Dec 13, 2023 Washington County Board of Supervisors

I APPRECIATE IT.

[00:00:01]

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE UNITED GOING FORWARD.

IF WE DON'T HAVE HIGHER EDUCATION IN OUR COUNTY.

HOW DO WE KEEP OUR BRIGHT STUDENTS HERE IN OUR COUNTY? THEY LEAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER COLLEGE.

THEY, NOT ALL OF THEM COME BACK.

SOME WILL, BUT NOT ALL OF 'EM.

HAVING HIGHER EDUCATION OPTIONS IN OUR COUNTY IS CRITICAL FOR OUR FUTURE.

SO I WANNA, AGAIN, THANK MAYOR ANGAR FOR BEING HERE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE WE STAY UNITED ON THIS ISSUE AND TACKLING IT GOING FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU SUPERVISOR VEPA.

THANK YOU.

CHAIR.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR TIME, EFFORTS AND COLLABORATION.

I THINK IT'S CRITICAL, UH, FOR THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.

AND WE MENTIONED, YOU MENTIONED MANUFACTURING, AND I WAS CURIOUS, IS THERE A SPECIFIC AREA OF MANU? 'CAUSE IT MANUFACTURING'S A BIG UMBRELLA, YOU KNOW, IS THERE A SPECIFIC THAT THE ADDITION AND THAT WILL BE FOCUSED? I JUST, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN START TO THINK ABOUT.

IS IT, WHAT IS IT? I GUESS THAT WOULD BE MY QUESTION.

SURE.

SO, UH, IT REALLY, I THINK IF ANY OF YOU HAVE VISITED OUR CAMPUS, WE ALREADY HAVE, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, TOOL AND DIE, UM, CONSTRUCTION AND VARIOUS TRADES, UH, OPPORTUNITIES ALREADY.

THIS ADDITION WILL ALLOW US TO BRING WHAT WE PROBABLY CURRENT WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN OUR FOND LAC CAMPUS.

UM, MORE ABOUT ROBOTICS AUTOMATION, ELECTRO MECHANICAL, INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE, UH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT APPRENTICESHIPS.

UM, THE, THE FACILITY ITSELF AND THE REASONS WHY WE WANNA INVEST IN STATE-OF-THE-ART, TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT, IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SURROUND OURSELVES WITH OUR K 12 PARTNERS, ALLOW THOSE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COME TO OUR CAMPUS AND UTILIZE THE SAME FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT WHEN WE'RE NOT USING IT, OR DEPENDING ON THE, THE PROGRAM OR THE SITUATION, UM, USING IT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ALSO TEACHING ADULT LEARNERS, UH, SO THAT WE'RE LEVERAGING RESOURCES IN THIS COMMUNITY.

APPRENTICESHIPS IS GOING BA UH, GANGBUSTERS FOR US RIGHT NOW, SO WE EXPECT TO REALLY EXPAND THAT IN THIS SPACE.

AND CERTAINLY INCUMBENT WORKERS.

UM, I KNOW THE, THE, UM, THE TALENT RECRUITMENT IS SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT A LOT OF FOLKS JUST WANT

[2. Consent Agenda]

AND SO WE SEE A LOT OF INCUMBENT WORKERS COMING TO US JUST FOR SOME UPSKILLING AND RESKILLING.

SO JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UM, PROGRAM, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR US THAT WE CURRENTLY DON'T OFFER HERE TODAY.

AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, BONNIE AND I VISIT MANUFACTURERS ALL THE, THE TIME.

THEY ALL STRUGGLE WITH HIRING HUMAN RESOURCES.

[a. 2023 Resolution 44: Commendation of Lynn Krenzien]

UH, THE OTHER PART OF IT IS WHEN WE PUT THE PLAN TOGETHER FOR THAT BUILDING, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH K 12.

UH, SOME MANUFACTURERS WANT TO HIRE, UH, STUDENTS RIGHT OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL.

AND SO WE MADE SURE THAT WE PUT TRACKS TOGETHER THAT WE CAN, WE CAN TRAIN FROM JUNIOR AND SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH, WITH DUAL CREDIT CLASSES THAT THEY CAN GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND GO RIGHT TO WORK FOR A, A COMPANY.

HOPEFULLY THEY COME BACK TO US SOMEDAY AND GET A TECHNICAL DIPLOMA AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE.

BUT, BUT THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE EMPLOYERS WANTED.

I, I I LIKE THAT.

AND I MEAN, I JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.

I, I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL.

I THINK THAT THOSE ARE, I I JUST, I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU.

THAT WAS, IF I MIGHT ADD TO, TO THAT, IN THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY, THAT, THAT HAS BEEN ENCOURAGED, UH, BY THE BOARD HERE TONIGHT.

UM, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED THAT COULD BE A NICE ADJACENCY AT A MINIMUM TO BUILD ON THIS TYPE OF WORK.

WE'VE WORKED WITH MICROSOFT AND ROCKWELL AS WELL AS A DOZEN OTHER COMPANIES, BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO LARGEST INVESTORS TO CREATE WHAT WE CALL THE CONNECTED SYSTEMS INSTITUTE WITH A FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON MANUFACTURING AND HEARING WHAT MARINE PARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE HAS TODAY.

BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF THE EXPANSION AROUND AUTOMATION, ROBOTICS, AND OTHER SMART FACTORY TYPES OF APPLICATIONS.

THAT'S EXACTLY IN THE SWEET SPOT OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF THE INTERNET OF THINGS.

AND YOU CAN TALK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN REDUCE WASTE, INCREASE EFFICIENCIES,

[b. 2023 Resolution 45: Commendation of Amy Flint]

THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF THIS THAT ARE INCLUDED IS A REAL FOCUS WITH THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT HAS INVESTED OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN OUR CONNECTED SYSTEMS INSTITUTE FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM MANUFACTURERS.

SO THE

[00:05:01]

SO PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OR THE ACTUAL MANUFACTURER OF THOSE CAN REALLY BE AIDED IN A BIG WAY.

MICROSOFT, WHEN I VISITED THEIR CEO SATYA NADELLA A FEW WEEKS AGO IN REDMOND, WASHINGTON, HE'S A GRADUATE OF UWM, AND HE'S, UM, DOUBLED DOWN ON HIS INVESTMENT AT UWM AND MICROSOFT AS A COMPANY WILL BE, UH, ADDING IN MORE DOLLARS.

THEY ADDED ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS TO CONNECT WITH SYSTEMS INSTITUTE, ACTUALLY 1.2 ON TOP OF THE INITIAL 1.2.

SO BONNIE AND PETE, I THINK IN TERMS OF A PARTNERSHIP AT A MINIMUM, LOOKING AT CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS AND WORK THAT WE CAN DO THAT WOULD BE VERY RELEVANT.

AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT NEEDING TO HAVE ADDITIONAL YEARS OF EDUCATION.

WE CAN DO THINGS IN A SEMESTER.

WE CAN DO THINGS IN A MUCH MORE, UM, PORTABLE FORMAT A LOT OF TIMES ONLINE AND AT SCALE, NOT JUST LIKE ONE COMPANY AT A TIME.

SO WE CAN REALLY CONCENTRATE ON DIFFERENT NEEDS.

SO I THINK THIS, THIS IS THE TYPE OF,

[c. 2023 Resolution 46: Commendation of William Waldman]

THE QUESTION IS, WE HAVE TO REALLY ENGAGE WITH EMPLOYERS.

IS THERE DEMAND? WHAT'S THE INTEREST IN, UH, THOSE PARTICULAR APPLICATIONS? THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR GALLS.

THANK YOU.

UH, ACTUALLY COMMENT, UH, CHANCELLOR MONY YOU JUST MADE ABOUT, I'LL JUST CALL IT BEING AGILE AND NIMBLE AND FLEXIBLE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN READING MORE AND MORE IN THE, THE, UH, PAPERS, UH, RECENTLY ABOUT FORTUNE 500, A THOUSAND COMPANIES NO LONGER REQUIRING ADVANCED DEGREES FOR NUMEROUS POSITIONS, UH, WHICH HISTORICALLY HAVE ALWAYS REQUIRED, WHETHER IT BE COUNTING ENGINEERING, FILL IN THE BLANK.

UM, THEN WE LOOK AT, I GUESS, THE UNREALIZED CHANGES THAT GENERATIVE AI IS GONNA BRING AND HOW THAT COULD IMPACT HIGHER EDUCATION.

UM, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT IT, MANY ACCOUNTING POSITIONS WILL GO AWAY.

POOF.

THEY'LL BE GONE BECAUSE, UH, UH, BOTS WILL, WILL BE DOING A LOT OF, OF WORK IN THAT SPACE.

SO I'M ASSUMING, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE, THE CHALLENGE WITH THE, YOUR INITIATIVE FROM A FOUR YEAR AND EVEN A TWO YEAR, BECAUSE TWO YEARS ARE FACED WITH COMPETITION

[d. 2023 Resolution 51: Resolution Awarding the Sale of $6,250,000 General Obligation Conference Center Bonds, Series 2023A]

UH, SO THEY'RE GETTING FREE EDUCATION.

