BURNETT COUNTY STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
CONFERENCE ROOM #165 - BURNETT CO. GOVERNMENT CENTER
SIREN, WI
MAY 26, 2005

Members present: Larry Main, Phil Lindeman, Ed Peterson, Eldon Freese, Mary Falk, Ro Endresen,

Members absent: Jerry Pardun, Norm Bickford and Dave Alderman

Others present: Mike Kornmann, Al Arnold

Press: Todd Beckman

CALL TO ORDER:

Larry Main called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room #165 in the Burnett County Government Center on May 26, 2005.

APPROVAL OF MAY 13, 2005 MEETING MINUTES:

Motion made by Phil Lindeman and seconded by Eldon Freese. Motion carried.

CORE VALUE DEFINITION DISCUSSION:

Discussed core values from "Draft Core Values" working list. All agreed that we could narrow the list down to the following values:

Vision

· Value developing plans
· Look ahead to see where we're headed
· Broad picture
· Ability to look forward
· Looking to future with open mind
· How "now" affects down the road
· Planning today for future
· GM cited as an example of consumer taste with their hydrogen cars
· How will we affect future
· Creativity
· Visionary (ridiculed heavily, missionaries pointed out as example of visionary)
· Vision down the road for inmate population, infrastructure, etc.
· Need to be creative
· Understanding today toward future generations

Leadership

· Get people involved to lead to common goal
· Courage to persevere to end goal
· Leader needs vision
· Vision of perseverance toward a common goal

Democracy in action

· Must spell out and protect our assets
· Democracy in action is public meeting and hearings
· Dignity and respect
· Honesty and integrity
· Involvement
· Open meetings where everyone can speak their piece
· Value public hearings and meetings as access to public information

Quality of life

· Friendly communities
· Wildlife
· Natural resources
· Jobs
· Education

Efficiency of services

· We value services and work to implement them in financially sound ways that affect both the short- and long-term financial health of our organization.
· To positively focus our cooperation and develop common goals.

Common goals

· Communication with taxpayers
· Don't get too specific
· Leave it broad so we're not locked in
· Consolidate
· Communicate with grant people
· Communicate with stakeholders and community

10:00 a.m. - Break

COMMUNITY MEETING RESULTS

Grantsburg Meeting - May 24, 2005

Present: Stan Peer, Jerry McNally, Bruce Benedict, Joel Johnson, Russ Erickson, Jim Nelson, Eldon Freese

Hopes

· Businesses along Highway 70
· Well-paying jobs
· Steady growth
· Better communication between agencies/government
· New businesses taking advantage of local/natural resources
· Housing in the Village of Grantsburg
· Take advantage of training and allocate funding opportunities
· Enforce current laws (with regard to junkyards and dilapidated buildings, junker cars)
· Increase school/vocational partnerships with industry
· Expand cooperation between schools

Concerns

· Growing too fast
· Growing without a plan
· Closing of businesses
· Keep Grantsburg airport
· Property taxes
· Lack recognition of local resources
· Lack of community interest
· Drugs - meth
· Lack of countywide zoning
· Wildfires
· Can't burn leaves at dump
· Junkyards (not salvage yards)
· Shoddy construction
· Exotic species in lakes
· Littering

Siren Meeting - May 25, 2005

Present: Carl Hanson, Turf and Tundra ATV Club; Dean Roland, Siren; Bruce Imme, Town of Siren Chairman; Karen and Gary Pavlicek, Webster

Hopes

· Adopt Burnett County Humane Society as "official" group - work with it and fund it.
· Preserve big woods/natural environment
· Embrace cluster development
· Public meetings better promoted "earlier and better" - use web page and radio stations
· All towns adopt zoning and U.D. code
· Better defined rules and regulations
· More participation in State issues by county leadership
· Develop more ATV trails
· Open Gandy to ATVs
· Promote commerce
· Open up educational opportunities
· Increase family-friendly lodging
· Secondary homeowners having a voice
· Greater drug and alcohol awareness programs
· Decrease CB size and increase salary to get good and active people
· Study existing recreation and natural resources and compare to similar areas

Concerns

· Lack of trade/technical college
· Government does not listen to those who elect them
· No jobs
· Lack of diverse lodging
· Government as usual has got to end
· County Board is too large
· Lack of infrastructure because of tight budget (service and bricks and mortar)
· Suffering animals
· Fairness to Room tax - only Siren - county cannot have, not an issue

Everyone agreed that good comments were brought up at these meetings and they noticed some of the same themes from both groups, e.g. jobs, keeping youth here.

Mike Kornmann will wait to schedule Tribe meeting until after the Tribe election, which will be held on June 11, 2005.

Tribe, Danbury, and Eastern Burnett County should get to know the County Commissioners. Meetings should be made more formal with the attendance of the County. Suggested meetings be held at night. Coordination of time schedules makes it difficult for all to meet at a given time. Only reason most people come is to gripe. Advertising stressed for promoting meeting attendance. Mike felt that a direct mail flyer was most instrumental in getting a good turnout. Newspapers should take note of meeting dates. Attention to meetings can be accomplished by putting notices out a month in advance of meetings and reminder notices published once a week on a revolving basis. We must treat this seriously to do out best to overcome apathy. Not many people attend meetings. Trade Lake meetings are seen as a "social event," but at least people do show up. Paid ad in newspaper was suggested, as was a radio time slot by Larry Main.

Bottom line is that Committee should be at upcoming community meetings to serve as a listening session - Tribe, Danbury, Eastern Burnett County. If we want energy, we must be willing to put energy into this. Is it feasible to do all of the meetings again with a full committee?

REVIEW SITUATION ASSESSMENT

Reiterated SWOT analysis held at the last meeting. The following comments were brought up to review:

Department weaknesses:

· Unspoken collusion -- illegal and not enough business to provide service.
· Good cop/bad cop - discussed definition

Some thought Department strengths and weaknesses were confusing in regard to technical skills. Mike cleared that up so that everyone understood.

Committee and Department opportunities:
We are in an enviable position in the area of technology and fiber optics. We are ahead of the game. Positive DSL service. Cell phones, however, remain problematical.

Talked about revenue for proposed county licensing of restaurants, motels, etc. The Sate does the inspections presently and the county may take over that job. Presently inspection is thin and slow. New employee will be hired at a future date for this position.

Department Threats:

· School health position cut

Committee Threats:

· No comments.

ISSUE IDENTIFICATION

Mike Kornmann distributed a strategic issue worksheet to identify if an issue would be considered operational or strategic. The issue should be one that the organization can do something about. He then asked that members generate a list of issues. Members were instructed to write down an issue on a sheet of paper in the form of one question that has more than one possible answer. This will help to frame issues that have more than one solution. Issues were grouped to find common themes:

· Jail and inmates
· Water quality and natural resources
· Long-term financial issues
· Communication with public
· Growth - resorts
· Working relations with the Tribe
· Zoning and comprehensive/junk cars
· Dogs
· Infrastructure
· Agriculture/business growth

This is merely a first draft, a starting point, and not the final list. Discussion of framing issues in the form of a question ensued. How to phrase an issue is important.

These examples of issues with more than one solution were offered:

How do we deal with increasing inmate population?

· Treatment and education
· More jail space

How can we enhance the business potential for agriculture, i.e. dairy, beef, crops?
How do we deal with ag/land conversion?
How do we deal with private forest conversion?
How do we promote appropriate business development?
Dogs - are we ready? Yes

· Revenue, licensing, strays, responsible owners, unnecessary regulations

FUTURE MEETINGS

It was decided to have the next meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee on Thursday, June 2, 2005, from 1:30 to 4:00 and we will continue to do more issue framing.

Mike will have to reschedule meeting with the University of Wisconsin Extension Specialists. Would like to schedule another meeting the last week in June, if possible.

Meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon