Dunn County Board approves 10-year racetrack contract

COUNTY OF DUNN MENOMONIE, WISCONSIN NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

In accordance with the provisions of Section 19.84, Wisconsin Statutes, notice is hereby given that a public meeting of the DUNN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 54 of the Dunn County Government Center, 3001 US Highway 12 East in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The building entrance for public meetings is on the lower level of the Government Center and will be open 30 minutes ahead of the meeting start time.

A video recording of the meeting will be available for subsequent viewing on the Dunn County YouTube channel at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@dunncounty1854.

Persons wishing to provide public comment may do so at the meeting or may submit written comments by sending an email beforehand to [email protected]

Items of business to be discussed or acted upon at this meeting are listed below:

AGENDA - COUNTY BOARD

1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Call of the roll
4. Approval of the Minutes from September 18, 2024 Meeting - approved by voice vote.
5. Presentations of Petitions, Memorials, and Other Communications
6. Public Comment - John Johsnon, Red Cedar Speedware president spoke in favor of granting the 10-year contract for the speedway (item 11b). Many people spoke in favor of the extension of the speedway contract, both because of the speedway itself and the stream of income and visitors it brings to Menomonie. Nobody spoke in opposition to the track contract.

7. Appointments the appointments were approved  by voice vote.

   Race Track Contract - Item 11B was moved to here in the agenda to allow the people attending for the racetrack vote to leave if they choose. The substantial changes to the lease are to increase the term to 10 years, with the rent increasing every three years, and the race track will attempt to install sound barriers at their expense. The racetrack contract was approved by voice vote. 

8. Reports of County Manager
   1. Purchase Orders over $40,000
   2. Review of Borrowing – Dan Dunbar  - if the county borrows 3 Million dollars the replacement cycle for highways in the county will be targeted at every 23 years. if there is no borrowing it will extend out to every 47 years. 
   3. Update on 2025 Budget – Beata Haug - The budget information is included in the attached meeting packet. 
   4. Update on ERP – Kris Korpela - there is an RFP out for this project. There were 9 proposals and 4 will move on to the next phase for demos. 

   5. Update on 2024 Elections – Andrew Mercil - Andrew Mercil ran through questions about the voting machines, the election process, and election observers. There will likely be many observers in this election. He also spoke about the certification system and rumors that there will be resistance to certification in different parts of the country. The county will not tolerate any threats to election workers and will prosecute. The upcoming training sessions for election workers will be posted and the public may attend if interested in learning the rules. 

       

9. Reports of Departments: Information Technology, Corporation Counsel, Facilities - These reports are in the attached meeting packet. The county IT department is supporting some IT functions for the city as well as the county. There was a review of some of the newer cybersecurity methods being implemented.
10. Consideration of Reports, Resolutions, and Ordinances to the County Board from the Executive Committee:
    1. 2024 Budget Adjustment – CJC, DHS, SHF, PHD - Passed by roll call vote
    2. Ordinance Amending 2.055 (Land Information Counsel) - Second Reading - there were no questions - passed by voice vote.
    3. Ordinance Designating the Official Newspaper for the County - First Reading. This is a change to move to a paper with a larger circulation in the county (The Colfax Messenger will be the new paper of record). It will return at the next meeting.
11. Consideration of Reports, Resolutions and Ordinances coming to the County Board from the Standing Committees:
    1. Legislative Committee:
       1. Resolution Approving 2024-2025 Legislative Agenda -  Passed by voice vote.
       2. Resolution Supporting the Expansion of Medicaid: Note the Additional Background Information in Board Packet - Superviser Morehouse thanked Alex Hall for her work on research for this resolution. The report is in the attached meeting packet. The motion passed by voice vote. 
       3. Resolution Supporting Increased State Funding for Medical Assistance and Community Support Programs - The resolution was passed by a voice vote.
    2. Facilities Committee: Resolution Approving a Lease for Red Cedar Racing
    3. Committee on Administration:
       1. Resolution Adopting the 2025 Pay Grid and Other Pay Related Items - the resolution passed by voice vote. 
       2. Resolution Adopting 2025 Health Benefit Premiums - there will be a premium increase to be able to fund the costs of the health benefits. The rates are included in the meeting packet. The low-deductible plan has a fairly large increases in premium.  Employees will be encouraged to open an HSA account rather than take the higher premium low deductible plan. The motion was passed by voice vote.
    4. Planning, Resources and Development Committee: Ordinance Rezone: GA to R1 – Donald Lentz Passed by voice vote.
12. Announcements: Next Meeting, Tuesday November 12, 2024 - This is a budget meeting.
13. Adjournment - adjourned at 9:45 PM.

Kelly McCullough, Chairperson

By: Kristin Korpela County Manager

Upon reasonable notice, the County will make efforts to accommodate the needs of disabled individuals through sign language, interpreters or other auxiliary aids. For additional information or to request the service, contact the County Human Resources Manager at 715-232-2429 (Office), 715-232-1324 (FAX) or 715-231-6406 (TDD) or by writing to the Human Resources Manager, Human Resources Department, 3001 US Hwy 12 E, Suite 225, Menomonie, Wisconsin 54751.