 715-373-6153 Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator Kristine Kavajecz, Human Resource Director Paige Terry, Clerk III MINUTES OF THE: Bayfield County Tribal Relations Committee Meeting 9:00am, Wednesday, November 10, 2021 Virtual Meeting Via Web Ex, hosted by Red Cliff Members Present: Supervisor Jeff Silbert, Supervisor Steve Sandstrom, Tribal Chairman Chris Boyd Members Excused: Tribal Vice-Chair Nathan Gordon Others Present: Bayfield County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison, Assistant Tribal Attorney Wade Williams, Red Cliff Police Department Administrator Mark Pope, Bayfield County Chief Deputy Andy Runice, Bayfield County Sheriff Paul Susienka, Tribal Administration Liaison Bryon Daley, Red Cliff Community Health Center Operations Coordinator Michael Lang, Bayfield County Public Health Nurse Holly Weber, Red Cliff DNR Division Deputy Administrator Gabrielle Van Bergen, Red Cliff Tribal IT Director Theron Rutyna, and Bayfield County Clerk III Paige Terry. Called to order at 9:08 a.m. by Tribal Chair Boyd. 2. Introductions: Introductions of members were made. Tribal Administration Liaison Bryon Daley informed the committee that Tribal Vice-Chair Nathan Gordon, and Treaty of Natural Resources Division Administrator, Chase Meierotto, would not be able to attend due to prior commitments. 3. Public Comment: Chairman Boyd informed the committee that the Tribal Council appreciated Board Supervisor and Committee Member Steve Sandstrom’s attendance at the previous council and quarterly meeting to discuss topics that would affect both the County and the Tribe. One of the topics included initiating discussion with the Bayfield County Forestry Department to begin reclaiming forested land within the Tribal boundaries and how this process may impact county forest land. Silbert thanked Chairman Boyd and Vice-Chair Gordon for the invitation to attend the signage event held to celebrate the presentation of the first national bi-lingual sign to Red Cliff and stated that the event went over well. 4. Motion to Approve Minutes of August 25, 2021, County-Tribal Relations Committee Meeting: Motion by Sandstrom, seconded by Silbert to approve the minutes of the August 25, 2021, County-Tribal Relations Committee Meeting. Motion carried, 3-0, 1 absent. 5. Public Health Update: Red Cliff Community Health Center Operations Coordinator, Michael Lang, reported 6 positive COVID-19 cases in Red Cliff over the past week with numerous cases in quarantines due to suspected cases occurring in school children. Bayfield School has been conducting its own testing for COVID-19. An increasing number of respiratory illnesses not related to COVID-19 are being reported and Lang reminded the committee that we are in the middle of respiratory virus season with RSV becoming more prevalent in the Red Cliff community. Red Cliff is reporting approximately 20-30 COVID-19 tests per day. The Red Cliff Community Health Center will be holding vaccine clinics on November 18 and 19 at the Legendary Waters Resort & Casino to distribute booster vaccines. Red Cliff does have all three booster vaccines available. Chairman Boyd question where Red Cliff and Bayfield County both stood with delivering 5–11-year-old vaccines. Lang explained that the Clinic has ordered the vaccines but has not seen them inventoried at the clinic yet. Lang informed the committee that Red Cliff has been working with the Bayfield County Health Department to distribute vaccines in the local schools. The Bayfield School is requiring a 14-day quarantine period for those that test positive as well as a post-quarantine test for individuals looking to return to school. Bayfield County Administrator, Mark Abeles-Allison, reported on behalf of the Bayfield County Health Department that today is the first day that the Department would be distributing 5-11-year-old vaccines in Washburn. The Bayfield County Health Department ordered approximately 600 vaccines, which are a dual-shot vaccine. Lang explained that the vaccine dose was a third the amount of the adult vaccine. The Red Cliff Clinic is only able to order 100 vaccine doses per week. Bayfield County Public Health Nurse, Holly Weber reported that the first 5-11-year-old vaccine would be distributed at 11:00 am that day and that two more vaccine clinics were scheduled for the following week on November 16 and November 18 with approximately 100 kids scheduled so far to receive their first vaccine. The vaccine clinics are being held at the St. Louis School in the City of Washburn. Chairman Boyd asked if it is recommended to receive the flu shot at the same time. Weber explained that, although Bayfield County is not distributed flu shots at this time, citizens are able to receive both at the same time if they’d like. Chairman Boyd questioned if the COVID-19 booster shots are available to the general public yet. Weber stated that the CDC has not yet opened up the vaccine guidelines to include all members of the general public and is still limiting the booster to immunocompromised individuals and those that are considered to be at high risk at their jobs. Discussion took place regarding mask recommendations throughout the Bayfield County School Districts as well as virus prevalence. 6. Department Updates: Lang informed the committee that local EMS agencies are experiencing a high level of stress and burn out, including the Red Cliff 11-person crew. The Red Cliff EMS agency is the only agency that is offering on-site testing during call outs and will soon have three functioning ambulances for the community. The Bayfield County Ad Hoc EMS Advisory Committee met last month and is looking to improve services throughout the County. Sandstrom continued by saying that he was elected as Chair of the committee, which is looking to explore areas that need to be change, possible changes that may be implemented, and potential money sources local EMS agencies may use. The EMS Committee will be meeting on November 29, 2021. Daley provided an update regarding the hazard mitigation plan stating that the countywide plan was adopted at the previous council meeting, meanwhile the Tribe continues the development of their own plan. 7. Tribal County Law Enforcement Agreement: Bayfield County Sheriff, Paul Susienka, reported that the Law Enforcement Agreement has been signed by all necessary parties. The agreement was presented to the chair of the Sheriff’s Committee with the knowledge that the Agreement would need to be sent to the Tribe by November 10, 2021. Abeles-Allison stated that the agreement is traditionally collaborative with multiple discussions happening between the two government entities. Abeles-Allison continued by explaining that one previous point of contention was the cost share of funds received by the Tribe from the State. One goal of Bayfield County is to have a positive relationship with the Tribe and explained that some of the working dialogue with the Tribe was missing this past year. Discussion took place regarding the beginning the agreement renewal process earlier in 2022 to allow more time for discussion between the two entities. Susienka clarified that the item of contention Abeles-Allison was referring to was the disbursement of funds between the two entities. Abeles-Allison clarified that once the County signs the agreement, it will be the responsibility of the Tribe to submit the agreement. 8. Tribal County Lands Update: Red Cliff DNR Division Deputy Administrator, Gabrielle VanBergen, reported that Assistant Tribal Attorney, Wade Williams, has formalized the purchase of 348 acres of forest land within the Tribal boundaries and is waiting on actions form the State and DNR. Abeles- Allison explained that the DNR is reviewing the application particularly because the land is still enrolled in County Forest Law. If the appropriate action is taken, the land sale should be finalized by the end of 2021. Should the sale go through, Bayfield County will have sold approximately 725 acres back to the Red Cliff Tribe over the past four years with an estimated 708 acres of county forest land remaining within the Tribe’s borders. Silbert reported that, along with the land acquisition application, Bayfield County is also working on legislative language changes that would include Tribal Reservations in the in- rem tax process that would allow the County to negotiate directly with the tribe for future land sales and avoid the appraisal and bid process. Silbert explained that Senator Bewley has drafted language changes but is failing to find Republican sponsorship. 10:11 a.m. – Chairman Boyd adjourned the meeting for a brief recess. 10:16 a.m. – The meeting reconvened. 9. Broadband Expansion Update: Red Cliff Tribal IT Director, Theron Rutyna, explained that Governor Evers will be putting $100 million towards public service commission broadband expansion grants. The Tribe will be eligible to apply for the grants; however, the grants are expected to be quite competitive. Receipt of funds may be dependent on the approval of the NCIA Grant, which the Tribe applied for previously. Rutyna reviewed potential projects that may be eligible for the upcoming grants along with broadband expansion goals of the Tribe which include provide fiber-to-home for all residents in the Town of Russell. Abeles-Allison reported that, on October 14, 2021, the three applications that were submitted in cooperation with Norvado were granted $2.5 million in funding, with 50% of funds being distributed through the State. The main project areas would focus on the Washburn area South to the roundabout, the Southwest corner of the County in the Town of Barnes, and the Lower Eau Claire Lake area. The projects would bring fiber to approximately 500 households and an estimated 50 businesses. Bayfield County continues to work with Bayfield Wireless to expand wireless options throughout the County. Bayfield County granted Bayfield Wireless access to both the Maple Hill and Hillside communication towers with equipment successfully installed on both towers. 10. 2020 Redistricting and Census 2020: Abeles-Allison stated that the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors met the previous night and approved a final supervisory redistricting plan. The increase in population to the County should translate to additional State and Federal funds. 11. Community Survey – HowAreWe?: Abeles-Allison explained that the Bayfield County is working in cooperation with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to pilot a community survey focused on gathering socioeconomic information from County residents. Interested citizens can access the survey at www.howarewe.org. 12. American Rescue Plan Act Program Updates: Abeles-Allison reviewed projects being completed by Bayfield County utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and stated that roughly 87% of the County’s allocated funds are encumbered. Chairman Boyd reviewed some of the projects Red Cliff has completed using ARPA funds. 13. Joint Tribal Council / County Board Meeting Planning: a. Location: Legendary Waters Resort & Casino Event Center b. Time: 5:00 p.m. c. Date: January 27, 2022 (tentative) d. Topics: i. Dinner: Chairman Boyd suggested allowing Legendary Waters to cater the dinner for the meeting. ii. Introductions iii. Opening Prayer: Silbert suggested adding a short drum ceremony to the beginning of the meeting. Chairman Boyd said the Tribe will work on coordinating a ceremony. iv. Drum Song: Silbert asked if the Tribe would be willing to perform a drum song at the beginning of the meeting. Chairman Boyd stated that the Tribe would work to organize a song for the meeting. v. State of County / State of Tribe: Silbert mentioned that Red Cliff appears to be making quite a bit of progress to working towards the future, such as building developments, and suggested that the Tribe create a presentation on their new adventures to present to the board and public. vi. COVID Collaborations: Daley asked for clarification on the phrase “COVID Collaborations.” Chairman Boyd explained that the topic would cover the efforts that both Bayfield County and the Red Cliff Tribe put towards handling the COVID-19 pandemic both separately and collaboratively. vii. Land Repatriation Efforts: Abeles-Allison mentioned the celebration of repatriating the 348 acres back to the Tribe as a potential agenda item. viii. Memorandum of Understanding: Williams recommend drafts of the MOU and joint resolution be circulated well in advance before the meeting. ix. Joint Resolution: Williams reiterated what was discussed at the previous meeting that adopting a similar resolution between the two entities at the same time rather than a joint resolution would be the preferred option. x. Tourism Opportunities xi. Tribal County Law Enforcement xii. Building Relationships xiii. Seventh Generation / Next Generation xiv. Group Picture 14. Future Meeting Date and Time: January 26, 2022, 9:00 a.m. 15. Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, Tribal Chairman Boyd adjourned the meeting at 11:01 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Paige a. terry, Clerk III, Bayfield County Administrator’s & Clerk’s Offices On behalf of the Bayfield County-Tribal Relations Committee PAT