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Iron County Economic Development Committee Meeting Iron County Courthouse Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Unapproved: Minutes will be approved at the next regular committee meeting 1. Call to Order: Larry Youngs called the meeting to order at 5:30 2. Pledge of Allegiance: Recited 3. Roll Call: Present: Julie Doucette, Brooke Gilbertson, Niel Gilbertson, Autumn Hill, Gary Kessler??, David McNutt, Joe Miller, Garyt Pelkola, Sara Towne??, Adam Tutt??, Larry Youngs. Absent: Melissa Copp, Joel Enking, Jamey Francis (excused), Avery Koski (graduating), Paul Mullard (resigned), Billy Stutz 4. Acknowledge that the meeting was properly noticed and posted 5. Public Comment: Larry Youngs spoke about daycare promotion, mentioning a grant available. Brooke Gilbertson explained that grant is small and might help repair fencing for a play area, but would be insufficient for startup costs. Autumn Hill mentioned the possibilities of an incubator program to start daycare businesses and encouraging local businesses to offer daycare as a benefit. Gary Pelkola asked about the Head Start program, and suggested to further support that program to expand their service. Adam Tutt explained that Mercer is exploring options for affordable housing, though one proposed project was controversial among some residents, though some of the jobs that need to be filled would not pay for the housing currently available in the area. 6. Election of Committee Co-Chairpersons: Adam Tutt from Mercer 7. Election of Committee Co-Chairperson: Sarah Towne from Mercer 8. Audit and Approval of the 2026 Meeting Minutes: February 2, 2026 Minutes approved. March 4, 2026 Minutes approved. April 1, 2026 Minutes approved. 9. Financial Statement and approval of bills: none 10. Team Updates: (Comms, REV , Heritage Days, Website, Visions, Revolving Loan Fund) There was a contact from a Hurley local regarding in starting a financial planning and insurance business have some locations in mind. There was also a contact from North Country Trail discussing the potential purchase of new brochures or an insert to existing brochures to include waterfalls which have been named since the last printing. There was a contact by the Wisconsin Economic Development corporation that explained tips for how to increase participation in border counties. There was also a contact about a project for two homes on Odanah Road which is undergoing another price reduction, and is at risk of losing money. The REV team discussed encouraging businesses to make use of empty buildings. The Mercer REV team will be hosing Matt Kures on June 27, who will be traveling from Maddison to discuss their data. The Heritage Team has arranged to make use of the portable stage owned by the Hurley Chamber of Commerce in their Heritage Day celebrations. Heritage Day will also include a parade, as the Economic Development Committee was denied the closure of Silver Street for July 4. The Website team intends to meet soon, and would like to ask both towns to make videos to encourage people to move to the area. They also discussed setting up a QR code to the site. The Revolving Loan Fund Team discussed the new campgrounds in Bayfield area which they have invested $1.4 million into. Next month, the EDC plans to hear from Kathy Schmitz with the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation during their regular meeting, and from Ironwood when they schedule their presentation. 11. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 6:35 Minutes recorded by