Members present: Eldon Freese, Ro Endresen, Ed Peterson, Phil Lindeman, Jerry Pardun, and Mary Falk

Members absent: Larry Main, Norm Bickford, and Dave Alderman

Others present: Mike Kornmann and Al Arnold

Press: None

CALL TO ORDER:

Phil Lindeman called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Room at The Lodge at Crooked Lake on August 30, 2005.

APPROVAL OF AUGUST 15, 2005 MEETING MINUTES:

Motion made by Eldon Freese and seconded by Ro Endresen. Motion carried.

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

Mike suggested we summarize the issues and attempt to coalesce.

Issue #1 - How do we identify common goals with the St. Croix Tribe?
This should be treated in the same way that foreign relations are handled. We should establish good will and understanding. The public should be kept apprised of our relations with the Tribe.

Issue #2 - How do we evaluate and rehabilitate drug and alcohol offenders that enter the court system?
Noted the high expenditure of the incarcerated. It was suggested that we observe drug programs that are currently in existence. We should be recognizing leaders and taking note of what has worked and what hasn't worked in the area of drug and alcohol abuse. Inter-county relationships on this issue should be established. We need recommendations from other groups.

Issue #3 - How do we communicate better with the Board of Supervisors and the general public?
A committee is needed for workable solutions. Having County Board committee reports available has aided in the area of communication. Leadership roles are shared and cooperation has improved.

All Departments: Information should be communicated to the public? Should it be considered a responsibility to advise the community and what level of communication is required? Should we meet minimum standards? We could contact newspaper, maybe using a "community page" just to touch base with the public. All agreed this did nothing but to "open a can of worms." New Department projects should be published, but it was agreed to omit the Department's need to report.

Issue #4 - How do we maintain the quality of life in Burnett County? Or how do we preserve our natural resources?
Is lake classification and shoreline restoration included in this issue or should it be included in County facilities? We should be looking at "becoming an island" and looking at alternatives to county facilities. We should tie in with the people coming to the community, the "third age" (those who have retired at a young age, but still have drive and energy to contribute to the County). It was agreed that County facilities should be a separate issue and not included in natural resources. Does the County have an emergency back-up plan for their facilities? There should be general maintenance of buildings. We could bring labor in and look at County as our own business. There is money set aside for emergencies and the taxpayers are not fully cognizant of this issue.

The Strategic Planning Committee meetings should result in appointing three or four committees.

How do we plan for and replace County facilities and infrastructure? Is this an issue? It was determined that this is long-term, but not an immediate issue. Items included in this are:
· Jail
· Highway facility
· Airport runway
· Airport building
· Forestry

How do we sort these? Suggestions made were: For example, the runway is in the budget. We have to give final analysis and direction. Specify line item and revenue potential. Mike asked how to figure out what facilities and infrastructure are needed. We should be doing a maintenance review on the aforementioned. The Property Committee identifies only the Government Center, not the other buildings in the County. We should prioritize our needs. Hangar can be used as a back-up plan. The Highway Department is redoing its phone system on a charge-back basis. We should centralize and consolidate committees' responsibilities, e.g. Property, Highway, Parks.

Should try to avoid emergencies by funding. Tax money could be multi-vested into interest-bearing accounts.

Develop reserves/contingency fund
Everyone was comfortable with the idea of centralizing. Who will respond to this issue? We must have an initiator (County Chair?), someone has to be designated.

Issue #5 - How do we promote appropriate business development including tourism and agriculture?
There are several strategies for tourism:
Create a Tourism Business Advisory Board to the Park, Recreation, Tourism Committee (PRT). The County is providing a facility for tourism. We should coordinate and work together on village and township events to eliminate community overlap of promotions. There may be a weekend with several events and then a weekend with nothing going on. All agreed that there should be more planning within the community.
This issue was brainstormed and the following points were made:
Countywide organizations
Act as a convention bureau
Free-standing
Bring in conventions to County
Need coordination to network activity
The influx of "new blood" could give jump-start as these people are acquainted with members of the community.
County organized and partially funded.
Niche farming: use the web site - ag-tourism - farmers' market
Work force development:
How do we promote individual businesses?
Expanding airport runway to accommodate freight carriers
Entrepreneurial service businesses
Community kitchen
Extension should be lining people up.
We need entrepreneur fairs versus job fairs.

Infrastructure development -
Campground would be a positive thing.
Activity park
Campgrounds have become seasonal RV parks
Have to study a plan for the feasibility of a campground, year-round ATV/snowmobile area
What impact would this have on the quality of life in Burnett County?
The 60-acre Fort could be transformed into a campground and lease part of the Fort to craftspeople.
Memory Park, Grantsburg - We are undervaluing what we have. We should be charging more for people to camp on our campgrounds.
There is a limited market for campgrounds.
Campgrounds and RV parks are keyed to physical activities.
Other infrastructure mentioned was sewer, water, BCDA.
Why would businesses want to come to Burnett County?
· The tax structure is high.
· We should offer tax incentives for business that's the only way to get businesses to come to Burnett County.
· As of 1991, we were able to offer natural gas and DS-L is now available as incentives for businesses to locate in Burnett County.
· Labor is a huge problem in the County. It's not ALL about taxes.
· It was brought up that there are three industrial parks in Burnett County, one being in Grantsburg.
· Having a cargo carrier would help the existing businesses in the County and offering shuttle flights from the Twin Cities would be of help. With the extension of the airport's runway, this may be feasible.

The community cash flow development is a tougher issue. We should identify areas of concern and how to deal with players involved and let them do the research. This is too much for one committee to handle. To develop the Fort, we would have to identify a responsible person and generate phases of development.

Countywide organization
NWRPC, IBEC, extension
We should use what we have. There are limits to what can be accomplished. Leadership should come from industry. Need a resource development person to step in.
Promote entrepreneurial business/farming
Ag-tourism web site, BCDA
Farmers' Market, BCDA
Promote education resources - UWEX
Air-related industries - NWRPC, BCDA
Feasibility study of campground
Feasibility study of ATV park
Feasibility study of a campground at the Fort

Someone mentioned that there is too much detail in our discussions, but Mike said plans with detail are more useful than broad plans. It is a challenge to develop a specific action. We should be narrowing down details as we continue our discussions and working toward a common goal. We cannot be vague in the area of business development. Our current partners are NWRP, SBA, IBEC, revolving loan fund for small businesses. There is no free money to start up businesses. We do have agencies working to develop business. A committee member wondered why we were spending so much time discussing large and small industry when we already have people working for us on this issue. Can we improve on what they are doing for us? Maybe we aren't giving them the proper direction? Is some of the work being duplicated? We should meet with a member of three of the organizations so that can tell us what they are doing for us. The people that have been hired to do this job are not highly paid. The following were items suggested to improve cash flow development:
· Tourism
· Market Burnett County
· Bringing outside money in
· Raise the sales tax - State has to allow
· Toll booth - money would go to State

Issue #6 - How do we preserve the long-term health of the County?
Prevention was stressed as opposed to rehab.

Mike went over the calendar to come up with two more meeting dates. Our goal at these two meetings will be to have something ready to take to the Board by October 20.

FUTURE MEETINGS
Friday, September 9, 2005, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon - tentatively scheduled at the Lodge.
At this time we will adjust priorities and identify some time lines on when to start on detailed items and when to complete them. We will review the partially completely document.
Friday, September 30, 2005, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon - tentatively scheduled at the Lodge -- wrap up and get public comments.

All agreed that at this meeting we covered some ground and came up with something concrete. It was not an easy process. We should be reviewing our mission statement at every meeting so we become familiarized with it. We will be obtaining our public comments by contacting the Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, Town Board Committee members, web site input, and ad in paper.

Meeting was adjourned at 12:00 noon.