By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — While it is “unofficial” yet, Dunn County may be in the running for hosting “Alice in Dairyland” in 2021.
The Dunn County Board’s Community Resources and Tourism Committee decided in May of 2018 to apply for hosting Alice in Dairyland in 2022, the 75th anniversary of Alice in Dairyland, said James Anderson, county board supervisor from Menomonie and chair of the Community Resources and Tourism Committee, at the county board’s April 17 meeting.
Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time public relations professional employed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Dunn County has hosted the Alice in Dairyland competition in the past, Anderson said.
And in years gone by, an Alice in Dairyland has come from Dunn County, he said.
According to the DATCP website, the Alice in Dairyland from Dunn County was Sylvia (Lee) Kafkas from Colfax in 1962.
The finals for Alice in Dairyland selection will be in Green County this year in May, and the finalists will be announced for 2020, 2021 and 2022, Anderson said.
Dunn County has been unofficially told that “we are in the running for 2021,” he said.
If Dunn County were going to host Alice in Dairyland in 2021, “we would need to go fast,” Anderson said.
“This is a big deal,” he said.
Selection of Alice in Dairyland is a two-step process, with a two-day event in March, and a three-day event in May.
The person selected as Alice in Dairyland comes back to the host county one time per month during the following year to attend a variety of events, Anderson said.
Alice in Dairyland would spotlight rural Dunn County and agriculture in Dunn County for a full year, he said.
“We are not asking for money. We will raise the money,” Anderson said.
The Dunn County Board unanimously approved the resolution in support of Dunn County being the host for the Alice in Dairyland finals in 2020, 2021 or 2022.
According to background information included with the resolution, Dunn County ranks in the top 10 in the state for potato production and in the top 10 in the United States for dark red kidney beans. And milk sales in Dunn County continue to be robust in conjunction with cattle sales.
During her year in the position, Alice in Dairyland travels more than 30,000 miles around the state promoting Wisconsin agriculture and conducts hundreds of media interviews, speeches and school presentations.
The application to host Alice in Dairyland was submitted by Extension Dunn County, the Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce/Explore Menomonie, and the Dunn County Economic Development Corporation.
In other business, the Dunn County Board:
• Received the 2018 annual report from Dunn County Emergency Communications and Emergency Management. Last year, the Emergency Communications Center received 67,000 calls, and 37,326 were incidents dispatched to the appropriate agency.
• Received the 2018 annual report from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department. Out of the 108 Operating While Intoxicated arrests, 26 were for driving under the influence of drugs. The total number of cases handled by the department was 13,245 in 2018, representing a decrease of 750 over 2017. In the last five years, 2017 represented the highest number of cases at 13,995.
• Received the 2018 annual reports from the libraries in Dunn County in Colfax, Boyceville, Menomonie, Elk Mound (a branch of Menomonie) and Sand Creek. The annual reports indicated an increase in visitors at the county’s libraries.
• Approved a resolution amending the Employee Handbook for unpaid personal leave. The previous policy allowed up to two years of unpaid leave. The new policy allows a maximum of up to 480 hours (12 weeks) per calendar year.
• Approved a resolution amending the Employee Handbook regarding health insurance, dental insurance, and Federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA). Health insurance benefits will terminate at the end of the month of an employee’s last day of employment, and employees will be reimbursed for the employee contribution of premiums when necessary. For insurance during unpaid leaves of absence, dental benefits will continue as received prior to the leave if the leave is for 480 hours or less, provided the employee meets with human resources to arrange a payment plan for the employee portion of the premiums during the unpaid leave. If no payment plan is established, the employee will be offered COBRA on the first of the month following the day in which the employee last paid for a contribution toward the premium. If an unpaid leave extends beyond 480 hours, the employee will be offered COBRA on the first of the month following the day of the 480th unpaid hour.
• Approved a resolution proclaiming April 28, 2019, as Worker’s Memorial Day in Dunn County. Worker’s Memorial Day was first declared in 1970. Over the years, five Dunn County employees have died on the job.
• Approved budget adjustments in the amount of $1,562,100. The settlement agreement with Quintel relating to the transition in contracted SAP (business software) consultants and the estimated consulting costs for transition amount to $1.5 million. The county’s debt issuance will be increased to $8 million, and the issuance costs are estimated at $62,100.
• Approved a budget adjustment of $2,500 for the treasurer’s department. The treasurer is requesting one additional permanent, part-time employee to fill the shortage that has developed over the past two years. The new position is proposed to be not more than 1,000 hours per year. The cost for the remainder of the year would be $9,500. The $2,500 is what was charged to the Town of Tainter for collecting the township’s first installment of property taxes this year.
• Approved an amendment resolution related to the issuance and sale of general obligation promissory notes to increase the amount by $475,000 for a total amount not to exceed $8 million.
• Approved a contribution to the Chippewa County Department of Human Services for the Western Wisconsin Recovery and Wellness Consortium to pay providers for comprehensive community services in the amount of $194,931.
