[00:00:05]
AT SIX O'CLOCK, I'LL CALL THIS MEETING OF THE COUNTY BOARD TO ORDER.
UM, WE'RE ALL HERE EXCEPT FOR SEC, UH, DISTRICT SEVEN, WHICH IS VACANT.
UM, WE'LL RISE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE PLAY OF THE UNITED, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UH, THIS MEETING WAS POSTED BY THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROPRIATE RULES.
UH, WE'LL START WITH A CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, I NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND.
SUPERVISOR, HARTWIG SUPERVISOR.
MARY, ANY DISCUSSION? YES, SUPERVISOR GURA.
HANG ON, LET ME TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE.
UM, I HAVE A COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I WILL VOTE NO AS A PROTEST VOTE BECAUSE THE DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO BRING BACK THE SAMARITAN AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA.
DESPITE SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS ASKING TO HAVE IT INCLUDED BY LEAVING IT OFF THE AGENDA, THE CHAIRMAN IS MAKING THE DECISION ON THE ISSUE BY HIMSELF WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE WHOLE COUNTY BOARD.
THE INTENT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WOULD BE TO UPDATE INFORMATION AND TO PRESENT A PLAN B IN THE EVENT A BUYER IS NOT FOUND.
THOSE OF US WHO REQUESTED TO HAVE THIS ON THE AGENDA WOULD LIKE OUR DISTRICT'S VIEWS REPRESENTED.
SO, I WILL ALSO BE A NO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I THINK THIS IS A DECISION THAT ALL 21 OF US SHOULD MAKE.
IF THE 21 OF US DECIDE THAT WE DON'T WANT A BACKUP PLAN, I'LL RESPECT THAT, BUT I REALLY THINK THIS DECISION BELONGS WITH THE ENTIRE BODY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT SEVERAL SUPERVISORS WANTED THIS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
UM, I AGREE WITH LINDA AND CHRIS.
I HAVE BEEN WALKING AROUND MY DISTRICT AND MY CONSTITUENTS ARE STILL EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAMARITAN AND THE SALE.
SO I WILL BE OF A NO VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR KRIEGER GUN.
UM, I'M ALSO GOING TO BE A NO VOTE.
I AGREE THAT I THINK THAT THE WHOLE BOARD SHOULD AT LEAST TALK, TALK ABOUT IT.
I KNOW THAT ON THE 21ST, IT WAS A REAL SHOCK TO EVERYBODY TO HEAR THAT THAT TRILOGY HAD FALLEN THROUGH.
UM, BUT I DO THINK, UM, THAT WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST TALK ABOUT IT AND KNOW THAT WHERE EVERYBODY STANDS.
I MEAN, THAT WAS SUCH A SHOCK TO MOST EVERYBODY.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE MADE A QUICK DECISION.
UM, AND I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS, UH, GETTING NOMINATION SIGNATURES, I TOLD EVERYBODY WHERE I STOOD ON THE SAMARITAN.
NOT ONE PERSON DISAGREED WITH ME.
SO I WANT MY DISTRICT'S VOICE TO BE HEARD.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, I'VE ALSO BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT, AND THEY DEFINITELY, SOME OF THEM ARE ANGRY.
UM, BUT THEY DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE, UM, AT LEAST A PLAN B.
AND, UM, THIS SUBJECT WAS ON THE HUMAN SERVICES AGENDA ON FEBRUARY 28TH.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE HERE TO WATCH THAT VIDEO STARTING AT ABOUT THE 14 MINUTE MARK.
MAKE A COMMENT, SUPERVISOR CONRAD, UM, WITH THOSE COMMENTS TOO, I, I'LL HAVE TO VOTE NO ALSO ON ACCEPTING THE CONSENT AGENDA, REPRESENTING MY CONSTITUENTS, AND TWO, WHEN I ALSO GO AROUND AND SPEAK TO THEM AND KNOCK ON DOORS, UM, THEY ALL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAMARITAN.
AND EVERY MONTH WHEN I REPORT OFF AT THE TOWN OF POLK MEETING, UM, WHICH I JUST DID LAST NIGHT, THERE'S CONCERNS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD AND EXPLORING, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:05:01]
UM, SO WITH THAT, I'LL HAVE TO ALSO VOTE NO TO REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS.IF YOU WANNA MAKE A COMMENT, I MEAN, JUST TELL WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS OBJECTING TO THE AGENDA, YOU KNOW, ISSUE TOGETHER.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, AND WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE THEM UNDER ADVISEMENT FOR NEXT MONTH.
ANY OPPOSED? NAY? CAN YOU, CAN YOU RAISE THEIR HANDS? CAN WE HAVE THE NAYS RAISE THEIR HANDS? OKAY.
I'M GONNA WRITE THEIR NAMES DOWN.
DID YOU HAVE FROM THE CHAIR ON THE AGENDA? DID YOU? BUT I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
UM, THEN PASS ON TO RESOLUTION 67, WHICH IS A COMMENDATION OF DAVID LINDER.
OH, IT'S, IT'S OUT THERE ALREADY.
WHEREAS DAVID LINDNER HAS CONTRIBUTED 34 YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS DAVID LINDNER HAS CHOSEN TO RETIRE FROM HIS PRESENT POSITION OF LAND USE INSPECTOR WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT,
[a. 2023 Resolution 67: Commendation of David Lindner]
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PAUSE IN ITS DELIBERATIONS TO PAY TRIBUTE AND TO COMMEND DAVID LINDNER FOR HIS 34 YEARS OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT ON BEHALF OF ALL CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, THIS BODY DOES HEREWITH EXTEND TO HIM HEARTFELT THANKS FOR HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SUCCESSES, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE FORWARDED TO DAVID LINNER AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION ON THE PART OF THIS BOARD.DAVID, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR MANY YEARS.
GET YOUR FIRST RECALL A WHILE BACK WHEN, UH, THERE WAS AN ILLEGAL RETAINING WALL PUT UP ON SILVER LAKE, AND YOU WERE KEY AND TAKEN DOWN.
IT WAS AN INTERESTING EPISODE.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
STAND OVER HERE BY THE MICROPHONE.
THANK YOU, CHAIRPERSON SLI AND, UH, THANK YOU ASHLEY FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISORS, WASHINGTON COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND PAST, UH, PLANNING AND PARKS EMPLOYEES, WHICH INCLUDED ASHLEY AND, UH, DEB AND WHO DO THEY SEE OVER HERE? OH, UH, SCOTT.
SO THANK YOU ALSO FOR BEING HERE.
UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY BOARD TONIGHT FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
UM, I SEE A FEW FACES I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THROUGH THE YEARS, UH, COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISORS INCLUDING, UH, CHAIRPERSON SCH LIFE, UM, SUPERVISOR KREBS AND, UH, SUPERVISOR HARTWIG, WHO SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOREVER, UH, AND A DAY
AND HE'LL BE MENTIONED AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES.
SO, UM, THANK YOU ALSO ALL YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UM, A WISE WOMAN WHO WAS A COWORKER, MY WORKER OF MY FOR MANY YEARS, TOLD ME AS A ROOKIE LAND USE INSPECTOR, THAT YOU'RE NOT IN THIS JOB TO MAKE FRIENDS.
SO, DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS POSITION, OFTEN, OFTEN TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR, UH, AND EVEN COMING UP WITH OPTIONS, UM, THAT THEY WEREN'T OPEN TO, I FOUND THIS OFTEN TO BE THE CASE.
HOWEVER, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH WHERE WE HAVE SHARED MU MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER, AND WE'RE ABLE TO COLLABORATE AND COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS.
THESE PEOPLE INCLUDED PLUMBERS, CERTIFIED SOIL
[00:10:01]
TESTERS, SURVEYORS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, AND SEVERAL LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF OUR COUNTY LAKES AND WETLANDS.I APPRECIATED THEIR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SOME BASIC SCIENTIFIC FACTS INVOLVING DEVELOPMENT NEAR WATERWAY WATER BODIES.
SO NOW I'LL LIGHTEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT, JUST FOR A FEW MINUTES.
UM, SO 34 YEARS IS INDEED A LENGTHY PERIOD TO STAY WITH THE SAME EMPLOYER.
UM, HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO ADD AN ACCOMPLISHMENT, WHICH PERHAPS ISN'T AS SIGN AS SIGNIFICANT AS THE 34 YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT NONETHELESS.
SO IN THOSE 34 YEARS, I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY VEHICLE ACCIDENTS,
SO NO DINGS, NO BUMP BUMPS, NO DAMAGE TO ANY COUNTY VEHICLES
THERE WAS ONE INCIDENT, HOWEVER, AND THIS HAPPENED IN, UH, UH, SUPERVISOR HARDWICK'S DISTRICT, UM, WHICH INVOLVED A DOG.
UH, WHILE INVESTIGATING A COMPLAINT, A LARGE, SEEMINGLY FRIENDLY DOG DID RUN TOWARDS MY COUNTY TRUCK, WHICH I SMARTLY HADN'T YET EXITED.
UH, I THINK HE SMELLED A DOG BONE, OR MAYBE MY TURKEY SANDWICH, I'M NOT SURE.
SO ANYWAY, WHILE I WAS STILL IN THE TRUCK, HE ROCKETED TOWARDS THE TRUCK, UH, JUMPED AGAINST THE DOOR AND SCRATCHED THE, UH, SIDE OF THE DOOR FOR A COUPLE SECONDS UNTIL THE OWNER CALLED HIM OFF.
SO, FORTUNATELY, THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, NO THANKS TO SCOTT HERE, HAD REASONABLY AFFIXED AN OFFICIAL WASHINGTON COUNTY STICKER TO THE DOOR.
SO WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT DOOR PROTECTED, OR THAT STICKER PROTECTED THE DOOR FOR MOST OF THE SCRATCHES.
SO, UM, AS I MENTIONED, I WAS THERE ON A COMPLAINT FOLLOW UP.
UH, PERHAPS A REASON FOR THE, THE DOG'S ANGER WAS THAT HE READ THE WASHINGTON COUNTY STICKER
SO I DID VOICE MY CONCERN TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, PARTICULARLY, PARTICULARLY SINCE HIS PICKUP WAS QUITE NEW, BUT HE, NOT SURPRISINGLY, WAS MORE INTERESTED, UH, WHY I WAS THERE.
SO, ANOTHER NOTABLE INCIDENT, ALSO INVOLVING THE DOG, UH, WHILE MEETING WITH A LAKE PROPERTY OWNER TO DISCUSS SOME PROPOSED LANDSCAPING WORK ON THEIR PROPERTY.
UH, SMALL NONSTOP BARKING DOG LATCHED ONTO MY LEG, CREATING A MODERATELY PAINFUL SENSATION.
THE LADY SURVEYED THE DAMAGE TO MY LEG, WIPED A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLOOD OFF, AND, UH, THEN APPLIED SOME TYPE OF MAGIC POTION TO MY, TO MY INJURY.
SHE WAS THE WIFE OF A WELL-KNOWN LOCAL DENTIST, AND HE MUST HAVE SHARED ALL HIS FIRST AID SECRETS WITH HER.
EITHER THAT OR SHE DIDN'T WANT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CONTACTING HER
THIS ONE INVOLVED A FLYING INSECT WHILE MEETING WITH A HUSBAND AND WIFE, UH, A GERMAN COUPLE ON BIG CEDAR LAKE.
SO THIS VERY GERMAN LADY APPLIED SOME TYPE OF STICKY PASTE TO THE AFFECTED AREA, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A LARGE, UNPROTECTED AREA, WHICH THE WASP MUST HAVE FIRST SEEN AT THE TOP OF MY HEAD,
SO IF SHE SAID THIS PACE WOULD DRAW WITH THE VENOM, VENOM, SOON AFTER THIS PASTY APPLICATION, I NOTICED SEVERAL MORE WASPS HAVE BECOME INTERESTED IN THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I HEARD OUR SITE VISIT A BIT AND QUICKLY GOT OUT THERE.
I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE SECRET POTION WAS A MIXTURE.
UH, A SECRET GERMAN PASTE WAS A MIXTURE OF WATER AND BROWN SUGAR.
ANYWAY, THANK YOU, CHAIR
UM, GOD BLESS AND THANK ALL OF YOU, SURVIVE OUR NEXT, OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE PRESENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UH, HOPEFULLY YOU'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO, UH, TAKE A READ THROUGH.
UH, THIS DOCUMENT THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, UH, HAS BEEN REFINED AND, UH, ESPECIALLY THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
I WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UH, MY OFFICE, FRAN AND, UH, LONNIE IN PARTICULAR, UH, IN MAKING IT AS PRETTY AS IT IS, UH, AND AARON MAKING IT AS TECHNICAL AND HARD TO READ AS IT IS, UH, AND THE WHOLE CABINET FOR HELPING PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER AND START THE PROCESS OF, UH, WHAT
[00:15:01]
EVENTUALLY BECOME IMPLEMENTATION OF WHAT I THINK IS A VERY, UM, UH, AGGRESSIVE PLAN.UH, ONCE AGAIN, THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR A WHILE, YOU KNOW THAT WE DO ONE OF THESE, UH, EVERY TWO TO FOUR YEARS.
UH, SO THIS, THIS NOW WILL BE MY FOURTH, UH, STRATEGIC PRIORITIES DOCUMENT, UH, AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
UM, I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH THE WHOLE DOCUMENT.
UM, BUT I WOULD DO, I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON EACH ITEM, UM, AND IF, IF IT'S PLEASES THE CHAIR, HAVE ANY CONVERSATION THAT YOU WISH TO HAVE ALONG THE WAY.
THE GOAL OF TODAY'S DISCUSSION, UH, IS SIMPLY TO GO THROUGH THIS IN A PUBLIC FORUM ONE TIME,
[a. 2024-2025 Strategic Priorities Presentation]
UH, BEFORE YOU RECEIVE IT AGAIN IN FINAL FORM.UM, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WILL HAVE THIS ON THEIR AGENDA NEXT MONTH, OR I GUESS NEXT WEEK, UH, THIS MONTH.
AND THIS COUNTY BOARD, UH, WILL MAKE A VOTE ON IT IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, UH, HANDING OFF EXECUTION TO THE NEXT COUNTY BOARD.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU WOULD FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME PLEASE ON, UM, AS WE GO THROUGH THE INITIATIVE NUMBER ONE, UH, NEXT GENERATION HOME OWNERSHIP NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, THESE ARE, THIS IS SPECIFIC TO, UH, THE DEVELOPMENTS SIMILAR TO THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING IN JACKSON, UH, AS WELL AS IN THE CITY OF HARTFORD.
UH, WHICH BY THE WAY, THE, UH, WE HAVE SOME HOME CLOSINGS THAT ARE COMING VERY SOON, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS RECENTLY.
UM, THEY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE HOUSES THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA LIVE IN, IN LITERALLY DAYS.
UM, AND THEY ARE VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE.
UM, THEY LOOK QUITE DIFFERENT IN JACKSON FROM WHAT THEY LOOK IN HARTFORD, UH, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'D WANT, UH, BUT BOTH IMPRESSIVE NONETHELESS.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE OUR FIRST STEP IN THIS PROCESS.
UH, AS YOU'LL NOTICE IF YOU'VE READ THROUGH THIS DOCUMENT, UH, OUR GOALS OF A THOUSAND HOMES BY 2032 REMAIN THE SAME.
UH, BUT A NUMBER OF THINGS CHANGE, UH, AND I'LL LET YOU READ THOSE FOR YOURSELF.
SUFFICE IT TO SAY AS, UH, WE'VE IN INDICATED REALLY FROM THE BEGINNING, UM, GOVERNMENT CAN CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND IT CAN DO A HELL OF A JOB OF STIFLING IT.
AND I WOULD ARGUE TO YOU THAT, UH, HOUSING STARTER HOMES IN PARTICULAR, WE'VE DONE A PRETTY DAMN GOOD JOB OF STIFLING IT OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS IN PARTICULAR.
SO, UM, NEXT GEN HOUSING, HOME OWNERSHIP 2.0 IS REALLY FOCUSING ON REMOVING THE RED TAPE AND HURDLES THAT EXIST, UH, AND COMING UP WITH DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT INITIATIVE.
NUMBER TWO, UH, HEART AND HOMESTEAD EARNED DOWN PAYMENT INCENTIVE.
I KNOW FOR THE LONGEST TIME, PEOPLE LOOKED AT NEXT GEN HOUSING AS ONE MASSIVE PROGRAM AND COULDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HECK IT WAS WE WERE TRYING TO DO.
UM, BUT REALLY IT'S TWO SEPARATE PROGRAMS. UH, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE ONE WITH THE, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, THIS ONE IS A DOWN PAYMENT INCENTIVE, UH, ON APRIL 4TH, ON YOUR DESK, UH, AND YOUR TABLE IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, WE ARE HAVING THE OFFICIAL, UH, LAUNCHING EVENT, UH, AT CIGNA CAST IN HARTFORD, IN THE HARTFORD INDUSTRIAL PARK.
THIS IS, UH, THE $20,000 UP TO $20,000 OR 10%, UM, DOWN PAYMENT INITIATIVE THAT'S REALLY FOCUSED MOSTLY ON GETTING PEOPLE ROOTED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND GIVING BACK.
I WILL, I WILL POINT TO THE NAME.
UH, THEY'RE LOCATED DOWNTOWN, WEST PENN, ALL THE, ALL THE CREDIT IN THE WORLD FOR THIS NAME.
IT TOOK A NUMBER OF ITERATIONS, BUT I THINK IT'S PERFECT, UH, BECAUSE IT HITS ON TWO KEY THINGS.
UM, HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.
AND HOMESTEAD AND HOMESTEAD, UH, I THINK IS A, IS A NICE, UH, RECKONING BACK TO KIND OF WHERE IDEAS LIKE THIS STARTED.
UH, UH, MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM ARE MULTI-GENERATIONAL WASHINGTON COUNTY.
AND IF YOU'RE MORE THAN PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE GENERATIONS, CHANCES ARE YOU ARE A BENEFICIARY OF A HOMESTEAD TYPE PROGRAM, WHICH LITERALLY MEANS SOMEWHERE IN THE LAST 150 YEARS, YOUR FAMILY CAME HERE, PROBABLY PAID LESS THAN $20 FOR 160 ACRES OF LAND.
AND ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS BUILD A HOUSE ON THAT LAND, LIVE THERE FOR FIVE YEARS, AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
THIS PROGRAM, SO MANY OVER 150 YEARS LATER IS VERY MUCH THE SAME.
UM, MANY OF YOU PROBABLY BENEFITED FROM POST WORLD WAR II AMERICA'S VA LOANS.
UH, THIS HAS SIMILAR COMPONENTS TO THAT.
SO I'M EXCITED TO ROLL THAT OUT IN JUST THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND GET THAT OFF THE GROUND.
THE NEXT INITIATIVE, UH, IS A SHARED PLANNER.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT GREAT LENGTH, UH, AS PART OF THE, UH, CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETING, UH, AND THE COUNTY SHARED REVENUE PROGRAM.
UH, I THINK IT LARGELY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
WE'RE LITERALLY SHARING PLANNING SERVICES WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, AND WE'RE EXCITED FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND I'M POSITIVE THAT IT WILL COMPLIMENT THE FIRST TWO INITIATIVES.
THE FOURTH INITIATIVE WE SPENT SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT TODAY, A NUMBER OF YOU, UH, WERE IN THE ROOM AT THE AG LISTENING SESSIONS.
UH, AND YOU HEARD QUITE A, A INTERESTING
[00:20:01]
CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, I'M SURE, AT YOUR INDIVIDUAL TABLES WITH FARMERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY.UM, IN THE COMING WEEKS, UM, COMMITTEES WILL START CONTEMPLATING A RESOLUTION, UM, THAT I, I'M PROUD TO WORK WITH SUPERVISOR CONRAD, UH, ON DEVELOPING, UH, KIND OF A PILOT PROGRAM, UH, TO DO SOMETHING WE'VE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS.
AND THAT IS LOOK FOR HOW CAN WE HELP WITH, UH, PRESERVING FARMLAND IN THIS COUNTY, UH, WITH, WITH, UH, DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND WORKING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO DO IT.
SO, WE HAD SOME INTERESTING REVELATIONS TODAY AT SOME OF OUR TABLES ABOUT SOME OF THE PITFALLS AND THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF, UH, BUT CERTAINLY AN INTEREST IN THIS COUNTY AS DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.
AND, UH, MILWAUKEE SUBURBS AND EXURBS KEEP CREEPING OUT THIS WAY THAT WE TRY TO PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS AND OUR FARMLAND INITIATIVE.
NUMBER FIVE IS WORKFORCE ATTRACTION.
UM, AS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS CERTAINLY AWARE, AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN, UM, WE USE SOME ARPA DOLLARS, UM, IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO, UH, TO DO AN INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON ATTRACTING WORKFORCE THROUGH WASHINGTON COUNTY.
AS THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE WORKFORCE KNOW, OR MAYBE, UH, ARE FAMILIAR WITH, UH, HIRING HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING FOR QUITE SOME TIME, UH, ESPECIALLY POST COVID, UH, THAT, THAT HAS EBBED AND FLOWED, UH, IN THE LAST, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS.
UM, BUT WE REALLY FOCUSED HARD ON TRYING TO CREATE TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO, TO WORK HERE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, PARTICULARLY FROM PLACES THAT, UH, SAW CLOSURES OR, UH, TRANSFERS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO PLACES LIKE MASTER LOCKDOWN IN MILWAUKEE, OR ERRANDS UP IN BRILLION, WHICH IS IN THE FOX VALLEY GREEN BAY AREA, UH, EVEN IN NORTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE.
UM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, NOW WOULD BE A PERFECT TIME TO GO LOOK FOR, UH, NURSES, FOR EXAMPLE, UP IN CHIPPEWA, CHIPPEWA COUNTY, AND EAU CLAIRE COUNTY, WHERE THEY JUST HAD TWO HOSPITALS CLOSE, UH, BECAUSE, UH, OF STAFFING CHALLENGES.
SO THIS INITIATIVE, UH, HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON A PILOT PROGRAM IN THAT VARIETY.
IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE IT, UH, IT WOULD BE A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE WOULD, I BELIEVE WE WOULD NEED TO DO, UH, THE NEXT ISSUE, AND, AND I I SHOULD ALSO MENTION, AS YOU RECALL FROM OUR RETREAT, WHEN WE FIRST DEVELOPED THIS INFORMATION, UH, WE HAD A NICE PRESENTATION FROM THE TEAM FROM REGAL WEAR THAT KIND OF LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR SOME OF THEIR NEEDS, UH, BOTH SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM.
UH, THE NEXT ISSUE IS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, THIS IS ALL ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER WITH MUNICIPAL PARTNERS, OR AT LEAST PREDOMINANTLY.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS WATERMEN WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT OF LEAD LATERALS, AS YOU ALL WERE, HOPEFULLY YOU ALL SAW IT, YOU WERE ALL COPIED ON THE LEAD LATERAL GRANT PROGRAMS, PLURAL PROGRAMS, UM, THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED TO THE CITY OF WEST BEND.
UM, AND, AND BY PROPOSED, I MEAN, GIVEN TO THE CITY OF WEST BEND, UM, THE CITY HAS UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO GET BACK TO US ON ACCEPTANCE OF THAT GRANT OR, OR DECLINING THAT GRANT.
UM, AS THAT PROCEEDS, I, I'VE SAID TO YOU, MANY OF YOU BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, UM, IF WE CAN SHOW THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER, WHICH HASN'T HAPPENED FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS NOW, UM, THIS, I BELIEVE THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS RIGHT AT THE HEART OF WHAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT EXISTS FOR.
IT'S RIGHT AT THE HEART OF, UM, WHY THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE, UH, AS AN ORGANIZATION.
AND I THINK THERE'S NO REASON IT SHOULDN'T CONTINUE.
I THINK THERE'S EVERY REASON IT SHOULD CONTINUE, MAYBE TO PUT IT IN THE POSITIVE.
AND, UH, THERE'S OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BENEFIT IF WE CAN CREATE A FRAMEWORK, UH, THAT'S WORKABLE.
UM, SO HAPPY TO GO INTO THAT IN MORE DETAIL AS COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN.
UH, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT, UH, SCOTT HAS PUT TOGETHER.
AND WE'VE, AND WE'VE GOT READY TO ROLL, UH, FIRE AND EMS, UM, THIS IS FULLY UNDERWAY, AS WAS REPORTED AT THE EGG LISTENING SESSION EARLIER TODAY.
THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE HAS, HAS A TASK FORCE ALREADY FORMED.
THEY HAD THEIR SECOND MEETING YESTERDAY.
UH, SUBSEQUENT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THE END OF APRIL, SO THEY'LL CONTINUE TO ROLL ALONG.
UM, EXCITED FOR THAT IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.
UM, THERE'S, UH, $2 MILLION IN FIRING EEMS GRANTS THAT'LL BEGIN TO BE ROLLED OUT.
THE FIRST MILLION OF THAT, UH, SHOULD BE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
I BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE NEXT, TOMORROW, TOMORROW MORNING.
UM, SO, UM, THAT IS WELL UNDERWAY.
AND, UM, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, LOTS OF OPINIONS INVOLVED IN THAT ISSUE.
UM, THE NEXT INITIATIVE IS THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND INFRASTRUCTURE SEGMENT.
UM, WE WAITED LONG ENOUGH TO DOT EVERY I AND CROSSED EVERY T ON THIS INITIATIVE, OR ON THIS WHOLE ENTIRE DOCUMENT THAT THIS INITIATIVE IS WELL UNDERWAY.
[00:25:01]
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WITH SOME OF THE, UH, PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE, UH, IN THE VILLAGE OF SCU IN PARTICULAR, AND I'M SURE THAT, THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE OF THOSE TO COME AS WELL.INITIATIVE NUMBER FOUR IS WASHINGTON COUNTY HIGHER EDUCATION 2.0.
UH, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS, THIS INITIATIVE DOESN'T STOP CHANGING FROM WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT IT BACK IN JULY.
UH, TO, OF COURSE, SINCE THEN, UH, WASHINGTON COUNTY'S CAMPUSES ANNOUNCED CLOSURE.
UH, IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT YESTERDAY, WAUKESHA COUNTY'S CAMPUS IS NOW CLOSING AT THE END OF NEXT SPRING.
UM, CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ANN ARBOR, UH, LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL HAVE SOME MAJOR CHANGE, IF NOT CLOSURE.
UM, THERE WILL BE MORE AND MORE OF THESE.
UH, AND I, I THINK YOU CAN TAKE IT PRETTY WELL TO THE BANK THAT SINCE THE LARGEST TWO YEAR CAMPUS OF THE UW COLLEGES CLOSED, PRETTY MUCH EVERY ONE OF THEM IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.
IT'S NOT THE UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN.
I'M SURE JAY ROTHMAN HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION.
UM, BUT WHEN THE LARGEST ONE GOES, THEY GOTTA BELIEVE ALL THE REST OF 'EM ARE GONNA GO.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY, OBVIOUSLY, A EVOLVING LANDSCAPE IN THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE WORLD.
UH, WE WENT FROM HESITANCY, I WILL SAY, TO PUT IT NICELY TO YESTERDAY.
WHEN U UH, UWM ANNOUNCED THE CLOSURE OF WAUKESHA, UM, THE, THE PRESIDENT OF WCTC WAS STANDING NEXT TO HIM SAYING, WE'RE, WE'RE READY, WILLING, AND ABLE, AND WE'RE GONNA OPEN A UWM CENTER IN OUR CAMPUS.
UM, THAT IS QUITE THE CHANGE FROM WHERE WE STARTED FROM, UM, WHERE WE HAD A VETO OF SOME DOLLARS TO HELP ACCOMMODATE THE SAME THING.
SO THIS ONE WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE, INCLUDING WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT CAMPUS.
UM, THERE'S, I CAN TELL YOU DOZENS OF PEOPLE INTERESTED, UM, AND DOZENS OF MOSTLY NONPROFITS INTERESTED.
UH, I'M SURE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TOO, IF WE ASKED AROUND.
UM, AND I THINK HOW WE HANDLE THAT WILL MATTER GREATLY.
SO ONE OF THE INITIATIVES YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS, UH, WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT BOARD, HAVING THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT 200,000 SQUARE FEET, AND WHAT DO WE DO THAT WITH THAT 80 ACRES, UH, OF VERY VALUABLE PROPERTY THAT WE OWN.
UH, THE NEXT ISSUE IS COMMUNITY, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELLBEING.
UM, SOCIAL IS ISOLATION AND LONELINESS.
UM, THIS IS, UH, AS YOU ALL CAN IMAGINE, A VERY, UH, COMPLICATED ISSUE.
AND IT, IT TRAVERSES ALL OF THE, UH, COHORTS OF LIVING FROM THE YOUNGEST TO THE OLDEST.
EVERYTHING FROM SOCIAL MEDIA TO BEING STUCK IN YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE OF HEALTH ISSUES OR AGING ISSUES.
UH, AND SO STUDYING THIS IN PARTICULAR AND REALLY COMING UP WITH, UH, A BROAD STRATEGY IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THIS INITIATIVE.
INITIATIVE NUMBER TWO, THIS WAS ONE THAT WAS DISCUSSED BY YOU AS A GROUP.
ALL OF THESE WERE DISCUSSED BY YOU AS A GROUP.
BUT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, UH, WHAT IT SEEMED FROM OUR ANALYSIS, THAT IT WAS A PRETTY BROAD CONSENSUS THAT, UH, AGING FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES GET TAKEN OUT, UH, OF THE, OF THIS, UH, STRATEGIC PRIORITIES DOCUMENT, UH, FOR MANY REASONS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE CITY OF WEST BEND, UH, JUST DID AN INITIATIVE OF THIS KIND WITH A A RP, UH, AND, AND THEREFORE NO REASON TO DUPLICATE EFFORT.
UM, INITIATIVE NUMBER TWO, UH, ANTI-CRIME PLAN B, EXECUTION AND OUTCOME MEASUREMENT.
UM, AGAIN, NEXT WEEK, WEDNESDAY MORNING, I BELIEVE THE SHERIFF IS, UM, PREPARING TO GIVE A, A BIT OF AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH ANTI-CRIME PLAN B.
UM, AND THEN, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES INCLUDING FOLLOWING UP ON THE CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT, CRISIS RESPONDER UNITS OR CO RESPONDER UNITS, UM, AS, AS FAR AS HOW WE FUND, FUND AND BUDGET, THOSE IN 2026 AND BEYOND THE WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR PARK AND AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY, UH, REVISIONING STEP TWO AND BEYOND.
UM, NOW THAT THERE'S NEW LEADERSHIP, UH, INVOLVED, UH, OUT AT A IS AND WE HAD A, AGAIN, A REALLY NICE CONVERSATION WITH THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY AGAIN TODAY.
UM, NOW WE'RE TO BEGINNING TO GET TO EXECUTION MODE, UH, ESPECIALLY AS, UH, THEY GET STAFFED UP AND THEIR TEAM GETS BUILT OUT.
UH, WE BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.
UM, JUST IN THIS PAST WEEK, SUPERVISOR MARY AND SUPERVISOR M**K JOINED, UH, ME AND SOME OF OUR TEAM OUT, UH, DOWN AT THE RAVE TO HAVE A DEEPER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT INDUSTRY, WHAT'S HAPPENING ALL ACROSS, UH, SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN, BUT EVEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN NEXT STEPS FOR THE COUNTY OR MAY NOT LOOK LIKE? UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO WE GO FROM THERE? UM, SO WE ARE AT THE VERY, VERY EARLY STAGES, I WOULD SAY, OF THIS DISCUSSION OF ACTUALLY CREATING A VISION FOR THAT, UH, PROPERTY AND A
[00:30:01]
STRONGER AND STRONGER PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, A IS ISSUE.THE NEXT ISSUE IS SMALL AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT.
UM, FIRST INITIATIVE IS SHARED SERVICE GRANTS.
I THINK YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THESE.
I SHARED THE MEMORANDUM THAT I GAVE TO, UH, CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIALS SEVERAL MONTHS BACK.
UH, THIS IS VERY MUCH ABOUT EXECUTION.
AT THIS STAGE, YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO SEE PROBABLY NEARLY ON A MONTHLY BASIS, UH, PARTNERSHIP AFTER PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH MUNICIPALITIES ON EVERYTHING FROM, UM, FROM A SHARED POTENTIAL SHARED DEPUTY TO SHARED IT SERVICES TO THE SHARED PLANNER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
UM, GRANT PROGRAMS WITH FIRE AND EMS AND SO AND MORE.
SO, UM, EXCITED TO KIND OF CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS GOING.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT A, UM, DASHBOARD IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING COMPLETED AS WE SPEAK, UH, BY AARON AND, AND OUR TEAM.
AND YOU'LL HAVE A CONTINUAL UPDATE, UH, ON THOSE INITIATIVE ON THAT, ON THAT INITIATIVE.
UM, I WILL ADMIT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE SEEMED TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF A, A LACKLUSTER, UH, RESPONSE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT AS A GROUP.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE A, I LEFT IT IN, AND I DIDN'T GIVE IT A LOT OF DEFINITION BECAUSE I THINK WE WOULD BE MAKING A TERRIBLE MISTAKE IF WE DID NOT, UH, PURSUE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNSEL.
UM, WE HAVE HIRED AN ADDITIONAL ATTORNEY IN BRAD'S OFFICE, UH, AND A LARGE PART OF THAT INDIVIDUAL'S RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE TO COORDINATE THIS COORDINATING COUNSEL.
UM, I, I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE THAT THERE ARE A VARIETY OF CONCERNS ABOUT THINGS LIKE BAIL AND BONDS AND SENTENCING, AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS RELATED TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND WE REALLY, WE, YOU AND I REALLY HAVE NO INVOLVEMENT IN THOSE THINGS EXCEPT FOR PURSE STRINGS.
UM, WELL, THE WAY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS IS THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL.
UM, AT LEAST THAT'S HOW I'D LIKE TO SEE IT SET UP.
THAT'S HOW I'D LIKE TO SEE IT WORK.
IF THERE'S GONNA BE ANY CHANGES, IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE THROUGH A COLLECTIVE.
AND THIS HAS GOTTA BE THAT GROUP.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS COUNCIL BECOMES THE VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH TO SEE SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS THROUGH RATHER THAN WAITING TILL ELECTION SEASON AND EVERYBODY POUNDING THE TABLE.
UM, INITIATIVE NUMBER THREE IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS, UH, A RELATIVELY SIMPLE INITIATIVE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU WILL SEE, WHAT YOU MIGHT DO BEHIND THE SCENES.
THERE'LL BE A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK PUTTING TOGETHER KIND OF A WHITE PAPER ON WHAT MIGHT BE THINGS THAT ARE WORTH US INVESTIGATING.
TIME, MONEY, AND RESOURCES IN.
UM, THIS WAS ONE THAT I HAD CONTEMPLATED REMOVING, JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LONG LIST OF INITIATIVES HERE.
THIS IS PRETTY AMBITIOUS, UH, AS I SAID BEFORE, MAYBE EVEN AGGRESSIVE.
UM, BUT AARON'S VERY INTERESTED IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND WROTE THIS ENTIRE REPORT WITH IT.
SEE? UM, SO ANYWAY, SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE EXCITED TO KIND OF SEE WHAT, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES LAY OUT THERE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COUNTIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE USING, UH, ART, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, INITIATIVE, INITIATIVE NUMBER FOUR.
UH, EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR BY NOW WITH THE TRANSPORTATION 2050 PLAN.
UM, THIS IS MAKING IT A 2060 PLAN.
UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE YEARS DON'T STOP GOING BY.
UM, UH, IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, JUST LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT WHO IS HERE IN MILWAUKEE TODAY.
UM, SO THIS ONE WILL CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT WE'VE BEEN, UH, FUNDING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
KEEP US ON TRACK WITH HAVING THAT PLAN FULLY FUNDED, UH, AND, AND PROVIDE UPDATED NUMBERS, INCLUDING, UM, WHAT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND WHAT MIGHT THAT FREE UP DOLLARS TO DO OTHER THINGS AND SO FORTH.
FINALLY, INITIATIVE FIVE, UH, COUNTY CAMPUS MASTER PLAN EXECUTION.
UH, THIS IS ALREADY IN PROCESS.
SOME OF YOU, UH, ARE MORE FAMILIAR THAN OTHERS.
UH, SOME WE HAVE APPROVED PIECES SUCH AS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UM, MOVING OVER TO THE JUSTICE CENTER COUNTY BOARD CHAIR, UH, AND STAFF MOVING UP TO THE THIRD FLOOR.
AND NOW THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HAS STARTED THE PROCESS OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MAIN FLOOR.
THE SECOND FLOOR OF THIS BUILDING, AS THE CLERK TREASURER AND REGISTER OF DEEDS ARE, WE TRY TO MOVE THOSE THREE OFFICES CLOSER TO THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE JUSTICE CENTER.
THAT'LL BE ONE STEP OF PROBABLY DOZENS OF STEPS.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE, UH, THE INITIATIVES, AS I SAID, ARE, UH, AGGRESSIVE OR AMBITIOUS.
UM, I'M EXCITED TO PURSUE THEM, AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, UH, OR CONCERNS
[00:35:04]
SUPERVISOR BOSER, GIMME A MINUTE TO TURN ON YOUR, THERE YOU GO.SO, I WAS NOT HERE AT THE PLANNING MEETING LAST YEAR.
I HAD A PRE-PLANNED TRIP, SO I MISSED IT.
I DO, I WOULD'VE ADVOCATED FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND THE COURTS BY DESIGN, ARE SET UP NOT TO SPEAK TO EACH OTHER, EXCEPT IN THE COURTROOM WHEN THEY'RE ALL THERE.
SO, IT'S HARD WHEN SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING RIGHT.
THERE'S NO FEEDBACK LOOP TO TRY TO FIX IT, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT THIS IS DESIGNED TO DO.
SO I ABSOLUTELY WOULD'VE SPOKEN SUPPORT OF THAT IF I WAS AT THAT MEETING.
SO, SO I APPRECIATE THAT INITIATIVE, AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, I DO WANNA NOTE WHAT THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN, AND I NOTED THIS AT EXECUTIVE AS WELL, WHILE SOME OF THE NEAR TERM PROJECTS THAT ARE SMALLER DOLLAR PROJECTS MAKE SENSE, AND I'M OKAY WITH, UM, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THE MORE LONG RANGE ITEMS, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE PUBLIC AGENCY CENTER ACROSS THE STREET, UM, MOVING THAT TO THIS SIDE OF THE STREET, UM, I'M OF THE OPINION THAT THAT SHOULD BE DELAYED AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
UM, THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG TICKET ITEM.
I BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GENERALLY SHY AWAY FROM BIG BUILDING PROJECTS, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD BE THE LAST RESORT.
I BELIEVE PROPERTY SHOULD BE ON THE TAX ROLLS SUPERVISOR.
M**K, UH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UH, UH, JOSH, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE ON HERE, AND THIS IS A LENGTHY LIST, AS YOU SAID, AND, UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT ON THERE, RIGHT? THAT'S A BIG APPLE.
SO, UM, AT THE RETREAT INITIATIVE, FIVE, WITH REGARD TO WORKFORCE ATTRACTION, I, I DIDN'T LIKE THAT AS A CATEGORY ON A NUMBER OF LEVELS.
OKAY? AND I THINK OF ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE ON HERE, IT SHOULD HAVE THE LAST LEAST, OR EVEN JUST BE ELIMINATED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PUNCH LIST THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY ALL COMES BACK TO QUALITY OF LIFE, RIGHT? ATTRACTING PEOPLE, WHICH JUST BRINGS WORKFORCE.
IN OTHER WORDS, THAT'S JUST SORT OF THE END RESULT OF ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WE START GETTING OUT OVER OUR SKIS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, TO SPREAD OUT.
WHEN WE START BRINGING THINGS LIKE THIS, THIS IS WHEN WE'RE GETTING INTO THINGS THAT'S A PRIVATE SECTOR.
I MEAN, I HAVE A TON OF RESPECT FOR COMPANIES LIKE REGAL.
I WANT, YOU KNOW, MANUFACTURING COMPANIES TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING I CAN IN THIS ROLE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT, FROM A TAXATION STANDPOINT, AND A CLEANLINESS AND A, UH, A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT MAKES IT ATTRACTIVE.
BUT I'M NOT WANTING TO DO MUCH BEYOND THAT.
THAT'S THEIR JOB, RIGHT? I'M AN EMPLOYER, AND SO NOBODY'S HELPING ME, AND WE'RE DOING THE THINGS THAT LEAD TO THAT.
AND, AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT AT THE RETREAT.
AND THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, IT'S REALLY ONE I WOULD CONSIDER ELIMINATING OR MAKING LAST LEASE PRIORITY, OKAY? IN MY OPINION.
I, I WOULD APPRECIATE MORE FEEDBACK ON THAT.
IF, IF ANYBODY'S WILLING, SUPERVISOR GALLS, UH, THANK YOU CHAIR.
UH, SO EXECUTIVE SHOWMAN, YOU, YOU OBVIOUSLY MADE IT VERY CLEAR GOING THROUGH HERE.
UH, THERE'S A LOT, RIGHT? SO WE COLLECTIVELY ADMINISTRATION, UH, THIS BOARD IS REALLY GONNA HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE AND TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PRIOR, UH, COMPETING PRIORITIES, RIGHT? UM, AS, AS WELL AS I, I THINK IF WE DON'T IDENTIFY SUCCESS CRITERIA, UH, HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AND, AND NOT TO MONETIZE THINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WAS THERE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT IN WHICH OF TIME OR EFFORT OR ET CETERA? UM, YOU KNOW, DID WE ACTUALLY, UH, OBTAIN, UH, OR ACHIEVE, UH, THE DESIRED OUTCOMES OR SUCCESS CRITERIA? SO THAT'S, I GUESS, WHAT'S MISSING HERE.
AND, AND THAT'S PART OF THE SAUSAGE MAKING, RIGHT? UM, SO I GET THAT WILL COME, BUT, UM, I THINK ALL OF US NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT, UM, AS ANY ONE OF US IN OUR COMMITTEES THAT LIKELY WILL BE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES, UH, WE REALLY SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE DEFINE SUCCESS, UM, OVER SIMPLIFYING IT.
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM STATEMENT AND WHAT'S YOUR SOLUTION? AND HOW DO WE DEFINE SUCCESS? VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR SCHULTE.
UH, THIS IS INITIATIVE FOR THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FARMLAND PRESERVATION.
I REALIZE THIS IS A HIGH LEVEL BULLET POINT DOCUMENT.
JUST DIGGING INTO THE WEEDS A BIT.
UM, HOW ARE WE, UH, LOOKING AT BEING PROTECTED, ESPECIALLY OF PURCHASE OF OUR FARMLAND FROM CHINA? UH, SO NOT RELATED TO THIS INITIATIVE AT ALL.
I MEAN, CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT A LAND USE AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
[00:40:02]
SHOULD DISCUSS AND HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT.BUT THIS ONE REALLY IS MORE ABOUT AN INITIATIVE THAT 25 YEARS AGO, THE COUNTY, YEAH, 25 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR, 1999, THE COUNTY HAD INVESTIGATED, UM, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS.
PS UM, BASICALLY PURCHASING OR PUTTING LAND EASEMENTS ON COUNTY LAND IN, IN COOPERATION WITH FARMERS SPECIFICALLY, UH, BUT ALSO LARGE LANDOWNERS.
UM, BASICALLY THE TICKET, UH, TICKET PRICE WAS TOO MUCH.
UH, I BELIEVE THERE WAS REFERENDUMS BACK IN THOSE DAYS.
UH, THEY, THEY DIDN'T FAIL EVERYWHERE.
THEY DID FAIL HERE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
WE NEVER REALLY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, UH, SIMILAR TO SUPERVISOR GALAXY'S POINT, WE NE REALLY NEVER EXPLAINED, UH, WHAT'S THE GOAL? WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, AND WHEN DO WE KNOW WHEN WE'VE GOT ARRIVED THERE? UM, WHAT WE LEARNED TODAY, OR AT LEAST WHAT I LEARNED TODAY, WAS HAVING A PRO, A PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN A CLOSE WORKING PARTNER WITH, UH, SOMEONE LIKE CEDAR LAKE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, FOR EXAMPLE.
UM, THAT CAN GIVE US THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY START TO IDENTIFY, UH, 'CAUSE UNTIL YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS.
AND WE, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF FARMERS WHO MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO US, UNTIL YOU'RE LIKE, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF SIGNING YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
SO THERE'S DEFINITELY ADVANTAGES.
UH, YOU, YOU ALL SAW THE PRESENTATION FROM C-L-C-F-A FEW MONTHS AGO.
I MEAN, FARMLAND'S GETTING CHEWED UP LEFT AND RIGHT.
SO I THINK THERE'S, IT'S A WORTHWHILE EFFORT, UH, TO HAVE A PROGRAM OF THIS VARIETY.
BUT IT WOULDN'T SPECIFICALLY BE TO, TO CHINA OR ANYBODY ELSE FOR THAT MATTER, PURCHASING LAND.
UM, I WILL MENTION THAT INITIALLY I WAS THINKING WE COULD START VERY SMALL WITH, YOU KNOW, A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, AND SUPERVISOR CONRAD AND I HAD THAT DISCUSSION AND KIND OF LAUGHED AT AMONGST EACH OTHER AND SAID, YOU KNOW, HALF A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS DOESN'T GET YOU ANYTHING, UH, IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, TRUE.
UH, WE'VE PURCHASED HOW MANY PIECES OF PROPERTY RECENTLY.
SO, UM, YOU'LL SEE IN THE, I, I THINK IN THE RESOLUTION COMING FORWARD IN THE, IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, FIRST PROPOSAL WILL BE A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
LIKE, LET'S TRY ONE, LET'S SEE WHAT WORKS.
AND THEN COME BACK TO THE LAND USE AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.
UM, JOSH, UH, THIS WHOLE, UH, STRATEGIC INITIATIVE, WHEN WE PUT THIS TOGETHER, IT WAS BROAD REACHING.
IT HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UH, ANGLES TO IT.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT WORK.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT MOVING PARTS THAT ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER COHESIVELY, UH, SUCH AS YOU HAVE TO HAVE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE JOBS FOR THEM TO GO TO.
UM, QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, IS HAVING GOOD PARKS, BUT IT'S ALSO HAVING CLEAN, SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS A GOOD PAYING JOB.
IF YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF WEST BEND, UH, EARLY ON, WEST BEND WAS A MANUFACTURING HUB NORTH OF MILWAUKEE.
IT HAD MAJOR CORPORATIONS OF WEST BEND INDUSTRIES, GELL CORPORATION, AMITY LEATHER, UH, MYRIAD OF, OF VERY BROAD-BASED MANUFACTURING.
UH, SOMEWHERE IN PROBABLY THE LATE SEVENTIES, EARLY EIGHTIES, UH, THE FOUNDING FATHERS, OR THE FATHERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN WEST BEND SORT OF ABANDONED THAT IDEA THAT WE NEEDED JOBS HERE, THAT WE SHOULD BECOME MORE SERVICE ORIENTED.
AND I THINK THAT REALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE DOWNFALL OF WEST BEND.
AND A LOT OF THE GOOD PAYING JOBS THAT USED TO BE HERE, SUCH AS GELL INDUSTRY, AMITY, LEATHER, ALL THE PREVIOUS ARE GONE, OR AT VERY LEAST ARE VERY SMALL PORTIONS OF WHAT THEY USED TO BE IN THIS TOWN.
AND THEY DO EXIST IN OTHER PLACES, JUST NOT HERE.
'CAUSE WE WEREN'T FAVORABLE TO THEM.
SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT WORKFORCE ATTRACTION, WHEN I THINK ABOUT, UH, THE NEXT GENERATION HOUSING, UH, ALL THESE THINGS TIE TOGETHER TO, TO MAKE THIS PLAN WORK.
AND, AND I DON'T, I KNOW THERE MIGHT BE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THIS THAT YOU MAY HAVE A LITTLE ISSUE WITH OR WHATEVER, BUT LOOK AT IT MORE AS THE WHOLE DOCUMENT, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.
BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THERE'S MANY MOVING PARTS THAT ARE ALL COMING TOGETHER HERE, AND, AND WE CAN'T REALLY OMIT TOO MUCH OF THIS, BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF THEM ARE IMPORTANT IN THEIR OWN WAY.
I HOPE THAT KIND OF TIES IT ALL TOGETHER FOR YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
WELL, YOU PROBABLY KNOW I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT NGHI, UH, I THINK WE NEED
[00:45:01]
TO ADMIT THAT IT HASN'T BEEN THE BIG SUCCESS THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE $20 AN HOUR.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN JACKSON.
UM, UH, SOMEBODY THAT, THAT, AND, AND ORIGINALLY IT STARTED OUT AS 200 TO 255 $50,000 HOMES, WHICH THE LENDER SAID WAS VERY AFFORDABLE FOR SOMEBODY MAKING $20 AN HOUR WITH THEIR OVERTIME, MAYBE EVEN WITH ADDITIONAL, UM, INCOME IN THE FAMILY.
AND I THINK, UH, THE DOCUMENT SAID, UH, FAMILY INCOME OF ABOUT $76,000.
UH, I FOUND THAT ON, ON THE POWERPOINT.
UM, SO WE HAVEN'T MET THAT GOAL AT ALL.
WE INCREASED THE VALUES FROM THREE 20 TO FOUR 20.
I JUST LOOKED AT, UH, THE BUILDER.
THE BUILDER SAYS, STARTING PRICE AT $370,000 FOR A NEW HOME.
UH, THERE'S THREE HOUSES IN THAT PROJECT, UH, THAT ARE PRICED.
AND THEY'RE ACTIVE AT 490, 4 85, AND $470,000 EVEN ABOVE OUR MAXIMUM.
SO I THINK WE HAVE MONIES REMAINING IN THE NEXT GEN HOUSING.
HOW CAN WE SPEND THAT MONEY TO MEET OUR GOAL, WHICH IS HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.
UM, I INITIALLY WAS GONNA SAY, GIVE THE MONEY BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS, BUT THERE IS A NEED, UH, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT THIS PROGRAM, NOT MEETING IT, NOT, NOT EVEN CLOSE, WE CAN'T AFFECT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MARKET.
WE CAN HELP PEOPLE BUY A HOUSE, SURELY.
UH, BUT WE CAN'T MAKE THE MARKET, ESPECIALLY NOW IN INFLATION.
INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE WAY UP.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN BE BIG ENOUGH TO LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, OKAY, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB ON NGH
WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY CHECK YOUR FAX.
THERE'S NOT A SINGLE HOUSE IN JACKSON THAT'S SELLING FOR $490,000.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO BACK AND FIND I HAVE IT.
I JUST LOOKED IT UP YESTERDAY.
AND IT, IT IS IN THE, IN THAT, IN THAT PLAN, I'M SURE.
WELL, ANYWAY, I'M NOT GONNA ARGUE WITH YOU ABOUT FACTS, BUT, BUT WE SHOULD AT LEAST LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR FACTS.
WE SHOULD LOOK AT MY FACTS ARE ACCURATE.
I LOOKED UP THEY'RE NOT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S WHAT THEY'RE PRICING IT ON, ON, IT CAME RIGHT OFF OF THEIR, OFF OF THEIR WEBSITE.
AND WE SHOULD BE BIG ENOUGH TO LOOK AT THAT AND SAY IT'S NOT.
OH, THERE'S PLENTY TO LOOK AT.
IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU'RE WELCOME TO PURSUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M NOT INTERESTED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M INTERESTED IN HOME OWNERSHIP.
THAT'S WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN.
UH, AND I'M ASSUMING THE, THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S INTERESTED TOO.
'CAUSE THEIR PROGRAM IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO OUR PROGRAM SINCE THEY APPROVED IT OVERWHELMINGLY OUTTA THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND THE STATE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT.
IT'S GONNA BE A PROGRAM THAT'S ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
BUT THERE'S ONE MAJOR HURDLE THAT'S HOLDING IT UP.
AND WHETHER YOU WANNA ADMIT IT OR NOT, IT'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND FEES.
SO YEAH, WE HAVE ALL THE CONTROL IN THE WORLD AND WE EXERCISE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO I, I WASN'T PLANNING ON DEBATING THIS TONIGHT.
UM, SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE, THE, THE, THE $10 MILLION IS COUNTY TAX PAYER MONEY.
PEOPLE IN THE TOWNSHIPS GET NO BENEFIT FROM THAT.
PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGES, UH, THAT DON'T HAVE NGH GET NO BENEFIT FROM IT.
UH, THERE ARE THREE HOMES ON MAPLE FIELD CIRCLE.
THOSE ARE THE THREE HOMES I'M TALKING ABOUT.
MAPLE FIELD CIRCLES NOT IN OAKS, RIGHT? DAISY? IT IT IS, IT IS IN THAT, IN THAT, IN THAT SUBDIVISION.
HARBOR HOMES IS ONE OF THE CORPORATIONS OF NEWMAN COMPANY.
THEY HAVE SEVERAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS COUNTY.
WELL, I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT OFFLINE.
I'LL STAND, I'LL STAND CORRECTED.
BUT, BUT THERE ARE, THERE ARE NO HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THAT PRICE RANGE OF 200 TO $250,000.
AND NOBODY, AND NOBODY, I I THINK WE COULD ALL AGREE, BIDEN, BIDEN INFLATION HAS KILLED AND THREE.
AND $320,000 IS WAY BEYOND THE MEANS OF SOMEBODY MAKING $20 AN HOUR OR $76,000 A YEAR AS A TOTAL HOME INCOME.
I ALSO WASN'T PREPARED TO DEBATE.
[00:50:01]
HAPPY TO DO THAT.AND WE SHOULD DO THAT AT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
SUPERVISOR WATTS, ETH THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I JUST WANT TO, UM, REFLECT SUPERVISOR GALL'S, UM, COMMENTS ABOUT IDENTIFYING GOALS.
LIKE HOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEASURE THIS AND MAKE IT QUANTIFIABLE.
UM, THAT'S JUST THE, THE WORLD I LIVE IN TOO.
AND THAT WAS MY ONLY, UM, MY MAIN COMMENT ON THIS.
ANYONE ELSE WANT TO COMMENT? CAN I JUST ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION ON THE WORKFORCE INITIATIVE? UH, 'CAUSE I, I COMPLETELY APPRECIATE THAT PERSPECTIVE, AND IT, IT WAS A LOT LARGE PART OF THE DISCUSSION, IF YOU REMEMBER, AT THIS RETREAT.
UH, AND IT'S A DIFFERENT, IT'S A SLIGHT, NOT SLIGHTLY, IT'S A PRETTY DIFFERENT VIEW, UH, FROM WHAT I HEARD WHEN WE LEFT.
SO I, I HAVE NO PROBLEM, BUT WE'VE ALREADY PUT SIX FIGURES INTO THAT INITIATIVE.
I DON'T WANNA GO DOWN THE PATH OF DOING ANOTHER SIX FIGURES OR, YOU KNOW, STARTING TO WORK WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS.
AND IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF ENERGY.
SO IF IF THERE'S A CONSENSUS THAT LET'S STAY AWAY FROM IT, THEN WE'LL PULL IT OUT BEFORE NEXT WEEK, I WOULD PULL IT OUT PERFECT.
AND I MOST CERTAINLY WOULD NOT.
UM, THE WORKFORCE INITIATIVE, WASHINGTON COUNTY IS DEPENDENT ON TAX COLLECTIONS AND GROWTH.
THAT'S JUST HOW IT WORKS IN GOVERNMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MAJOR CORPORATIONS THAT PAY MAJOR BUCKS IN TAXES AND USE VERY LITTLE SERVICES.
THAT'S WHERE A VAST MAJORITY OF MONIES COME FROM, FROM THE SALES THAT THEY DO IN THE FORM OF SALES TAX, PROPERTY TAXES, UH, THERE'S JUST TONS OF STUFF.
THEY PAY A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE KIDS IN SCHOOLS.
THEY GENERALLY DON'T USE FIREFIGHTER SERVICES ALL THAT MUCH, OR POLICE SERVICES ALL THAT MUCH.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS, UH, RUDE TO SAY IT THAT WAY, BUT IT'S JUST FACT.
BUT YOU NEED TO KEEP THOSE BUSINESSES HERE.
AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS GIVE THEM GOOD ACCESS TO A GOOD WORKFORCE.
AND RIGHT NOW, WITH THE PROBLEMS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING AND TRYING TO ADDRESS IN THIS DOCUMENT, SUCH AS HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN, UH, IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT WORKFORCE.
WE HAVE, WHAT, OVER 1200 JOBS LAST I HEARD IN HARTFORD THAT WERE UNFILLED, THAT WERE 20, $25 AN HOUR JOBS.
A LOT OF THE OTHER MAJOR INDUSTRIES OUT THERE THAT THEY CAN'T FILL.
AT WHAT POINT DO THESE FACTORIES DO, LIKE GELL INDUSTRY AND AMITY LEATHER AND ALL THE REST OF THEM JUST SAY, LOOK, WE LOVE IT HERE.
WE LOVE BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR US ANYMORE.
WE CAN'T FIND THE WORKERS THAT WE NEED TO PUT OUT OUR PRODUCTS AND MAKE OUR PROFITS.
SO WHY NOT MOVE OUR FACTORY TO MILWAUKEE? WHY NOT MOVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE? THEN WE SIT HERE WITH NO TAX COLLECTIONS, NO BUSINESSES, NO JOBS, BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID THAT WE MIGHT BE HELPING A, A BUSINESS FIND EMPLOYEES.
THIS IS VITAL TO OUR GROWTH AND OUR ABILITY TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.
ALL THE THINGS THAT WE PAY FOR IN THIS ROOM COME FROM THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE AND THE FACTORIES AND BUSINESS.
THAT'S WHERE OUR TAXES COME FROM.
BUSINESSES DO WORKING CLASS PEOPLE DO.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD, HEALTHY WORKFORCE.
BELIEVE ME, WHEN I TOLD YOU THE STORY OF WEST BEND, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO WEST BEND.
IT'S STILL SUFFERING TODAY FROM THAT LACK OF LOSS OF MANUFACTURING HERE IN THE CITY.
AND IT CAN HAPPEN IN HARTFORD, IT CAN HAPPEN IN GERMANTOWN, AND IT WILL, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO ALL COMMUTE UP FROM MILWAUKEE AND, AND WORK AT JOBS OUT HERE.
WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO ATTRACT GOOD WORKFORCE.
THEY HAVE GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE AND, AND ALL THE REST OF THAT, BUT THAT JUST ISN'T ENOUGH.
ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS IS GETTING THEM HOUSING AND, AND YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO CONVINCE 'EM IF IT MIGHT BE MASS TRANSIT, IT MIGHT BE, THERE MIGHT BE A MILLION DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR WORKFORCE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND OUR FUTURE.
UH, CHAIR ON, ON THE SAME SUBJECT.
UM, YEAH, I STRUGGLE TOO WITH THAT BEING A PRIORITY, UH, INITIATIVE.
AND TO MY FURTHER, UH, COMMENT
[00:55:01]
IS WHAT WOULD THE OBJECTIVE AND HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS? UM, SO MAYBE I, I COULD OFFER A DIFFERENT APPROACH, UH, TO, TO THAT PIECE ABOUT WORKFORCE ATTRACTION.UM, EXECUTIVE SHOWMAN, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT NEXT, EARLIER ABOUT, UH, PREVIOUSLY, SORRY, ABOUT NEXT GEN HOUSING AND, AND HOW MUNICIPALITIES, UM, GOVERNMENT, IF YOU WILL, UH, INTERFERES, GETS IN A WAY WITH HOMES, WELL, THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY SAID THE SAME FOR, UM, GENERATING BUSINESSES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
SO COULD THIS SHIFT TO, UM, LOOKING AT, UH, COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES AND THEIR PLETHORA OF REGULATIONS AND ET CETERA, AND DETERMINE WHAT IS OUTDATED
SO THAT, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING FOR US TO CONSIDER IS SHIFT THAT, UH, FOCUS OF THAT WORKFORCE ATTRACTION TO, UM, HOW SHOULD GOVERNMENT HELP FACILITATE, UH, ECONOMIC GROWTH? 'CAUSE IT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.
THAT'S, THAT'S PRIVATE INDUSTRY IN MY OPINION.
WE, WE CAN, YOU KNOW, LEAD FOWLER GET OUTTA THE WAY.
AND ARE WE ON THE WAY? I, I'M NOT SURE.
UM, I WILL ALSO COMMENT ON THE WORKFORCE ATTRACTIONS SINCE THAT WAS ASKED FOR COMMENTS ON.
AND I, I APPRECIATE, UH, SUPERVISOR GALL'S COMMENTS ON THAT.
I CAN AGREE WITH QUITE A BIT OF WHAT HE RAISED THERE.
UH, MY, SOME OF MY COMMENTS, AND I HAVEN'T GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT, SO IT'S REACTIONARY COMMENTS AT BEST.
BUT WHEN I READ OR HEAR WORK ATTRACT WORKFORCE ATTRACTION, I'M WONDERING, ARE WE ATTRACTING 'EM FOR BEING A WORKER? OR ARE WE ATTRACTING 'EM TO LIVE HERE? AND THIS IS KIND OF IN DIRECT COMPETITION WITH TRYING TO PROVIDE GOOD QUALITY HOUSING.
'CAUSE WE HAVE HOUSING SHORTAGES TO START WITH.
SO WHY WOULD WE, FOR TRYING TO ATTRACT THE WORKERS TO LIVE HERE, WE'RE GONNA CONSTANTLY BE SHORT ON HOUSING.
SO WHERE WE'RE GONNA CONSTANTLY BE BUILDING.
AND SO THE, WE'RE GONNA CONSTANTLY BE CHEWING UP OUR FARMLAND AND SHRINKING THE TOWNSHIPS FURTHER ENCOURAGING THE, THE, THE URBAN SPRAWL THAT CHEWS UP THIS FARMLAND.
SO THE ONE PART IN THE, HERE, THIS PART HERE THAT IS IN BOLD, SO I, AND I'M NOT SURE WHY IT'S IN BOLD, BUT IT SAYS TO ENG, ENGAGE INITIATIVE TO ENGAGE IN IMPLEMENTED, WHICH IDENTIFIES DISPLACED WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND ATTRACTS 'EM TO WASHINGTON COUNTY TO FILL OUR JOBS AND GROW OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO THAT TO ME, SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ATTRACTING THE PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE VERSUS, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY FIGURES OF UNEMPLOYMENT RATES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT CURRENT TO FAR OUR AREA, BUT I WOULD, WHETHER WE NEED TO REEDUCATE, RE RE PUSH PEOPLE TO FIND NEW CAREERS IF NEEDED TO, YOU KNOW, FIND A NEW, NEW EFFORTS THAT WAY.
BUT IF THERE'S JUST A DISCONNECT WITH THE EMPLOYERS VERSUS THE SKILL SETS, IT STUFF LIKE THAT, MORE THAN JUST GROWING OUR POPULATION, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE'RE IN A VICIOUS CIRCLE THAT WE'LL NEVER CATCH UP TO.
WE'RE ALWAYS CHASING OUR TAIL AT POINT, IS HOW I WOULD FEEL.
SO TAKE THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
THIS IS NOT MY MAIN PRIORITIES THAT I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I GOT.
SO I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT SUPERVISOR KEL SAID ON WORKFORCE ATTRACTION.
I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND, AND INVEST ARPA MONEY IN THIS WAY.
UM, I MEAN, LET'S FACE IT, WE GOT WAY TOO MUCH ARPA MONEY.
I THINK WE ALL IN THIS ROOM WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
THE FEDS JUST DUMPED A TON OF MONEY ON US.
LET'S INVEST IT IN WAYS THAT BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.
LET'S DEVELOP A MODEL, SEE IF IT WORKS, MAKES, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF WE NEED TO.
BUT FIND SOME SORT OF RECIPE THAT ATTRACTS WORKERS HERE.
I THINK THE SUPERVISOR GALA'S POINT, THIS IS A CHANCE FOR US TO LEAD AND NOT BE IN THE WAY.
UM, FIRST, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPEN DIALOGUE AND, UM, SUPERVISORS COMING PREPARED AND SUPERVISOR, YOU KNOW, KRIEGER, RUM, UM, PUTTING HERSELF OUT THERE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW HER COMMENTS, MIGHT YOU OR SOME OF OUR COMMENTS HERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE THINKING DIFFERENTLY, BUT, UM,
[01:00:01]
YOU KNOW, IF EVERYONE'S THINKING THE SAME, NO ONE'S THINKING.I APPRECIATE THIS HOPE AND DIALOGUE, AND I HOPE OTHER OF YOU WHO ARE HAVING SOME THOUGHTS AS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS, UM, PLEASE SPEAK UP AND, AND REPRESENT YOUR CON YOU KNOW, YOUR CONSTITUENTS TOO, OR SO YOUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW HOW YOU'RE THINKING.
UM, THAT'S WHY I CHIME IN, UM, MYSELF.
BUT TOO ON THAT NOTE, UM, REGARDING THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNSEL, UM, I TOO SUPPORT KEEPING THAT.
UM, I HOPE YOU ALL DO TOO, BUT, AND PART OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHY, UM, PEOPLE LIVE HERE, RIGHT? WE SPEAK OF THE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE AND, UM, REALLY THE, THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE NEED TO SUSTAIN THAT AND, UM, LOOK AT ALL ISSUES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, THE DRUG COURT REALLY ADDRESSES, YOU KNOW, A, A, A HUGE ISSUE.
WE ARE NOT IMMUNE, UM, TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE SERVICE OF THE DRUG COURT.
AND WE WANT TO IN, UM, ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED THAT, UM, HAVE THOSE SUPPORT SYSTEMS SO WE CAN HELP GET THEM BACK TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, GOOD MEMBERS OF, OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO THAT THEIR LOVED ONES AND FAMILIES KNOW THAT THEY, UM, THE COMMUNITY ALSO SUPPORTS THEM.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, CHIME IN AND SAY, YOU KNOW, ALSO TOO, I, I'D LIKE TO KEEP THAT.
I HOPE EVERYBODY, UM, ELSE IS, IS FEELING THE SAME IF YOU, UM, FEEL DIFFERENTLY, HAVE SOME CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, UM, PLEASE SPEAK UP TOO.
I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, SPIRITED DISCUSSION AT EXECUTIVE
[b. Heart and Homestead Presentation]
NEXT UP IS THE HEART AND HOMESTEAD PRESENTATION.UM, SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS, UM, THAT HAS BEEN MADE ON THE HEART AND HOMESTEAD, UH, PROGRAM SINCE I'VE TALKED WITH THE COUNTY BOARD BACK IN, UM, AUGUST.
UH, PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE IS THE NEW, UM, NAMING THE NEW BRAND OF HEART AND HOMESTEAD.
AND, UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, EPIC CREATIVE ON THAT.
UM, BEFORE I GET INTO, UM, ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON, UH, SINCE AUGUST, UM, AS PART OF THE BRANDING PROCESS, WE REALLY DID A DEEP DIVE ON WHAT THIS PROGRAM REALLY MEANS AND WHAT THE IMPACT IS GONNA BE.
AND SO I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND JUST READ, UM, SOME OF THE, THE LANGUAGE, THE GOAL, IT'S REALLY THE ESSENCE OF THIS INCENTIVE.
UM, SO HEART AND HOMESTEAD REWARDS THOSE WILLING TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY WITH AN INCENTIVE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF HOME OWNERSHIP.
IT IS THE INVESTMENT IN THE INCENTIVE RECIPIENTS THAT NOT ONLY MAKES PROPERTY OWNERSHIP MORE ATTAINABLE, BUT IT SIGNALS TO EXISTING RESIDENTS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEW BUYERS WILL BE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTING IN ENRICHING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY AT THE CORE OF HEART.
AND HOMESTEAD IS CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MAKING HOME OWNERSHIP MORE ATTAINABLE AND BUILDING STRONG SOCIAL NETWORKS THAT ARE FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE INVESTED IN BUILDING A GREAT COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S REALLY THE ESSENCE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH A HEART AND HOMESTEAD INCENTIVE.
SO, UM, MANY THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING ON.
UM, SINCE AUGUST, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY, UM, WITH OUR CO-MANAGER OF THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS OUR, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WASHINGTON COUNTY.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, PUT TOGETHER A CONTRACT, UM, WITH THEM FOR THE CO-MANAGEMENT.
UM, EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A HANDOUT, UM, ON THE SECOND PAGE OF THAT HANDOUT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO GO THROUGH, UM, THE PROCESS AT A, A VERY HIGH LEVEL.
UM, AND I DID TALK ABOUT THIS, UM, A LITTLE BIT IN AUGUST, BUT WE'VE NAILED DOWN SOME OF THE DETAILS HERE.
AND, UM, EDWC IS GOING TO BE HANDLING THE APPLICATION COMPONENT, UM, OF THE INCENTIVE.
UM, GET THE APPLICATIONS, PROCESS, THE APPLICATIONS, DETERMINE WHO IS APPROVED, AND THEN DISBURSEMENT OF THE FUNDS AT CLOSING.
THERE'S MANY STEPS TO THESE, BUT THEN AT CLOSING IS WHERE THE RECIPIENT IS GOING TO BE INTRODUCED
[01:05:01]
TO THEIR POINT OF CONTACT AT THE COUNTY.AND THEN AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WHICH IS THE GREEN WASHINGTON COUNTY, UM, THEY GO THROUGH A FIVE YEAR EARNING PERIOD WHERE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN, UM, THE INCENTIVE THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE AND FINANCIAL GIVING.
AND THEN AT THREE, AT THE END OF THAT FIVE YEAR EARNINGS PERIOD, THEN THERE'S A HANDOFF BACK TO THE EDWC IN TERMS OF THE RELEASE OF THE MORTGAGE.
SO THAT'S EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL, BUT IT HAS BEEN, IT HAS BEEN WORKED OUT.
UM, MANY DETAILS TO, TO GET TO THIS POINT.
UM, SO THE APPLICATION PORTER PORTAL, UM, IS GOING TO LAUNCH ON NOON ON APRIL 4TH.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LINK FROM THE COUNTY WEBSITE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE OUR COUNTDOWN CLOCK.
UM, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, IN TAKING A LOOK AT THAT, I THINK WE'RE DOWN TO, UM, 21 DAYS AND, AND A FEW HOURS.
SO, UM, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR INCENTIVE INCENTIVE TRACKING PORTAL.
UM, THIS IS WHERE RECIPIENTS ARE GOING TO LOG INTO THE COUNTY WEBSITE, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEARCH THE ORGANIZATION WHERE THEY HAVE DONE THEIR, UH, VOLUNTEERING OR THEIR FINANCIAL GIVING AND BE ABLE TO LOG, UM, THOSE HOURS AND DOLLARS.
UM, AND THEN THE AGENCY THAT THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH WILL GET PINGED AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO APPROVE TO VERIFY THAT YES, THOSE RECIPIENTS DID PUT IN THAT TIME OR DID DONATE THOSE DOLLARS.
UM, AND THEN THE COUNTY GETS PINGED AGAIN.
AND SO EVERY, UM, QUARTER THEN WE'LL BE LOOKING AT, UH, THE DOLLARS FOR EACH OF THE RECIPIENTS.
AND TWICE A YEAR, EACH OF THE RECIPIENTS WILL BE RECEIVING A LETTER IN THE MAIL THAT IDENTIFIES, UM, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF HOURS OR THE AMOUNT THAT THEY'VE DONATED AND WHAT IS REMAINING ON THEIR INCENTIVE BALANCE.
UM, YESTERDAY WE COMPLETED A TRAINING, UM, FOR LENDERS, UH, REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND TITLE COMPANIES.
UH, WE WENT THROUGH THE, THE WHOLE APPLICATION PROCESS AND THE EARNINGS PROCESS.
UM, WE WILL BE STARTING MARKETING, UM, WITH EPIC INCENTIVE THAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT WEEK.
UM, SO YOU'LL PROBABLY, UH, SEE THINGS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS, UM, IN THE NEWSPAPER.
UH, THE ONE THING I DID WANT TO, UM, MENTION IS THAT WE DO HAVE OUR FIRST RECIPIENT, UH, WAS VERY HAPPY.
WE, WITH THE WHOLE PROCESS, UM, THEY, UM, ARE OUT OF JACKSON AND THEY WERE ABLE TO WALK THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS IN A PAPER FORMAT.
UM, IT WAS A TEST PROCESS JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF OUR BASIS COVERED.
UM, NOW THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS ALL GOING TO BE ONLINE.
UM, UH, LASTLY, WE DO HAVE OUR LAUNCH EVENT SENT.
YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL, UH, RECEIVED AN INVITATION, UM, THAT IS HAPPENING ON APRIL 4TH AT 10 O'CLOCK.
SO THAT'S A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH THE HEART AND HOMESTEAD PROGRAM.
UM, AND I'M OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS, SUPERVISOR.
KEL, LET ME TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE.
UM, MORE A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION.
UH, READ THROUGH THE RECIPIENT QUALIFICATIONS AND, UH, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT I READ HERE, UH, THAT THE COUNTY IS, IS BEING VERY PROTECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THESE TO THE RIGHT AND DESERVING PEOPLE.
UM, AND, AND HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGING THEM TO OUR COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE IT IS DESIGNED TO BE SOMETHING THAT GETS PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED WITH OUR CHURCHES AND OUR SERVICE GROUPS.
UH, AND, AND WE WANT THE RIGHT KIND OF PEOPLE, GOOD FAMILIES, UH, HOWEVER THAT'S CONSTRUCTED.
UM, PEOPLE WHO OBEY THE LAW OBVIOUSLY, AND HOPEFULLY HAVE AT LEAST A HALFWAY DECENT CREDIT RATING, UM, AND, AND COME HERE TO WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
SO I'M, I'M JUST VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT I READ WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS, AND I THINK WHEN PEOPLE GO OVER AND LOOK AT THAT, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE STRINGENT, UH, BY ANY MEANS.
I JUST THINK IF YOU'RE A DECENT, HARDWORKING FAMILY PERSON, UH, YOU WOULD QUALIFY UNDER THIS PROGRAM.
SO I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.
UH, JUST REMIND ME HOW MANY DOLLARS WERE, UM, FRONTED FOR, FOR THIS? SO WHAT'S THE POOL THAT, THAT WECW IS WORKING WITH? YEAH, SO, UM, 2.5 MILLION.
UH, 2.5 MILLION, UH, WAS SET ASIDE FOR THE HEART AND HOMESTEAD PROGRAM.
UM, WE DO HAVE SOME AMOUNT IN RESERVE.
WE DO HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, UM, WITH EDWC, CO-MANAGING,
[01:10:01]
UM, THE APPLICATION PROCESS.UM, SO ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE, UM, ENOUGH FUNDS RIGHT NOW, UH, FOR 105 RECIPIENTS.
UM, AND WE DO INTEND TO START REACHING OUT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UM, AND HOPING TO INCREASE THAT POOL OF MONEY, UM, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF BENEFIT, UM, TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM.
UM, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS COULD TIE TO NEXT GEN HOUSING, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT A REQUIREMENT.
UM, IS THERE ANY THOUGHT, UM, OR THINKING OF HOW MANY NEXT GEN HOUSING PARTICIPANTS MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE, UM, SORRY, I DON'T HAVE IT MEMORIZED.
SO, UM, WE, UM, TALKED ABOUT THAT QUITE A BIT, UM, AND THE DISCUSSION AS WE WERE FORMULATING, UM, UH, WHAT THE PORTFOLIO WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
UM, AND WE DECIDED NOT TO SPECIFICALLY SET ASIDE FUNDS FOR NEXT GEN HOUSING HOMES.
UH, BUT 75% OF THAT PORTFOLIO IS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
I GUESS WE HAVE NO MANY, NO MORE COMMENTS, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE INTRODUCTION OF CEO STACY HOLLAND FROM COUNTY FAIR PARK.
THERE'S SOME HANDOUTS GOING OUT.
I APOLOGIZE THESE WERE NOT PREPARED, UM, EARLIER, BUT, UH, WE WILL MAKE A SHORT INTRODUCTION TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO THE COUNTY BOARD.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, MAKE THE SAME INTRODUCTION TO THE LAND USE AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH A FEW INDIVIDUALS ON THIS BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, SEPARATELY AND, AND WOULD WELCOME, UH, THE SAME FROM OTHERS HERE AS, AS YOU WOULD FEEL APPROPRIATE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
JUST A REAL SHORT INTRODUCTION ABOUT MYSELF AND THEN A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF, UM, IN MY PARTICIPATION AND ROLE AT THE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY, AND KIND OF HOW I SEE THAT, UM, COMING TOGETHER AND, AND PRESENTING THE, THE WISHES OF THIS BOARD AND, AND, UH, THE LAND USE AND PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL.
SO I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
I SAY THAT WITH A SMALL ASTERISK.
RECENTLY I GOT MARRIED AND DID MOVE JUST SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF THE COUNTY, BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
BUT FOR OVER 50 YEARS, I HAVE LIVED HERE, UH, BORN AND RAISED IN THE TOWN OF HARTFORD, UH, ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WELL, SOME SMALL PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UM, IN THE COUNTY.
I'M ACTUALLY VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I'M A HARTFORD UNION HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.
AT THE TIME, I WAS LESS THAN PERHAPS BEING IMPRESSED THAT I CAME FROM HARTFORD, WISCONSIN AS I INTRODUCED MYSELF OUT THROUGH THE, THE WORLD AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
BUT AS MY CAREER PROGRESSED AND I REFLECTED ON THE EDUCATION I GOT AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL IN HARTFORD, I WAS JUST INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED, NOT ONLY BY MYSELF, BUT A LOT OF MY CLASSMATES ATTENDING SOME CLASS REUNIONS, UM, JUST WHAT WAS BROUGHT TO ME AND WHAT I WAS ABLE TO BRING BACK TO BOTH MY LIFE AND SOME OF MY, MY PEERS FROM THAT HIGH SCHOOL.
SO, KUDOS TO THOSE FROM THAT DISTRICT AND, AND NOTHING AGAINST THE OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS HERE IN THE COUNTY, BUT I'M A BENEFICIARY OF THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE HERE AT THE COUNTY BOARD.
UM, I EVENTUALLY MARRIED AND I MOVED TO GERMANTOWN.
I DID SPEND A FEW YEARS LIVING IN, WORKING IN WEST BEND, UM, AT THE RED OWL.
IF ANY OF YOU REMEMBER THAT, IF YOU'RE A WEST BEND RESIDENT, I MAY HAVE CHECKED YOU OUT AT THE GROCERY STORE, OR, UM, YOU MAY HAVE PURCHASED STAMPS FOR ME AT THE COURTESY COUNTER.
SO IF YOU HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
UM, AGAIN, SO I HAVE LIVED IN THIS COUNTY MY LIFETIME.
UM, I WAS, UH, AS A CHILD, I WENT TO THE COUNTY FAIR IN SLINGER.
I LOOKED FORWARD TO THE COUNTY FAIR.
UM, AS A YOUNG ADULT, I TOOK MY CHILDREN TO WHAT WOULD THEN BE THE NEW COUNTY FAIR PARK WHERE I NOW WORK.
