Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 3/14/20241 Minutes of the Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting 4:00pm, March 14, 2024 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, Brett Rondeau, Jeremy Oswald Members Excused: Fred Strand Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kris Kavajecz-Human Resources Director, Madeline Rekemeyer, Darryl Pendergrass, Jewel Pickert, Connie Cogger, Steve Sandstrom, Addie Arens, Jennifer McBain, Kelly Westlund, Kim Mattson, Sherry Anderson, Teresa Weber, Jim Crandall, Gail Reha, Amanda Westlund, Craig Parks, Jennifer Warren Called to order at 4:00p.m. by Chairman Rondeau Motion Pocernich, Silbert to approve minutes of the February 8, 2024 Executive Committee Meeting. Motion Carried (5-0 ) Public Comment: Jewel Pickert: Not in favor of any additional agricultural regulations. Pointed out “Recurrent” organization and quoted data from them. Stated opposal to EV services in the county based on the information provided by “Recurrent”. Local Library Board Appointments, Sherry Anderson, Northern Waters Library: Anderson stated that it is not uncommon for Counties to have representatives on local library boards. She reviewed the number of county representatives that could be on each library board based on the county’s contribution to each library. There are typically between 3-5 local appointees and then an additional 1-5 county board appointees. County board appointees do not have to be authorized by the local municipality. The county board appointees to the library boards does not have to be a county board supervisor. Consensus of the committee is to have a Discussion and Action Item on the March County Board Meeting. Elected Official Wages for 2025-2028 Term: Abeles-Allison explained that he and Dennis Pocernich have met several times with Elected Officials to discuss compensation. Clerk/ROD/Treasurer all at the same wage level, transitions elected officials to be competitive with Department Head wages. Copy of the wage proposal was reviewed and was distributed to committee members. Motion Pocernich, Dougherty to forward Option A proposed by the elected officials as presented to the full county board for approval. Motion Carried (5-0) Consensus of the committee to move item & up on the agenda. 2 CDBG-CV Housing Project Support, Public Hearing and Citizen Participation Plan: Limited funding opportunity is available for converting vacant homes to habitable residences. Kelly Westlund reported that a number of previous rental homes in the county have been identified as being potentially eligible for this funding. Motion Oswald, Silbert to set a Public Hearing for CDBG-CV Housing Funding on April 16, 2024. Motion Carried (5-0) Westlund reported that funding has been approved for housing initiatives in the county. Pigeon Lake Congressionally Designated Spending Application: Motion Pocernich, Oswald to authorize application for congressionally designated spending. Motion Carried (6-0) Resolution in Support of Local Control Over Concentrated Animal Feeding Facilities’ Operations: Motion Pocernich, Silbert to move the Draft resolution in Support of Local Control Over Concentrated Aimal Feeding Facilities’ Operations to the full county board for consideration. Motion Carried (5-0) Child Support Door: Door estimate is $2,435. Child support will Motion Oswald, Dougherty to approve funding for the Child Support door and move to the full county board for approval. Motion Carried. (6-0) Northland College Announcement: Potential closure may impact 173 staff and up to 550 students. Consolidation of Executive and Personnel Committees: Committee was asked if this is a topic worth discussing. Consensus of the committee is to investigate combining various committees. Reports: a. Courthouse Security: The courthouse security committee has expressed concern that further security measures should be implemented for the courthouse. b. Northern Lights Report: First report from Health Dimensions Group was received. This company has been contracted to assist Northern Lights. c. Construction Project Review, Highway Garage and Annex/Lower Level: New Highway Garage in Grand View will be completed in July. Annex Lower Level project is underway. Health Department has temporarily been moved to the Saint Louis School. d. Financial Reports end of February 2024: General fund Revenues at 33%, about $100k over this time last year. General Fund Expenses: at 14%. Human Services: Revenues, $1.93 vs. 2.08 million last year. $1.3 million expenditures, versus $1.5 last year. Highway: Revenues of $3.9 vs. $6.5 million last year. Expenditures of $1.028 v $798k last year. Overall, 12% expenditures to date and 32% revenues. 3 • Treasurer’s Report, end of February 2024: Treasurer Report: balances up this month to $28.7 million, down about $700k from last year at this time. e. Housing Authority 4th Quarter Report :The Bayfield County Housing Authority held their first meeting in the Town of Bell for a Senior Housing program f. Broadband Report for Bayfield County: Per Norvado, Bayfield County was looking good with just under 400 (showing 791 here) underserved or unserved areas. We are focusing also on access, education and training and investigating ways to make this happen. g. ARPA and LATCF Summary Reports: Included in the meeting packet. h. UDC Report: Bayfield County has a new UDC inspector operating under Bayfield County’s ordinance with seven municipalities participating i. Bayfield County Culture Motion Pocernich, Silbert to move into Closed Session pursuant to §19.85(1) (c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility (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 Regarding February 8, 2024 Closed Session Minutes, Property Acquisions Negotiations and Lease Extension for Hillside Tower. Motion Carried (5-0). Entered closed session at 5:28 pm. Motion Pocernich, Oswald to approve closed session minutes of the February 8, 2024 Executive Committee meeting. Motion Carried (5-0 ) Committee agreed that purchase of the property on the corner of Bayfield Street and 8th Ave E should not be pursued at this time. Hillside Tower (top of Washington Ave). Draft language for revised lease was discussed. Language would include allocating a share of revenues with the City of Washburn and would eliminate the annual radiation testing requirement. Motion Oswald, Dougherty to return to open session. Motion Carried (5-0 ). Returned to open session at 5:36pm. Meeting adjourned at 5:36pm. Respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz.