HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board of Supervisors - Minutes - 12/12/2023
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Bayfield County Clerk
Lynn M. Divine, County Clerk
Jeran Delaine, Deputy Clerk Paige Terry, Clerk III
Ph: 715.373.6100 ● Fx: 715.373.6153 ● Email: Lynn.Divine@bayfieldcounty.wi.gov ● 117 E. Fifth Street, PO Box 878, Washburn, WI 54891
Minutes
Special Meeting of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors
December 12, 2023
Meeting Held in the Bayfield County Board Room, Courthouse, Washburn, WI
Call to Order: The special meeting of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors was called to order at
4:05 p.m. by Bayfield County Board Chairman, Dennis M. Pocernich. A roll call was taken by County
Clerk, Lynn Divine, as follows: Steve Sandstrom- present; Mary Dougherty- present; Larry Fickbohm-
present; Charly Ray- present; Jeremy Oswald- present; Jeff Silbert- present; Fred Strand- present; John
Rautio- present; Marty Milanowski- present; Madelaine Rekemeyer- present; Jim Crandall- present
virtually; Brett Rondeau- absent; Dennis Pocernich- present. Total: 12 present, 1 absent. A quorum was
present to conduct business.
Others Present: County Administrator- Mark Abeles-Allison; County Clerk- Lynn M. Divine; Humana
Resources Director- Kris Kavajecz; Finance Director- Kim Mattson; Corporation Counsel- John Carlson;
Sheriff- Tony Williams; UW Extension Area Director- Mary Pardee; Maintenance Supervisor- Craig
Parks; Jeff Olson; and Clerk III- Paige Terry
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.
Public Comment: None.
Tribal-County Law Enforcement Agreement: Abeles-Allison updated the board on the agreement
negotiations, explaining that the agreement has been modified to include the following terms:
• In 2024, $5,000 of program funds will be disbursed to the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office to
address drug issues in Red Cliff;
• The remaining funds will be disbursed to the Red Cliff Tribe to be used to support current staffing
levels of the Red Cliff Police Department; • The Red Cliff Tribe will be designated as the recipient of the grant and will receive and disburse
all grant funds in 2024.
Motion by Silbert, seconded by Oswald to approve the 2024 Joint Program Plan Between the Red Cliff
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office. Motion carried, 12-0, 1
absent.
Corporation Counsel, John Carlson, reminded the board that the agreement is an annual document that
will need to be reviewed next year. Oswald asked which party is responsible for leading the agreement
discussions and negotiations. Abeles-Allison explained that the Sheriff’s Committee and the Tribal-
County Relations Committee are the two main groups that would be responsible for leading the
discussions. Abeles-Allison continued, explaining that the Relations Committee has the item on their
agenda for the next meeting to begin discussions for 2025. Silbert stated that the intent of the grant is to
provide financial support to Red Cliff for law enforcement which would alleviate some of the strain on
the Sheriff’s Office for coverage in that area.
2023 Budget Amendments:
a) Bayfield County Resolution No. 2023-125;
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Request to Amend 2023 County Clerk and County Administrator Budgets
WHEREAS, On September 1, 2023 the County Board authorized the creation of the Finance
Department under the County Administrator’s Office; and,
WHEREAS, the bookkeeper and accountant were moved from the County Clerk’s Office to the County
Administrator's Office in the Finance Department; and,
WHEREAS, the accountant was reclassified as the Finance Director, a salaried position, with a new
grade on the wage scale; and,
WHEREAS, there were two mid-year wage scale adjustments that took place on July 1 and September
1, 2023; and,
WHEREAS, the restructuring of staff and wage scale adjustments affected the County Clerk’s and the
County Administrator’s budgets for staff expenses; and,
WHEREAS, Election expenses exceeded budgeted figures in 2023; and,
WHEREAS, the County Clerk’s Office received a grant to cover a portion of election costs in 2023;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors assembled
this 12th day of December, 2023, approves the following budget amendment to authorize revenues and
expenditures necessary to balance the County Clerk and County Administrator budgets for 2023:
Increase 100-10-43517-100 Elections Grant by $1,764
Increase 100-10-47312 Other Election Charges by $566
Increase 100-10-51441-50313 Election Printing &
Duplication by $6,500
Decrease 100-10-51421-50121 Full-Time by $51,500
Decrease 100-10-51421-50154 Health Insurance by $19,500
Decrease 100-10-51421-50332 Mileage by $600
Decrease 100-10-51421-50336 Lodging by $600
Increase 100-07-48900 All Other Revenue by $1,190
Increase 100-07-51411-50121 Full-Time by $65,000
Increase 100-07-51411-50154 Health Insurance by $19,900
Decrease 100-07-51411-50250 Special Services by $4,000
Increase 100-00-49301 Fund Balance Applied by $11,680
b) Bayfield County Resolution No. 2023-126;
Request to Amend 2023 Business Park Budget
WHEREAS, Bayfield County previously partnered with the Northwest Regional Planning Commission
for the construction of the Iron River incubator and contributed $200,000 towards the project; and,
WHEREAS, the partnership agreement contained provisions that would have the previously contributed
funds returned to Bayfield County in 2023 to be used however the county saw fit; and,
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WHEREAS, On July 25, 2023, the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No.
2023-79 which authorized dedicating the $200,000 towards the completion of the Bayfield County
Business Park road project; and,
WHEREAS, the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors authorized a sale of land at the Bayfield County
Business Park for the amount of $30,000; and,
WHEREAS, the sale of land is anticipated to be finalized by the end of December 2023; and,
WHEREAS, both of these transactions have put the Business Park 2023 revenue figures over budget;
and,
WHEREAS, a budget amendment is now required to balance the 2023 Business Park budget;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors assembled
this 12th day of December, 2023, approves the following budget amendment to authorize revenues and
expenditures necessary to balance the Business Park budget for 2023:
Increase 100-77-43580-100 by $200,000
Increase 100-77-51605-50810 by $200,000
Silbert asked why the numbers listed at the resolution did not include the $30,000 for the mentioned land sale. Abeles-Allison explained that the land sale has not yet been finalized, and any funds received will
be sent directly to the Business Park fund. Fickbohm acknowledged the infrastructure that was built in
Iron River using the county funds in the past, stating that it has had a very positive impact on the
community with the annual fundraisers being held by the businesses on site and said the White Winter
Winery recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Motion by Strand, seconded by Milanowski to adopt Resolution No. 2023-125 and Resolution No. 2023-
126. Roll Call Vote: Pocernich-yes; Sandstrom-yes; Crandall-yes; Dougherty-yes; Rekemeyer-yes;
Fickbohm-yes; Ray-yes; Milanowski-yes; Oswald-yes; Strand-yes; Rautio-yes; Silbert-yes; Rondeau-
absent. Motion carried, 12-0, 1 absent.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2023-127
UW Extension 2024 Budget Amendment
WHEREAS, the annual contract with the UW Madison Division of Extension includes requiring the
county to fund a 4-H Program Assistant; and,
WHEREAS, the wages for this position were not included in the 2024 UW Extension budget and,
WHEREAS, a budget amendment is now needed to include the wages for the 4-H Program Assistant in
the amount of $20,565;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors assembled
this 12th day of December, 2023, approves the following budget amendment to the 2024 UW Extension
budget:
Increase 100-00-49301 Fund Balance by $20,565
Increase 100-00-55621-50290 Contractual Services by $20,565
Motion by Oswald, seconded by Rekemeyer to adopt Resolution No. 2023-127 UW Extension 2024
Budget Amendment. Roll Call Vote: Dougherty-yes; Oswald-yes; Sandstrom-yes; Pocernich-yes;
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Rekemeyer-yes; Ray-yes; Crandall-yes; Rautio-yes; Milanowski-yes; Silbert-yes; Strand-yes; Fickbohm-
yes; Rondeau-absent. Motion carried, 12-0, 1 absent.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2023-128
Resolution Regarding Health Infrastructure Project Bid
WHEREAS, Bayfield County applied for and received a State Health Infrastructure Grant for Health
Department facility upgrades in the amount of $252,975; and,
WHEREAS, Improvements will streamline health operations in both the annex and the lower level of
the Sheriff’s Office; and,
WHEREAS, Improvements will improve health and safety and create opportunities for onsite clinics,
increased privacy, and staff and patron safety; and,
WHEREAS, these modifications will create long term infrastructure improvement for the department
and county as a whole; and,
WHEREAS, The County has $232,000 budgeted in 2024; and,
WHEREAS, The low bid on the project came in at $545,177, total project cost expense, including
engineering, contingency and electronics is $626,342; and,
WHEREAS, lowest project bid is $306,342 (including contingency) more than budgeted in 2024 and
$20,000 was expensed and received in 2023; and,
WHEREAS, unallocated Interest on ARPA funds in 2022, 2023, and Jan-June 2024 are estimated at
$95,365; and,
WHEREAS, unallocated interest on LATCF funds in 2022, 2023, and Jan-April 2024 are estimated at
$44,693; and,
WHEREAS, unused 2023 contingency is estimated at $78,700; and,
WHEREAS, interest earned is $11,000 on nursing home workers compensation and line of credit
account; and,
WHEREAS, 5% contingency will be paid out of 2024 contingency;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors assembled
this 12th day of December, 2023 approves the following budget amendments for 2024:
Decrease 276-00-56801-50720 17,160
Decrease 276-00-51321-50212 12,000
Decrease 276-56-54610-50810 16550
Decrease 100-00-551211-50720 9,000 NGF Visitor Center
Increase 276-Transfer to 430 95,365 ARPA Interest
Increase 277-Transfer to 430 44,693 LATCF Interest
Increase 100-00-49301 78,700
Fund Balance Applied (2023
contingency)
Increase 430-14-43335 1,702 Grant Amount not budgeted
Increase 100-00-49301 11,000 fund balance applied
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Decrease 100-00-51410-50000 27,259 contingency
Increase 100-00-49301 60,913 fund balance applied
And affiliated transfer accounts.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Board authorizes the County Administrator to
proceed with contract signing and project administration.
Blueprints of the project were included in the packet. Abeles-Allison reviewed the project to the board.
Pocernich asked why the lower-level door on 6th street was not open for public entry to visit departments
downstairs. Abeles-Allison and Sheriff Williams stated that they did not notice any security reasons why
the doors should be locked, and Abeles-Allison said he would investigate opening the doors. Fickbohm
asked how many firms were consulted on the project to which Abeles-Allison replied that the county
develops the concepts of such projects primarily through consulting with department staff that would be
impacted. Fickbohm questioned how much money has been spent on architectural design of the project.
Abeles-Allison answered an estimated $25,000. The lowest bid for the project came in at $545,177 but
Abeles-Allison stated that the total expenses for the project are closer to $626,000. Abeles-Allison
explained the breakdown of funds that will be allocated to the project. Crandall asked if the vestibule
indicated in the project drawings would be an extension of the exterior of the building. Abeles-Allison
replied yes and explained that the vestibule would be a new addition to the building. Discussion took
place regarding the proposed drawings for the project.
Motion by Ray, seconded by Sandstrom to adopt Resolution No. 2023-128 Resolution Regarding Health
Infrastructure Project Bid. Roll Call Vote: Oswald-yes; Ray-yes; Silbert-yes; Sandstrom-yes; Fickbohm-
yes; Dougherty-yes; Pocernich-yes; Crandall-yes; Strand-yes; Rautio-yes; Rekemeyer-yes; Milanowski-
yes; Rondeau-absent. Motion carried, 12-0, 1 absent.
Closed Session: Motion by Milanowski, seconded by Ray to enter Executive/Closed Session at 4:52 p.m.
Motion carried, 12-0, 1 absent.
Discussion took place regarding Northern Lights Management Contract/Lease Negotiations and
Sideletter with WPPA Local 216 Related to Article XXIV, Section B Work Schedules.
5:09 p.m. – Crandall left the meeting.
There being no further business to conduct in Executive/Closed Session, a motion was made by
Milanowski, seconded by Fickbohm to return to Open Session at 5:21 p.m. Motion carried, 11-0, 2
absent.
Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Bayfield County Board of
Supervisors, Chairman Pocernich adjourned the meeting at 5:21 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
LYNN M. DIVINE
Bayfield County Clerk
LMD/pat