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THEN THAT I WOULD BE COMING BACK IN THIS CAPACITY.
AND FINALLY, UM, A LITTLE BIT LATER IN MY PARENTS' LIFE, UM, I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE OF TAKING MY PARENTS TO THE COUNTY FAIR WHERE THEY ALWAYS WENT EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY COULD NO LONGER DRIVE, UM, TO STILL SEE THEIR FRIENDS AT THE FARM BUREAU STAND, GET THEIR CHEESEBURGER AND THEIR HAMBURGER, AND VISIT WITH THEIR FRIENDS FROM THE COUNTY WHERE THEY ALSO LIVED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FAIR PARK IN THIS COUNTY IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
UM, I COME INTO THIS POSITION WITH A BACKGROUND THAT IS NOT AN AGRICULTURAL OR A FAIR BACKGROUND.
UM, I HAVE WORKED, AS I'M MENTIONING HERE IN SEVERAL LARGE MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES.
UM, THE MERGING OF THOSE TWO THINGS.
I THINK HOPEFULLY AS WE SPEAK FORWARD IN WHAT
[01:15:01]
THE MISSION OF A IS IS AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FOR THE COUNTY IN THIS ROLE, I THINK WE'LL COME TOGETHER IN A VERY GREAT FASHION.WHAT I FOUND IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS HERE IS THAT THE EXPERIENCE THAT I LACK IN PERHAPS AGRICULTURES AND FAIRS, HAS REALLY BEEN SUPPLEMENTED BY THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAVE A PASSION, UM, FOR WHAT IS THE COUNTY FAIR AND THE COUNTY FAIR PARK.
SO I REALLY LOOK TO LISTEN AND LEARN IN THAT AVENUE AS WELL AS BRING TO BEAR SOME OF MY EXPERIENCE TO HELP CARRY OUT THE MISSION OF A IS.
SO, HAVING SAID THAT, UM, A A S AS YOU ALL KNOW, HAS RECENTLY GONE THROUGH A REVISIONING PROCESS AND DEVELOPED STRATEGIC MISSIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND HOW IT PARTNERS WITH THE COUNTY AND HOW IT PARTNERS WITH THE COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY TO THE FAIR PARK ASSETS THAT WE ALL, UH, SUPPORT HERE AT, AT THE COUNTY BOARD.
UH, THERE ARE REALLY THREE PRIMARY AREAS, AND ONE BEING THE COUNTY FAIR, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, THAT IS WHERE THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY INITIALLY DEVELOPED AND HOW WE RECEIVED OUR CHARTER AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT.
UM, THE GOAL OF THE COUNTY FAIR AND THE MISSION OF A IS IS TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE FAIR, TO CONTINUE TO GROW THE FAIR AND TO MAKE THE FAIR IS THEY QUOTE IT THE BEST COUNTY FAIR IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
UM, I'LL SAY THAT'S A VERY ACHIEVABLE GOAL BECAUSE TODAY, UH, THE WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR IS IN THE TOP THREE COUNTY FAIRS IN THE STATE.
IT IS A FAIR THAT WE CAN ALL BE EXTREMELY PROUD OF.
IT IS ALSO A FAIR THAT HAS OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO HARVEST, GROW, DEVELOP, AND MAKE MEMORABLE MOMENTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS, FOR NEW RESIDENTS COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE TO PROMOTE WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER.
SO, REALLY LOOK TO CONTINUE WHAT IS A GREAT COUNTY FAIR AND CREATE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO JUST CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE.
THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO GROW MORE FIELDS TO BE HARVESTED, AS YOU WOULD SAY IN THE FARM AND EGG COMMUNITY.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING IDEATION AND DISCIPLINE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, FUN TO THE FAIRGROUNDS AS WE'D LOVE TO HAVE.
SECONDLY, UM, AG AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, I THINK THIS IS AN AREA WHERE, UM, PERHAPS THE ORGANIZATION IN, IN THE PAST, I, I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW LONG, BUT AT LEAST THE LAST DECADE OR MORE A IS HAS, HAS MAYBE NOT DELIVERED.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT TO ITS CONSTITUENTS, THE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRY ITSELF.
YOU KNOW, THE MEMBERS THAT MAY ALSO SERVE ON THE FARM BUREAU OR BE PART OF THE CEDAR CREEK LAND AND CONSERVATION COMMITTEES.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS ORGANIZATION TO LISTEN AND LEARN AND SEE WHAT THAT GROUP NEEDS AS, AS A COMMUNITY OF AG AND INDUSTRY AND SEE HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE EXISTING, NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS THAT ARE HERE, HOW WE CAN HELP PROMOTE THEM, HOW WE CAN USE THE ASSET THAT IS THE FAIR PARK TO BRING THEM TOGETHER AND UTILIZE THAT TO HELP THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF FOUR H AND THE COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION WITHIN THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE A GREAT CENTRALLY LOCATED FACILITY.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THAT FACILITY TO HELP OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT WE SUPPORT AS A COUNTY, NOT ONLY FOUR HI THINK OF THINGS LIKE THE THRESHOLD, UM, UNITED WAY.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO LEVERAGE THAT FACILITY THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE, THAT AMAZING ASSET, AND HELP THEIR ORGANIZATIONS CARRY OUT THEIR OBJECTIVES AS WELL.
SO I THINK THROUGH THAT PARTNERING AND THAT RELATIONSHIP, THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT THAT THE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY CAN BRING TO BEAR, UH, WITH THESE EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS.
HOW WE'LL DO THAT JUST YET REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR JUST A LITTLE UNDER TWO MONTHS, UM, BUT I HAVE MET SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I WILL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT AND PARTNER WITH THE LEADERS OF THESE NOT-FOR-PROFITS AND THE LEADERS OF THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE FARM BUREAU AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES TO REACH NOT JUST THE WEST BEND COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO HARTFORD AND GERMANTOWN, YOU KNOW, AND BRING SOME OF THEM UP INTO THE ASSET THAT IS THE FAIR PARK.
AND THEN LASTLY, THE FAIR PARK ITSELF.
UM, A IS HAS SERVED AS A TENANT OPERATOR ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY HOLDING EVENTS AT THE COUNTY, BOTH COUNTY EVENTS, FOUR H EVENTS, AS WELL AS EVENTS THAT ARE FOR PAY, IF YOU WILL, REVENUE PRODUCING EVENTS AT THE COUNTY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR ABOUT, WELL, 25 YEARS SINCE THE FAIR PARK WAS COMMISSIONED, UM, ON THAT SITE.
AND, UM, WHILE THERE REMAINS, UM, A HIGH UTILIZATION, I WOULD SAY AT THE FAIR PARK, SO THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY THAT IS HAPPENING THERE DURING THE WEEK.
UM, MY EARLY PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT WE CAN BE BETTER STEWARDS OF THAT ASSET.
I THINK WHEN WE BETTER MANAGE THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THERE, I THINK WE CAN, UM, TARGET EVENTS THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT WHAT WAS IN THE VERY AGGRESSIVE PACKET OF ACTIVITIES THAT WAS PRESENTED BY,
[01:20:01]
UM, EXECUTIVE SHOWMAN.I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN GO OUT AND SEEK OUT, BOTH WITH THE BUSINESSES WITHIN THE COUNTY, DRAWING AND ATTRACTING EVENTS THAT MAY PROMOTE AGRICULTURE, MAY PROMOTE THE INDUSTRIES IN OUR COUNTY THAT WE HAVE OR WOULD LIKE TO TARGET TO BE IN OUR COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE CAN BE THOUGHTFUL OF IN TERMS OF THE EVENTS THAT WE TRY TO BRING IN.
YOU KNOW, TODAY WE ARE A, YOU KNOW, COME BY AND IF WE HAVE SPACE AVAIL AVAILABILITY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAPPY TO RENT THAT TO YOU.
BUT AS A COUNTY ASSET, I THINK IT COULD BE UTILIZED IN A MORE DIRECTED FASHION TO SUPPORT SPECIFIC COUNTY OBJECTIVES.
UM, YOU KNOW, SHORT OF, OF COURSE, TAKING WEDDINGS OR SMALL PRIVATE EVENTS, NOT OPPOSED TO THOSE.
UM, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF WEDDING VENUES IN THE COUNTY, AND I THINK IF WE HAD A DIRECTED EVENT THAT WEEKEND THAT WOULD SUPPORT A COUNTY INITIATIVE, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE MORE WELL RECEIVED ON A, IN A STRATEGIC KIND OF EFFORT AND INITIATIVE.
SO I THINK A GREATER BALANCE TOWARDS SOME OF THOSE, UM, AS WELL AS, AGAIN, OPENING IT UP AS A COUNTY FACILITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS VERY EARLY IN MY TENURE HERE, SO WHAT I REALLY DO LOOK FOR, UM, IS DEVELOPING THREE YEAR GOALS AND MAKING THEM MEASURABLE AND MAKING THEM SUPPORTIVE.
UNDERNEATH THESE INITIATIVES THAT ARE PART OF A IS UM, I REALLY LOOK TO BE A EXTENSION OF THE DIRECTION THAT THE COUNTY WOULD LIKE TO GO IN, UM, BOTH THE COUNTY BOARD AND OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THE LAND USE AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, AGAIN, AS STEWARDS OF THE COUNTY, WE ARE TENANT OPERATORS ON YOUR BEHALF OF THAT FACILITY.
AND SO IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEHOLDEN ON ME TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT I WORK FOR ARE ALIGNED WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS BOARD.
SO WITH THAT, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I ALSO WANT TO PROMOTE MY COUNTY FAIR THAT WE WILL ALL HOPEFULLY BE AT JULY 23RD THROUGH 28.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE FAIR, AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS.
WHOEVER FIRST SIGNS UP, UH, FOR THE HOUSING, WE WILL HAVE POSITIONS FOR YOU TO HELP VOLUNTEER AT THE FAIR.
WE LOOK VERY MUCH FORWARD, UH, SEEING YOUR SUCCESS.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, SUPERVISOR KELLY.
UM, MS. HOLLAND, JUST BEFORE YOU GO,
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, UH, PRESENTATION.
UM, THIS IS CERTAINLY A LONG WAYS AWAY FROM WHERE WE WERE A FEW YEARS AGO.
I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY KNOW, I DON'T NEED TO REHASH ALL THAT.
UM, BUT YOU SEE FROM OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THAT THIS IS A, A HARD CHARGING GROUP OF PEOPLE.
WE FIGHT HARD, WE PLAY HARD, UM, AND WE EXPECT RESULTS, UH, OF, OF OURSELVES, UM, AND CERTAINLY OF THE FAIRGROUNDS.
UM, SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE, UH, WHAT YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR US AND, AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM COMPLETELY SUPPORTS THE FAIR AND THE FAIR PARK.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT GETS SAID QUITE ENOUGH.
I MEAN, A LOT OF US DO VOLUNTEER FOR THE FAIR AS WELL.
SO, UM, IT, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, TO US.
IT, ITS SUCCESS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COUNTY AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH IS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.
AND, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THIS, UH, WITH YOU AND WITH THE NEW A IS AND UNDER NEW CIRCUMSTANCES.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD DAY FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, EVOLUTION FROM WHAT WAS THE COUNTY FAIR AND SLINGER TO THE LAST 25 YEARS OF FAIR PARK, WHICH AGAIN, WE WILL COMMEMORATE, UH, THIS YEAR.
THIS WILL BE THE 25TH YEAR SINCE THE COMMISSIONING OF THAT FAIR PARK.
I WOULD ASK YOU ALL TO JOIN US FOR THAT EVENT.
THERE'LL BE MORE, UH, DETAILS ON THAT, BUT WE'D LIKE TO HONOR SOME OF THE, UM, UH, OG AS YOU WOULD CALL IT, THE ORIGINAL BOARD MEMBERS AND, AND FOLKS WHO WERE BEHIND THE FAIR PARK AT THAT, AT THAT EVENT.
BUT I THINK IT ALSO OPENS THE DOOR TO, UM, WHAT CAN THE FAIR PARK BE UNDER THE BROADER VISION OF THE COUNTY AND HOW CAN WE UTILIZE THAT ASSET, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD WITH THE NEXT 25 YEARS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T HERE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE UPGRADED INVESTMENT FUNDS THAT ARE SO DESPERATELY NEEDED THERE, BUT THANK YOU.
IT'S ALSO GOOD TIMING AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK WITH A, A NEW FACE, A NEW MISSION AT A IS AND, AND THE SUPPORT OF THE, THE BOARD IN THAT INVESTMENT, IT'LL BE VERY WELL ALIGNED.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS RESOLUTION 66 COMMENDATION OF JILL RAFA SCHMIDT.
UH, MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE.
SUPERVISOR SHARUN, SUPERVISOR CONRAD.
[a. 2023 Resolution 66 Commendation of Jill Raffay Schmidt]
RAFA SCHMIDT HAS CONTRIBUTED 33 YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.[01:25:01]
JILL RAFI SCHMIDT HAS CHOSEN TO RETIRE FROM HER PRESENT POSITION OF COMMUNICATION SUPERVISOR WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PAUSE IN ITS DELIBERATIONS TO PAY TRIBUTE AND TO COMMEND JILL RAFA SCHMIDT FOR HER 33 YEARS OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT ON BEHALF OF ALL CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, THIS BODY DOES HERE WITH EXTEND TO HER HEARTFELT THANKS FOR HER MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SUCCESSES, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE FORWARDED TO JILL RAP SCHMIDT AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION ON THE PART OF THIS BOARD, CESAR.[b. 2023 Resolution 68: Commendation of Kelly Cisar]
OUR NEXT ITEM IS RESOLUTION 68, COMMENDATION OF KELLY CESAR MOTION, AND A SECOND SUPERVISOR, LIK SUPERVISOR.WHEREAS KELLY CAESAR HAS CONTRIBUTED 16 YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS KELLY CAESAR HAS CHOSEN TO RETIRE FROM HER PRESENT POSITION OF ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PAUSE IN ITS DELIBERATIONS TO PAY TRIBUTE AND TO COMMEND KELLY CAESAR FOR HER 16 YEARS OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT ON BEHALF OF ALL CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, THIS BODY DOES HERE WITH EXTEND TO HER HEARTFELT THANKS FOR HER MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SUCCESSES, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE FORWARDED TO KELLY CAESAR AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION ON THE PART OF THIS BOARD.
[c. 2023 Resolution 69: County Aided Bridge and Culvert Replacement – Town of Jackson]
NEXT UP IS 2023, RESOLUTION 69 COUNTY AIDED BRIDGE AND VERT REPLACEMENT FOR THE TOWN OF JACKSON.UH, MOTION BY SUPERVISOR SCH SHARIN, SUPERVISOR TOMA.
ANY DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUPERVISOR? KREBS, CAN YOU TURN MINE? I ALREADY GOT THE VOTING.
IF IT GETS, WHERE'S YOUR MOUSE? ME TO GO? TIE IN.
THE, UH, IN THE RESOLUTION OR RESOLUTION, IT SAYS THAT THE BRIDGE, THE WORK WAS DONE IN 2023, AND I THINK THE SECOND, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS SIMILAR, UM, OR THE, NOT THE SIMILAR RESOLUTION, BUT THE COMMITTEE REPORT WAS THE SAME.
IS THAT DO WE TYPICALLY ALLOW CONSTRUCTION ONE YEAR IN FUNDING IN THE NEXT, BECAUSE, OR BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SOMEHOW SOME MUNICIPALITIES TAKE TURNS ON THAT WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO APPLY.
WHAT THIS FUND, UH, YOU RECALL, WE DO, WE DO FUND THIS ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND A YEAR.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, THE OTHER TOWNSHIPS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE FULL $100,000.
SO, UH, LAST YEAR THERE WAS NO MONEY IN THE FUNDS TO, TO FUND THIS PROJECT.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY DID IT LAST YEAR IN HOPES OF GETTING FUNDED THIS YEAR, UH, AGAIN, IN NOVEMBER WHEN YOU RE-APPROVED THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, YOU APPROVED ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS INTO THAT SEGREGATED ACCOUNT.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM.
SO THEY WERE, THEY DID IT LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS IN SUCH BAD CONDITION IN HOPES THAT THE BOARD, AND WE HAVE DONE THIS IN THE PAST, WOULD APPROVE IT IN, IN THE SUB SUBSEQUENT YEAR.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? SUPERVISOR? YOU GOT A BUZZ IN NEWMAN.
UH, SCOTT, COULD YOU, COULD YOU JUST SUMMARIZE, I THINK THERE'S, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION ON WHERE THIS FUNDING COMES FROM.
COULD YOU JUST COVER THAT SO EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THAT? YES, I THANK YOU.
UH, YES, THIS IS A, A TAX IF, UH, THOSE THAT ARE IN THE TOWNS LOOK AT THEIR TAX BILL, THERE'S A SEPARATE LINE ITEM FOR, UH, COUNTY BRIDGE AND CULVER AID THAT'S ON THERE.
UH, IT DOES NOT GO TO THE, UH, RESIDENTS IN THE VILLAGES OR CITIES, BUT IT'S BASICALLY A, A TAX THAT'S PUT ON THE TOWN RESIDENTS TO HELP OTHER TOWNS, UH, REPLACE CULVERTS OR BRIDGES.
UH, YOU RECALL, UH, IN THE LAST, THIS PAST SESSION, UH, WE WENT DOWN TO A 36 INCH CULVERT OR
[01:30:01]
LARGER, UH, TO MATCH UP WITH, WITH STATE CODE.SO ANY CULVERT THAT'S 36 INCHES OR LARGER UP TO A BRIDGE IS ELIGIBLE FOR 50 50 FUNDING, UH, WITH THE COUNTY.
AND AS, AS YOU KNOW, THAT BEEN HERE, WE'VE DONE NUMEROUS P THROUGH THE PAST TWO YEARS.
I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I'M GUESSING PROBABLY A HALF A DOZEN OR SO, MAYBE, MAYBE FOUR.
UH, AND SO THAT'S REALLY, THAT'S HOW THAT SYSTEM WORKS.
SO, UH, THE COUNTY DOESN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
THAT DOES NOT GO TO ANY COUNTY, UH, BRIDGES OR CULVERTS.
THAT'S TRULY, UH, ANY OTHER TOWN THAT WANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
SO IF THE COUNTY DO A CULVERT, WE DON'T TAKE FUNDS FROM THAT LOCATION.
UH, IF A, IT IS A CHANCE THAT THE COUNTY MIGHT DO THE CULVERT FOR THE TOWN, AND FOR THIS INSTANCE, THE TOWN OF, OF JACKSON HAD, UH, WE WORK ALONGSIDE WITH THEIR TOWN PERSONNEL TO REPLACE THIS PARTICULAR CULVERT TO HELP, UH, SAVE THE PRODUCT.
A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING AS WELL.
HOPEFULLY, THAT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
WELL, IT, TO SUMMARIZE IT, IT'S A TAX THE TOWNS PAY, THE TOWN THE TOWNS UTILIZE.
I JUST WANTED TO CORRECT, MAKE THAT STATEMENT SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT MAY MAYBE DIDN'T BEFORE.
THANK YOU THERE BEING NO OTHER COMMENT.
THIS IS A SIMPLE MAJORITY, UNANIMOUS.
[d. 2023 Resolution 70: Resolution Setting Washington County Elected Officials’ Salaries]
OUR NEXT ITEM IS RESOLUTION 71, THE GENERAL FUND.UM, SETTING COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES.
SUPERVISOR TIES, SUPERVISOR HARTWICK, UH, QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? SUPERVISOR CONRAD? YEP.
UM, I HAD SOME COMMENTS FROM CONSTITUENTS AND SOME, UM, TOWNSHIP LEADERS JUST, UM, YESTERDAY REGARDING THIS RESOLUTION AND, UM, AND THE INCREMENTAL INCREASES, UM, THAT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, SOME CONCERNS WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO SUSTAIN THAT 75TH PERCENTILE IS WHAT I EXPLAINED WAS THE GOAL.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, TO ATTRACT, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, HIGH QUALITY INDIVIDUALS.
BUT, UM, I DID GET PUSHBACK ON THESE NUMBERS, UM, AND THE INCREMENTAL INCREASES.
THEY, UM, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY INDIVIDUALS, UM, APPROVED THIS, YOU KNOW, JUST THIS COMING YEAR, BUT DID NOT, UM, WANT ME TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING FOR 26 AND 27 AND, AND 28 MOVING FORWARD.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT AND ESPECIALLY TO, UM, THEY HAD SHARED THAT THESE ARE ELECTED POSITIONS AND SO THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT THOSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE SALARY NUMBERS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION THERE? BEING NONE.
WE'LL VOTE ELECTRONICALLY PASSES.
[e. 2023 Resolution 71: General Fund Transfer and 2024-2025 Budget Amendment – Medical Examiner’s Office]
UM, SO NOW WE'LL GO ON TO RESOLUTION 71 GENERAL FUND TRANSFER AND 2024 BUDGET AMENDMENT.
UM, MOTION IN A SECOND PLEASE.
SUPERVISOR TOMA, ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? THERE BEING NONE.
UH, ACTUALLY, UH, EXECUTIVE SHOWMAN KIND OF ALLUDED TO A COUPLE OF THESE, UH, EARLIER WHERE WE WERE MAKING SOME, UM, EITHER MODIFICATIONS OR ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT CAMPUS PLAN.
[01:35:01]
UM, SO DOES THIS ALIGN WITH THAT? UM, SO, SO THE REQUEST, UM, FOR, UM, OFFICE SPACE DOES NOT CHANGE THE PHYSICAL SPACE.IT'S JUST ACTUALLY BRINGING IN, UM, IT'S CHANGING THE SPACE WITHIN THAT OFFICE AND BRINGING IN LIKE NEW DESKS AND SORT OF THEIR CHANGING THEIR WORKFLOW, BUT IT'S NOT CHANGING THEIR CURRENT SPACE AT ALL IN THE LONG, LONG-TERM, UH, CAMPUS PLAN, THERE IS A PLAN TO BUILD OUT AND MOVE THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE, INCLUDING ADDING ON A MORGUE.
UM, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS NOT, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY DISCUSSION AT THE COUNTY BOARD LEVEL ABOUT MAKING PLANS THAT WAY.
SO THIS IS JUST PROVIDING THEM IMPROVED SPACE AND WORKFLOW FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
AND I, I COULD TAB ONTO THAT TOO.
UM, WHAT THIS ALLOWS WAS THE, THE AREA THAT, UH, YOU'LL SEE COMING UP WITH THE SHERIFF WANTS TO DO SOME MODELING.
UH, AND SO THIS, UH, WORKS WELL IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT.
SO, UH, THE AREA THAT THE SHERIFF'S LOOKING AT REMODELING, UH, TO UTILIZE, UM, UH, WAS A POTENTIAL AREA FOR THE, UH, CORONER AND MEDICAL EXAMINER, EXCUSE ME, MEDICAL EXAMINER TO USE.
UH, BUT, UH, THEY FOUND A WAY TO USE THEIR CURRENT AREA INSTEAD.
SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? UM, WE WILL VOTE ELECTRONICALLY.
THIS REQUIRES A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY WOULDN'T VOTE ME.
[f. 2023 Resolution 72: Reauthorization of Self-Insurance for Worker’s Compensation Liabilities]
OUR NEXT ITEM IS RESOLUTION 72, UH, REAUTHORIZATION FOR SELF-INSURANCE FOR WORKMAN'S COMP SUPERVISOR, KEL SUPERVISOR.LIK ANY QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? THIS IS A THING THAT COMES UP EVERY THREE YEARS, SO WE'RE SIMPLY REDOING IT.
UM, SO TYPICALLY IF YOU'RE OUT IN THE MARKET, YOU HAVE A MOD FACTOR.
JUST CURIOUS, WHAT DO WE MONITOR OUR, OUR OWN, UH, SUCCESSES OR FAILURES FROM A WORKER'S COMP PERSPECTIVE? WITH, YOU KNOW, ANY NUMBER OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, UH, WE DO, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, WE TAKE A LOOK AT.
UM, WE'VE GOTTEN OPINIONS ON MOD FACTORS IN THE PAST AS WELL.
SO YES, THAT IS SOMETHING WE, WE LOOK AT AND WE, WE MAINTAIN.
UM, CURIOUS, WHAT, WHAT WOULD THAT MOD FACTOR BE? DO YOU KNOW? ROUGHLY THE LAST INFORMATION I SAW WAS 1.1.
SO IN THE, THE POSITIVE IN, IN THE POSITIVE.
UH, AND REALLY IT, IT, HISTORICALLY IT'S BEEN LOWER THAN THAT.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL VOTE ELECTRONICALLY ON THIS ALSO.
[g. 2023 Ordinance 12: to amend the Shoreland, Wetland and Floodplain Zoning Maps established and maintained pursuant to Section(s) 275-3, 275-12, 275-14 and 275-22 of the Code (Town of Erin)]
OUR NEXT ITEM IS ORDINANCE 12, TO AMEND THE SHORELAND WETLAND FLOOD ZONE PLANS IN THE TOWN OF AARON, SUPERVISOR MARY, SUPERVISOR MILLIKEN.ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? WE'LL VOTE ELECTRONICALLY.
[h. 2023 Ordinance 13: to amend the Shoreland, Wetland and Floodplain Zoning Maps established and maintained pursuant to Section(s) 275-3, 275-12, 275-14 and 275-22 of the Code (Town of Polk)]
UNANIMOUSLY.OUR NEXT ITEM IS ORDINANCE 13, TO AMEND THE SHORELAND WET WETLAND ZONING, FLOOD LAND ZONING MAPS IN THE TOWN OF POLK.
UM, MOTION AND A SECOND PLEASE.
SUPERVISOR CONRAD, ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS? THIS IS COVERED QUITE COMPLETELY
[01:40:01]
IN LAND USE AND PLANNING.[i. 2023 Ordinance 14: to amend Section 15-6 relating to: Procedural Rules]
UNANIMOUS.AND OUR LAST ITEM IS ORDINANCE 14 TO AMEND SECTION 15 SIX RELATING TO THE PROCEDURAL RULES.
A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE.
SUPERVISOR MARY, UH, IF YOU READ THROUGH THIS, IT'S SIMPLY REFLECTS WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING IN ALL THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON AND I THINK FOREVER.
SO, UM, WE'RE JUST WRITING IT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
SO WE WILL VOTE ELECTRONICALLY.
OUR NEXT MEETING DATE IS TUESDAY, APRIL 16TH AT 7:30 AM GOOD EVENING.