Joint Economic Development Committee & Sauk County Development Corporation

joint_economic_develoment_committee_and_sauk_county_development_committee.pdf (244 KB)

Members present:  Marty Krueger, Michelle Dent, Donna Stehling, Brian Peper, Joe Fish, Gerry Lehman, Roger Friede, Jim Bowers, Fred Halfen, Wendy Crary, Bill Wenzel, Gene Robkin, Ray Bolton.

Absent:  Dennis Polivka, John Schmidt, John Alt, Tara Zitzner, Ray Ring, Gordon Priegel, Jeff Filter.

Other present: Kathy Schauf, Jim Allen, Gina Templin, Steve Koenig, Bill Stehling.

The meeting was called to order and certification of Open Meetings compliance was given at approximately 6:15 p.m.  The agenda was approved on a motion by Halfen, seconded by Peper.  Motion carried.

No previous meeting minutes.

Public Comment:  None.

Communications:  None.

Dialog on committee roles / areas of influence for both Economic Development Committee and Sauk County Development Corporation.  Discussion took place on the committee roles and areas of influence as well as a background provided on the structure and history of both committees.

Allen spoke of the history of and the main purpose of the SCDC with business retention and expansion and work force development since its formation in 1976.  He spoke of education and facilitation and the focus of the SCDC being truly business focused and a partnership with the communities and local government.

Consensus expressed by both committees’s that each committee serves a specific purpose and complements each other, and the county businesses and government are served well by having both committees.   Krueger confirmed there is consensus by both committees that the county’s economic development committee should continue and not be eliminated from the Board’s structure.

Placemaking: What it is, What we want to achieve, How we work together and Next Steps.    Schauf presented a power point presentation beginning a discussion of regional Placemaking.   Discussion on knowledge based economy, key features of and differences between the old economy and new economy structure, basic ingredients of Placemaking, and moving forward.

The board discussed creating a technology based way to link each community together and create one place to allow people to go to get a full picture of Sauk County.   Consensus is that the County needs to take ownership of Placemaking and hire a firm to develop the ideas and the connectivity to get it done.

Krueger verified consensus being the county needs to drive the next steps and move this forward with funding from the county board and use the intergovernmental meeting for a presentation of Placemaking to get significant buy in from local government members and chambers in attendance.

Motion by Bowers, second by Fish, to adjourn the joint meeting at 8:45 p.m.  Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Stehling                                                                                
Economic Development Committee Secretary                  
 

Jim Bowers
Sauk County Development Corporation Secretary