HomeMy WebLinkAboutTourism & Fair Committee - Minutes - 7/24/2023
Minutes of the
Monday, July 24, 2023, at 5:00 PM
Bayfield County Fairgrounds
Members Present: Larry Fickbohm, James Crandall, Steve Sandstrom, and John Rautio
Members Absent: Jeremy Oswald
Others Present: Mary D. Motiff, Tourism Director; David Eades, Fair Coordinator; Fred Strand,
County Board Supervisor
I. Call to Order: Fickbohm called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM.
II. Motion Regarding April 12, 2023, Tourism-Fair Committee Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve April Minutes by Rautio, second by Sandstrom – motion carried.
III. Public Comment: – Limited to 3 minutes per person. - None
IV. 2023 Budget Review:
Motiff reviewed the 2023 budget and noted the following:
A. The Department should come in under budget for the year due to increased donations and
personnel changes and new fees for the Fair. The new daily admission fee alone at the Fair will
generate about $18,000 in new revenue.
B. Changes to the Capital budget. A new sound system was budgeted for but may not be needed.
A wireless microphone is being researched as an upgrade. Monies will be reallocated to
projects that were caused by heavy snow this winter, including a power pole replacement,
damage to a fence, and one of the structures. The Grandstand safety barricades will still be
placed this year and the new fence in front of the grandstand will be completed after the Fair.
C. Motiff shared some Capital Projects for next year for discussion including a dump station and
shaded seating. Crandall suggested that we plant 10 more trees.
V. Discussion and Possible Action on 2024 Advertising and Camping Fees
Motiff explained that advertising fees have not changed since at least 2015. The requested change
increases fees about 10% and makes fees more consistent across ad sizes. The new fee structure
would generate around $6,000 in new income.
The camping fee request is to standardize fees across sites and reduce the number of different
fees we currently have. The new structure would make it easier to understand the fees with the
Fairgrounds being a licensed campground with the County now. The new structure would not
significantly add any new revenue but just standardize the fees (all sites with electric and water
would have the same fee, electric with no water all the same, etc.).
Motion to accept new fee structures by Rautio, second by Crandall – motion carried.
VI. Discussion and Possible Action on 2024 Tourism Department Budget Request
Motiff reviewed the budget with the committee. The fee adjustments should help offset the
increase in personnel.
Motiff noted that the 2024 budget should be about the same as the 2023 Amended Budget.
VII. 2023 Fair Planning Updated
Everything for the Fair is in good shape for this year. Motiff is working out the last details with
the Monster Truck vendor. Exhibitors are up, with 160 new exhibitors due to a grant that
allowed the waiving of fees this year.
VIII. Buildings and Grounds Update
A. We are officially a state licensed campground. All the campsites have been numbered, water
spigots brought up to code, and fire extinguishers added.
B. Market Sale has improved the wash stations at the Beef Barn and the Sheep/Goat Barn as
well as installed new curtains on the Sheep/Goat Barn to shade the animals from the sun.
C. Electric updates/repairs were made to several areas. Some issues were caused by snow load
over the winter and some just normal maintenance. Lighting was repaired in the track area
and new LED lights were put in the Safe Room to replace burned out fluorescent bulbs.
D. Winter snow loads caused some damage to the fence by the Exhibit Hall that the grounds
staff have fixed.
E. The Horse Arena has been fixed. The old sand with debris was removed by the County
Highway Department and new sand was donated and brought in by Patrick Germano of
Trusty Trucking.
IX. Tourism Report from Director
Motiff shared information including:
A. Data showing the tourism spending is up 24% since 2019 and visitor spending is at an all-
time high.
B. Highlights of activities she has participated in over the past few months.
C. Discover WI is doing an episode on Scenic Byways and it is being paid for mostly with
monies from WI Coastal Management. Bayfield and Door Counties byways only need to pay
$5,000 each for the episode.
D. The photo/video library project is progressing.
E. The WI Secretary of Tourism visited the area for 3 days and had a great visit.
F. The new hiking and camping brochures are finished and out.
G. Sales tax is up 1% after setting records for the last two years.
H. Requests for information are up 12% over last year at this time.
X. Future Agenda Items and Next Meeting Date
Future Items:
A. Increased access for disabled.
B. Fairgrounds as an overflow for county campgrounds
Next meeting – Mary will send out a poll.
XI. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 6:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted by:
Mary D. Motiff
Director, Tourism & Fair