HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 11/9/20231
Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, November 9, 2023
Meeting was held Remotely through Microsoft Teams and in person in the Bayfield County
Board Room, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Dennis Pocernich, Jeff Silbert, Mary Dougherty, Jeremy Oswald, Fred
Strand
Members Excused: Brett Rondeau,
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kris Kavajecz-Human Resources
Director, Kim Mattson-Finance Manager, Tom Renz-Coroner, Gail Reha-Bookkeeper, Nicole
Solheim-Cinnaire, Kelly Westlund, Kevin Johnson-CVSO, Meagan Quaderer-Emergency
Management Director
Called to order at 4:00p.m. by Vice-Chairman Oswald.
Motion Strand, Silbert to approve minutes of the October 9, 2023 Executive Committee
Meeting. Motion Carried ( 5-0 )
Public Comment: None
Washburn Housing Development Plan, Cinnaire: Solheim share a proposal for 4
residential buildings and a clubhouse building development. The development would
include 1-3 bedroom housing. Cinnaire believes the chances of WHEDA funding in the
January round is more favorable.
Motion Silbert, Dougherty to approve the Cinnaire Development Plan as presented and
submit the grant application. Motion Carried (5-0)
Coroner / Medical Examiner Planning: Coroners are elected positions. Medical Examiners
are appointed. Sawyer County underwent this process earlier this year. Renz explained that the
county can set qualifications for an appointed position. An elected position requires no
experience or qualifications. Question from the committee regarding how an appointed position
would be compensated.
Motion Pocernich to draft a resolution for the Executive Committee to eliminate the
Coroner position and create an appointed Medical Examiner position. Once approved by
the Executive Committee, forward to the full county board for consideration. Motion
Carried (5-0)
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Veterans Services Budget Amendment: Johnson explained that the Specialist position
was extended to FT from PT and mileage for transporting veterans to medical
appointments is unexpectedly high. The department expects to be over budget by
approximately $37,000.
Motion Pocernich, Silbert to approve the resolution to amend the veterans services
budget as presented and forward to the full county board for approval. Motion Carried
(5-0)
Northern Light Roofing Bids: A summary of bids received were reviewed. Three bids
were received with Jackson & Associates as the lowest responsible bid. Handout was
provided from The Garland Company with recommendation regarding the bids.
Anticipated Spring construction.
Motion Pocernich, Silbert to accept the bid from Jackson & Associates bid not to exceed
$1,343,000 (if hot asphalt application recommended by Northern Lights) plus 5% bond
and forward to the full county board for approval. Motion Carried. (5-0). If cold asphalt
application recommended by Northern Lights, the board would need to discuss how to
make up the difference in cost.
Middle Eau Claire Lake Dam Engineering Analysis Budget Amendment for Leak:
The DNR has closed the lock structure until the leak can be repaired. Cost is just over $4000 to
determine the cause of the leak. If the County applies for DNR Grant Funding through the Dam
program, this would be a reimbursable cost at 50%. Dam Repair Grant application is due in
March. If the analysis can be conducted now, we would have the information to submit a grant
application for repair work.
Motion Pocernich, Strand to approve $4,170 for a Dam Engineering Analysis for the Middle Eau
Claire Lake Dam. Monies to come from the existing budget. If insufficient, the request will come
back to the Committee for fund balance authorization. Motion Carried (5-0)
Middle Eau Claire Lake Dam Grant Resolution:
Motion Strand, Pocernich to approve the Middle Eau Claire Lake Dam Grant Resolution
and forward to the County Board for approval. Motion Carried (5-0)
Great Lakes Visitor Center Annual Funding: Recommend a $2000 contribution to the
Friends group for the Visitor Center rather than the $9000 budgeted because the center has
eliminated or greatly reduced the ability for the county to utilize the center for county business.
Motion Strand, Pocernich to eliminate the contribution to the Northern Great Lakes
Visitor Center. Motion Carried (5-0)
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Closed Session Rules Ordinance: This ordinance amendment makes it allowable for board
members to attend closed session meetings remotely. This was discussed and approved at the
last County Board meeting.
Motion Pocernich, Dougherty to approve the resolution amending Ordinance 2.2-2-7 related to
Closed Sessions as presented and forward to the full county board for approval.
Abeles-Allison pointed out the clause that requires participants to attend the entire meeting to be
eligible for the per diem.
Motion Carried (5-0)
Re-Establishing Ad Hoc EMS Committee to Assist with EMS Study: The 2024 budget
includes an EMS study to make recommendations on how to proceed. Recommend the re-
establishment of the EMS Ad Hoc Study Committee to help structure what this study will focus
on and what the deliverables would be.
Motion Silbert, Dougherty to re-establish the EMS Ad Hoc Study Committee to assist
with the EMS Study. Motion Carried (5-0) Previous Ad Hoc Committee members will
be contacted to inquire about interest in participating on the Ad Hoc Committee.
NextGen911 and PSAP GIS Grant Acceptance: Bayfield County Emergency
Management and Land Records wrote for two NextGEN911 Grants. The first grant was for a
replacement CAD system totaling $1,213,270 with a 10% local match from both Ashland and
Bayfield Counties. The second grant was for $128,634 with a 5% Bayfield County local match
for Land Records. Land Records will be working on improving the GIS data between the
counties.
Motion Pocernich, Strand to accept the NextGen911 and PSAP GIS Grants. Motion
Carried (5-0)
Budget Amendment Resolutions:
a. Health Department:
b. Veteran Services: Discussed earlier in the meeting.
c. Coroner
d. ARPA, Courthouse Project
e. Elevator Modernization Project
f. Northern Lights Services, Interim Admin and Assessment
g. Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funds (LATCF)
h. Squad Fund
i. Capital Improvement Fund
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j. PSAP Consolidation
Motion Pocernich, Dougherty to approve all budget amendment resolutions included in
the meeting packet and forward to the county board for approval. Motion Carried (5-0)
Reports:
• Financial Reports end of October 2023: End of October Financial are attached showing
expenditure levels at 79% overall and 69%, 68% and 83% respectively for the Highway,
Human Services and General Funds.
• Treasurer’s Report, end of October 2023: we remained constant from the previous
month but are down slightly over $5 million from this time last year. Part of this is due to the
bonding revenues not being received in October.
• Superior Days: 2 issue identification meetings have taken place. Strand provided a
summary of items that are being considered.
• Land Sales: The County had four land sales, three of the four sold including the two houses
in Washburn, one for $20k the other $50k.
• RAISE Grant
• Health Infrastructure Plans: The Health Infrastructure project is almost ready for
bidding. The committee reviewed the proposed layout of the remodel.
• Microgrid Update: Microgrid testing is entering its final stages at the Courthouse and Jail.
• State Broadband BEAD Grant: Abeles-Allison explained that Norvado is
considering whether to apply for federal grants. They are concerned about some of the
requirements of the grants. Future discussion may occur on this topic.
Motion Pocernich, Strand to enter 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, specifically as it relates to the county negotiations to sell land at
the county business park and discussions regarding Northern Lights finances. Motion
Carried (5-0 ). Entered closed session at 5:25pm.
Motion Pocernich, Dougherty to return to open session. Motion Carried (5-0 ). Returned to open
session at 5:33pm.
Meeting adjourned at 5:33pm.
Respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz.