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

Members absent: Norm Bickford, and Dave Alderman

Others present: Mike Kornmann, Rob Rudiger, and Al Arnold

Press: Todd Beckman

CALL TO ORDER:

Larry Main called the meeting to order at 1:00 a.m. in the Pow Wow Room at The Lodge at Crooked Lake on November 16, 2005.

APPROVAL OF AUGUST 30, 2005 MEETING MINUTES:

Motion made by Ro Endresen and seconded by Ed Peterson. Motion carried.

GROUND RULES:

Mike laid out the ground rules to in order to move things along in a more timely fashion. Idea generation should be encouraged to discuss at a later date. Mike suggested using a "parking lot" note pad. Members were advised to write their ideas down on these "parking lots" and we will get back to their ideas. Hopefully, this process will expedite the process.

STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS REVIEW:

Went over the Stakeholder criteria exercise we had done previously. Members inquired about the performance rating and their significance. Mike defined the ratings and made it understandable to all. We should walk in stakeholders' shoes and identify issues and how they affect the stakeholders. How do the stakeholders feel about Burnett County?

Core values were whittled down to three issues:

· Quality of life. We value quality of life meaning friendly communities, wildlife, natural resources, jobs, and education.

· Efficiency of services. We value service and work to implement them in financially sound ways that affect both the short- and long-term health of our County.

· Common Goals. We reach out, listen, and develop common goals to focus our work and foster community-wide support on issues and programs.

It was agreed to change "organization" to "County" in the second core value - "efficiency of services."

The S.W.O.T. analysis was reviewed, both the department heads and ours. Went over the "hopes and concerns" - Meth, taxes, jobs, etc.

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT:

How do we identify common goals with the St. Croix Tribe?

What is the relationship between the Tribe and the County Board? Someone remarked "they don't know us and we don't know them." A task force is needed to create dialogue. We should go another direction with the Tribe and get to know more about each other. The Tribe may not be ready and may not be ready for years, but it is something that cannot wait and must be pursued actively.

How do we evaluate and rehabilitate drug and alcohol offenders that enter the court system?

There is not enough rehabilitation in Burnett County. We must have the community's support and create a task force to see which rehab centers work the best.

How do we maintain the quality of life in Burnett County?

· Zoning adoption -- grant application
· Ag and forest land preservation

How do we support, plan and promote appropriate business including agriculture and tourism?

Promote entrepreneurial businesses, i.e. Farmers' Market, ATV Park, Forts Folle Avoine. Some wondered if ATV Park and Fort could be combined, but the Fort is the property of the DNR and we need their approval.

How do we plan for future development and replacement of County facilities and infrastructure?

This issue has only been partially worked on. Identify.

How do we communicate with the public and the Board of Supervisors?
Communication Committee should be appointed. Specific recommendations are needed or this may not be an issue. We will continue the discussion on this issue.

Communication:

Suggestions were as follows:

· Awareness - may be enough to do the job.
· Web site
· Idea generation and brainstorming
· Newspaper column by either the chairman or a designee - on a monthly basis
· Radio - could be "Meet the Chairman" (or designee) to discuss County events.
· County/Town Association
· Coordinated activities
· Research govdocs.com - sign up to receive meeting dates and other pertinent information.
· Icebreakers with newly elected Boards (post election) - semi-annually was suggested. Check out legality of ice breaker with corporation counsel

Go over individually and include recommendations. None were opposed.

Economic Development

How do we promote the room tax to countywide tourism? It was explained that room tax is a tax on certain lodging facilities in the County. Towns and villages implement it. Only Siren has room tax. The minimum tax is 4% and 8% is the maximum. Siren charges 4%. Towns should be encouraged to enact to draw tourists. There are five lodging establishments in Siren alone. This is an important issue and all voted "yes," but one member was "on the fence," thus abstaining. Promote people to coordinate this.

A new county brochure should be created

County Facilities

Centralize structural committee
Develop use and capital improvement plan

Reserves - how?

Windfall/tax delinquent properties - 100% net (after expenses)
Consider levy percent annual fund - not only source
Research revenue generator - business (profits put into capital fund)
· Use of tires for building
· ATV park
· Campground
· Money for capital improvement

Mike suggested a round robin for additional ideas:

· County toll booth
· Airport to use locally manufactured materials
· Utilize inmates for making profitable products to fund capital improvement.
· Research committee for grant finances, both public and private

Capital improvement plan

This is a management tool to be used by organization to avoid emergencies. Any one Department will not be making the decision. This plan is for the whole organization. New projects are addressed, amended, evaluated and the public will be brought in. Use this process as a long-range tool to help Board form decisions. Maintenance has no plan, but rather on a day-to-day basis. Forestry has a ten-year plan. New projects must go through the full Board. Public should be kept well informed. Crisis management would very definitely be useful, but it will be difficult to set up. Should we have all chairs or structural chairs? Cohesive organization should involve enough people to avoid exclusion. It's possible the Finance Committee takes too much heat. We should be tapping into people's areas of expertise - people CAN wear two hats!

DRUG COURT PRESENTATION

Mike introduced Rob Rudiger, from the Health and Human Services Department. Rob explained how the Drug Court works. They meet every month to discuss concerns regarding Meth labs and how to meet the needs of Meth addicts' withdrawal. This program also includes outpatient resources, probation, and child protection. In addition to Meth users, OWI and multiple offenders are being treated. The public has to be educated on this subject. The Judge, Ken Kutz, probation, law, and the St. Croix Tribe's outpatient facility are involved in this program. There are many systems to identify drug concerns. A grant has been applied for from the Department of Justice. Have not gotten the application approved yet. Sawyer, Bayfield, and Barron Counties are already involved and we can learn from our neighboring counties.

Rob wanted to know how this would impact Strategic Planning Committee. Drug Court would like the County Board's support. This program is growing by leaps and bounds. There are 54 Tribal Drug Courts and research proves them to be effective.

Process

· People are screened, convicted or stayed
· People need treatment sooner than they are receiving it.
· Major consequences to motivate people
· The patient sees the Judge on a regular basis.
· The case manager is in Court weekly at first.
· This is an intense system, but needs to be even more intense.
· Matrix Model was cited. It originated in California.
· Learning life skills
· A spiritual component is added to the rehab.
· Immediate sanctions being put in place.
· Program builds incentive
· Very accountable system
· Gets non-dangerous criminals out of jail.
· Sobriety is short-lived - ½ and ¾-way houses being implemented
· Partnering with faith community
· Patient's whole family should be treated.
· Graduates of Drug Court try to steer patient in the right direction.
· 12-13 months is required to accomplish rehab for an individual.

Funding for:

· Frequent UAs (urinalyses)
· Sustainability
· Probation supervision
· Put treatment people in place
· Need volunteers for 1-2 hours per week
· Someone affiliated with the Tribe
· Grant money for training
· Not asking a lot from the County
· Managing outpatient treatment plan
· Multiple offenders are considered first.
· Success rate depends on the length of treatment
· Stop the "revolving door."
· Access is replacing Northwest.

Mike thanked Rob for speaking and commented on Rob's presentation.

Mike posted a list of issues and asked that members place three dots on the issues they think are the most important, they could put all three of their dots on one issue if they felt strongly about that particular issue.

Mike questioned the Committee -- when this is taken to the County Board, what's to be done first? How should they implement and choose one project over another. May need Committee's help again when choices have to be made. Some of these issues will have to be done sooner than others.

Mike asked how members felt about taking the Strategic Plan to the Board. Everyone concurred that we are ready to present. Mike questioned if should we receive feedback or conduct another meeting and everyone agreed we should send out the Plan and wait for the Board's approval.

There will be a full Board review of the Strategic Plan in December and possibly approval in January of 2006.

Meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.