YOU KNOW, HOW HOW DO THE UNIVERSITY, THE TWO AND FOUR YEARS COMPETE WITH THAT? I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S THE BIGGER SCOPE.

IT'S NOT JUST THE UW SYSTEM AND THE TWO YEAR DEGREE.

IT'S THAT COLLECTIVE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

SO I I, I'M JUST THROWING SOME IDEAS OUT THERE, PRESUMABLY THAT'S ALL ON YOUR PLATE , SO THANK YOU FOR THAT REALLY IMPORTANT OBSERVATION.

UM, WE'RE SEEING THAT, THAT IN LARGE PART, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S AT LEAST THREE MAJOR TRENDS THAT ARE, THAT ARE EXACERBATING THESE ISSUES.

THERE'S FEWER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN AND COME 20, 25 AND BEYOND, THAT'S REALLY GONNA GO DOWN.

BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE REASONS THAT YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S FEWER OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO COLLEGE BECAUSE THEY EITHER GET THE COLLEGE CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOL, OR THEY'RE FINDING YOU CAN GO RIGHT INTO THE WORKPLACE TODAY AND YOU DON'T NEED MUCH BECAUSE EMPLOYERS ARE PROVIDING EDUCATION AS AND WHERE NEEDED, OR YOU DON'T NEED FORMAL EDUCATION IN A, IN THE SAME WAY FOR SOME JOBS.

I THINK THAT SHORT TERM THINKING, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF JOBS THAT AI OR ROBOTICS OR OTHER THINGS CAN, CAN TAKE OUT PRETTY EASILY.

UM, SO I CHAIRED, UM, FOR A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION AS PART OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES.

I CHAIRED THE URBAN SERVING UNIVERSITY'S 21ST CENTURY WORKFORCE, UH, STRAND WE CALLED IT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND WAS EXACTLY, WE PREDICTED THIS.

WE HAVE SOME WHITE PAPERS THAT I COULD SHARE WITH YOU THAT ARE, LIKE, AT THE TIME, SOME PEOPLE WERE LIKE, AND THAT'S NOT REALLY GONNA HAPPEN.

BUT IT'S ALL, ALL REAL IN TERMS OF THE TYPES OF, OF NEEDS WE'RE SEEING IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, A VERY LIBERAL STATE THAT IS LETTING GO OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A LOT OF STATE AGENCIES THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA TO NO LONGER REQUIRE THE TWO AND FOUR YEAR DEGREE.

THESE ARE EXISTENTIAL THREATS.

LET'S BE REAL ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION.

SO WE'VE BEEN MOBILE.

WE HAVE THE GREATEST NUMBER OF ONLINE PROGRAMS AND CERTIFICATE I HANG ON, ON ONLINE PROGRAMS, NUMBER OF STUDENTS ONLINE FOR SURE.

OUR RANKINGS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY MOVING UP IN TERMS OF ACCESS AND, AND PARTICULARLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IS GROWTH IN, UH, THESE AREAS.

SO I'VE BEEN ONE OF THE, I WAS THE FOUNDING CO-CHAIR FOR THE HIGHER ED REGIONAL ALLIANCE THAT BROUGHT 18 UNIVERSITIES, NOW 17 BECAUSE

[00:10:01]

BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE MODELED AN AI A CERTIFICATE THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING THIS SPRING ONLINE CERTIFICATION FOR AI WORKING.

WE'RE THE THREE, THE THREE LEADING INSTITUTIONS.

UW, MILWAUKEE, MILWAUKEE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, AND WAUKESHA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

WE'RE THE THREE CONTENT PROVIDERS FOR THAT AI CERTIFICATE PROGRAM.

BUT I MET TODAY, I'M PART OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE WITH SENIOR LEADERSHIP AT NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL AND MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY FOR OUR DATA SCIENCE INSTITUTE, WHICH HAS SAID AS A GOAL, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT WE WANNA BE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CENTER FOR AI.

AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH, EVERY TIME WE MEET, WE HAVE QUARTER MEETINGS AT SENIOR EXEC LEVEL, AND WE HAVE OUR STEERING COMMITTEES THAT ARE WORKING ON EXACTLY THE SAME THING TO REALLY, HOW DO WE SCALE AND WORK WITH EMPLOYERS AROUND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE? YES, IN TWO YEAR DEGREES, FOUR YEAR DEGREES, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR WHEN AND WHERE YOU NEED THE SKILLS.

'CAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE TIME, THE MONEY.

AND WE ALSO THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO, WHETHER IT'S UPSKILLING WORKFORCE OR HELPING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT IN THE WORKFORCE ACCESS, ESPECIALLY A LOT OF UNDERPRIVILEGED INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE FUNDS OR THE BACKGROUND.

UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT UW M REALLY DOES FOCUS ON.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF A LOT OF OUR PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS.

UM, I SPENT 17 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS SCHOOL LEADING ALL OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND BROUGHT ALL PARTS OF THE UNIVERSITY TOGETHER IN TERMS OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTHCARE, WITH MANUFACTURING, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, POLICE, MILITARY NAME, THE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS.

AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE JUST EXTENSIVE PARTNERSHIPS.

BRINGING THAT TO THE ANSULAR LEVEL FOR THE LAST DECADE HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY HAVE STRENGTHS IN AND HAVE HAD HAD REALLY SOME, SOME GREAT PARTNERSHIPS.

AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD, UM, PRESENT BEWELL WITH, WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP GOING FORWARD WITH OTHER TECHNICAL COLLEGES BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH GREAT FEEDERS AND THEY REALLY HELP THE ECONOMICS FOR STUDENTS.

IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE TODAY IS THE DEBT LOADS THAT COLLEGE STUDENTS FACE.

THIS IS THE WAY TO HELP WITH THAT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE HIGHER PRICE.

I KNOW I SHOOT MYSELF IN THE FOOT A LITTLE BIT SAYING THAT, BUT IT'S FOR THE STUDENTS, AND THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

I'D MUCH RATHER HAVE STUDENTS CONTINUE AT UW AND FOR THEIR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR WITH HALF THE DEBT.

BUT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT HAS THE DEBT THAT INCREASES RETENTION, THAT PUTS MORE PEOPLE INTO THE WORKFORCE WHERE THEY CAN HAVE THE SOCIAL MOBILITY THAT, THAT, THAT IS DESERVED.

AND I'LL JUST ADD VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT, UH, CHANCELLOR MON IS SHARING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, THE AVERAGE AGE OF OUR PROGRAM STUDENTS IS CLOSER TO 28.

UM, SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY TODAY HAVE A LOT OF RIGHT OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THAT'S NOT OUR MAJORITY POPULATION.

SO, UH, WE ARE EMBRACING AI TECHNOLOGY.

WE'RE, UM, PROBABLY AT THE BEGINNING STAGES NOT PROBABLY AS ADVANCED AS OUR, OUR SISTER COLLEGE, WAUKESHA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE, BUT IT'S IN OUR VENUE.

WE HAVE A TASK FORCE WORKING ON THIS RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE FOCUSING ON COLLEGE RELATED.

UH, WE WANNA, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR FACULTY AND OUR STAFF, UM, ARE UTILIZING AND COMFORTABLE WITH AI BEFORE THEY START TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF STUDENTS.

UM, AND MY POSITION IS I DON'T WANT, I, I DON'T WANT A POLICY THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T USE AI IN YOUR STUDIES OR IN YOUR CURRICULUM.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, I, I WOULD EMBRACE IT AND WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT A FRAMEWORK WHERE IT MAKES SENSE.

BECAUSE WHEN OUR GRADUATES LEAVE MRA PARK AND THEY, THEY TRAVEL ON TO UW MILWAUKEE OR INTO THE WORKFORCE, THEY NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH THOSE TOOLS AND BRING THOSE TYPES OF TOOLS TO THE WORKFORCE.

AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE TRAINED IN THAT SPACE.

BUT WE ALSO ARE WORKING ON, UH, AI RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL BE BILLING OUT SOME CERTIFICATES AND PROGRAMS PROBABLY IN THE NEXT 18 TO 24 MONTHS.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SCHWAB.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I APPLAUD THE CONVERSATIONS AND THE, UH, COLLABORATION BETWEEN COUNTY, CITY, UH, MARINE, MARINE PARK AND UWM.

I THINK IT'S REALLY GREAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS AS WE, AS WE LOOK GOING FORWARD, UM, SOMEONE HAD ASKED, WELL, WHAT AREAS ARE WE GONNA FOCUS ON? AND REALLY THE STRENGTH OF THIS COLLABORATION IS ITS FLEXIBILITY.

MARINE PARK HAS A HISTORY OF ITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE SYSTEM IN WHICH WE'RE, WE'RE REACHING OUT TO LEADERS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND IN ALL AREAS IN HEALTHCARE, IN THE TRADES.

AND WE ARE, WE'RE DOING THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE LATEST TRENDS ARE.

ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES IS THE FLEXIBILITY AND, AND HEARING, UH, CHANCELLOR MONA SPEAK NOW ABOUT, UM, THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE, UM, CREDENTIAL PROGRAMS. ALL THAT WORKS TO OUR BENEFIT.

AND AS WE GO FORWARD, THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT COLLABORATIVELY, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

[00:15:01]

IT'S ALL WIN-WIN.

THIS IS GREAT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SUPERVISOR KRIEGER RUM.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

UM, I'M REALLY PLEASED TO TO HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING HERE TONIGHT.

AND I WAS ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO HEAR, UM, ABOUT THE IDEA OF HAVING A JUNIOR STATUS, UH, FROM THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE AT, UH, THE TECH SCHOOL INTO THE COLLEGE SYSTEM, OR THE UW SYSTEM.

AS YOU KNOW, SINCE THE 1970S, I'VE BEEN CHAMPIONING THE TRANSFER OF CREDITS FROM TECH SCHOOL INTO THE UW SYSTEM.

IT NEVER MADE SENSE NOT TO DO THAT.

UH, THIS IS TRULY THE WAY TO MERGER AND, BUT I DO WANNA SAY, AND I, I KNOW THAT THE ECONOMICS OF ONLINE CLASSES IS A GREAT THING.

UH, BUT I DO THINK THAT FACE-TO-FACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU NEED IN MANY SITUATIONS.

I AND I, I REALLY WANNA SEE THE ARTS, UH, MUSIC CULTURE, HISTORY, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT GROW A PERSON INTO, UH, UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

BUT I THINK THIS IS JUST GREAT.

THIS IS THE WAY WE REALLY WANNA MERGER.

THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR MCCULLICK.

UH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, I WANTED TO GO A LITTLE DI UH, A LITTLE DIFFERENT DIRECTION HERE.

AND, UH, WITH REGARD TO MARRA PARKVILLE COLLEGE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, A NUMBER OF US ARE, UM, ARE OUR OUT KNOCKING ON DOORS WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, UH, WITH REGARD TO, UH, UH, TO FILING NOMINATION PAPERS.

AND, UH, A NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO, IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

UM, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL AND, UH, ONE OF THE LINE ITEMS ON THERE OBVIOUSLY IS IN PTC.

AND, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGES ON THERE, UH, AT LEAST WITH REGARD TO MY AREA IN HARTFORD, THE ONE, THE NUMBER THAT JUMPED OUT AT YOU FROM A PERCENTAGE WAS MPTC.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S THE PERCENTAGE IS A BIG NUMBER.

THE DOLLARS ARE NOT, BUT THE QUESTIONS STILL COME.

AND SO PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THIS AND THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE, AT SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT 7.5% OR SO OF THEIR PROPERTY TAX, AND THEY ARE WONDERING EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE VALUE IS.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ALWAYS FOUND IS SORT OF OPAQUE IS I CAN NEVER REALLY FIND OUT WHAT THE COST IS FOR, SAY, MPC AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

AND UWWC

[e. 2023 Resolution 52: Resolution Awading the Sale of $3,560,000 General Obligation Economic Development Bonds, Series 2023B]

OR YOU COULD PROVIDE, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE COST IS TO EDUCATE A STUDENT, UM, YOU KNOW, A TWO YEAR STUDENT, AN APPRENTICESHIP.

UM, SO THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF METRIC TO LOOK AT AND TO, TO, ON A YEARLY BASIS, TAKE A LOOK AT AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.

UM, I DON'T THINK WE CAN JUST LET YOU KNOW, THESE INCREASES JUST GO BY WITHOUT ASKING QUESTIONS AND EXPECTING SOME VALUE FOR THAT.

RIGHT? SO I THINK IF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THOSE S UM, 'CAUSE I HAD PROBABLY THREE PEOPLE ASK ME THAT QUESTION AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT MYSELF.

SO, UM, IF YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOMETHING TO US WITH REGARD TO, UH, THE EDUCATIONAL COST, AVERAGE COST, UH, FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, SAY FOR A TWO YEAR DEGREE IN A SURF FIELD OR SOME OF THESE OTHER ONES, I, THAT WOULD BE A VERY VALUABLE TOOL TO HAVE.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION WILL DO.

AND JUST TO REITERATE, UH, I ALSO HAVE MY PROPERTY TAX BILL, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE PERCENTAGES ARE HIGH.

THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS NOT, UH, SIGNIFICANT.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, UH, THE TECHNICAL COLLEGES ARE CAPPED RIGHT NOW IN OUR OPERATIONAL LEVY AT THE NET NEW CONSTRUCTION RATE, WHICH FOR MARRA PARKS DISTRICT HAS AVERAGED ABOUT 1.3% A A YEAR.

SO EVEN THOUGH WAGES GO UP, UM, AND WE'RE TRYING TO HIRE PEOPLE FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY, WHETHER THEY'RE ELECTRICIANS OR ROBOTICS ENGINEERS AND SO ON, WE'RE KEPT, UM, BECAUSE OF THAT OPERATIONAL LEVY, THE, THE LARGE INCREASE THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILLS THIS YEAR IS, UH, EXCLUSIVELY THE COST OF THE REFERENDUM DOLLARS.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL, WELL, YOU WILL, WE DIDN'T SPEND

[a. University Wisconsin Milwaukee Washington County Future Presentation · Appearances by: · Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann · Moraine Park Technical College President Bonnie Baerwald · Moraine Park Technical College Dean Pete Rettler · University Wisconsin Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone · West Bend Mayor Joel Ongert]

WE'LL BE SPENDING IT OVER THREE YEARS.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE, WE WERE VERY TRANSPARENT DURING OUR REFERENDUM CONVERSATIONS THAT THIS INVESTMENT IS CONSTRUCTION INVESTMENT WITH SOME EQUIPMENT INVESTMENT.

AND IT'S NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO OPERATIONS, BUT I WILL CERTAINLY, UH, BE THROUGH YOU.

YEAH.

UH, SEND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE COST

[00:20:01]

WE WILL DO THAT.

DID I ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THAT? I'M SORRY.

AM I ON? YOU'RE ON.

OH.

SO WITH REGARD TO THAT, SO I, UH, FOR INSTANCE, ON MY OWN PROPERTY TAX BILL, THERE IS A LINE ITEM THAT REFERS TO THE, UH, TO THE MAR MARINE PARK, TO THE, UM, UH, TO THE REFERENDUM.

THAT'S A SEPARATE LINE ITEM UNDERNEATH IT.

YOU KNOW, MINE WAS LIKE, UH, 50 BUCKS.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE, UH, IS, UH, WAS JUST MAR MARINE PARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE, AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT CAME IN AT 29 9.

SO, I'M SORRY, ARE YOU SAYING THAT THAT, THAT INCLUDED THE 29 9 DOES NOT INCLUDE THE, UH, THE REFERENDUM DOLLARS? MY BILL? IT'S NOT SEPARATED LIKE THAT.

YEAH.

MINE IS MARRA PARK COLLEGE.

UH, YEAH, I, IT'S A VOTER APPROVED TEMPORARY TAX INCREASES.

AND THIS ONE FOR YOU IS THROUGH 2043.

IT WAS $50.

MY PROPERTY TAX BILL, THAT'S A SEPARATE LINE ITEM AT THE BOTTOM.

SO YOU'RE ASKING MORE ABOUT THE OTHER LINE ITEM THAT'S, YEAH, I'M ASKING JUST MORE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD IT'D BE GOOD TO HAVE DATA.

SO WHEN SOMEONE ASKS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE COST TO EDUCATE, WHAT IS THE, YOU KNOW, FOR A TWO YEAR, FOR A FOUR YEAR, UH, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO SEE WHAT COST IS TO EDUCATE SOMEBODY.

EVERY YEAR.

YOU CAN GET THAT, OBVIOUSLY MY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, MY, UH, GRADE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY CAN TELL ME WHAT THE COST IS, BUT RIGHT.

IT'S THEIR OPERATING BUDGET DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, AND THERE'S WHAT YOUR COST TO EDUCATE IS.

SO SOME, SOME CLARITY ON THAT AND SOME DATA ON THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, SOMETHING, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE WANT.

SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEBODY COULD PROVIDE THAT TO ME.

OKAY.

WILL DO.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU HAVE A COMMENT? UH, I, I, I DO, BUT I WOULD DEFER TO SUPERVISOR KREBS.

OKAY.

SUPERVISOR KREBS.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION LOOKING FORWARD THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TODAY.

UM, BUT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS MORE WHAT'S SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THIS VEHICLE SO FAR.

UM, A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING, SO WHAT'S GOING TO GO HAPPEN WITH THE ACTUAL PROPERTY IN WEST BEND? AND I HAVEN'T PICKED UP ON THAT TONIGHT HERE YET, SO IF, IF WE COULD PROVIDE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OR INSIGHT ON THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE DEFERRED YOU , YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD HAVE LEARN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

I, NO, NO.

THIS, THIS IS LITERALLY HOW I WAS GONNA GONNA END, UM, BE BEFORE I DO THAT.

UH, SUPERVISOR M**K, I, IF YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HEARD THIS TODAY, BUT JAY WEBER WAS LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAX BILLS TODAY.

UH, AND WHO WAS HE? UH, YEAH, AND OF COURSE, HE'S FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY AND HE'S FROM SUPERVISOR MILLIKEN'S DISTRICT.

SO HE HAD SOME, UH, VERY INTERESTING COMMENTS AND I SHARED SOME INFORMATION.

IT WAS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH, UH, WHAT PRESIDENT BEWELL JUST SHARED, AND HIS TAX BILL DOESN'T HAVE IT SEPARATED.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT OVER, UH, OVER A BEER LATER ON.

BUT, UM, MAYBE WE CAN GO AFTER THE MAYOR OF HARTFORD .

YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

UM, SO, UM, SO IT IS A SUBJECT, AND I'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN IT THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

UH, AND I HAVE SHARED THE SAME THAT THE REFERENDUM IS A, IS A BIG PORTION OF IT.

THAT BEING SAID, IN REGARDS TO THE BUILDINGS, UH, I'M GLAD WE LEFT IT TO THE END BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT DESERVES TO BELONG.

UH, IT'S PROBABLY TWO OR 3% OF THE EQUATION.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO, I TESTIFIED, UH, AT, IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, UH, SENATOR MARK KLEIN, WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE CO-CHAIR OF JOINT FINANCE AND REPRESENTATIVE KURTZ, HAVE AUTHORED LEGISLATION VERY SIMILAR, UH, TO THAT WHICH WAS AUTHORED IN THE, IN THE BUDGET MOTION, UH, TO, TO AWARD A $2 MILLION GRANT TO TRANSITION THESE FACILITIES.

UM, THERE'S SOME CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING TO THAT, THAT LEGISLATION AS I UNDERSTAND IT IN PARTICULAR, IT WOULD BE DIRECTED TO LAC CAMPUS, UW CAMPUS, WASHINGTON, UW CAMPUS IN RICHLAND.

THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN DESIGNATED FOR CLOSURE.

AND THEN THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS SET ASIDE.

UM, I THINK TOTALING ANOTHER 6 MILLION.

SO 2 MILLION FOR EACH OF THOSE THREE AND 2 MILLION FOR THREE FUTURE CAMPUSES, UH, FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH THESE TRANSITIONS, TO PUT DOLLARS TO HELP WITH THAT.

UM, THERE HAVE BEEN NO SHORTAGE OF FOLKS INTERESTED.

I THINK, AGAIN, TODAY WE GOT CONTACTED BY A DEVELOPER INTERESTED IN THAT BUILDING, IF YOU KNOW THE BUILDING AND THE PROPERTY AT ALL.

UH, IT'S, IT'S A GORGEOUS PIECE OF PROPERTY.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.

UH, THE COUNTY HAS, AND THE CITY TOGETHER HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB BOTH OF ADDING ON OVER THE YEARS, BUT ALSO OF MAINTAINING THE FACILITY.

SO, UM, IT IS REALLY GOOD SHAPE.

SO MUCH SO ACTUALLY THAT, LIKE I SAID, I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO, OR MAYBE OVER TWO, TWO DOZEN INQUIRIES ABOUT THE FACILITY.

ALMOST EVERY ONE

[00:25:01]

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, OH, I HAVE THIS INTEREST IN USING, YOU KNOW, SPACE AND I COULD, I COULD SURE USE THAT CAMPUS.

OH, REALLY? HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED? OH, I WAS THINKING ABOUT 6,000 SQUARE FEET.

UH, THAT'S ONE CORNER OF ONE FLOOR, UH, OF THAT FACILITY.

UH, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE IN A WHILE, IT'S A THREE FLOOR FACILITY.

UM, THE GYM ITSELF IS ABOUT 7,000 SQUARE FEET.

UH, I'M GOING OFF OF MEMORY HERE, BUT SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO THAT.

UM, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY, VERY LARGE BUILDING.

UM, AND OF COURSE, UH, LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY WITH I THINK ALMOST 80 ACRES OF PROPERTY.

UH, THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT THE, THIS COUNTY BOARD IS GONNA HAVE TO HAVE OVER TIME.

THE CITY IS GONNA HAVE TO BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION.

UH, CERTAINLY ENDLESS NUMBER OF, UH, UM, NON-PROFITS AND, AND PUBLIC INPUT WILL BE INVOLVED.

UM, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WE'VE REALLY GOTTA SOLVE THIS.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS? SO, UH, WE CERTAINLY HAVE IT ON, UH, TOP OF MIND, EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY TO YOUR, TO YOUR QUESTION, SUPERVISOR HAS IT ON TOP OF MIND.

UM, BLESS.

I I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE SOLVED IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

QUITE HONESTLY.

WE WERE SURPRISED.

I THINK THE CHANCELLOR WAS EVEN SURPRISED AT A CLOSURE IN, IN JUNE OF 24.

UM, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTIVE TO SOME OF THE COMMENTARY EARLIER.

UM, 24 IS PROBABLY GONNA BE A BIT MURKY.

UM, BUT WORKING IN 25 AND 26, I'M VERY CONFIDENT, UH, REUSE AND REPURPOSE OF THE FACILITY.

UH, IT WILL BE, WILL BECOME TOP OF MIND.

AND THERE IS NO, WILL BE NO SHORTAGE OF, OF IDEAS.

SO IN, IN THE, NOT THE SHORT TERM, BUT KIND OF THE SHORT TERM, STARTING IN JULY, IS THAT BUILDING JUST GONNA, IS AT THAT POINT, ARE THERE NO, THERE'S NO INSTRUCTION THERE, THERE'S CORRECT, NO TEACH RIGHT PROFESSORS THERE.

IT'S GONNA BE A VACANT BUILDING AT THAT POINT.

CORRECT.

AND TO BE CLEAR, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE LONGER TERM AGREEMENTS, BUT THOSE ARE KIND OF LOST IN LIMBO HERE.

UM, SO THEY'VE ALL STARTED TO COME TO US NOW AND SAID, WELL, WHAT DO WE DO? UM, SO I THINK THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE SOME UTILIZATION OF THE BUILDING, BUT IT ISN'T GONNA BE ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT WE'RE USED TO, EVEN IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

OKAY.

I'M JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, THE HOLDING COSTS, THE, YOU KNOW, KEEP KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON, KEEPING THE, THE HEAT ON AND BUILDINGS SITTING EMPTY IS, IS NOT GOOD FOR 'EM.

SO, RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE HAD ONE COUNT THEM ONE, UH, CONVERSATION.

AND I SAY WE, IT WASN'T EVEN ME, IT WAS LEGAL COUNSEL FROM UWM, OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, INCLUDING CONTRACTED LEGAL COUNSEL AND, UH, UW OR UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN.

NEVER GONNA GET USED TO THAT .

UM, BUT THE, THAT CONVERSATION HAS LITERALLY JUST STARTED, AND I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE THAT AGREEMENT FROM 67, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN UPDATED A FEW TIMES, UH, IS ABOUT AS CLEAR AS MUD.

UH, SO IT WAS, IT WAS VERY MUCH A HANDSHAKE AGREEMENT.

SO WE'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO NAVIGATE, INCLUDING THE CITY, UH, THE CITY.

I, THE FIRST CONVERSATION WAS WE AGREED THE CITY'S LABOR COUNSELOR, OR EXCUSE ME, LEGAL COUNSEL IS GONNA HAVE TO BE PART OF THIS DISCUSSION TOO, BUT WE ALL AGREED VERY EARLY ON THIS IS GONNA HAVE TO KIND OF BE A CREATED OUT OF NOTHING BECAUSE THAT AGREEMENT IS PRETTY MUCH NOTHING.

UM, SO THERE'S GONNA BE, HAVE TO BE SOME DOLLARS THAT ARE, THAT ARE, UM, THERE TO SUPPORT IT.

AS YOU SAID, A CLOSED BUILDING IS, IS A LIABILITY.

UM, BUT ALSO WE'VE GOTTA WORK OUR WAY THROUGH WHAT DOES THAT AGREEMENT EVEN MEAN AND HOW DOES IT RELATE BETWEEN UW UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN, UWM, THE COUNTY, THE CITY.

UM, AND, AND I'M HOPEFUL IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, WE CAN, WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT'S CLEAR AND CONCISE SO WE CAN START ANSWERING SOME OF THESE COUPLE DOZEN PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THE PROPERTY IN THE BUILDING.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY AND, UH, PARDON THE PUN, GIVING US AN EDUCATION.

UM, AND I, FOR ONE, I'M VERY ENCOURAGED, SO THANK YOU ALL.

MOVING ON, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO TO CLOSED SESSION.

TAKE A MINUTE OR A BREAK.

LET'S DO IT AFTER.

WELL, LET'S DO IT NOW.

FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

.