HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Committee - Minutes - 10/7/20251
Minutes of the
Bayfield County Executive Committee Meeting
4:00pm, October 7, 2025
Meeting was held Remotely through Microsoft Teams and in person in the Bayfield County
Board Room, Washburn, WI
Members Present: Dennis Pocernich, Mary Dougherty, Fred Strand, Jan Lee, Marty
Milanowski (virtual, 4:08), Madelaine Rekemeyer
Excused:
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Kristine Kavajecz-Human
Resources Director, Kim Mattson-Finance Director, Steve Sandstrom, Lynn Divine-County
Clerk, Tom Croteau-DHS Director, Gail Reha-Bookkeeper, Stephanie Eder
Called to order at 4:00p.m. by Chairperson Dougherty
Motion Pocernich, Lee to approve minutes of the September 24, 2025 Executive Committee
meeting. Motion Carried (5-0)
Public Comment: None
Digital Navigator Budget Amendment Resolution: Received 2 year grant. Front-
loading in 2025.
Motion Pocernich, Lee to forward the budget amendment resolution to the County Board
with recommendation for approval. Motion Carried (5-0)
2025 Crisis Intervention Grant Budget Amendment Resolution: Motion Rekemeyer,
Pocernich to forward the Crisis Intervention Grant Budget Amendment Resolution to the
County Board with recommendation for approval. Motion Carried (5-0)
Discussion Topics:
• Board Rules: Divine explained that legal counsel with the Wisconsin Counties
Association shared recommendations for County Board rules that each county should
consider implementing. Abeles-Allison recommends that the County Ordinance
includes some of the recommended rules, but it would be a good idea to review the
ordinance to see if additional rules should be documented and having one location for
procedural rules. Many counties have a manual that outlines the rules.
Milanowski joined the meeting at this time.
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Concensus of the committee is to move forward with this project. Lee and Pocernich
with work with Divine and Abeles-Allison on this project.
• Self Organized Counties: Divine explained that a self-organized county has the
ability to: More flexibility with Compensation, Board Member Replacement,
Staggered Terms. This would require an ordinance. Concensus of the committee is to
continue operating as is.
• Facility Naming Policy: Tourism Committee has discussed naming a facility at the
fairgrounds. A couple of sample policies were shared. Concensus of the committee is
to have more research on this topic with options for the committee to consider.
• Human Services Reserve Policy: Current balance is about$580,000. $635,000 has
been the authorized DHS Risk Reserve Account level. Croteau explained that out of
home placement costs are extreme and could quadruple with the next state budget
cycle. The Risk Reserve helps to cover these costs when an extended placement is
needed. Placement costs could exceed $3,000 per day. The proposal is that if the
Risk Reserve is needed, to dedicate a certain percentage of excess DHS revenues each
year to go to replenish the Risk Reserve Fund instead of all of the funds going to the
General Fund. It was noted that these costs are mandated services. Concensus of the
committee is for the County Administrator to recommend a policy for this.
• Procurement Policy Update: The committee reviewed draft updates to the
procurement policy. Suggestion to review whether the limits should be raised when
requiring quotes/bids.
• Wisconsin Innovation Grant Submittals, Joint Dispatch, Countywide EMS:
Bayfield and Ashland Counties are considering an application for a State Innovation
Grant for our joint dispatch project and for a possible Countywide EMS initiative.
Applications are due by March of 2026. We are investigating options under the
State’s new terms and conditions. Key issues are a 3-5 year agreement, an agreement
after Nov 2024 and cost limit provisions.
• Animal Control Budget: The budget for Animal Control is significantly ($28k) over
budget due to horse expenses in 2025. Additional expenses are anticipated in the
months ahead. A request for a budget amendment is anticipated at the next meeting.
Reports:
Financial Report:
1. General Fund Rev and Exp: 72% / 66%, balance up $800k from 2024.
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2. Human Service Rev and Exp: 61% and 63%, balance down $950k from 2024
3. Highway Rev and Expense: 71% and 40%: balance up $2.2 million
4. County Wide / All Funds, Revenue and Expenses: 72%/61%, balance up $3.3 million
Treasurer report shows the monthly balance up $1.2 million from this time last year.
The State Legislature continues to update the Judicial Privacy Policy, Act 235. The act is
implemented once a request is made. As of this date Bayfield County has not had any updates.
Once final state review is completed that county will propose its policy.
Bayfield and Ashland Counties were notified of an Intergovernmental Award by the Policy
Forum for the Joint Dispatch project.
Meeting adjourned at 4:55pm.
Respectfully submitted by Kristine Kavajecz