HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 9/24/20251
Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, September 24, 2025
Meeting was held Remotely through Microsoft Teams and in person in the Bayfield County
Board Room, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Dennis Pocernich (4:30), Mary Dougherty, Fred Strand, Jan Lee, Marty
Milanowski, Madelaine Rekemeyer
Excused:
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-Human
Resources Director, Charly Ray, Steve Sandstrom, Jason Bodine-Forest Administrator, Jeff
Holte, Kim Mattson-Finance Director, Ryan VanLanduyt-Energy Specialist
Called to order at 4:00p.m. by Vice-Chairperson Strand
Motion Milanowski, Lee to approve minutes of the September 16, 2025 Executive Committee
meeting. Motion Carried (5-0)
Public Comment: None
Dougherty arrived at this time and assumed oversight of the meeting.
Resolution and Ordinance Recommendations to Full Board
Updated Animal Control Ordinance: Abeles-Allison reported that the updated ordinance has
been reviewed by Corporation Counsel and has been recommended.
Motion Strand, Milanowski to forward Ch 1, Regulation of Animals updated ordinance to full
county board as proposed with recommendation for approval. Motion Carried (5-0).
Energy Project Budget Amendment Resolution: The Towns and County Department Of
Energy is being expedited. The 2025 budget is proposed to be amended in the amount of $1.67
million. 80% is covered by the Feds, towns and Xcel are covering 20% on their projects.
County is covering 20% on our projects. All municipal and county out of pocket will be covered
through the federal Direct Pay reimbursement program in 2027. The county has three project bid
groups underway.
Motion Milanowksi, Lee to forward the Energy Project Budget Amendment Resolution as
presented to the full county board with recommendation for approval. Motion Carried (5-0)
Updated HUD Grant and Ondossagon School Budget Amendment Resolution: The HUD
grant included $100,000 in county admin / housing related expenses. The owners of the old
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Ondossagon School (Retos) together with the Town of Barksdale and Northwest Regional
Planning, C&S design and the County are working on the first phase, a WEDC site assessment
grant. The grant requires a match. The resolution authorizes $30k of the $100k in HUD funds
towards this effort. Abeles-Allison reported that no action is necessary on this item at this time.
Resolution Supporting Bayfield County Infrastructure and Community Development
Landmark Restoration Projects for State of Wisconsin:
Motion Lee, Milanowski to forward the resolution supporting Bayfield County’s Infrastructure
and Community Development Landmark Restoration Projects for the State of Wisconsin to the
full county board with recommendation for approval. Motion Carried (5-0)
Pocernich joined the meeting at this time.
Budget Changes/Notes Spreadsheet: Mattson reported that levy funds must be budgeted in the
General (100) Fund. For this reason, levy in the proposed budget for specific projects in the
Capital Improvement (430) Fund will need to be budgeted in the 100 fund and then be
transferred to the 430 fund.
Department Presentations:
a. Forestry / Carbon PAGE 168 / 247: Bodine presented information about the status of the
carbon program. No revenues have been budgeted and there is not enough
data/experience to accurately budget for this. It is anticipated that this will be a budget
item in 2027 going forward.
b. Capital Improvements: PAGE 199: Abeles-Allison explained that this fund is used for
one-time purchases and projects, keeping only ongoing operating expenses within actual
department operating budgets. A list of the items included in the proposed budget was
reviewed. Pocernich commented that he is concerned that the proposed expenditures are
75% higher than 2025 and that at least $1 million should be cut. Committee members
noted that several of the projects in the proposed budget will have grant funding to offset
at least a portion of the expenses. Total expenditures are proposed at about $3million.
$800,000 is short-term borrowing for Northern Lights and Courthouse maintenance
projects. $1million is proposed to be transferred from the general fund and $543,000 of
CIP fund balances will also be applied. Grants provide about $700,000 of revenue to
offset the grant expenses. Comment was shared that maintaining a 25% undesignated
fund balance should be maintained. The budget, as proposed would reduce the fund
balance to 21%. The committee could eliminate some expenses utilizing fund balance or
could increase the mill rate to pay for the proposed projects/purchases. The committee
discussed the current assigned fund balances and if any of the assigned fund balances
should be modified or eliminated to maintain a 25% unassigned fund balance. Discussed
reducing Compensated balances to $400,000 (reduce by $350,000). If the mill rate were
kept the same as 2025, it would increase the short term borrow to $6.55 million and
reduce the fund balance utilization by $200,000. This would also maintain the minimum
25% in the unassigned balances. The committee discussed modifications to the Capital
Improvement budget: CheqBuilt allocation modified to $150,000. Remove the floor
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strip/clean/wax and include as a regular operating expense. Postpone the parking lot
chipseal for 1 year. Postpone the zero-turn lawnmower for 1 year. Remove $15k for
replacement snowmobile for Sheriff’s Office Remove $10,000 dump trailer for Tourism.
Remove $600 for UW Shed repair. Allocate $15k to design Zoning offices (reduced
from $105k). Remove $12,000 Forestry ATV. Reduce park building infrastructure
evaluation to $10k (was $20k). Add $50k of Revenue for EndPoint Protection
(anticipating grant funding). Remove $67,000 for computer software in Human Services.
Abeles-Allison reviewed the list of Northern Lights CIP items. Dougherty stated that
Northern Lights is contributing $150k toward CIP items, which they have not been able
to do in the past. Add court office improvements back in for $44,070. Add $1.1 million
for ERP, using short term borrowing for the purchase. Reduce assigned fund balance for
Boilers by $650,000.
c. Energy Project: PAGE 264. This item not discussed
d. County Board: PAGE 78. This item not discussed
e. Agency Requests: PAGE 280
f. Fund Balance: PAGE 26 Discussed earlier in the meeting.
Short-Term Borrow Amounts:
County Board will need to take action on short-term borrowing at the September 30th meeting.
$6.55 million is proposed to include Highway Projects, Courthouse Dome, Northern Lights
Capital Improvements, and ERP system.
Motion Lee, Rekemeyer to recommend $6.55 million in short term borrowing to the full county
board with recommendation for approval. Motion Carried (6-0)
Committee was asked if they would like to discuss any other topics related to the 2026 budget.
Abeles-Allison stated that the budget does include $50,000 for Bayfield County Economic
Development Corporation. The committee had discussion about the results coming from BCEDC
and that future funding will be dependent upon continued results.
Changes Spreadsheet: The spreadsheet summarizing the changes discussed during the meeting
was reviewed.
2026 Budget Expenditures and Levy and Recommendation to the Full Board:
Motion Milanowski, Rekemeyer to forward the proposed 2026 budget and levy to the full county
board with the changes reviewed on the budget changes spreadsheet. Motion Carried (6-0)
No additional meetings will be needed.
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz