Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Administrative Center – Room 3220
3:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve O’Malley, Barry Bertelsen, Vicki Burke, William Shepherd, Tara Johnson, John Wettstein, Audrey Kader, Brad Pfaff, Gary Ingvalson, and Judy Fuchsteiner (arr @3:05)
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Steve Doyle, Don Brenengen, George Hammes, J. Terry Hanson, and Mary Jo Werner
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Brian Fukuda, Charlie Handy, Greg Flogstad, Jennifer Kuderer, Dave Clements, Gale Douglas, and Cheryl Stephen
Vice Chairman Steve O’Malley called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Kader/Burke to approve minutes of February 1, 2007. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Fuchsteiner, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Dave Clements, Executive Director of La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (LACVB), noted their organization is putting together a countywide marketing piece and map for scenic travel routes, in particular for motorcycles and classic cars. They may want assistance from the County. Vice Chair O’Malley suggested formal proposal/presentation be made at the April meeting.
APPROVE PAYMENT OF VOUCHERS
Charlie Handy reviewed the two check requisitions that were presented to the Board; he noted both as being TIF eligible expenses. MOTION by Kader/Johnson to approve payment as follows:
$24,552.16 - Foth Environmental (engineering work as previously approved)
$3,530.00 - Chosen Valley Testing Inc. (soil testing on Phase 1B)
Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused. Supervisor Johnson asked if this information could be given to the Board ahead of time.
INTER-CREDITOR AGREEMENT RE AIRBORNE DATALINK, INC. LOAN
Greg Flogstad reviewed. The Inter-creditor Agreement encompasses Altra Federal Credit Union may extend credit up to $960,000, and the County and City may extend credit up to $100,000 each; Altra would retain first lien priority on all collateral that is subject to the security interests and County and City share a second priority lien on all collateral, etc. It was noted that the City has approved this agreement. Lengthy discussion followed. Greg noted Airborne is almost 4 months behind in their loan payments to the County. Bill Shepherd raised concern with open-ended line of credit. MOTION by Johnson/Ingvalson to hold over to the April 5, 2007 Board meeting. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused.
UPDATE ON MARKETING/SALES ACTIVITIES
Brian Fukuda noted staff has met with the Blu Group and pursuing marketing strategy for the business park including a marketing brochure that will be used at the March 18th marketing event as sponsored by the West Salem Business Association.
FUNDING REQUEST FROM LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES
Sent with the agenda was information from Lutheran Social Services requesting assistance of $1,000 to be used toward their sponsored event – Adoption Festival on June 19, 2007; expect 1,000 attendees from around the State and upper Michigan. Brian noted $5,000 in the 2007 Economic Development budget that can be used for Tourism Promotion. Audrey Kader pointed out in their submitted paperwork, that they actually made money from the last event; she noted previously the former committee typically gave dollars for start-up events. MOTION by Kader/Wettstein to reject the request. Motion carried on 9 to 1 vote; Pfaff-no; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused. Vice Chair O’Malley suggested direction be given to staff re creation of criteria, etc. as it relates to such requests for funding.
GOAL SETTING – PRESENTATION OF DRAFT GOALS
Copy of draft goals was sent with the agenda; the goals were compiled based on previous discussions with the Board. Additional input/comments can be sent to Brian via email. Supervisor Johnson suggested the addition of timeframe for short term and long term as well as adding a date to the document. MOTION by Kader/Johnson to approve the 2007 policy & program influence goals and the activity facilitation goals as presented, and to review again after one year. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused.
CLOSED SESSION (3:30 p.m.)
MOTION by Ingvalson/Kader to enter into closed session pursuant to s. 19.85(1)(e), Wis. Stats., deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, to wit: discuss negotiations with prospects in Lakeview Business Park Phase 1B. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused.
OPEN SESSION (3:56 p.m.)
MOTION by Johnson/Kader to reconvene to open session. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused.
REPORTED CLOSED SESSION ACTION
No action taken in closed session.
APPROVE BID FOR PHASE 1B
Brian Fukuda and Charlie Handy reviewed. Ten (10) bids were received with half being less than what the engineers had estimated. Staff recommends approval of Badger Environmental-Earthworks as the Qualified Low Bidder in amount of $1,001,741.13 ($633,891.40 is budgeted for Schedule A and Schedule B is $367,849.74); also noted that David Sauer of Foth Environmental made the appropriate reference checks with no bad reports. Gale Douglas, of Badger Environmental-Earthworks (Westby), introduced himself to the Board; the business was formerly Bean Construction. Bill Shepherd said this also needs to go before the County Board which will require a 2/3 vote for bond approval. MOTION by Johnson/Kader to approve Badger Environmental-Earthworks as the Qualified Low Bidder for Schedule A portion of the Phase 1B construction at cost of $633,891.40, contingent upon bond approval as needed by the County Board. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused.
AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BONDING FOR PHASE 1B CONSTRUCTION
Brian distributed a handout. He noted this construction bonding will be presented to the Executive
Committee next week and then to the County Board on March 15th. Staff is putting together financial information as required for the bond. MOTION by Ingvalson/Bertelsen to authorize staff to move forward with the bonding process. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH FOTH ENVIRONMENTAL FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION
Charlie reviewed noting before the construction can begin with Schedule A of Phase 1B, the Village of West Salem needs the name of the County engineer. Foth Environmental (also engineering firm for the Village) gave bid for doing engineering work for Schedule A at $68,500. This is also TIF eligible expense and also less than the original estimate. Supervisor Johnson raised concern with sole source. Bill Shepherd reviewed the sole source process noting the need and importance of retaining the same engineer as the Village. For Phase 1A this was not done and it created conflict. MOTION by Kader/Burke to approve Foth Environmental as the County engineer in providing engineering services for Schedule A of Phase 1B at a cost not to exceed $68,500. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused.
ELECTRIC EXTENSION UTILITY AGREEMENT WITH XCEL ENERGY
Charlie noted this is not finalized. This can be referred to the April meeting or give staff direction to negotiate with Xcel with a not to exceed figure, such as $25,000. MOTION by Johnson/Burke to direct staff to proceed with negotiating with Xcel Energy with figure not to exceed $25,000. Discussion followed. Noted same work for last phase cost $21,000 so staff added an additional $4,000 to cover cost of escalation. MOTION WITHDRAWN by Johnson/Burke. MOTION by Kader/Ingvalson to direct staff to negotiate with Xcel Energy the extension of electric utility and bring back to the April meeting. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused.
STORM WATER MANAGEMENT EASEMENT FROM COUNTY TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND
Charlie reviewed using a large map of the area. The project engineer has designed a storm water plan that includes a storm sewer system consisting of a ditch running from Phase I east to the bowl area; this is needed to convey the storm water away from the Business Park and from the property south of the project site. Currently the storm water comes from approximately 1,800 acres to the south of the project. The leased farm land would lose approximately 6 acres which will result in less land rent revenue. Need to request an easement from the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee and the County Board to pursue this storm water plan. Any expenses will be TIF eligible. Informational only.
ADDENDUM TO LAKEVIEW BUSINESS PARK DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH VILLAGE OF WEST SALEM
Brian reviewed. Copy of the addendum was sent with the agenda. There was a development agreement for Phase 1A with the Village of West Salem and the addendum now includes Phase 1B; the addendum includes the entire Lakeview Business Park and all future phases (all 80 acres). MOTION by Bertelsen/Fuchsteiner to approve as presented the addendum to the Lakeview Business Park Development Agreement with the Village of West Salem. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused.
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
NEXT MEETING
Thursday, April 5 at 7:30 a.m.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Burke/Fuchsteiner to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously; Doyle, Brenengen, Hammes, Hanson, and Werner excused. The meeting adjourned at 4:28 p.m.
Disclaimer: The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.
Cheryl Stephen, Recorder