Price County Tourism/Forestry and Parks Committee

Minutes of Regular Monthly Meeting

August 8, 2011

Extension Conference Rooms A & B, Normal Building,  Phillips, WI

 

Chairman Ron Heikkinen called the meeting to order at 8:00 A.M.

 

Roll Call:  Ron Heikkinen, John Walasek and Bob Rogalla.   Larry Palecek was excused.  Jay Janssen arrived at 8:20 A.M.

 

Also Present:  Pete Bartelt and Linda Hertig, Price County Forestry and Parks Department; Kyle Schmidt, DNR; Kathy Reinhard, Tourism Department and Nick Trimner, Budget and Finance Manager

 

Public Comment and Correspondence – Forestry and Parks:

Included in the committee’s packet was the following:

Ron Heikkinen informed the committee the procedure for Pete’s retirement in February of 2012.  Pete will submit a letter of resignation at the next meeting.  In October, the Personnel Committee will move forward with filling his position.

 

Vouchers:  Motion by Walasek/Heikkinen to approve Forestry and Parks Expenditure Vouchers 23-11 to 27-11 in the amount of $20,186.49; Payroll Vouchers 14-11 to 16-11 in the amount of $25,258.79; Journal Entry 07-11 in the amount of $1,666.31 and Credit Voucher in the amount of $4,009.57.  Total amount:  $51,121.16   Motion carried.   Bob Rogalla abstained from signing the expense vouchers.

 

ATV Trail Maintenance Contract:  Motion by Rogalla/Walasek to approve the contract as presented.  Motion carried.

 

Sustainable Forestry Grant:  Pete informed the committee that we will not be applying for the grant.

 

2012 Budget—Forestry and Parks:  Nick updated the committee on the 2012 budget process and we should prioritize the capital outlay projects.   Motion by Walasek/Rogalla to prioritize the outlay projects as follows:

  1. Creating a full time position for Previous Position                 $36,092.00
  2. Pickup Truck                                                                          $12,000.00
  3. Shelter Roof Tuscobia Trailhead County Park                       $  5,000.00
  4. 3000 Yards crushed gravel on Figura’s Road                       $22,500.00   

Motion carried.

 

Audit Report:  Pete went over the Price County Forest Program Audit on May 17, 2011.

 

Partnership Meeting:  Kyle Schmidt, DNR Liaison, commented on the Annual Partnership Meeting that took place on July 20, 2011.

 

Administrator’s Report: Chairman Heikkinen accepted the Forest and Parks August 2, 2011 Administrator’s Report.

 

Approve minutes of Tourism/Forestry and Parks meeting of July 7, 2011:  Motion by Janssen/Walasek to approve the minutes as presented.   Motion carried.

 

Next Meeting Date:   Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 8:00 A.M. in UW Extension Conference Rooms A & B, Normal Building, Phillips, WI.    

 

Hertig turned over minute taking to Reinhard at 8:55 A.M.  Following a break, the meeting resumed at 9:00 A.M.

 

Tourism Public Comments and Correspondence: Supervisor Heikkinen relayed that Jim Palmquist, of Palmquist’s Farm, was pleased with the results following the request he made to our department for information on horseback riding trails.     

 

Tourism Vouchers: Motion made to approve vouchers in the amount of $ 903.50 (Rogalla/Janssen).  All ayes. Motion carried.

 

Monthly Tourism Budget Report: The monthly budget report was reviewed. 

 

2012 Tourism Budget: The proposed budget was reviewed.  The Executive/ Finance Committee and Budget and Accounting Manager Nick Trimner have the proposed budget. 

 

Tourism Directors Report: Chairman Heikkinen accepted the Tourism Director’s Report.

 

Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 9:28 A.M.

 

Respectfully submitted by: Linda Hertig, Forestry & Parks Program Assistant/Bookkeeper and Kathy Reinhard, Tourism Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Administrator’s Report

August 2, 2011

 

Revenue and Expenditure Reports for July 2011 will be brought to the meeting.

 

Petty cash fund balance as of June 30, 2011:  $24.89

July stumpage being charged interest:  $0.00

Timber revenue June 30, 2011- $600,001 June 30, 2010 - $884,002

 

  1. We have 5 active timber sales.
  2. The Big Falls Park Shelter roof is completed. 
  3. We had record revenue at Solberg over the 4th of July week.  Over all camping is down slightly from 2010.
  4. We had to replace the exhaust system on the Freightliner and did maintenance on the JD 550 at the same time; it was done by the Highway Shop.
  5. Ray is doing some work on the kerosene wagon at Wisconsin Concrete Park.
  6. We continue working on woods trail projects, some funded by the Conservation Aids program.
  7. We will be putting 300 yards of gravel on Dahlie’s Lane, the Town of Emery is graveling roads nearby and we will use their contractor and get the material from the USFS pit.
  8. We did some maintenance work on the rifle range; Phillips Chapter of Whitetails will be reimbursing us for material.
  9. We have to change two water sample faucets to comply with state codes.
  10. We are applying for grant money from the Land Information Committee to do a survey project in the Holy Cross Unit of County Forest.
  11. We had some minor wind damage in the Camp 5 unit of the County Forest; a contractor working in the area will be salvaging the timber.
  12. I spent some time the last couple of weeks working on WCFA issues.
  13. The annual Wisconsin Concrete Park celebration is August 13th.
  14. The Friends of Fred Smith endowment fund has reached our goal of $100,000.
  15. Our summer intern will be helping build some shelves for buildings and grounds, a rainy day project.
  16. A landowner contacted the office about a written access granted by the Price County Forestry Committee in 1988; wanted to know if it was transferable.  I sent him the minutes and the letter authorizing the transfer and asked him to contact us with a request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGENDA NOTES & TOURISM DIRECTOR’S REPORT AUGUST 8, 2011

 

 

Public Comments & Correspondence: No correspondence.    

 

Monthly Financial Report: The report is enclosed for your review (buff paper).

 

2012 Proposed Tourism Budget: The proposed budget is enclosed for your review (goldenrod paper). 

 

Wisconsin Department of Tourism The Power of Tourism Presentation: At the August 16, 2011 County Board Meeting there will be a presentation by Sarah Klavas (Industry Relations & Services Bureau Director) and Sarah Pischer (Regional Tourism Specialist) from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism regarding the Power of Tourism. The presentation will occur early in the meeting and will last approximately 10 minutes.  Supervisors will have an opportunity to ask questions following the formal presentation.

 

International Trade Business and Economics Committee: The minutes from the June 28, 2011 meeting are enclosed for your review (yellow paper).  

 

Wisconsin Concrete Park (WCP): Enclosed please find information compiled from entries in the guest registry July 16 – 11, 2011. The guest registry forms are also enclosed (pink paper). The art workshops, which are organized by the Friends of Fred Smith (FoFS), are promoted with assistance from our office. Each workshop has been full. Most students are from the immediate region. The FoFS believe that these students will be the future stewards of the WCP. The WCP Celebration will be held August 13, 2011 from Noon to 4 PM. If you have not been to the park lately come and take a look at this Price County owned treasure. 

 

Farmer’s Markets: The market rack card is a popular promotion piece. The Park Falls Chamber of Commerce distributed 50 copies in two weeks and has ordered another 100 copies.  

 

Facebook: The Price County Facebook page now has 57 friends, but very little interaction yet.  I continue to post to the wall and the page is being promoted through our E-newsletter that is sent out to approximately 4,000 individuals on a regular basis.

 

Specials & Promotions: I have added a page to our lodging section of the website titled Specials & Promotions – Last Minute.  Lodging facilities can submit information to promote their last minute travel specials. With an increasing number of travelers planning last minute and others seeking deals, and with lodging facility owners looking to fill their vacancies, we hope to connect the two parties so that they can conduct business. It is important to capture these opportunities, especially during these difficult economic times. When a traveler visit Price County new dollars are introduced into the region which benefit business owners, employees and all of the county citizens who use the services that government provides through additional tax revenue.      

 

Lodging Facility Website Listings:  I am in the process of updating lodging listings on our department’s website and on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s website. The fee to list on our website is $60 with hot links or $50 without hot links. Fees collected go toward website maintenance and promotion.

 

(over)

 

October 2011-May 2012 Calendar of Events: The newest edition of the Price County Calendar of Events is being distributed. Events have been added tour website and to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s (WDT) website. Hundreds of media outlets look to these websites information while researching story ideas. The WDT also selects events that are submitted by us for their calendar of event publications. 

 

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.