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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTourism & Fair Committee - Minutes - 5/7/2024 Minutes of the BAYFIELD COUNTY TOURISM-FAIR COMMITTEE Monday, May 7, 2024, at 4:00 PM EOC Members Present: Larry Fickbohm, James Crandall, Dennis Pocernich, Marty Milanowski, and Rich Nemitz Members Absent: None Others Present: Mary D. Motiff, Tourism Director; David Eades, Fair Coordinator, and Ginger Pagac from Big Girl Fireworks I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Fickbohm at 4:00pm. II. Election of Chair and Vice Chair Fickbohm opened the floor for nominations for Chair, Crandall nominated Fickbohm; there were no other nominations. Milanowski made a motion to close the floor and cast a unanimous ballot for Fickbohm, seconded by Crandall, motion carried. Fickbohm opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chair, Pocernich nominated Crandall; there were no other nominations. Pocernich made a motion to close the floor and cast a unanimous ballot for Crandall, Milanowski seconded, motion carried. III. Motion Regarding February 26, 2024, Tourism-Fair Committee Meeting Minutes: Motion to approve February minutes by Crandall, seconded by Milanowski, motion carried. IV. Public Comment: – Limited to 3 minutes per person. – None V. Discussion and Possible Action on Resolution for Consideration at the WCA Annual Conference Motiff presented information on current legislation that could help Carnivals with staffing issues. Motiff requested that the Committee approve her drafting a resolution based on the information presented and suggest the County Board pass the resolution in support of this legislation and forward it on to the Wisconsin Counties Association for approval. Milanowski moved to pass a draft resolution on to the Board for approval and then to be presented at the WCA Annual Conference. Nemitz seconded, motion carried. VI. Discussion and Possible Action on Budget Review and Planning. Motiff reviewed the budget to date. She noted that donations were down, advertising was on track, and that postage was up given the higher amount of people requesting information. Overall, the budget is on track. Motiff noted that she forwarded to the county administrator a capital improvements budget for next year that included painting, blacktop, tuck pointing, for a total of $40,000. Crandall asked that she add finishing the electric and fixing the concrete in the Exhibit Hall. Motiff also requested that her part-time staff in Tourism be made full-time in next year’s budget. Pocernich motioned to forward to the Personnel Committee the recommendation that the Tourism position be made full time, seconded by Milanowski, motion carried. Motiff also shared some information on some new data collection software for tracking visitors. She will look into buying the software and see if she can share the expense with other tourism partners in the region and will try to get it included in the 2025 budget as well. VII. Discussion and Possible Action on 2024-25 Fair Planning Eades has been asked if the committee would consider raising premiums to the highest level allowed by law and lowering entry fees. The committee was interested in raising the premiums but wanted a report on the extra cost that would be incurred. Eades noted that the majority of the premiums are reimbursed to us by the State and would bring a report to the next meeting. The committee took no action on the exhibitor fees so they will remain as is. Eades presented a concept of a free student entry night from another fair that was forwarded to him by the County Administrator. Motiff noted that the Administrator also has expressed the willingness to have County employees attend for free on Thursday. Motiff suggested that Saturday would be a better day if the goal is to have them experience the Fair and return in future years. Motion made by Milanowski to have kids under 16 free on Thursday and County Employees $5 on Saturday, second by Nemitz, motion carried. Eades asked if he could call the “Bean Bag Toss” at the Fair “Corn Hole” as this is the name that everyone knows the game as. The committee agreed. Ginger Pagac, of Big Girl Fireworks, gave a presentation on the possibility of having fireworks at the Fair after the Tuff Truck competition. Crandall motioned to have fireworks at the Fair. There being no second to the motion, the motion failed. Eades has also been asked (by whom?) if the Premium list could be every two years instead of one year as some other Fairs do. Eades noted that most Fairs do not print their lists at all any longer. Crandall motioned to have the Premium List electronic only starting in 2025, Pocernich seconded, motion carried. Nemitz left at 5:18 PM to attend another meeting. VIII. Building and Grounds Update Eades reported on work that needs to be done to the Beef Barn since it is being painted this year. The Market Sale is paying to have the exterior painted and would like to paint the concrete block as well. The committee gave permission to paint the block and fix any rotten boards. They also asked to have windows priced out to see how much it would cost to replace the wooden shutters with the original windows. Eades also noted that he is working with TC Energies on a grant as a sponsorship to the Fair. He had reached out for infrastructure repairs, but they do not fund that type of work. IX. Tourism Report from Director Motiff reported on data for Facebook, Sales Tax, Inquiry statistics along with a review of activities that have been carried out that are associated with department goals and objectives. X. Future Agenda Items and Next Meeting Date: Next meeting set for July 10, 2024 at the Bayfield County Fairgrounds. XI. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 6:00pm by Fickbohm. Respectfully submitted by: Mary D. Motiff Director, Tourism & Fair