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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTribal-County Relations Committee - Minutes - 5/20/2024 Bayfield County Administrator 117 E 5th Street, PO Box 878, Washburn, WI 54891 Ph: 715-373-6181 Fax: 715-373-6153 Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator Kristine Kavajecz, Human Resources Director Kim Mattson, Finance Director Gail Reha, Bookkeeper Paige Terry, Clerk III MINUTES OF THE: Bayfield County Tribal Relations Committee Meeting 9:00am, Monday, May 20, 2024 Meeting was held at the Legendary Waters Resort & Casino, Red Cliff, WI Members Present: Tribal Vice-Chair Rick Peterson, Tribal Chairwoman Nicole Boyd, Supervisor Steve Sandstrom, Supervisor Mary Dougherty Members Excused: Others Present: Bayfield County Chief Deputy Andy Runice, Red Cliff Education Division Administrator Edith Washington, Red Cliff Community Health Center Operations Manager Michael Lang, Red Cliff Transportation Director Jeff Benton, Bayfield County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison, Bayfield County Public Health Nurse Holly Weber, Red Cliff Tribal Police Chief Jess Hall, Red Cliff Family & Human Services Administrator Dee Gokee-Rindal, Bayfield County Sheriff Tony Williams, Red Cliff Treat Natural Resources Administrator Dylan Jennings, Red Cliff Tribal Administration Liaison Alana Babineau, Bayfield County Public Health Director Anne Marie Coy, Assistant Tribal Attorney Wade Williams, and Bayfield County Clerk III Paige Terry. Called to order at 9:01a.m. by Sandstrom. Introductions: Introductions of committee members and attendees were made. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair: Boyd nominated Sandstrom as chairman. Sandstrom asked for other nominations, and none were given. Motion Boyd to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Sandstrom for Chairperson. Motion carried. Boyd nominated Peterson as Vice-Chair. Sandstrom asked for other nominations, and none were given. Motion Boyd to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Peterson for Vice-Chairperson. Motion carried. Minutes of February 19, 2024, County-Tribal Relations Committee Meeting: Motion by Boyd, seconded by Peterson to approve the minutes of the February 19, 2024, County-Tribal Relations Committee Meeting. Motion carried, 4-0. Public Comment: None. Law Enforcement Collaboration and Tribal-County Law Enforcement Grant Agreement: A tribal law enforcement update and the current law enforcement agreement were included in the packet. Bayfield County Administrator, Mark Abeles-Allison, recommended that discussions begin regarding the distribution of funds for the 2024 agreement. Red Cliff Tribal Police Chief, Jess Hall, gave updates on ongoing challenges and trends experienced by Red Cliff law enforcement which were included in the report. The potential collaborations listed in the report included an MOU between the City of Bayfield Police Department, Red Cliff Police Department, and the Bayfield School. Hall explained that an MOU has existed, but the document has not been revised during Hall’s tenure. Work on the 2025 Law Enforcement Agreement continues, and Hall stated that the agreement would be ready to be sent to Bayfield County for review by the following Wednesday. Hall reviewed the updated goals for the 2025 agreement. Sandstrom asked if the goals that were approved in the 2024 agreement appeared to be working. T. Williams answered stating that there is always room for improvement and spoke on the staffing shortages being experienced by several agencies throughout the county. Chairwoman Boyd spoke on setting expectations for an ideal situation but recommends that problems that arise are brought forward to the committee so that a discussion may be had on the subject. Chairwoman Boyd spoke on the historic use of funds received and stated that the tribe recognizes the services that are provided by the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office. The Red Cliff Police Department is experiencing challenges regarding staffing where the department is comprised of young and new officers that often transfer to a new department once training and certification requirements are met. Sandstrom recommended that the committee meet during the summer to discuss 2025 agreement to ensure that the agreement is ready to be acted on before the deadline. The committee agreed and decided to set a meeting date in July to meet solely to discuss the law enforcement agreement. Tribal / County Health Update and Opioid Education Plans in the Schools & Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Tribal County Health Board Appointment: Bayfield County Public Health Director, Anne Marie Coy, reported that the Health Board is supportive of changing the board’s policy to designate one of the community member seats for a tribal representative moving forward. Chairwoman Boyd stated that the Tribal Council would likely move to have Diane Erickson be the tribal representative on the board. Abeles- Allison reviewed the appointment procedure with the committee. Bayfield County Public Health Nurse, Holly Weber, reported that she has met with school officials along with staff from the Red Cliff health center to ensure that there is no overlap regarding the opioid education program selection. The department will be moving forward with utilizing and implementing the Botvin Life Skills Curriculum and will be utilizing staff form CESA 12 to assist with the implementation and training of school staff. Weber reviewed staff at the Bayfield School that will be working on implementing the program. Chairwoman Boyd stressed the importance of congruence of the curriculum with curriculums currently practiced in the school and reviewed curriculums that are currently being practiced by Red Cliff. Red Cliff Community Health Center Operations Manager, Michael Lang, reported that the Tribal Action Plan was adopted back in March with one of the new changes being the implementation of the No Wrong Door model. Lang reviewed the updated goals in the Tribal Action Plan. The public health vending machine provided by the Bayfield County Health Department was delivered along with a large sharps container, but the location for the machine has yet to be decided. Lang gave a list of the supplies that would be available in the machine. Weber explained that the county has not applied for the grant that would fund supplies for the machines as the location of the second machine has yet to be determined so there is no space to store the supplies. Weber reviewed the Wellness on Wheels and Harm Reductions services provided by the county. Lang informed the committee that Red Cliff EMS has partnered with LCO for an EMS training program and the first course was held with most individuals completing the course. Abeles-Allison informed the committee that the county has budgeted for a countywide evaluation of all EMS agencies that service the county in 2024. Strategic Management and Consulting, LLC was selected to conduct the study with the study anticipated to be completed during the summer with recommendations provided to be included in the 2025 budget. Abeles-Allison explained that a countywide EMS agency is exempt from the levy caps that other agencies may face. Lang stated that the object of the study is to determine if the county should run EMS services on a countywide basis. Chairwoman Boyd explained that Red Cliff remains a sovereign nation and would not be affected by the new countywide service; however, the tribe would like a copy of the agreement signed with Strategic Management and Consulting so that it may be reviewed. Tribal-County Lands MOU and LCO v. Evers Lawsuit and Tax Implications: A copy of the previous MOU and a draft revised MOU were included in the packet. Abeles-Allison reported that all county-owned lands on the reservation have been successfully repatriated back to the tribe. Assistant Tribal Attorney, Wade Williams, questioned if the county was intending to prevent tax foreclosure properties from going to public auction. Discussion took place regarding an included clause to prevent non-tribally owned parcels from going into tax foreclosure. Abeles-Allison reviewed the updated clauses included in the draft agreement. Red Cliff Treat Natural Resources Administrator, Dylan Jennings, asked if the county had a projection of tax dollars lost each year due to the outcome of the lawsuit. Abeles-Allison replied giving an estimation of $50,000 per year. Pigeon Lake: Abeles-Allison gave a brief history of the property to the committee. Bayfield County has been given permission to lease the site for one year for an assessment of the property; however, the county has not signed the agreement yet as staff was waiting for an update from Red Cliff on where the tribe stood regarding the property. Chairwoman Boyd reported that the GLITC will be meeting the following Wednesday to vote on the site. Boyd stated that the tribe would like to use the site as an adolescent wellness center. Committee members spoke in favor of the proposition. Broadband Expansion Efforts and Digital Connectivity Initiative and Red Cliff Library: Abeles-Allison informed the committee that the state is focusing on broadband connectivity and stated that Bayfield County continues to struggle with digital literacy. Abeles-Allison reported on the Digital Navigator Program Grant where the state provides funds for digital navigators to provide navigation services. Each of the six libraries within the county would receive a lending library full of digital devices through the program that they could loan out to library customers. The City of Washburn/Bayfield County Housing Authority is researching how to provide free or low-cost Wi-Fi in their housing facilities as well as limited technical assistance with devices. The grant application is due early June 2024. Joint County Board / Tribal Council Meeting: September 24, 2024, at the Red Cliff Cultural Center, the time of the meeting will be set later. Reports from Committee Members: Red Cliff Transportation Director, Jeff Benton, reported that Red Cliff has received funds to install to solar-powered pedestrian crossing signs which will be installed by Peterson’s Foods and at the intersection by the casino. Benton stated that the Bayfield County Highway Department will need to paint crosswalk lines on the road. An RFP has been sent out for the Red Cliff Transportation Building and bids are due by June 7, 2024. Several advertisements for other road projects were put out the previous week. The tribe is noticing an increase in delivery costs for materials due to the detour in the City of Washburn. Abeles-Allison informed Benton that the county garage in the city will have a small concrete manufacturing plant that may be useful in the future for the tribe. Benton reported on several other projects including the pothole filling on Highway 13 and the new EV charger at the new transportation facility. Benton asked that communication with the county be improved regarding the coordination of snow and ice removal. Boyd informed the committee that the roads department is facing similar staffing struggles to the police department as new employees finish their certification and training then leave the department to work elsewhere. Abeles- Allison explained that the county does do a lot of work with other agencies and municipalities for the DOT rate and stated that the county may be able to assist the tribe in the same manner. Boyd reported on the trail development between the City of Bayfield and Red Cliff. Abeles-Allison reported on several projects underway in Bayfield County: 1. The 40-unit housing development proposed in the City of Washburn next to the Northern Lights Nursing Home was approved for LITAC funding. This a two-and-a-half-year project with units being available at the end of 2026. Abeles-Allison stated that any County-Tribal collaboration discussions would need to start soon. Boyd asked that Cinnaire meet with the Tribe again to review the project. 2. Bayfield County recently applied for a housing development grant at the old Ondossagon School. Abeles-Allison stated that the county will know the result of the application in a few months. 3. A large grant was awarded to fund multiple microgrid projects throughout the county, with several of the projects being EV charger installations throughout the county. All the projects are on an 18-month or 2-year timeline. 4. The Bayfield County Health Department received a health infrastructure grant that is being used to remodel the Health Department. The remodel will allow the department to expand its clinic and lab services as well as create additional space in the lower level of the building. Coy elaborated stating that the department is looking to expand the water sampling program as well as other testing capabilities. Weber reviewed the testing services currently available. T. Williams gave a brief update on the consolidated dispatch project explaining that the two departments will be merged in Fall 2024 with a minimum of three employees scheduled per shift after the merger. Different practices between departments remain one of the primary challenges of the project. Someone has accepted the position of the Consolidated Dispatch Director, and they are anticipated to begin July 1, 2024. Dougherty reported that she attended the previous Bayfield County Planning & Zoning Committee meeting, and the committee passed the proposed Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process for towers and the proposal would be forwarded to the County Board for final approval. Proposed Next Meeting Time and Date: • July 15, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. to discuss only Joint Law Enforcement Agreement meeting held in Washburn and Remotely • September 16, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in Washburn Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, committee chairman Sandstrom adjourned the meeting at 11:02 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, PAIGE A. TERRY, Clerk III, Bayfield County Administrator’s & Clerk’s Offices On behalf of the Bayfield County-Tribal Relations Committee PAT