Okay, it is uh 2:00 p.m. We'll call the meeting today, Monday,
August 24th of the public property and law
enforcement committee. First order
is uh roll call. Marcus JMA
» here. >> Philip Livingston.
Philip, are you online? Okay. Lauren Negro.
Lauren Negro. >> Jim Schultz
» here. >> Paul Wilharm
» here. >> Thank you.
Second is approval of the agenda. >> Wilharm will make a motion to approve
the agenda. >> Second.
» Motion has been made to approve and seconded.
Any discussion?
All in favor? Say I. Opposed.
Motion carried. Number three, public comment.
And as stated,
excuse me,
for for public comment. All right. Uh we're going to limit
to three minutes per speaker and hopefully uh we won't hit that 30
minute total time limit. So uh do we want to take the first person who's
online there?
So are we going to have her take over? Did
you want to take over on the meeting or should we have Jim run the meeting?
» I can take the meeting. >> Okay, I'm going to turn the volume.
» Sorry about that. It was a tech issue. It just kept spinning and spinning and
spinning.
Okay. So, Adam Baker is the first one that had his hand raised for a public
comment. >> Did we have a list of everybody? They
signed in. >> I do have lists here. Yes. And I'll grab
them.
Thank you. And you said Brian
» Adam Baker. >> Adam Baker. Um, can you have him come up
to the microphone by you? >> Oh, okay.
» Can you hear me? >> Sure can.
Excellent. Well, thank you everybody. My name is Adam Baker. I live in Ashlin
joining on Zoom. Thank you for having me today. Um, I'm just a resident coming in
here to talk to you today about flot cameras. I've read the county's own
paperwork and I just like to tell you what's in it. Ashlin Fox Ashland
County's flot camera renews on September 10th for another two years and nobody on
this board voted for it because nobody could have. I filed the records request
this July. Chief Deputy Dawson, who's been very helpful throughout, answered
that this contract is handled inside the sheriff's office and renews on its own.
I asked whether the county gave notice to stop it, and his answer was four
simple words. No notice was given. The order form he signed requires 30 days.
For a September 10th renewal, that deadline was August 11th, and it went by
quietly. Not saying anybody did anything proper, no one did anything wrong. I'm
just saying there was no public step in it, and that's the part this board can
change. The other thing in the paperwork is who can search it. The county's own
sharing list dated August 17th shows nationwide search is turned on and names
754 different agencies across 38 states who
have access to this camera's footage. I'll give the cameras their due. They
don't use facial recognition and they do help recover stolen vehicles and help
with other crimes. But that does not justify the abuse of privacy and Fourth
Amendment rights that comes with them. And to me, it's not even close. When the
ACLU obtained Maryland plate reader records, two in every 1,000 scans
produced a hit of any kind, 0.2%. And of those, 97% were a suspected
registration or failed emissions test. That was Maryland years ago. But the
same issue remains true of these cameras today. That means nearly everyone in
this database is just a neighbor driving to work. Not a lead, not a suspect. Just
what the camera caught along the way will regular people live their lives. No
warrant, no suspicion, no way to opt out. That is not a small thing to renew
without a vote. I know today is a reported not a vote, and that's exactly
why I'm asking. Please send the flock contract to the full county board before
you set the budget. Thank you and I appreciate your time.
» Who do we have next
» Mara?
Tomorrow online then? >> I'm I'm right here in the uh courthouse.
» Okay. >> Here in the courthouse.
» Okay. I'm Tamara Tupesus. I live at 615 Avenue in Ashland, Wisconsin. I'm a
resident and I have been in touch with people. I just shook the mayor's hand
before I came here and I have been in touch with uh the utility engineer.
Madison is her first name. I can't I'll butcher her last name. But um these
folks have been very kind and and uh receptive to my concerns about the
eviction of the wildlife just right in my own little backyard. The state bird,
three robins nests, more than 14 robins died since Enbridge has been in since my
water utility has been changed. Since the water pressure has been better,
since my water now smells more like bleach than water, and I live in the in
in the most beautiful place in the world where water should always be a priority,
not not pushed back and not not uh you know misjudged as to how much it affects
everybody. You would not be here for not this water. That's why this committee is
here. That's why I have lived here my whole life in Wisconsin.
And I think that there is a mismanagement
and a not listening by these people who I go to, I look them in the eye, I get,
"Oh yeah, I really care. Oh yeah, but what about this? What about that?"
The best water system was the Roman water system. It was clay or just, you
know, go to your adah in the woods. Why do we need someone flocking us,
taking a picture of us, getting our water, living our lives?
This is corporations that are not people that are taking
charge of our lives insidiously right here in Ashland, Wisconsin. They are
coming in and stomping on our rights and the
flora, the fauna, the life.
This is life. And you are to be caretakers. We are caretakers.
Nobody seems to care about my voice. I speak up every opportunity I have. And I
want you to listen to me now.
Take a breath. Enjoy that breath. I nearly died when the smoke came in.
I I really felt bad when I smelled all that bleach in my water in my house, in
my bathtub that I need to make me feel better.
And it's killing me little by little. And I think we need to take
responsibility. We are a community. We are people.
We're not We're not those other things. Those other things aren't real.
This is what's real. And my experience after being in a water
family, both my grandfathers worked at breweries in Milwaukee. Capston Schlitz.
I know water better than anybody. I ate more Bradford Beach sand. I lived in
Cambridge, Wisconsin, where Embridge blew up my water by my farmland.
You let these people in and they will destroy us. They are destroying us now.
And you're not listening. You're not paying attention. And this is not
arbitrary. This is not flagrant. This is
responsible citizenship. >> Sorry,
» this is stewardship. >> Not mean to cut you off, but we do have
a three minute time. >> Okay.
» Sorry. Thank you for your comments. >> Yeah.
» Who is next?
» Lydia.
» Good afternoon. My name is Lydia Christensen. I was born here in Ashlin,
Wisconsin. I'm a US Senate candidate in Michigan. Uh I came here to speak on two
things, both um the flock camera situation and the Nbridge cooperation
with the sheriff's department. Um I would t ask that the board take serious
consideration of both of the public comments previously stated before me.
Both come from reputable people who have made their concerns known. Uh, I would
like to mention that clock cameras are very likely unconstitutional. The
Supreme Court recently ruled that your phone falls underneath the papers and
effects of the fourth amendment of the Constitution of the United States of
America. Ashlin County will face potentially lawsuits if they continue to
violate US citizens constitutional rights. Additionally, I would like to
say that the federal courts have ruled that Enbridge has been trespassing on
tribal treaty protected land and that it is absolutely time that the board takes
the time to reconsider and strip this cooperation from the
the county. Whether that means that uh we kick
Enbridge out of Wisconsin or we kick Enbridge out of Michigan, they are
violating treaty rights. It's not even environmental risk that I'm talking
about, but the environmental risk is also documented and very real. Thank
you.
» Okay, who is next? >> I don't have any other signup sheets.
Oh, you you
uh these are uh two two pages each. This is the Bay Bills County Ordinance that
your neighbors um passed. Um
we'll try to be brief as I understand 3 minutes is of course brief and uh
there's not really enough time to mention all the harassment that's been
going on uh against local residents uh by law enforcement.
uh a company called SIPs um who is their security team and how they are being
directed your law enforcement is being directed by SIPs to target uh
individuals and harass individual citizens. Uh they're parking uh Emirates
employees are parking in wrongful places.
» Yeah. >> Um could you state your name and your
address, please? >> I'm sorry. I'm I'm Matthew Bourke. Um
I'm not really comfortable with giving my address at this point in time because
like I said, um >> are you an Ashlin resident? Um I am a
rational resident. Uh >> okay. Thank you.
» Uh brought out this ordinance because uh I
also want to notify all of you that the the agreement that was filed and signed
by Ashlin County is against Wisconsin law. Um the Bayfield County did a
wonderful job of making that agreement transparent to make sure the officers
are being taken care of and paid for their services for extraordinary
services. Um, we would appreciate that you scrap the agreement and adopt look
review this ordinance, support the adoption of this ordinance, bring it to
the board of supervisors. This is the appropriate method to case things
transparent. Right now, you all seem to be working behind a veil. um blocking
all information requests and you're
essentially targeting all the local residents and supporting targeting local
residents. All the uh uh board of supervisors was advised of the law
Wisconsin records law that that Wisconsin would be um that they would if
they signed it they would be breaking Wisconsin law. Um but they approve they
decided to sign it anyways. I understand that they were put in a pressure situ
situation and given 5 days to make this decision even though their lawyer said,
"Oh, that's plenty of time through the weekend." It's really not. You all have
known about this a long time. I don't know how long the sheriff's department
had been talking about that agreement. But to drop it on and use threatening
things to say either you sign this right now or you're going to be million
dollars in the hole and we are going to and Embridge is going to bankrupt you is
a straightup threat. I've been threatened by Ember Security. I've been
stalked by security. I'm not the only one. They've been speeding down roads.
Every complaint that the residents have gone to call you on has turned into more
emage creating stories to target those people. They're compiling their stories,
giving multiple things and trying to say that that
stopping residents from getting to the doctor's appointment. when the doctors
uh when when the local resident gets angry and and says get the hell out of
my way, they get the that local resident gets charged because the Emirbridge
workers are compiling stories and conspiring to basically say this guy
threatened us when in fact these residents are the one that are live are
living here. The sheriff's department is not just protecting them and allowing
them to work do things illegally which means parking on the road. They have
their own easements. Okay, these are public roads. Citizens can, you know,
have access, but Emridge owns these other roads. They have places to park.
They're stopping up traffic and making dangerous situations.
Today, I just got back from a situation where officers were on their easement
while construction was actively working. That's an OSHA violation. And if they're
not wearing their hard hats, their safety limbs. Every single worker on
that place knows what those safety things are. Embridge is not following
safety, but yet the officers show up and say, "We're here to enforce safety and
are keeping people away from the public lands and the and the and the waterways,
the publicly accessible waterways that they can legally stand in." And it's
been turned into a bully system. And I would like you to all go home, look at
this ordinance, pass it up. I understand whether that agreement can
be put to the side. All those records can be opened up because without having
any transparency, you now are being part of a conspiracy to target people and I
don't think you want to put yourself in that position. So, I would appreciate it
if you'd look at this. I understand that the board of supervisors meeting has
been cancelled this month. Little weird since they went on an Embridge tour
instead, but is what it is. Um, so please review this. Talk to your fellow
people about it. Please support your local residents and stop them from
harassing and targeting and stalking. Literally, these cars are are driving
around. I I talked to an one of the security guys says, "You've been
following me around for five miles." I said, "Is that st isn't that stalking?"
He says, "No, this is what my boss has told me to do. I they told me to jump in
the car and start following you around everywhere." Um, the the the it's not
just going from that. It's going to spreading that information to other
local residents that are getting old other local residents
with propaganda saying, "Oh, uh, uh, drones are dive bombing. This person's
doing that." There's been no criminal activity. I like I don't know where
these rumors are coming from other than a propaganda piece. Um, thank you for
your time and I really appreciate you all listening to us.
» Thank you. Is there anybody else there inside looking to speak?
I do not see any. >> All right. Is there anyone else online
that wanted to speak? Anyone online?
Okay, seeing none, we can close the
public comment and move on to reports and updates.
Review the quarterly financials.
So, Laura, I'm just filling in for Lori and Dan today. Um, I'm not
» Is there somebody from the sheriff's department?
» Dave is here. >> Dave could go ahead and handle that
then. >> Okay.
» Hi there. Um, so Dave,
» hi. Um, just looking at the general ledger here. Um, currently, as you can
see to the right, the percentage allocated was, uh, we're we're actually
doing really good regarding the the actual budget. Now, granted, we we are,
uh, without one position in recreation and um, one office spot. Um but as far
as the actual allocated budget, we're doing really good. Um
now, um I know um when we look at the the numbers, the jail right now um is
doing good. We have to send approximately four people by the end of
the year to training. um there we've
already extended um the allowable time before they get get sent to training by
state. So um we're going to see some numbers end of this year and then
beginning of next year when it when it comes to overtime. Um
but after those four come back, we should be pretty good. We should be
really good actually with uh our jail side of things.
Um, >> are we fully staffed in the jail then?
» Yes, ma'am. Yes, we are. [clears throat]
» I know there's a I think one kitchen spot maybe um that could be open. Um,
but right now we are currently fully staffed
as far as correctional goes. Um, we do, just so you know, we do have
one resation. Um
he's uh he's moving to another county. Um he is a sergeant in the jail. So that
spot will be available or open. So there there will be potentially
um a promotion and then one jailer spot will be
um I think he is due I think beginning of September is when his last day is.
» So um I don't want to I just need to interrupt you for a second. Can we move
the camera over to point at Dave just for a little housekeeping thing?
» Sorry. >> It's okay. You got a lot to do.
There he is. He's sitting in my chair. [laughter]
Okay, Dave, you can go on. >> Okay. [laughter]
Um, anything else as far as the budgetary
issues? I I I don't believe we have a current issue as far as um
staffing. Um, I know that we are we're doing pretty
good with the numbers we have. Um, yeah.
Did anybody else have any questions for Dave on that budget piece?
This is kind of us reviewing.
» This is Jim here. Uh, >> okay. Is there any anything on here
comparing, you know, like last year? Uh any running
totals, uh comparisons? Uh obviously things are probably going up.
» Yeah, cost of things are going up. Um the biggest hit we'll take for next year
will be the health care costs within the jail. Um,
I think it's projected 5% increase. That's what I budgeted for for 2027.
Um,
obviously we can't predict accidents, but um, we know that the healthc care
costs will go up. Food obviously, gasoline um for the squad cars.
Um yeah, all those things we kind of can predict, but we we kind of
are limited right now as far as um 2027. I don't um I did have the 2026 versus
2027 and we are on we are still um we're still above where we were for
last year. So, we're doing pretty good. And we had a lot of
open positions last year in the jail. So,
so yeah, we're we're doing pretty good.
Is there any other questions for Dave on the budget piece?
Well, at least Jim asked a question this time. It's it's it's a good thing. Um,
so moving on is courthouse maintenance update.
[clears throat and cough] I believe last uh time we had talked about an issue in
the main breaker panel um and our our uh solar system. Still waiting on quotes
for the solar system. I did reach out to them. They're just super busy with
actually some other project projects [clears throat] that they're
working on for the county. Um the panel has been fixed with no
hiccups. Um we did have an a capacitor to go bad in our main exhaust fan up in
the attic, but I was able to fix that myself. So it was it was cheap and easy.
Um, as far as that, uh, looking forward just shortly here beginning prepared for
the winter and no other hiccups as of right now. So,
hope it just stays that way, >> right?
It's always the goal. Um, did you know if they are looking for grants to help
with the solar? I believe that'll be on the table once
we actually get a price for updating it. It's been a bit of a chore for him
because it's an outdated system. So, it's kind of revamping
almost redesigning the whole system if that makes sense.
» Wonderful. >> Sounds really sounds really cheap and
easy like >> Exactly. [laughter]
» Um, anything else you need to highlight?
» Not as of right now. Oh, I think we're I think that's about it.
» Any of the committee members have any questions?
Hearing none, we will move on to the sheriff department reports.
Dave, you got that one, too? >> Yes, ma'am.
» Go ahead and shoot. >> Okay. Okay. So, these numbers are
because we these numbers aren't completely, you
know, complete as far as, you know, we're still in August and I switched the
and usually September the end of September is our our quarter three.
» Yeah. >> Um, so they're just they're preliminary.
Um, obviously I'll adjust them for our next meeting. So, this is just strictly
July through August 17th. >> Okay.
» All right. So, totals uh 31 arrest, uh 11 referred to prosecution,
161 citations, 117 complaints to investigate, and 1,428
calls for service. Total number of bookings so far, uh 121
as of last week. Uh 31 is our current average
for this quarter.
See, looks like one transport, eight hours for a total mileage of 526.
Year-to- date mileage, 4,270.
Zero juvenile transports. Seven other wants and warrant
transports. Total mileage,
uh, 2,867. year to date, it's 15,998.
And these transports are anything that's court-ordered
um warrant picking up or from uh the
prisons to bring back for court dates and etc. Um current uh number of inmates
being boarded is one and current uh number of inmates on electronic monitors
three.
And that is all for the report. Um, has any of these numbers gone up
with us having to do
assist with the Nbridge project? Uh, calls for service. Yes. Uh, we've
had some increase um with calls for service. Um,
regarding anything from a 911 call to an accident,
um, we have seen some increase.
Okay. Um, for Excuse me, that was a good squeak. Um, for the next time I'd like
to see those calls separated out on this spreadsheet so that way we know what
kind of calls and issues we're having through that so we can compare.
» You're saying separate the calls for service relation to
» to the Enbridge. >> Okay.
Um
and then um
and then the breakdown um who is like have that separated out for if there is
people that get arrested or referred for to court for charges and such. Um does
anybody else have any [clears throat] boy I got another squeak. Uh, does
anybody else have another qu any questions on
the law enforcement report?
All right, next is the fun part, the flat cameras.
So, you want to give us a good rundown on
that? Because I thought we didn't own any.
Uh yes, we have currently one camera in contract with Flock. Uh that camera
is on 13 and 77 intersection in the city of Melon. The sheriff last year the
sheriff approached the city of Melon and asked for permission to place that
camera within the city limits and it was granted.
I can tell you uh I doing some record requests with Adam Baker who's online um
» very transparent you know I understand the concern I also understand the
importance of the the tool that's being used um I can tell you from doing audits
that the last person besides myself to touch or log into Flock from our agency
was mid July. Um
I can tell you in June, I believe it was um
uh mid June that camera did help solve a incident and within the city of limits
of Melon where an individual did fire a firearm.
Um an offduty officer was walking with his family.
Um, within 30 seconds, dispatch was able to give other responding units that
plate information and vehicle description. Um, Adam did mention, Adam
Baker online did mention that, you know, to its credit, you know, Flock does not
take pictures of people. Um,
I understand the importance of people realizing that, you know, it's a it's a
fixed position on it. You know, that camera does not move. Um, there's no
facial recognition as Adam pointed out. Um,
monthly I do an audit. basically the the large numbers that I gave Adam because I
gave Adam everything from January I think to
current of the network it's called where other agencies
they utilize a search function called nationwide search.
um that search is that if they're looking for a missing person and there's
an amber alert, a silver alert, a green alert, um
they can type in that plate or partial and it basically searches all those
cameras within that designated s area that they actually designate they want
to search. So there is some large numbers.
It doesn't tell me if that plate that they were searching for was spotted on
our camera. It just says that our camera was used in that search.
Um obviously with
when it comes to that tool there is potential for being overabused
and I understand that completely and that's why you know with
audits with policy we limit that potential.
Um but with with our agency of 20 sworn or
19 sworn currently um the last person besides myself was
mid last month that that actually logged in. Um I can tell you we don't have time
to search it for just randomly. Um, and there was four incidences I believe
that was kind of like I guess the most searched reason why.
One was welfare, one was theft, one was traffic violations,
and I believe the other one was uh criminal damage to property. They
were searching for a car that they had a description of. They type in a
description, not a plate, and they get a a slew,
which requires the work still to be un done on the investigator or whoever's
searching. But it kind of helps that tool helps um especially in a rural area
investigation wise.
» So on these reports that you pull, it tells what reason they searched.
» Yeah. Yes, ma'am. So, I required when we got
the cameras, I required them to actually put in a case number and a reason why
they're searching. So, it gives me who searched it within the organization,
why, when, what they searched, and you know, what time they searched. Um,
they're required to do a double uh authentic modification, this MA MFA,
before they actually access the account. So it's yeah it's it's pretty locked
down as far as that goes. >> So mostly all those numbers that Adam
had spoke about it's other people searching our cameras.
» Yes ma'am. So that so when they do a nationwide search and and they select
that geographic area whether it be Midwest or just nationwide
um our camera is included in those searches.
but it won't tell me if they've actually got a result from our camera.
Um, for instance, um, we'll get calls from neighboring counties. Um, examples
is Iron County was dealing with someone who was suicidal.
Um, they left their parents' house. Um and the camera picked them up coming
back towards their parents' house. Um threats of a firearm. Um well, there was
a firearm in inside the motorcycle sadd uh saddle bag, but um they were able to
respond back to the house because they knew sort of the direction that he would
be going where our camera was placed. So they were able to get there, you know,
and that essentially helped that person out before something bad happened.
So that's another c that's that's just an example of another county using our
camera when they did a nationwide search on it helped them. Um,
so every place that uses these cameras has to have a contract with Flock.
Uh yes, with FA requires a contract. Um usually it's the
what I've seen is three years. Um it's an auto renewal.
Um basically the first year and then it auto renews. There's no signatory, you
know, requirements. There's no it auto, you know, auto renews. Um
yeah. How long is this data kept?
» Uh what specific data are you asking? >> So if there's scans on this,
so is it a week's worth of license plates?
Is it a month's worth of license plates? 30 days.
And then everything's deleted.
I can't say what if it's deleted on their part because the data is kept with
flock. We have access to all the data but it's it's not kept locally.
» Is there a contract with this that we could see also with flock?
» Yeah, I provided uh Adam as well the same contract. I can send it to you
guys. >> That would be cool.
Um,
and then my audits, just so you know, my audits go back longer than that
as far as access to the system locally, our access.
» Okay. >> So, just flock only contract with law
enforcement. >> No, they do they do businesses. They do
» Okay. Uh HOAs, they do >> township governments.
» Yeah, they do townships. Um >> Okay.
» Yeah. >> So what HOA could access our camera?
» No. I So I limit So what I did was they have to they have to ask or share. So
what I did was I there's only one federal entity that's listed um that I
allow access to. It's um it's a fed it's um
believe it's out of Indiana or Illinois. It's um
it's a park service. Um but federal entities can't ask. I I blocked
the their requests. So, it's it's just law enforcement
that ask for us and like um you have other
you have other entities uh fusion centers, Haida centers um that ask for
requests, but that's all blocked.
» All law enforcement. Yeah.
» When did we take over that camera in Maryland?
September of last year, I think it went it went
live. It took were several planning issues that they had to deal with for
the state, but um I [clears throat] think it went live September area.
And so this policy has been in place for about a year. No, not this policy.
» This one I This one I kind of revised. I added my job title on it. Basically,
» second page you'll see where it says chief deputy. Yeah, it says
revise it if we needed. I kind of it's put myself out, you know, for as far as
responsibility goes. Um kind of made it where I'm responsible
for the audits. Yeah, >> you're in trouble.
» Yeah. >> And this has been reviewed by corporate
council. >> No, this this policy um this policy is
from Lexiple.
It's basically one of their good practice policies.
There's several policies that Lexiful We use Lexiful for all of our law
enforcement policies. Uh some are state mandatory,
federal and then there's good practice. So this
is one of their good practice policies.
And when I >> So when I asked you about our flock
cameras before and you said we didn't have any
» when um
we've had >> sometime early this summer.
» We've had one since September of last year.
» Okay. Okay. So,
and where it says ALPR,
this policy also incorporates, which we don't have, but it also incorporates
license plates readers within vehicles.
So
is why did we take over this camera if we didn't have it previous any
previously? We didn't take over a camera. We entered
into a contract with Flock. The sheriff >> the administration just basically they
asked for permission from the city of Melon to place the camera within the
city limits. >> Wow.
» Hasn't that camera been there for like ever?
» Yeah. It just wasn't operational. >> Oh, so is a fake camera.
a fancy flashing camera. >> It It has some issues with battery life
because, as you know, our sunshine doesn't
» Yeah. >> Yeah.
» Fun.
Does anyone else on the committee have any questions about the flat camera?
» Paul here. I'm wondering are there any more flock camera locations under
consideration at this time? >> No. Flock wanted us to get more. They
actually for they were trying to force us to get three more. Their policy was
they wanted they wanted every agency to have at least four and we told them no.
The sheriff was very adamant that if if we had to get more that we were going to
cancel. So, >> thank you. Yes, sir.
Is there a monthly fee, yearly? Is it free?
» It's not free. It's not free, unfortunately. It's It's 3,000 annually.
3,000. >> What?
Is there any more questions from the committee on the flat cameras?
All
right, hearing none, just scroll back up to the agenda.
Um,
Gail administration, we don't really have Matt anymore, but
that report kind of did that already.
Who's in jail? So, this stuff is out of order.
» Anything else on jail administration, Dave?
» No, ma'am.
» Um, then let's go on to Christina for emergency management.
» Hello, Christina. emergency management um hazard mitigation plan. We got a
resolution in June for that. It has been turned into FEMA to be finalized. Um the
whole process has been delayed several times due to government shutdowns and um
but it is on the road to being finalized.
Um consolidated PAP, they're looking for a new director.
Um the current one is now that everything is pretty much smoothed out
and they're running quite well, she is looking to um step down and have someone
else take that role full-time. Um they recently added a new program that helps
dispatchers with life-saving directions for callers until EMS gets there. Um, so
far they've had several lifaving success stories where the dispatcher was able to
um give the caller directions on different
um CPR and things like that and holding pressure and um so that's exciting. Um
EPCRA and EMPG grants. EMPG. Last year, um Wisconsin Emergency
Management had to file a lawsuit to receive the funding for the full year of
2025. Um they won that lawsuit, so we are
receiving the full funding for last year. Um the application for this year's
funding just came out on Friday. Um I'm almost done with that application. It's
due at the end of September, but it should be done by tomorrow. Um, I also
applied for the EPRA computer hazmat grant that was submitted last month. We
should be receiving the award letter soon. Um, this grant is a yearly grant
that I apply for. Um, $2,000 goes towards emergency management to be used
to update computer equipment and then $6,000 of that grant is for our hazmat
team which is at the um Ashlin Fire Department.
So, that has been applied for and we'll be hearing about that soon. Um outreach,
I assisted with clean sweep. I helped plan the um all county employee picnic,
helped with the Ashlin County Sheriff's Department with National Night Out. Um I
had the Genesis emergency alert flyers um around the Ashlin County Fair, hoping
to get more people to sign up for that.
Um, as far as training goes, I completed all the know before internet trainings,
completed public information basics. It's a class by Wisconsin emergency
management. I completed the emergency operations center organization and
coordination methods from Wisconsin emergency management. I did the joint
information center planning for tribal, state, and local public information
officers. That was also through Wisconsin emergency management.
I completed a livestock response with WHEM. Um I completed a project
lifesaver training and I also completed coordinated response exercise with the
pipeline safety program. I attended all the Northwest Regional Wisconsin
Emergency Management monthly meetings which is a grant requirement. I attended
all fire association and EMS council meetings. I attended
um meetings with the preparedness planning
group and I also met with Ashton Health and Human Services about shelters.
Um, as far as major grants and funding, the Senate
appropriations bill for 3,155,000 for the emergency services radio
infrastructure project was earmarked earmarked for Ashen County working
closely with Sheriff Subkey, Chief Deputy Dawson, Erica
Hannacle, and Caroline Twambbley. We submitted the two applications to the
part to the Department of Homeland Security COPS grant office for review.
We should be um hearing about that in October.
So that's my summer in a nutshell. You always give a good long report.
[laughter] Busy busy busy.
Does anyone have any questions for Christina?
Next is Enbridge updates.
Don't know who has that one. Would that be a Dan update which we
would table to the next meeting? >> I suppose it would be
either that or the sheriff, but neither one is there. So,
all right, let's move on to approval of the meeting minutes from June 29th. Do I
have a motion for that or any any corrections?
» Jim will make a motion. >> Do we have a second?
» Will harm second. Have a motion and a second.
To approve the meeting minutes. All those in favor, please signify by saying
I.
Nobody used their mics. >> They all said I. They did use their
mics. >> Naughty, naughty, naughty.
Um, and then we've got a solar panels on
County Property Farm Road.
I suppose that's a Dan thing again. >> Laura, this is Pat Kenny.
» Yep. >> Um, I can speak to this one. Um, back on
February 17th, I brought to a zoning meeting a discussion of considering
putting solar uh panels um expanding the Ordo solar farm that's out there. In
2019, um, Excel Energy, um, put in a community
solar garden there. Um, and they use a company, One Energy out of Madison to
put that in. It's a 1 megawatt DC or 7 megawatt AC solar farm. The county owns
20 acres adjacent to that. And so one of the things I've been thinking about as
we look at our comp plans and we talk about climate change, sustainability,
getting off fossil fuels, being more independent on local energy, and from an
economic development standpoint, producing more of our energy here. The
Bayfront Power Plant Nation only produces about half the energy
electricity that we use here. In the next couple years, they're going to
start their planning process to uh make improvements and upgrades there. So from
an economic development standpoint, you know, one of the things I think about
is, you know, we send money outside this area for the electricity that we use. We
don't keep those local jobs here. So if we expand this on that county parcel,
JMA Electric has uh people that are wellversed with solar
um farms at this point to equipment and talent. So it would support some local
jobs there. The county has owned that parcel for about 20 years. We let a
farmer hay that parcel. The company that would install the solar farm, we have a
proposal from them to use 15 acres of that. The other five are probably too
wet. They would pay us $800 per acre per year. So that's $12,000 annually rent on
that parcel with 2% annual increases, a 30-year lease with an option for
additional 10 years. So, it would support some jobs, would
address some of our goals with climate change. The county would still own the
parcel. Um, and then generation down the road, if the county wanted to build
something there, the county would still have um that parcel.
Back in December, I got a packet of information from a company wanted to put
in a utility scale solar farm with my property east of Mason, the farmland I
own. um with my place literally as a center of that. So that sent me down the
road of doing a lot of reading. When you look at aerial maps for northern
Wisconsin and think um kind of north of Spooner, there's not a lot of farm
fields compared to Woods and then you have to look at where the high voltage
power lines are. My property has one high voltage power line post on it. Um
and so they want to buy 15 to 20 acres just for a new substation and battery
storage. So in Ashland they're proposing battery storage as part of that too. So
when you look at where the high voltage power lines are and the distribution
lines off the high voltage power lines um and then where substations are many
of which are not adequate to put in a solar farm. Um, there's very few places
up here where we have the ability to put in a solar farm without a larger
investment or local land owners agreeing to say yes to that. Um, this is one of
the few places up here where the economics work. It's small, but there
just aren't going to be that many places where someone's going to say yes to this
and it would connect to either a high voltage power line or a distribution
line, which is the one where Excel Energy has the solar farm right now. So
there's limited places that we could put this and I realize it means that we
can't use it for something else in the next generation but anything we would
build in terms of buildings there's a lot more options for that than for
putting solar somewhere. So I guess to me I mean you know without going into
more detail than that and more of the the reason for making the case I guess
you know like a few people in this room I'm old enough that we've talked about
comp plans for longer than I can remember. We know most of them get stuck
on the shelf and forgotten. And when we look at our comp plans and
the updates that we're working on, to me, this seems to check a lot of boxes
in terms of what we say we value. You know, we all use oil yet, or almost
all of us do. I bike here, but I mean, I still have vehicles with fuel, so I
understand why we have an Enbridge oil line running through here. I understand
that. Um, but if we're going to change things in the next generation, then we
need to be willing to do some things like I mean, I realize this is a small
project compared to our total needs for energy. But, you know, we should provide
some leadership on this um rather than just put it something in writing and say
somebody else should do it because I will tell you as a land owner, I don't
want somebody else telling me what I can and can't do with my land. the law will
specify certain things I can and can't do, but I want to be able to do with my
land what I choose. Um, and I am open to having a utility scale solar farm there
if they can pull enough land together, which means 700 acres or more. And if
they can't do utility scale, and the PSC, the public service commission, um,
does the permitting for utility scale. Smaller than that, um, it would be the
county that would do the zoning. on this project because it lands in the city
limits. The city would do the zoning. So, to me, it's partly the question, are
we going to do some of what we talk about? Um, or are we not going to do
some of what we talk about? And for me personally, out on my land, which is Old
Lake Superior shoreline on the higher ground. It's not suitable for roll crops
anymore. Too much wind erosion, loss of organic matter. It can't take farming
anymore. Not with row crops. It's got to be in hay, but nobody wants to put it in
hay. It's not worth the money on that ground. So for the land, it's going to
be better off in solar farm than it is with row crops. There's land out there
that's just bare, doesn't grow anything anymore, and it gets worse each year. So
I'm willing to say yes to a solar farm on my land because it makes sense in the
big picture of things. So I could take some questions on this,
Laura, if that's okay, if anyone wants. um the February 17th packet for zoning.
I wrote some questions, sent them to the administrator. They were not in the
packet there. So, I pulled up my questions for that meeting and there was
not an agenda bill written for this one. So, um I understand that nobody had
anything to read on this item, which is why I came to this meeting, but um if
the chair will allow questions, I'd be happy to answer whatever I could.
Is there any questions from the committee?
» What's the cost for installation? >> The company One Energy did the current
solar farm there and when I talked to the administrator about
this um we both were in agreement that we did not want to own the solar farm.
So under the proposal here, one energy would install the solar farm and then
sell the project to Excel Energy. So the first step in this is we would enter
into an agreement terms of an agreement with one energy so they can access the
land the person from one energy who lives in Madison and ironically his dad
decided to live in Ashland. So when he was up in June visiting he walked the
property and he thinks 15 acres are suitable. five he thinks are too wet for
what they want to do. Um so he would examine the property more closely. I
asked him for zoning, do you need to go through the city on zoning first before
we can finalize a contract? And the answer is yes because they've got to
make sure that um the city will say yes to this and then think setbacks for
example from roads and other things. Um so given there's one solar farm there we
would anticipate you know the same guidelines for zoning but still that has
to go forward through the city. So, One Energy would build the project and then
sell the project. And once they get to a point where they know what they can put
in there um in terms of solar, so what it'll generate and when they'll be able
to connect it, they'll sign an interconnection agreement. And in that
agreement, Excel will then buy the project. They'll know what it'll
generate in terms of how much electricity. So, One Energy and Excel
will work on that piece. We will simply lease the land to them. We will not own
the solar farm. We will not be responsible for maintenance. Currently
on the solar farm there, JOMA Electric does the maintenance. That's worked out
well for One Energy and they would hire Joma Electric also to do the maintenance
on this if we expand onto the county land. We would simply be leasing the
land
unless the board decides they would rather own it. But putting that in is a
rather heavy lift on investment. >> So basically what you're saying it'd be
roughly 12,000 per year paid to the county.
» The county >> and the county would have to sign a
10-year lease or what how would that work?
» The first step in this is we would sign an agreement that they could access the
land, work on developing the project u for up to 18 months. Um, and the big
takeaway there is we're not going to call somebody else and say, "Hey, you
know, are you interested in this?" And then having two companies looking at the
same land because then at most one, you know, could end up putting a solar farm
there. So, we would give them exclusive rights for up to 18 months to be on the
land, examine it, work with the city to get through zoning, and work towards
getting an interconnection agreement. and the interconnection agreements. Um
the information on our high voltage power lines, the loads etc. is fairly
closely held information and it's partly for national security reasons. So we
cannot simply go oh you know give us all the data on the high voltage power
lines. I know the line that runs across my property is 161 kilovolt but I don't
know how much more capacity there is to add a load there. I did ask the company
I'm talking to, are you going to have to upgrade that power line? And it's rather
amazing what what they know about my property. They've researched mine in the
neighbors. And he said, "We know that it's going to
cost us, and I won't share the number, um, but it's in the millions to upgrade
that power line that runs there." And I said, "Well, I've got an easement and it
specifies the number of arms on those posts and the number of wires." So
larger diameter wires can carry more power. He said, "Well, we're going to
have to put on bigger arms. There still be three arms, but they're going to be
bigger and they're going to be larger diameter wires." So another factor in
this, if we think about it, if half of our electricity comes from outside the
area, and personally, I'm not worried about data centers because why would you
bring that much power here if we only have half of what we already need? It's
not cost-effective. So, you know, if we don't want bigger
power lines and we don't want more power lines running, it means we need more
local generation also. But in all likelihood,
we're going to have a bigger bigger arms and bigger diameter wires, you know,
running through that line. Um, so, but then you have to put in a large enough
solar farm to justify the price tag of upgrading that power line and putting in
a substation with battery storage. It's going to be 10 or 15 acres. This one
here, one of the things I thought about was when they put that one in there, it
demonstrated that they had the capacity on that distribution line to connected
to their substation and do the distribution locally. They also knew the
power plant here didn't produce all of our energy. So, it turns out they can
use the existing substation and infrastructure they have in place to add
on to Ordoc Solar with what the county has in their property without having to
upgrade power lines somewhere or put in a new substation, which pretty quickly
gets to be not cost effective unless you can pull enough land together, which for
the most part up here is difficult. And the few land owners that have enough
land to put something large in are our dairy farmers on Samurn Avenue, Highway
112, if they want to exit dairy farming, they could l rent rent that land out or
over my neck of the woods, White River Egg. Um, but even then, they need more
land than just that for utility scale.
And this offer of $800 an acre, the offer that I've been made is $800 an
acre, but that's a large solar farm. And if you read the return on investments on
these utility scale solar farms with the information you can find from them
around the country. What we have right now is I call it the wild wild west of
putting in solar farms. There are deep pocketed investors and speculators
um trying to put these in because of the return on investment. They pay off in 10
to 12 years typically. And yet the life is for 30 years with extensions that can
go five and 10 more years up to 50 years and more. So we can I don't think we're
going to get utility scale unless it's my neck of the woods because we don't
have enough land here. And the company I'm talking to, they've looked at Ashlin
County. They don't see the possibility of utility scale here and being able to
pull together that much land where there's a high voltage power line that's
suitable. something smaller perhaps but not the large stuff. I think we can be
proactive if we did this project and learn more. I think we can be proactive
on trying to identify some other areas that are private lands and see if other
people are interested. This offer of $800 an acre for a small project like
this. I was really shocked because that's what they normally pay for larger
projects where the return on investment is bigger. this one because the existing
structure there. Yes. >> Is that what you were offered per acre
for yours? >> I'm also offered 800 per acre. Um, but
the return on investment in larger ones is better, but this one can tag on to
what's already there. So, they're able to offer the $800 per acre there also.
and both XL Energy and One Energy would put it in both in separate conversations
described it as a nice project. Um >> Okay. But you haven't approached them
about the county things because we haven't discussed it as a county board
yet. >> You mean one energy?
» Yeah. >> No, from the zoning meeting back on
February 17th, we invited Excel Energy. So, we had a couple people from there.
Outside of meetings, I worked with Excel Energy and then connecting to One
Energy. We have a proposal from them for the $800 an acre using 15 acres.
And in this committee,
you know, the reason it's on this agenda, you know, it's public property,
but it would then go to executive committee to work on the contract
um for this term of agreements. >> Okay. So, I have a question. So, zoning
put together a package of stuff that had to do with properties when this is the
committee where the property stuff is. >> I wrote the questions regarding the
solar farm for a zoning meeting in part because I
was thinking about I got this packet from the utility scale in December which
got me thinking about all of the zoning questions. There's a lot the PSC would
do the permitting there. And so it got me thinking about the county. We do not
have any zoning regulations on solar that I'm aware of for solar farms. The
existing one or dock solar is in the city limits. So they did the zoning on
that. So it was partly so that we could start thinking about questions related
to zoning. You know, think setbacks from roads, things like that. Is there going
to be screening? Um,
now that we have a proposal, it's at this committee.
» Okay. So, you got a proposal that didn't come through our committee.
» I have a proposal from one energy by working with Excel and one energy that I
received on July 16th and forwarded it to the administrator and board chair at
that time. So, there is a proposal in front of the
county for a solar farm on the >> We haven't put it out for an RFP.
» I talked to Dan about the RFP. Um,
and one is the number is small enough that we wouldn't need to do this. And
two is One Energy and Excel have worked together on the current solar farm. And
this offer of 800 bucks an acre is a really really strong offer.
Another thing to keep in mind is with interconnection agreements which would
take up to 18 months to get to by the time one energy is ready to say, "Yep,
here's what we can put in. We've worked through the zoning issues etc. We don't
know nor would Excel Energy or One Energy know if at the time they're ready
to say, "Yep, we can put this in and sign an agreement." We don't know if
somebody else is working on something where that available capacity to add
solar is going to be taken up by somebody else.
» Have we held any hearings to see if there is any public support for this?
» I would argue that our comp plan says there's public support for it, but I
could be wrong on that. >> We don't have the comprehensive plan
together yet, do we? Well, we're working on it, but you could look at the one
from 2016, and it would seem that a lot of the things from 2016
would be consistent with supporting a project like this.
» Pretty much the 2016 was a state template with our name put in there.
Well, there's relatively few places that you're going to put a solar farm, and
there's lots more places you can put most other things.
But if I'm not mistaken, we're certainly writing goals and objectives that would
be consistent with a project like this in terms of climate change, reducing our
reliance on fossil fuels, being more energy independent with battery storage
a bit more resilient than otherwise. And then the economic development piece with
some local employment related to the maintenance.
Does anybody else have any questions for Pat?
Um, I'm going to put a little piece in here
because if you can already tell, I I just this is the first I'm hearing about
this. Um,
I don't know that we as a county have a plan together for the properties that we
own. And mostly the direction that our solar has been taking place has been
with buildings and properties that we own like trying to not take up space
that we could use for other purposes. Say housing.
Well, certainly you could put housing in lots of places. A couple of years ago
with buildings go away at the farm. I was sure I was going to convert to solar
out there. So, I spent a lot of time looking at putting solar out there. And
it turned out I didn't for a variety of reasons. One of which it was far more
expensive than made sense compared to staying on Bayfield Electric. But the
other another thing I learned along the way, and this affects whether I'm
willing to support these projects going on buildings if tax dollars are used,
these projects where you put solar on the rooftop or a few panels next to a
building, on average, they're about four times the money per kilowatt or per
megawatt than a solar farm. You just have all this equipment. You need your
inverter. You need all this other stuff. Some people put in battery storage.
They're just really expensive for what you get out of it. About four times the
money on average. And if I look at our federal deficit, which probably most of
you have heard, has hit 40 trillion lately.
I don't see the future as being putting solar on, you know, just on the
building. If you want to do it on your own dime and house, that's one thing.
You know, your own payback, you know, which is going to be a long period of
time. But I think the day of tax dollars subsidizing solar on small projects, I
think those days with our deficits and politics, I think that's going to be
really hard to come by. I think what we're going to see more of are smaller
solar farms, the 10 to 40 acres, 50 acres, 80 acres here and there because
the return on investment is so much better than the small stuff. And what it
means is we just have to accept that we're going to use some of our property
for solar farms if we want that energy. And solar and wind are the two most
cost-effective forms of energy generation.
So, we're going to have to accept we're going to have to have more of that if we
want electricity, you know, that's affordable.
Um >> well then maybe there needs to be some
more research done with all the properties that we own in the county to
see which is the most optimal place to do it.
Well, if you start looking at where your high voltage power lines are,
um, you end up with a pretty short list.
And then it's got to be able to connect to the system,
which means either a new substation, an investment, or something existing that
you can connect to, which there is at Ordoc Solar.
And I guess I would also say if the countyy's owned this for about 10 years,
you know, I know various things have been kicked around, but you got to come
up with the money, not just our money, but somebody else's
money. And then, you know, something needs to be done. I know the mayor
doesn't want lowincome housing out there. Um, a few years ago out at Mason,
one of the government agencies proposed a low-income housing project and Mason
almost entirely showed up to adamantly say no. And so,
you know, we need housing, but unless a community says we'll take that, it's
kind of hard to tell somebody that's the housing you're going to get if the
community is saying no. I know we could put in low-income housing here. Um, even
though the mayor doesn't want it, but we should also think about if the community
accepts it. >> Well, we haven't had a hearing on that
either.
» Hey. Hey, Laura. >> Yeah.
» This is Gary. Hey, I just didn't want to hang up and be rude, but I have to go to
another meeting, so I'm hanging up at the moment.
» All right. We'll just call you hi, iPad 7. And
» yes, and say see you later then. >> Thank you, Laura.
» All right. >> Bye.
» I guess one more comment is I've talked to a board member at Bayfield Electric.
Bayfield Electric is a distribution co-op. They don't generate their own
power. They buy their power from Dairine Co-op, which is based out of Lacrosse
and serves a lot of Western Wisconsin and and up towards this area. But then
there's a gap until you get to Bayfield Electric.
And the way that contract is with Dairland Co-op, um Bayfield Electric
isn't simp able to simply say, "Oh, we want to put in some solar farms." Well,
because Dairland Co-op says, "You're a distribution co-op. We're not going to
simply let you put in some solar farm." Bad River is on Bayfield Electric. and
what Bad Bad River is allowed to put in for solar farm apparently is taking up
most of the capacity that Dairland Co-op is willing to give up. So a lot of our
land around here unless you're on that 161 kilovolt line you're going to
connect to Bayfield Electric which Dairland Co-op is saying yes we need
more power but thanks to but no thanks for you guys generating it up there.
You know, in the coming years, there's got to be some conversations between
Bayfield Electric and Dairland Co-op to allow some solar farms up here that
serve this area, but that's going to be a very long conversation apparently
because Dairland Co-op is figuring out how they're going to generate new
electricity and they would rather not have the waters muddied on figuring out
who's going to generate what where. They just want to take care of that for the
most part. So a lot of the rural area here is on Bayfield electric which makes
you know we happen to connect to Excel here which limits the possibilities
outside of the city of Ashland and a few other places that are on Excel.
» What is the committee thinking about this? I I agree with what Pat's saying
on being on the planning committee. This is talked about a lot and I feel like
there must be support of the community when so many people talk about it. So I
feel like we need to look into it and not just kick the can down the road.
Actually try to move it forward. I don't know enough about solar to say
too much on it. So, I guess it'd be nice to hear on that.
» Anybody else? >> Paul here. Yeah, I'm in [clears throat]
support of any revenue on land leases. There's there's no risk with a land
lease. Well,
» there is. If they build things on it, it's a little hard to have them pick
things up and move. Jim, do you have anything?
» Yeah, I kind of agree with the with everything being said. I like the $800
payment part of it there. That's reasonably good money.
Does anybody else want to see if there's uh
somebody's talking there? If there's a better use that can be researched for
this, I get that any income is nice, but just having any income for any income.
If the property value is higher than that, we might be able to make more of
that. Um, I don't know how long this is. I
I myself would like to see some kind of research.
» Laura, this is Erica Hannle. Could I say something really quick? Sure.
» Um, so I have invited Peter Levi of the Nature Conservancy to come to the next
finance meeting. I'm sure he's willing to come to any meeting that we might
want him. And that was for the purpose of showing us their tool for evaluating
properties for renewable energy enterprises.
Um, of course including solar. Um, so that may be one part of the research
that you might like to hear about. Um, and secondarily,
I was at the WEAN conference, what is that? uh climate action network for
Wisconsin um several weeks ago and made several
contacts where I'm sure that if if you wanted more options for what we might
include in an RFP or expertise
on the issue. I'm sure I can connect you with a person that could offer that.
» That would seem to make a lot of sense. There's somebody that's thinking. I
appreciate that. I also would think that, you know, some input from Mary Joe
on what putting solar on some land that has wet land and such by it and how that
affects us would be helpful. Um,
so everybody agrees we should move forward with some more research.
We need to make a motion. >> Yeah,
» I make a motion that we move forward with looking into putting
solar on the county's farm road property.
» Are we going to research a little bit more first before we do this?
» You can add in research and I guess yeah to move it forward.
» Will harm will second. Okay, I have a motion and a second to
move forward with some research and looking at solar also. Um,
any discussion or anything else you guys would like to
see in this process?
you're talking. I can't hear you because nobody's got their mics on, but
probably not. Um, all right. All those in favor, please signify by saying I.
» I. >> I.
» I. Okay. Looks like we have a direction to move forward and and look into this.
Thank you guys. Um, is that Oh, that's on the agenda.
next meeting date. Usually we meet in September, so we're kind of skipping
over that, but um we do in December have the jail tour and
we'll have to have some updates on this stuff. So, is everybody looking at your
calendar in December
somewhere between
Thanksgiving. You're not too close to Christmas.
The 7th maybe.
Is there anything else on the other calendar? I see you leaving through
that. It's really tiny on my laptop though.
I don't see anything on the 7th.
» Does that work for you guys too? Same just a Monday at 2:00 p.m. again.
» No conflicts will harm here. >> Okay, that's one of us.
» Good to hear. >> Okay, what about you, Jim?
» Yeah, let's go. All right, let's go for it.
Okay, PL 2 PM on the 7th.
Last thing we have is if somebody wants to do the motion to adjurnn.
» Will harm motion to adjurnn. >> Second.
» Motion by Paul, second by Marcus. Anybody want to discuss it?
All right. All right. All those in favor, please signify by saying I.
» I. >> I.
» All right. Thank you guys. Good meeting. Thank you for being patient with my tech
problems.