BURNETT COUNTY STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
THE LODGE AT CROOKED LAKE - BOARD ROOM
24271 STATE RD. #35/#70
SIREN, WI
JUNE 30, 2005

Members present: Larry Main, Phil Lindeman, Jerry Pardun, Eldon Freese, Norm Bickford, Ro Endresen, and Mary Falk

Members absent: Ed Peterson, and Dave Alderman

Others present: Mike Kornmann

Press: Todd Beckman

CALL TO ORDER:

Larry Main called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. in the Board Room at The Lodge at Crooked Lake on June 30, 2005.

APPROVAL OF JUNE 2, 2005 MEETING MINUTES:

Motion made by Larry Main and seconded by Phil Lindeman. Motion carried.

REVIEW DRAFT ISSUES

Discussed the list of issues identified at the last meeting.

1. How do we creatively deal with an increasing inmate population:
Clear
2. How can we enhance the business potential for agriculture?
Clear
3. How do we deal with ag-land conversion?
Do we reduce or increase? Discussed farms being divided into five-acre lots. It was agreed that we are not standing up for our land conservation. Growth should be planned. Wording of this issue should be modified. The word "deal" should be changed to "plan" or "preserve."
4. How do we protect our natural resources?
Too broad. Does this mean water quality? We will come back to this issue.
5. How do we deal with private forestland conversion?
It was noted that it's better to use forestland than ag land for conversion. Can't lose production of the land because of fragmentation. We don't have a zoning plan. It was suggested that issue numbers 4 and 5 be combined. Preservation of open spaces was stressed. The Town of Swiss is zoned. There is random zoning amongst the townships. Five-acre lots are the minimum in some areas. Suggested revision was "how do we better plan for growth?" One solution was to combine small lots into larger lots when they are sold and the use of larger lots should be encouraged. How do we plan for "open space?" Defined "open space" as larger lots, more space between lots, 5+ acre-lots, development-free, unpopulated, green space (prairie, forest, farmland). Some determined it was too late for preservation. All resolved that "maintain" would be a better word than "plan" in this issue. The discussion of selling county forestland ensued. We don't want Burnett County to become another Twin Cities.
6. How do we promote appropriate business development?
General.
7. How do we manage the financial health of the County?
General.
8. How do we identify common goals with the St. Croix Tribe?
General.
9. How do we plan for open space?
10. How do we communicate better with the public?
11. How do we plan for future development and replacement of county facilities?
12. How do we prepare, support, and plan for tourism?
Will re-evaluate.
13. How can we enforce the zoning code regarding junk cars?
This issue includes more than junk cars. It was mentioned that old trailers and campers should be included in the "unsightly junk" category. Having over three junk cars is a violation and will be addressed. Junk debases the aesthetics of our County. The money is not appropriated to control junk cars. Are there any solutions and how many? This is an operational issue, but is not being enforced presently. The number of enforcers could be increased as one solution, or placing a lien on the property after junk is removed would be another solution. The zoning issue is strategic and must be included as an issue, but not to emphasize junk cars.
14. How do we provide for the fair and ethical treatment and control of animals and protection of people?
15. How do we increase communication between Board members?
Meet with Board to break down barriers. Provide a "gathering spot" and have an object of common interest. An informal pie and ice cream setting was indicated. Quarterly meetings would be of benefit for members to discuss issues. It was resolved that communication be increased with Board members on an informal basis.

PRIORITIZATION EXERCISE

Mike requested that we select the top five issues for prioritization. We can combine issues or overlap them. Can't make issues too broad or we will lose focus. Try to break out the issues as to importance. Group them using three to five criteria to rate importance of issue. The following four criteria were suggested as a guide:

· People affected and for how long
· Financial cost
· Safety
· Future ramifications

Rate on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being highly important and 1 being the least important.

Board members were asked to come up front to and mark the list of 15 issues with a hashmark, each member being allowed five hashmarks to identify issues they deemed significant

These top four issues were identified as the top tier grouping:

10. How do we communicate better with the public?
1. How do we creatively deal with increasing inmate population?
4. How do we protect our natural resources?
7. How do we manage the long-term financial health of the County?
11. How do we plan for future development and replacement of our County facilities?

All were in agreement on issue #7 being the top issue.

The remaining issues were separated into two tiers:

6. How do we promote appropriate business development?
8. How do we identify common goals with the St. Croix Tribe?
9. How do we plan for open space?
13. How do we enforce zoning code regarding junk cars?

2. How can we enhance the business potential for agriculture?
3. How do we deal with ag-land conversion?
5. How do we deal with private forestland conversion?
12. How do we prepare, support, and plan for tourism?
14. How do we provide for the fair and ethical treatment and control of animals and protection of people?
15. Board committee

Mike explained that this exercise was to help in implementation and to give a sense of importance to strategic issues. We are nearing a point where strategy development will occur.

Discussed issue #1 and it was decided to move that issue down to the second tier. The top tier are broader issues. Inmates were discussed and it was brought up that drug and alcohol abuse increase the inmate population. Presently we have no prevention programs for substance abuse. Issue #1 should be rephrased to "how do we rehabilitate and evaluate drug and alcohol abuse? Members discussed putting this issue back in the top tier, but was kept on tier two. The top four issues encompass the other issues on tiers one and two. The last two tiers will be included by consolidating with the top four issues. It was concluded that all issues are important and the exploration and implementation include all.

PLANNING SUMMARY

We are moving very closely towards solutions.

FUTURE MEETINGS

July 14, 2005, 9:00 a.m.-noon at the Lodge. Extension specialists will speak at this meeting on economic development. Kate Lawton from Madison will speak on financial aspects and capital improvement planning.

July 28, 2005, 9:00 a.m.-noon at the Lodge.

Meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.