EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Special Meeting

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Administrative Center – Room B390

5:30 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  George Hammes, Tara Johnson, Vicki Burke, Charles Spiker, Ralph Geary, Jim Ehrsam    

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Don Meyer, Roger Plesha, Steve Doyle   

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None 

STAFF & GUESTS:  Steve O’Malley, John Medinger, Tom Rauk, Jerry Sebranek, Ray Ebert, Dan Kapanke, Jackie Eastwood, Cheryl Stephen, media

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

George Hammes, Committee Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 

RESOLUTION RE AUTHORIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGAL REVIEW AND POSSIBLE CHALLENGE TO XCEL ENERGY RATE INCREASE

MOTION by Ehrsam/Geary to approve the resolution authorizing up to $4,000 to be used as equal share with other participating governmental bodies to retain outside legal counsel to review the application of Xcel Energy for rate increase.  It was pointed out that WTC is not part of the group as earlier anticipated; the three sharing in the cost will be the City of La Crosse, La Crosse School District and County of La Crosse.  Supervisor Geary suggested, should this occur again, to include other major employers, such as Trane, Gundersen/Lutheran, and Franciscan Health.  Motion carried on 5 to 1 vote; Spiker-no; Meyer, Plesha, Doyle excused.

RESOLUTION RE COUNTY PARTICIPATION IN MUNICIPAL TRANSIT UTILITY AND EXPANSION OF SERVICE TO LA CROSSE COUNTY LAKEVIEW AREA

Steve O’Malley requested two small revisions within the resolution before committee action.  In the first BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED para., delete the words “from the Planning Department”, and in the last BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED para., delete the word “Planner” and replace with staff.  Supervisor Medinger reviewed the resolution as the requester.  Most everyone agrees with a regional mass transit system.  This revised resolution is asking the County to work with the City of La Crosse, Village of West Salem and MTU Board to create a fixed route service to the Lakeview area – for both the nursing home and the business park; this resolution is also not requesting any funding.  He also hopes that the City will agree with adding County representation on the MTU Board.

MOTION by Ehrsam/Geary to approve the resolution including the two revisions as requested by the County Administrator.  Supervisor Spiker asked if the MTU Ad hoc Study Committee had seen this revised resolution.  Supervisor Medinger indicated that they had not and that he anticipated its referral back to committee.  MOTION WITHDRAWN by Ehrsam/Geary.  MOTION by Spiker/Ehrsam to refer the resolution back to the MTU Ad hoc Study Committee.   Motion carried unanimously; Meyer, Plesha, Doyle excused.  Vice Chair Hammes said this resolution will then come in during the September meeting cycle, and the one on tonight’s County Board agenda should be tabled.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION by Ehrsam/Geary to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried unanimously; Meyer, Plesha, Doyle excused.  The meeting adjourned at 5:43 p.m.

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder