Minutes of Regular Monthly Meeting
May 5, 2010
Kathy Reinhard, Tourism Director called the meeting to order at 8:00 A.M.
Election of Chairperson: Walasek nominated Heikkinen. Three calls for further nominations. Motion Janssen/Walasek to cast a unanimous ballot for Heikkinen for Chairperson. All ayes. Motion carried. Heikkinen declared Chairperson and took over running of the meeting.
Election of Vice-Chairperson: Janssen nominated Walasek. Three calls for further nominations. Motion Palecek/Janssen to cast a unanimous ballot for Walasek for Vice- Chairperson. All ayes. Motion carried.
Tourism Public Comments and Correspondence: There were no comments or correspondence.
Tourism Vouchers: Motion made to approve vouchers in the amount of $1,013.56 (Janssen/Palecek). All ayes. Motion carried.
Monthly Tourism Budget Report: The monthly budget report was reviewed.
Tourism Directors Report: Chairman Heikkinen accepted the Tourism Director’s Report.
Reinhard turned over minute taking to Hertig at 8:50 A.M.
Approve Forestry and Parks Meeting and Tourism minutes of April 7, 2010: Motion by Janssen/Walasek to approve minutes of the April 7, 2010 Tourism/Forestry and Parks meeting amended as follows: Under Public Comments and Correspondence—Forestry and Parks, add to Town of Hill advisory request and Advisory requests from the Towns of Ogema, Catawba, Georgetown & Elk the following: To change the work schedule. Motion carried.
Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at 8:00 A.M. in UW Extension Conference Rooms A & B, Normal Building, Phillips, WI.
9:00 A.M.--Timber Sale Bid Opening: Motion by Palecek/Janssen to approve and accept the highest bid for Timber Sales 01-10 to 11-10. Motion carried.
Public Comment and Correspondence – Forestry and Parks:
Included in the committee’s packet were the following:
· Email from the County Clerk about open meeting law.
· Letter from USDA, APHIS about beaver damage management.
· Letter from Pete to the President of the PCATVA.
Ginny Strobl commented on the Forestry Department Work Schedule and her request for information.
Vouchers: Motion by Palecek/Walasek to approve Forestry and Parks Expenditure Vouchers 09-10 to 12-10 in the amount of $7,519.18; Payroll Vouchers 08-10 to 09-10 in the amount of $15,865.95; Journal Entry 04-10 in the amount of $-218.39 and Credit Card Expense Voucher in the amount of $62.95. Total Vouchers: $23,229.69. Motion carried.
Forestry Department Work Schedule—Additional Information: Motion by Walasek/Janssen to approve 4 – 10 ½ work days, which includes a ½ hour unpaid lunch. Motion failed.
Big Falls County Park: Motion by Walasek/Palecek to charge $10.00 per night for camping at the Park. Motion carried. Pete will check into the cost of adding 6-8 camping sites. It will be considered at budget time.
Timber Sale Contract Extension: Motion by Walasek/Palecek to approve the Extensions, as presented for 1 year. Motion carried.
2009 Budget Issues: Motion by Palecek/Walasek to approve the amendment as presented, transferring 2009 State salary line items to County salary line items and forward to Executive Finance. Motion carried. Pete also explained the Smith Lake Sanitary Dump station line items.
Access Permit: 19-36-1E: Motion by Palecek/Janssen to approve the permit as presented. Motion carried.
UTV Resolution: Motion by Palecek/Walasek to approve the resolution and forward to full county board for approval. Motion carried.
Designation of the Pine Line as a County Park: Motion by Palecek/Janssen to approve the resolution and forward to full county board for approval. Motion carried.
Administrator’s Report: Chairman Heikkinen accepted the Parks and Forestry April 29, 2010 Administrator’s Report.
Adjourn: Motion by Walasek/Palecek to adjourn at 10:35 A.M. All ayes. Motion carried.
Administrator’s Report
April 29, 2010
Revenue and Expenditure Reports for April 2010 and Trial Balance Accounts will be brought to the meeting.
Petty cash fund balance as of April 29, 2010: $39.30
April stumpage being charged interest: $0.00
1. We are working on timber sales for the fall advertising
2. The prison crew was here for four days and Solberg has been raked. We continue working on prepping the parks for the summer.
3. We did some repair work on the boat ramps at Solberg and Sunset Bay, the ice continues to move them, we will be having them checked for a better fix.
4. Corey picked up the trees from Hayward.
5. We have had several people rent the tree planters.
6. Ron, Eric and I attended the Rail Trail Commission meeting on April 20th. Commission authorized us to go to Slaby for some legal advice on changing trail usage.
7. Bids are due on the ATV and riding lawn mower by May 11th. The items can be bid on online, www.wisconsinsurplus.com.
8. We have established the timber management lines around the Town of Emery forty that is bordered on three sides by County Forest.
9. We are going to be doing some culvert replacement on our gas taxed roads.
10. We will be doing some trail work, taking advantage of the dry weather.
11. Corey has put together another proposal for a sustainable forestry grant; the application will be reviewed in August. A portion involves creating a layer on our GIS system with survey corner information.
AGENDA NOTES AND TOURISM DIRECTOR’S REPORT MAY 2010
Public Comments & Correspondence: No correspondence.
Monthly Financial Report: The report is enclosed for your review (buff paper).
International Trade Business and Economics Committee: The minutes from the March 3, 2010 meeting are enclosed for your review (yellow paper).
Friends of Fred Smith Summer Art Workshops: Our department has assisted with planning and will be the main promoter and contact for three summer art workshops that will be held at the Wisconsin Concrete Park. A promotional flyer is enclosed – please take a moment to post it at and area business that you frequent.
Wandering Wisconsin: The Year-2 Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant Application through the Wisconsin Department of Tourism (WDT) was submitted and we expect to receive notification by May 3, 2010. The Kohler Arts Center is dedicated to reprinting the map and distributing it regardless of whether we receive the grant money.
Gateway Visitor Information Centers Brochure Distribution Policy 2010: The WDT closed their Wisconsin Welcome Centers (WWC) in the spring of 2009 amidst budget cuts. The tourism entities in the communities where the WWCs had been located partnered and are now called the Gateway Visitor Information Centers. Their brochure distribution policy is enclosed for your review (pink paper). This item is not in our 2010 budget; however I will consider this marketing opportunity and expense for 2011.
Park Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Spring Banquet: I will be attending the chamber banquet on May 18, 2010 (bright pink). Our department is entering the realm of social media and this should be a great learning opportunity.
WDT Co-op Research Program: Enclosed (white paper) are three studies pertaining to music festivals. The studies were done by event organizers in conjunction with the WDT, under the now defunct Co-op Research Program. The information contained in the studies may assist in understanding many aspects of the upcoming Log Jam Country Music Festival. The studies cover these festivals:
Among other things, the studies contain demographic information of festival goers and economic impact information.
Silent Sports Map: The first edition of the map is now being distributed and has been well received. A copy is enclosed for your review.
Continued
Mission Statement: There was brief discussion at our last meeting regarding our department’s mission statement and whether changes are warranted.
Mission Statement (2002 – present)
Price County Tourism Department’s mission is to represent the county’s regional tourism industry by promoting Price County as a premier vacation destination in all four seasons; and to assist tourism-related businesses and organizations in an advisory capacity, to plan and promote through personal contact, county representation in local, regional, and state tourism organizations and published literature.
Mission Statement (1993 – 2001)
The mission of the Price County Tourism Department is two-fold:
1. Develop recreational and business tourism by seeking new markets and providing information about Price County through published literature and personal contact.
2. Assist tourism-related businesses and organizations in an advisory capacity, to plan and promote tourism development through personal contact, county representation in local, regional, and state tourism organizations, and published literature.
I requested sample mission statements from tourism entities in Northwest Wisconsin and received only one, from Polk County.
Polk County Tourism Council:
The mission of the organization is to provide relevant information that or in which promotes tourism, communities, businesses, events and recreational opportunities.
The objectives of the organization are as follows:
A. To promote the cultural, historical and natural resources of the county.
B. To promote and support tourism-related businesses, events, etc.
C. To foster economic development through the support of tourism related business expansion.
D. To generate new jobs and retain existing tourism related jobs.
E. To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and increase area awareness.
F. To provide for the publication and distribution of tourism information.
G. To encourage and coordinate activities among members, local and state government, and public and private tourism-related agencies.
H. To invite investment, new residents and visitors to Polk County, thereby improving the economy and environment.
I. All services shall be provided to all residents, guests and visitors alike with the highest quality service.
Inquiry Packets Mailed/Calls Received/Website Access: Enclosed for your review are the statistics for packets mailed, calls received and website access (gray paper). These statistics assist us in planning and timing future marketing and advertising campaigns.
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