HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance 03-18-97EMERGENCY FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Robert M. Boche, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Don Brown
COMMITTEE TITLE: FINANCE COMMITTEE
DATE: March 18, 1997
TIME: g:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Government Center RM 1216
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. Ag Center Building Proposal
NEW BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
Y.
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
SUBMITTED BY:
DATE: March 17, 1997
COPIES TO: County Clerk
News Media/Notice Board
Committee Members
MINUTES UPIHE ST. CROIX COUNTY FINANCE COMMITTEE
Meeting of March 18, 1997
This special meeting was called to order by Chair Don Brown at 8:10 A.M.
Roll call was taken with Don Brown, John Bradley and Tom Dorsey in attendance, Bob
Boche and Tom O'Connell excused. Also in attendance for all or portions of the meeting
were Supervisors Art Jensen, Ron Raymond, John Mortensen and Leon Berenschot
and Charles Christenson and Dave Sander from LCD, Kim Reaman from University
Extension, County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Dick Gade, John Schottler,
Wayne Willink, Wayne Peters, Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman, Administrative
Coordinator John Krizek and Finance Director Rich Loney, who served as recording
secretary.
A motion was made by Bradley, seconded by Dorsey, to approve the agenda. Motion
carried.
It was noted that the next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 A.M., Wednesday, Apri19, 1997.
Brown reviewed the discussior. which had taken place at the Finance Committee meet-
ing held on March 17, 1997 regarding relocation of Land Conservation and University of
Wisconsin Extension with Federal ag agencies to a new structure in the Village of Bald-
win. He expressed his feeling that, if the Federal agencies were not operating under
terms of the moratorium currently in effect, the County may well construct a facility to
house the different agencies involved.
Brown then voiced the ideaCroix County exploring the possibility of entering into a
lease/purchase agreement with the developer, Mr. Wayne Peters, to acquire the facility
instead of signing a lease with the Federal agencies for space rental. This would satisfy
the terms of the moratorium, allow co -location of ag agencies and benefit the County
From the standpoint of the Federal agencies renting space at $12.29 per square foot from
the County rather than the developer.
Berenschot questioned what would happen if this does not work and Mr. Peters is not
agreeable. Brown said that the County would still be free to enter into an agreement with
the Federal agencies for rental of the facility.
Gade expressed the concern of timing for the project, which is very tight and requires a
County decision before month's end. Brown said he would favor negotiations with Mr.
Peters by County representatives, bringing the matter to a special meeting of the
Finance Committee prior to a special meeting of the County Board, perhaps on March
26th.
Bradley commented that this works to keep the ag agencies together in the desired
location and addresses the concerns of those most interested in getting the most for
their money.
Brown said he feels the size and cost of the structure still need to be looked at and,
therefore, some additional time is needed to fully analyze the project from this perspec-
tive.
Various aspects of the issue were discussed.
March 18, 1991
Page 2
Mr. Wayne Peters arrived for the meeting at this point. Brown reviewed the points dis-
cussed earlier. Mr. Peters said that, when negotiating with Dick Gade, his expectation
was that this would be a long term lease and that, from his perspective, if the County is
thinking of building in the near term, it may not be in his best interests to construct.
Brown said he would favor factoring all points into the discussion, again expressing his
desire to work for the benefit of all points of view, if possible.
Bradley said he felt this to be a reasonable approach and noted that the Finance Com-
mittee had been operating under the assumption that points outlined in a letter from two
members of the Village of Baldwin Building Committee in correspondence dated March
19, 1996, were still operational, namely, rental of the existing space at $7.00 per square
foot for the next ten (10) years.
Brown said he felt the Committee was being very up -front here with all sides: The
County, developer and Federal agencies as well as those individuals who feel strongly
one way or the other about the issue.
Mr. Peters said he would be willing to meet to discuss the matter and would not reject
any options at this time.
Mr. Schottler expressed his observations on the meeting to which Brown responded with
his understanding as to the role of the Finance Committee in the process.
Mr. Peters said that, in order for this to be a successful venture for him, he needs to
know upfront that this is a long term plan.
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 A.M.
Richard Loney. Reclo rdin� Secretary