HomeMy WebLinkAboutSheriff’s Emergency & Veterans’ Services Committee - Minutes - 3/18/2024
Sheriff’s, Emergency Management, Veterans, Child Support
Committee of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors
Minutes of the:
Bayfield County Sheriff’s Committee Meeting
March 18, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Meeting Held in the Bayfield County EOC, Washburn, WI
The meeting of the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Committee was called to order at 4:01 p.m. by
Bayfield County Vice Chair Larry Fickbohm. A roll call was taken by Vice Chair Larry Fickbohm as
follows: Dennis M. Pocernich - present; Jeff Silbert – present. Total: 3 present. A quorum was
present to conduct business.
The following were also present for today’s meeting: Sheriff- Tony Williams; Chief Deputy- Andy
Runice; Sergeant- Dave Renz; Jail Administrator- Luke Kleczka; Veteran’s Services Officer- Kevin
Johnson; Emergency Management Assistant- Maria Renz.
2. Approval of Minutes of February 19, 2024
Motion by Silbert, seconded by Pocernich to approve the Minutes of the Monthly
Bayfield County Sheriff’s Committee Meeting held on February 19, 2024. Motion carried.
3. Public Comment: None.
4. Veteran Services Office
a. The Budget Summary was presented by Veteran Services Officer, Kevin Johnson. He
reported that the budget looks good.
b. The Department Overview was presented by Kevin Johnson. Johnson shared the
information he included in the packet. The V.A. Pact has provided additional business
for the office. The act has expanded the types of exposure and exposure areas covered
which has opened healthcare benefits to more veterans. The office is doing a lot of
healthcare applications and getting vets enrolled into healthcare now. A surviving
spouse could file a claim for a service-connected death. A veteran could be eligible for
healthcare due to where they served instead of other eligibility. Johnson participated in
the Frosty 40 skiing challenge and got over 40 runs before he crashed. He raised $375
for the Stop Soldier Suicide nonprofit organization. Johnson shared there will be a
training with American Legion on QPR on April 11th. Johnson gave an update on the Care
of Veterans Graves Project. He reported that there is no good handle on where all the
Vets are buried throughout the county and what condition the graves are in. He
provided a goal sheet for reference. The Sheriff’s Office will share the Pact Act
information.
Sheriff’s, Emergency Management, Veterans, Child Support
Committee of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors
5. Emergency Management
a. The Budget Summary was presented by Maria Renz, Bayfield County Emergency
Management Assistant.
b. The Department Overview was presented by Maria Renz. Renz reported that their
office has completed the grant reports for last year and the awards should be
received soon. Quaderer attended the Governor’s Conference last week and
received a lot of good information along with networking. Clean Sweep is scheduled
for September 28th from 8am-12pm at the Great Lakes Visitor Center. The EMS Ad
Hoc Committee has met and selected a vendor for the study.
6. Sheriff’s Office
a. The Budget Summary was presented by Sheriff Williams. He reported that the
Sheriff’s Office received a $25,000 check for the K-9 fund. They are awaiting a
$32,000 grant award. $12,000 will be used to cover the K-9 training. Some of the
funds will be spent on sending deputies to trainings.
b. The Department Overview was presented by Sheriff Williams. He reported that
Deputy Ryan Miller graduates from K-9 school with Zeke on May 23rd. Sergeant Dave
Renz got another 26 grams of meth off the street at a traffic stop with Ashland. As
the K-9 handlers, Miller and Renz will be on opposite shifts. Williams reported that
the Birkie went well. The incident command trailer was used and there were
between 15 and 20 thousand people in Cable on Friday and Saturday. The Birkie
pays for the overtime, they were billed $18,000. The Sheriff’s Office is working with
Forestry to get a Rec Officer to be able to work on parks and recs. They are also
looking into timber thefts and ordinances. There’s discussion on providing training
on what is covered by permits and what isn’t.
c. Jail Nurse Contract: Captain Kleczka shared that their nurse provider, ACH, is
switching from providing LPNs to RN’s. Due to the switch, the jail will need to find a
new nurse. ACH is also raising their rates. The jail would need to sign a new contract
in June. ACH will provide 20 hours a week with a new RN at $126,000. Another
option is the company, Southern Health Partners. Their contract would allow the jail
to keep the current LPN, increase her hours to 30 hours a week at the cost of
$131,000. Burnette County will be keeping some pf their inmates boarded here
providing unexpected extra revenue. The extra revenue can cover the extra expense
of the contract. The jail is required to provide healthcare to the inmates. ACH
provided a termination of contract unless agreed to contract by April 30th. The next
County Board meeting is on March 26th.
Sheriff’s, Emergency Management, Veterans, Child Support
Committee of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors
Motion by Pocernich, seconded by Silbert, to send this resolution with the correct
numbers to the full county board for its approval. Motion carried.
7. Other – None
8. Next meeting May 20th at 4pm in the EOC: New County Board Members will be sworn in on
April 16, 2024. Therefore, the April meeting will be canceled.
9. Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the Sheriff’s, Emergency Management,
Veterans, Child Support Committee of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors, Vice Chairman
Fickbohm adjourned the meeting at 5:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Maria Renz
Bayfield County Emergency Management