HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 9/17/20241
Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
2:00pm, September 17, 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
Excused: Mary Dougherty
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-Human
Resources Director, Kim Mattson, Sue Rosa, Mary Motiff-Tourism Director, Steve Sandstrom,
Charly Ray, Jeff Olsen, Kim Lawton-District Attorney, Meagan Quaderer-Emergency
Management Director, Deidre Zifko-Clerk of Court, Judge John Anderson, Sheriff Tony
Williams, Gail Reha-Bookkeeper
Called to order at 2:00p.m. by Vice-Chairperson Strand
Public Comment: None Received
Budget Changes Worksheet: Abeles-Allison review the ongoing list of items identified
by the committee as budget discussion continues. An updated town valuation change
page was shared with committee members.
Courtroom Technology: Judge Anderson, DA Lawton and Clerk of Court Zifko
reported that the equipment in the courtroom is wearing out and is time to replace.
Request includes equipment and 2-year service agreement. Overall budget for Circuit
count is proposed to increase 6.4%. The budget includes a proposed increase in jury duty
fees from $25 to $40.
DA budget is proposed to increase 9%, primarily due to personnel costs.
Personnel Review: Kavajecz reviewed the Personnel section of the budget. Total
proposed personnel-related expenses are $21 million, an increase of approximately $2.3
million over 2024. The increase is due to increased staff and an increase in wage and
benefit costs.
CIP Review:
• Craig Parks, Maintenance, CIP Review: $198,650 requested for various projects
and equipment. Committee heard details about the current underground gasoline
storage tank at the courthouse. The budget proposes the discontinuation of the
2
underground tank and implementation of WEX or Cenex cards county-wide.
Cards can only be used for fuel.
• Tony Williams, Sheriff, CIP Review: Sheriff Williams reviewed the department
CIP request.
Jason Bodine, Forestry: Department had a Dump Truck a decade ago. It was not replaced.
With the increase in Recreation programming, the need for a dump truck in the
department would provide better functionality and would allow the department to operate
without the need for a CDL. Forestry provided an updated CIP list that can be used rather
than what is in the budget book.
County Wide EMS: Quaderer suggested beginning with hiring a Director. Comment from
Pocernich that EMS is a statutory responsibility of the Towns. The committee took a
straw pole with support for including $1.3 million for County-wide EMS service in the
2025 budget recommendation.
Short Term Borrow Recommendation to Full Board: Abeles-Allison reported that the
County Board special meeting will need to make a decision on short term borrowing.
$3.6 million, which includes an additional $500,000 for Highway projects rather than
using Fund Balance. Straw pole resulted in support for short-term borrowing of $3.6
million.
Rekemeyer exited the meeting.
Other Funds: Internal funds are funds where there are offsetting revenues for the
expenditures, no levy necessary. These include the copier fund and fleet funds. Carbon
Credits Fund is a new fund. Details of the fund were reviewed. Opioid settlement is a
new fund. These funds will be used for prevention and education in schools. American
Rescue Plan Act funds are anticipated to be exhausted in 2025.
Motion Pocernich, Lee to eliminate funding for the BCEDC in 2025. Motion Carried (4-
0).
County Administrator will prepare a budget modification with all recommended changes for the
September 18 meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 4:05pm.
Respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz