HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 8/22/20241
Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, August 22, 2024
Meeting was held Remotely through Microsoft Teams and in person in the Bayfield County
Board Room, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Dennis Pocernich, Jan Lee, Madelaine Rekemeyer, Fred Strand, Marty
Milanowski, Mary Dougherty
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-Human
Resources Director, Meagan Quaderer-Emergency management Director, Jaime Moore-PSAP
Director, Sheriff Tony Williams, Kellie Pederson-UW Educator, Kelly Westlund-Housing
Coordinator, Kim Lawton-District Attorney, Sue Rosa, Scott Galetka-Land Records
Administrator, Deidre Zifko-Clerk of Court, Paul Houck-IT Director, various citizens
Called to order at 4:00p.m. by Chairperson Dougherty
Minutes of July 11, 2024: Motion Milanowski, Rekemeyer to approve minutes of the July
11, 2024 minutes. Motion Carried (6-0)
Public Comment:
Kristy Jensch: Asked board to vote in support of Resolution opposing HR9111.
Supportive of approving initiatives supporting additional housing options in the county.
Apostle Islands Resolution, In Opposition to HR 9111. Consensus of the Committee to
move this item up on the agenda.
Motion Strand, Rekemeyer to approve the resolution opposing HR9111 and forward to
the full county board for consideration. Statement from Milanowski opposing the
resolution. Statement from Pocernich that the county should remain neutral rather than
pass a resolution opposing an initiative. Statement from Lee that a great amount of media
distributed by Senator Tiffany misrepresents support for the National Park designation
and that the area is already protected under the National Lakeshore designation.
Dougherty shared details from documents that were recorded when the National
Lakeshore designation took place. Motion Carried (4-2) Milanowski and Pocernich
opposed.
Second Amendment to Development Agreement AND Second Amendment to
Option to Purchase Agreement, Authorization for County Administrator to
Execute. Option to Purchase between Bayfield County and Cinnaire Solutions
Corporation. Nicole Solheim with Cinnaire Solutions stated she will be attending the
County Board meeting to provide additional details. Amendment is intended to get
approval on the current site plan, 10 townhouses and community building, addresses the
2
$1mil congressional spending appropriation and lot split of the site that would allow
retention of a portion of the property in county ownership for future development.
Amendment 1) property split.
Amendment 2) Congressional Appropriation
Motion Pocernich, Strand to approve the first and second amendments for the
Congressional Allocation and Lot Split as presented. Motion Carried (6-0)
Clarification that utilities would be run to the top of Lot 1, which would be sized for
potential future development on Lot 2.
Aurora Neighbor Request for Proposal Housing on 3.9 Acres in the City of
Washburn: Draft RFP related to Parcel #2 for additional development was reviewed.
Reviewed the timeline to release this RFP after the Cinnaire amendments and RFP are
approved by the County Board.
Motion Pocernich, Strand to approve the Aurora Neighbor Request for Proposal Housing
on 3.9 Acres in the City of Washburn and forward to the full county board for approval.
Motion Carried (6-0)
Budget 2025 Department Presentations and 2025 Organizational Budget Requests:
Land Records: Scott Galetka reported on new grants received, which include 2.5
positions. Reported that several staff are or have had babies recently and one staff
member will be deployed for 1 year. Existing staff are temporarily being increased in
hours and duties to cover the deployment. NextGen911 is a huge project.
Clerk of Court: Deidre Zifko reported that the office has little control over many of their
expenses as they are mandated by statute or the court. Anticipated increase of $40,000.
Judge requesting upgrade to audio/recording system in the courtroom. Estimated cost is
$86,000. Revenues anticipated to remain the same.
Information Technology: Paul Houck reported that additional technology (video
conference) equipment is being added. Licenses are due to be renewed.
Several organizational/agency requests were reviewed including: Libraries, BCEDC,
CheqBuilt, Tri-County Corridor. These requests will be included in the 2025 budget
proposal.
Kellie Pederson and Kelly Westlund provided an overview of the CheqBuilt organization
and its current initiatives.
2025 Bonding for Highway and Northern Lights: Abeles-Allison reviewed
preliminary projections for short-term bonding request for 2025 Highway and Northern
Lights Healthcare infrastructure projects.
3
Motion Pocernich, Milanowski to approve short term bonding in the amount of
$2.67million for Highway and $400,000 for Northern Lights infrastructure projects.
Motion Carried (6-0)
Resolution Supporting a Realistic Federal Definition of Rural. : Motion Pocernich,
Rekemeyer to approve the Resolution Supporting a realistic federal definition of rural.
Motion Carried (6-0)
Dog License Fund Budget Amendment:
The budget amendment is a result of unanticipated expenses related to the boarding , feed
and veterinary bills for horses that the county is caring for through Animal Control.
Motion Pocernich, Lee to forward the dog license fund budget amendment to the full
county board for approval. Motion Carried (6-0)
Elevator Budget Amendment, Movement of Funds from 2023 to 2024: Motion
Milanowski, Lee to approve a budget amendment to move funds from 2023 to 2024 for
elevator repair costs. Motion Carried (6-0)
Coroner Budget and County Contingency Funds: Motion Pocernich, Rekemeyer to
approve the coroner budget amendment resolution as presented. Motion Carried (6-0)
Resolution in Support of DNR Acquisition of White River Fishery Area in the Town
of Delta: Motion Rekemeyer, Strand to approve the Resolution in Support of DNR
Acquisition of White River Fishery Area in the Town of Delta and forward to the full
county board for approval. Motion Carried (6-0)
Reports:
a. District Attorney Report: Lawton reported that she is meeting regularly with
DHS and also the Sheriff regarding mutual topics.
b. EMS Planning Study: Quaderer reported that recommendations have been
received with the primary recommendation being implementation of a county-wide EMS
Service that would support the existing services (non-transport).
a. Financial Reports end of July 2024: Included in the meeting packet
b. Treasurer’s Report, end of July 2024: Included in the meeting packet
c. Housing Authority Report
d. Animal Control and Kenneling: Long term kennel for animal control is ceasing.
Looking at alternatives at the moment.
4
e. District 9 Board Member Advertisements: One application received that will be
considered at the next County Board meeting.
f. Equalized Value Report: 14%
g. Tribal County Meeting: Joint County Board-Tribal Council meeting to take
place in October at the Legendary Waters Resort.
h. Budget 2025 Meeting Schedule in September: Sept 12 initial presentation with 4
meetings scheduled for Sept 16, 17, 18,19.
Motion Pocernich, Milanowski to recess the meeting temporarily, to reconvene after the
Personnel Committee meeting. Motion Carried. Meeting recessed at 5:20pm.
The committee did not reconvene, but adjourned immediately following the Personnel
Committee meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:39 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz