HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board of Supervisors - Minutes - 4/16/2024
Bayfield County Clerk
Lynn M. Divine, County Clerk
Jeran Delaine Deputy Clerk Alannah Belanger Clerk I
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
Monthly Meeting of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors
April 16, 2024
Meeting Held in the Bayfield County Board Room, Courthouse, Washburn, WI
Call to Order: The monthly meeting of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors was called to
order at 8:58 a.m. by Interim Chair, former Bayfield County Board Supervisor, Brett Rondeau.
Roll Call was taken by County Clerk, Lynn Divine, as follows: Steve Sandstrom- present virtually;
Mary Dougherty- present; Larry Fickbohm- present; Charly Ray- present; Jeffrey Olsen- present;
Jan Lee- present; Fred Strand- present; Sue Rosa- present; Marty Milanowski- present; Madelaine
Rekemeyer- present; Jim Crandall- present; Rich Nemitz- present; Dennis Pocernich- present.
Total: 13-0, 0 absent. A quorum was present to conduct business.
Others Present: County Administrator- Mark Abeles-Allison; County Clerk- Lynn M. Divine;
Clerk I- Alannah Belanger; Gail Reha; Kelly Westlund; Kim Mattson; John Carlson; Michelle
Alexy; Bob Anderson; Kris Kavajecz; Mary Pardee; Jake Benson.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.
Election of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors Chair: Rondeau opened the floor for
nominations. Strand nominated Dennis Pocernich as County Board Chair. An anonymous ballot
vote was conducted. Pocernich was unanimously voted in as County Board Chair.
Election of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chair, Bayfield County Board:
Milanowski nominated Fred Strand as County Board Vice-Chair. An anonymous ballot vote was
conducted. Strand was unanimously voted in as Vice-Chair.
Highway and Executive Committee Caucus and Highway and Executive Committee
Appointments and Confirmation: Board members discussed amongst their respective highway
districts to determine the Executive and Highway Committees Appointments. The outcome was
as follows:
a. Executive: Strand, Pocernich, Rekemeyer, Doughterty and Lee
b. Highway: Fickbohm, Milanowski, Crandall, Sandstrom and Olsen
Sandstrom left the meeting.
Bayfield County Board of Supervisors Orientation:
c. Introduction and welcome; Mark Abeles-Allison
d. Open Meetings, Ethics, Conflict of Interest: Corporation Counsel, John
Carlson
e. County Board Supervisor Responsibilities: Mary Pardee
f. Department Review and policies and procedures: Kris Kavajecz
g. Budget and Boards & Committee Chair Responsibilities: Mark Abeles-Allison
A five-minute break was taken before beginning the regular meeting.
Item 15 was moved up to accommodate the 11:30 Public Hearing.
Public Hearing: Community Development Block Grant, Coronavirus Housing: Abeles-
Allison introduced Sheldon Johnson, Executive Director for Northwest Regional Planning
Commission. Johnson explained that Bayfield County is proposing to submit an application to
the State of Wisconsin for Covid funding to do a residential project. The Department of
Administration has approximately $10,000,000 in Coronavirus funds available, especially for
units of government, for residential apartments or home repairs. A unit of government can apply
for up to 2,500,000 in funding and can also apply for more than one grant. Funds can be used for
converting underutilized buildings into housing units, public facilities, and acquisition or
improvements of housing facilities for homeless persons. If underutilized buildings are to be
converted into housing units, at least 51% of the units must be targeted to moderate to low-
income persons.
Johnson went on with other types of activities available for CDBG funding and allowed the
public and board members to offer feedback to other needs they are aware of. No comments
were made and there were no members of the public present.
Abeles-Allison shared that when the funds were made public, Bayfield County reached out to all
municipalities and other sources to find projects to use the funds on. One potential project being
considered is the former Ondossagon School in the Town of Barksdale. It is desired to
rehabilitate the building into 15-25 housing units. The grant monies would be a portion of the
overall funds needed to complete the project.
Johnson stated that the application paperwork is due to Madison by May 15, 2024.
The Public Hearing closed at 11:37 am. The meeting resumed in its proper order.
Public Comment: None
Minutes from March 26, 2024: Motion by Milanowski to approve the March 26, 2024,
Minutes, seconded by Crandall. Motion carried, 12-0, 1 absent.
Bayfield County Amendatory Ordinance 2024-04; Title 2 Chapter 3 of Code of Ordinances
regarding committees. No discussion took place on this item, due to the ordinance not being
completed in time for the meeting.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2024-46 Drummond Dam Repair Budget Amendment:
Abeles-Allision stated that Bayfield County owns three dams. One is located on Drummond
Lake. The County was notified by the DNR that there are valve and concrete abutment issues
that need repair. The bids came in over-budget. The County received 50% of the funding, so the
state increased their portion to cover the unbudgeted funds. The budget amendment is to adjust
the County’s portion to $76,000. The State is matching the funds.
Motion by Ray to approve Resolution No. 2024-46; Drummond Dam Repair Budget Amendment,
seconded by Crandall. Roll Call Vote: Sandstrom – Absent; Dougherty – Yes; Fickbohm – Yes;
Ray – Yes; Lee – Yes; Olsen – Yes; Strand – Yes; Nemitz – Yes; Milanowski – Yes; Rekemeyer –
Yes; Crandall – Yes; Rosa – Yes; Pocernich – Yes. Motion carried, 12-0, 1 absent.
Extension of the Moratorium on Importing Shipping Containers to Bayfield County until
June 30, 2024: Abeles-Allison stated that the Zoning committee is looking for a 3-month
extension of the August 29, 2023, moratorium to allow time to process the language for the
amendatory ordinance. Amendment language has been drafted and there will be a public hearing
on April 18th to review it. The moratorium extension is requested to allow time for the
amendment to be approved.
Nemitz shared that shipping containers is a sensitive subject for his district. The Town of Iron
River has had issues with a resident who has twice placed shipping containers on his main street
property without proper zoning approval. Both incidents resulted in after-the-fact permits being
issued. Nemitz continued by providing pictures to show the vast difference in appearance
between the property with the containers versus the well-maintained properties neighboring the
parcel.
Nemitz added that the Town of Iron River is working very hard to improve the appearance of its
community. He requested that the board extend the moratorium from three months to six months
to allow the town board time to present extensive information and documentation to the zoning
committee that could have an effect on how the ordinance amendment is written. Nemitz closed
his comments by stating that he is not against the allowance of shipping containers and feels that
they are a good form of storage when placed in the appropriate location.
Motion by Nemitz to extend the Moratorium on Importing Shipping Containers to Bayfield
County for six months, seconded by Strand. Motion carried 11-1, 1 absent.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2024-47; In Recognition Valerie Levno, Ashland Bayfield
County Regional CCS Administrator: Elizabeth Skulan, Human Services Director, spoke on
Levno’s contributions to both Ashland and Bayfield County for many years, helping to serve
individuals with severe mental health and substance abuse issues. Motion by Crandall to
approve Resolution No. 2024-47; In Recognition of Valerie Levno, seconded by Milanowski.
Motion carried, 12-0, 1 absent.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2024-48; In Support of Ashland County CDBG-CV
Housing Grant Application for the Ashland Community Shelter: Abeles-Allision shared
that Ashland County is going to apply for a grant to help with the Ashland Community Shelter
that also houses Bayfield County residents. Abeles-Allison stated this resolution is to support
their application. Motion by Rekemeyer to approve Resolution No. 2024-48; In Support of
Ashland County CDBG-CV Grant Application, seconded by Crandall. Motion carried, 12-0, 1
absent.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2024-49; Adopting Citizen Participation Plan for the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application: Motion by Strand to approve
Resolution No. 2024-49; Adopting Citizen Participation Plan, seconded by Fickbohm. Motion
carried, 12-0, 1 absent.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2024-50; Authorizing Submittal of Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application: Motion by Rekemeyer to approve Resolution
No. 2024-50; Adopting Authorizing Submittal of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Application, seconded by Fickbohm. Motion carried, 12-0, 1 absent.
Reports:
a) Future County Board Meeting Dates:
a. May 28, 2024 – Budget Planning at 4:00 pm followed by board meeting.
b. June 25, 2024
c. July 30, 2024
b) 2024 WCA Annual Business Meeting Call for Resolutions
Abeles-Allison stated information on the 2024 WCA Conference is included in the packet
of information each board member received.
c) Planning and Zoning, Code Rewrite RFP
Abeles-Allison stated this will take approximately 18 months.
d) County EMS Study Underway
Abeles-Allison stated the selected company will begin its analysis and the goal is to have
an idea of costs associated with their findings prior to setting department budgets.
Supervisors’ Reports: None
Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, Pocernich adjourned the meeting at
12:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
LYNN M. DIVINE
Bayfield County Clerk
LMD/amb
Copies of Bayfield County Resolutions may be obtained by contacting the Bayfield County
Clerk’s Office at (715) 373-6100. The Bayfield County Code of Ordinances can be found at
https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/752/County-Ordinances