Administration Committee — Agenda Packet

1 Sawyer County Administration Committee Meeting Thursday, October 8, 2026 @ 10:00 AM Sawyer County Board Room AGENDA 1. ZOOM LINK a. To view or participate in the virtual meeting from a computer, iPad, or Android device please go to https://zoom.us/j/92546130740. You can also use the dial in at 1-312-626-6799with the Webinar ID: 925 4613 0740. Use *9 to Raise/lower hand and *6 to Unmute/mute. If you are on a computer, click the "Raise Hand" button and wait to be recognized. If you are on a telephone, dial *9 and wait to be recognized. If additional assistance is needed please contact the County Clerk's Office at 715-634-4866 prior to the meeting. This meeting will be recorded and will be available on our website at: https://sawyercountygov.org. 2. CALL TO ORDER 3. ROLL CALL 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 5. CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW 6. MEETING AGENDA 7. PUBLIC COMMENTS At this time, members of the public will be given the opportunity to address the Committee. Please adhere to the following when addressing the Committee: • Comments will be limited to 3 minutes or less per individual. • Comments should be directed to the Committee as a whole and not directed to individual Committee members. • The Committee cannot respond to your comments during this time. • Please sign in and fill out a public comment sheet if you wish to speak and hand it to the County Clerk (please respect the signs and do not approach Board members at the table). 8. ATTY. ANDY PHILLIPS, SYNTHEC UPDATE - $25,000,000 BOND ISSUE REQUEST (DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION) 9. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING a. Draft Admin Minutes 9.10.26 Page 1 of 21 2 b. Draft Admin Special Meeting Minutes 9.28.26 10. COURTHOUSE RECOGNITION WALL- NEW LOBBY (DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION) 11. RESOLUTION 2026-____AMENDING BOARD OF SUPERVISORS POLICY & PROCEDURE MANUAL- RULE 10 (DISCUSSION & POSSIBLE ACTION) a. Resolution 2026-____Amending Board of Supervisors Policy & Procedure Manual- Rule 10 12. COUNTY CLERK REPORT a. County Clerk Department Report 13. VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE REPORT a. Veteran Service Office Report 14. VETERANS TRIBUTE UPDATE 15. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REPORT a. IT Report 16. HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT a. Human Resource Report 17. SAWYER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S UPDATE 18. BOARD APPOINTED COMMITTEE UPDATES 19. CORRESPONDENCE, REPORTS FROM CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS 20. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 21. FINALIZATION OF BUSINESS 22. NEXT MEETING DATE /TIME: NOVEMBER 5, 2026 AT 10:00 AM 23. ADJOURNMENT DISCLAIMER: A quorum of the County Board of Supervisors or of any of its committees may be present at Page 2 of 21 3 this meeting to listen and observe. Neither the Board nor any of the committees have established attendance at this meeting as an official function of the Board or committee(s) or otherwise made a determination that attendance at the meeting is necessary to carry out the Board or committee’s function. The only purpose for other supervisors attending the meeting is to listen to the information presented. Neither the Board nor any committee (other than the committee providing this notice and agenda) will take any official action with respect to this noticed meeting. Copy sent via email to: Committee Members, Associated Staff and News Media. Note: Any person wishing to attend whom, because of a disability, requires accommodation should call the Sawyer County Clerk’s Office (715.634.4866) at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting so appropriate arrangements can be made. Page 3 of 21 Minutes of the Meeting of the September 10, 2026 Sawyer County Administration Committee of the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Board Room; Sawyer County Voting Committee Members (X) Present: Others Present: Chair: Ron Kinsley Mike Markgren Vice Chair: Ron Buckholtz Liz Klein Marshal Savitski Gary Elliott John Righeimer Rose Lillyroot Stacey Hessel Mike Coleson- Virtual Call to Order –Chair Kinsley called the meeting to order at 10:00 am. Certification of Compliance with the open meeting law was met. Roll Call taken; quorum was met. Meeting Agenda – Set Public Comments – Linda Zillmer Minutes from the previous meeting dated: August 13, 2026 Motion to approve by: Ms. Hessel Second by: Mr. Righeimer Motion carried without negative vote. District 15 Supervisor Resignation— Motion to accept the resignation of District 15 Supervisor John Minto by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Mr. Savitski Motion carried without negative vote. Appointments: Motion to appoint Ida Kinsley to the District 15 Supervisor position by: Mr. Savitski Second by: Ms. Hessel Motion carried without negative vote. Motion to appoint Ida Kinsley to the HHS and Economic Development/UW Extension committees by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Mr. Savitski Motion carried without negative vote. County Clerk Report- Ms. Klein provided a written department report on August activity: 54 late dog licenses and 10 marriage licenses were issued, 8 plat books sold. Discussion on reordering Plat Books every two years instead of three. Veterans Service Office Report - Mr. Elliott updated the committee on August department activity: 549 phone calls, 813 letters/emails/faxes sent and 197 office visits. 148 disability claims have been filed to date with $711,894.98 awarded in Veterans’ favor. The department is co-hosting counseling sessions at La Crosse Vet Center and Coffee & Conversation; the social media report was provided. There will be a Sawyer County-LCO Veterans Fair at SevenWinds Casino on October 22. The Wisconsin C/TVSO Fall Training Conference is October 12-16 in Waupaca County. The Perpetual Care of Veteran’s Graves reimbursement closed on 9/1/2026 with $7,044.00 awarded. Mr. Elliott requested an additional $1,000 in the 2027 Budget due to increased numbers in the Perpetual Care requests submitted. Page 4 of 21 Veteran’s Tribute Update- The plumbing is complete, the concrete is scheduled for 9/21. County maintenance will install the walls and murals will be ordered. A bronze plaque will go on the fountain. The project is on schedule to be completed by Veterans Day. Information Technology Department Report - Mr. Coleson provided a written IT report on ongoing IT projects. Human Resources Report - A written report was provided on staffing and recruiting for open positions within the county. County Administrator Recruiting Update—Ms. Lillyroot discussed the responses to the ad posting; eight candidates have followed through with cover letters and references and respondents will be screened down to the final interview group. Interviews are scheduled for 9/28 and will be conducted by the Admin Committee, incoming Sheriff, and department heads. County Administrator’s Report— Mr. Markgren reported on working with the EDC Brian Priester on grants, the 2027 Budget process, upcoming WCA conference, courthouse office moves, public safety radio network updates (Draper is almost complete, Meadowbrook is starting), and CJCC updates. Board Appointed Committee Updates – Ms. Hessel noted there are two Walk for Tomorrow Suicide Prevention walks in Hayward and Winter on September 18 and 19. Correspondence, reports from conferences and meetings– None Future Agenda Items- Veterans Tribute Update, County Administrator recruitment update Adjournment – 10:38 am Next Meeting: October 8, 2026 Time: 10:00 am Location: Board Room Minutes recorded by Liz Klein, County Clerk Page 5 of 21 Minutes of the September 28, 2026 Meeting of the Sawyer County Administration Committee of the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Board Room; Sawyer County Voting Committee Members (X) Present: Others Present: Chair: Ron Kinsley Kay Wilson Vice Chair: Ron Buckholtz Liz Klein John Righeimer (late) Bryan Deyo Stacey Hessel Marshal Savitski- Excused Steve Kariainen- Alternate Call to Order –Chair Ron Kinsley called the meeting to order at 8:00 am. Closed Session-- At 8:03 am, a motion to enter closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) “considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, “ to wit, interviewing finalists for the County Administrator position” was made by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Ms. Hessel Roll call vote taken: Mr. Kinsley aye, Mr. Buckholtz aye, Ms. Hessel aye, Mr. Kariainen aye; motion carried. Mr. Righeimer entered at 8:04 am. Meeting adjourned from closed session at 2:57 pm Minutes recorded by Liz Klein, County Clerk Page 6 of 21 1 2 SAWYER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS – 3 AMENDMENT TO RULES OF THE SAWYER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 4 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL RELATING TO AMENDMENT OF RULES 5 PROCEDURE 6 7 RESOLUTION NO. _____________ 8 9 WHEREAS, Wisconsin law authorizes the Sawyer County (the “County”) Board of 10 Supervisors (“County Board”) to adopt and enforce rules relating to the conduct and procedures at 11 its public meetings; 12 13 WHEREAS, the County Board has adopted the “Sawyer County Board of Supervisors 14 Policies and Procedures” (“Board Rules”); 15 16 WHEREAS, the Board Rules do not clearly reflect the procedure required for amendment 17 of the Board Rules; 18 19 WHEREAS, the Board wishes to clearly define the proper procedure required to amend 20 the Board Rules. 21 22 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors 23 determines, adopts and directs the following: 24 25 1. Amendment. The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Policies and Procedures 26 Manual is hereby amended, as set forth in Exhibit A. 27 28 29 2. Conflict with Other Laws. Nothing in this Resolution shall be deemed to conflict with 30 any other applicable state law, as each may be amended. In the event of any conflict 31 between this Resolution and state law, the state law shall control. 32 33 34 This Resolution is hereby recommended for ___________ by the Sawyer County Board of 35 Supervisors at its meeting on October 15, 2026 by the Sawyer County Administration 36 Committee at its meeting on October 8, 2026. 37 38 _______________________________ ____________________________ 39 Ron Kinsley, Chair Ron Buckholtz, Member 40 41 _______________________________ ____________________________ 42 Stacey Hessell, Member John Righeimer, Member 43 44 ____________________________ 45 Marshal Savitski, Member 46 Page 7 of 21 2 47 48 49 This Resolution is hereby adopted by the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors this 15 th day of 50 October, 2026. 51 52 53 ___________________________________ ____________________________ 54 Ron Kinsley, Liz Klein, 55 Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sawyer County Clerk 56 57 58 Exhibit A (Attached): Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Policies and Procedures Manual – 59 Revision to Include Rule 10 Page 8 of 21 1 EXHIBIT A Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Policies and Procedures Manual – Revision to Rules to Include Rule 10 Rule 10: As Amended: Rule 10 Amendment of the Rules: Unless otherwise provided by law, these rules may be amended by a majority vote of those members entitled to vote. Page 9 of 21 County Clerk Department Monthly Report, Ending September 30, 2026 County Clerk Desk Activity/Revenue YTD: Activity Number of Licenses/Permits Total Revenue (including amounts sent to the State of Wisconsin Dog Licenses Revenues are Animal Control, reported at Public Safety Marriage Licenses (14) Clerk (County Retains) = $55/license Mediation = $20/license State = $25/license Waivers = $10/license $1475.00 Plat Books Mailing Fee Map GL 218-00-42000 GL 218-00-42001 $240.00 $12.00 Copies $3.00 General Department Report: Accounts Payable (AP) for Sawyer County • Checks: Enter, review, account, issue, mail, scan and store payables • ACH: Enter, review, account issue, scan and store payroll ACH transactions • P Cards: Organize, enter and process all P Card transactions monthly (takes a week) • Obtain W9s, maintain and prepare 1099s • Work with Finance to obtain/code/correct GLs Airport • Hangars- maintain hangar leases and certificates of insurance, issue reminders and invoices • Management- manage Airport invoices and billing for services Answer Main Phone Line- provide information and direct calls to departments Clerk standing committees and County Board meetings • Prepare agendas and minutes • Upload all resolutions and ordinances • Publish summary notices of ordinance amendments • Assist County Board Supervisors as needed Courthouse facility booking- reserve facilities for staff and outside organizations Courthouse general information- website, bulletin boards, phone, email, staff and customer service Courthouse mail and packages • Maintain postage machine and supplies, instruct and assist staff • Distribute packages and mail to staff daily • Handle ongoing post office issues Page 10 of 21 Dog Licenses • Maintain software contract with vendor • Order and distribute tags • Publish statutory notices • Supervise municipal treasurers’ sale of tags • Sell tags on behalf of municipalities and Animal Control • Prepare and file annual report to state Elections • Create, order and distribute ballots and election materials for 21 municipalities • Provide ongoing assistance and training guidance to municipalities • Maintain updated municipal information with WEC, machine/ballot vendor • Filing officer for county level offices and campaign finance reports • Receive all election returns, publish unofficial results, handle media and election day issues • Canvass election results, report to state • Receive and provide municipal access to ongoing training and monitoring of elections with WEC, WCCA, state and federal security seminars Legal • Receive service of lawsuits • Certify documents for litigation • Publish legal notices • Sign forms and recorded documents for County • Follow statutes for county clerk and county government Marriage licenses- issue and maintain records, prepare and file annual state report MOE • Provide certified county ambulance MOE form to all municipalities • File County MOE with state Notary Public- provide customer service at counter Plat Books • Coordinate new editions with staff and vendor • Sell at counter Public Records • Distribute and respond to open records requests • Maintain county records per state destruction of records schedule Strategic Plan Implementation • Improve information and communications with staff, board and public • Upload searchable resolutions to website Timber Cutting Notices Veterans Perpetual Care of Graves (coordinate with VSO to send letters) WCCA • Attend regular WCCA, WEC and county government education webinars • Attend District meetings and 3 conferences yearly • WCCA liaison to WTA, WMCA and DOR Wellness Committee • Organize Courthouse social /wellness events and activities • Prepare and publish monthly staff newsletter WI DNR, DOA and DOR filings Page 11 of 21 Page 12 of 21 Page 13 of 21 Page 14 of 21 Page 15 of 21 Page 16 of 21 Page 17 of 21 Page 18 of 21 SAWYER COUNTY VETERANS FY2025 BENEFITS & IMPACT | Sawyer County Veterans Service Office $24.2 MILLION TOTAL VA EXPENDITURES ATTRIBUTED TO SAWYER COUNTY WISCONSIN - FY2025 $12.36M $11.85M $2,017,829.75 $66,339.60 Direct benefits Health care & other VA investment Average per month Average per day DIRECT BENEFITS TO VETERANS & SURVIVORS Disability Compensation & Pension $11,286,003 DIC & Survivors Pension $1,059,433 VA Insurance Payments $13,171 Total Direct Expenditures $12,358,607 HEALTH CARE & OTHER VA INVESTMENT Community Care $5,617,405 VA Medical Care $5,816,570 Education benefits $194,868 Memorial / Burial Benefits $31,966 Veteran Readiness & Employment $11,597 Loan Guaranty & WI Property Tax Credit $182,944 Total Indirect Expenditures $11,855,350 WHAT THESE NUMBERS MEAN FOR SAWYER COUNTY $11.28 million in disability compensation and pension was paid to Sawyer County Veterans. $1.05 million supported eligible surviving spouses, children, and other survivors. $11.43 million was spent on VA and community medical care for local Veterans. Together, these expenditures bring substantial federal resources into the lives of Sawyer County Veterans and their families. WHY THE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE MATTERS The Sawyer County Veterans Service Office is the local connection between Veterans, their families, and the benefits they earned. Our office assists with disability claims, evidence development, survivor benefits, VA health care, education, burial benefits, state programs, reviews and appeals, and other benefit issues. We help residents navigate complex federal and state systems, identify benefits they may qualify for, submit the required evidence and forms, and maintain access when circumstances change. Bottom line: The CVSO provides trusted, local advocacy and benefit navigation so Sawyer County Veterans and families do not have to navigate these systems alone. Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, Geographic Distribution of VA Expenditures (GDX), FY2025, prepared September 2026 and https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/RA/IIT-RefundableCredits.aspx. Note: Figures represent VA expenditures attributed to Sawyer County and should not be interpreted as dollars generated solely by the CVSO or as a formal economic-impact multiplier. The CVSO helps eligible residents identify, apply for, and maintain access to earned benefits. Page 19 of 21 October 8, 2026 Mike Coleson Sawyer County IT Director Administration Committee IT Department Report Page 1 of 1 _______________________________________________ Agenda items: none Service Requests September 2026 New 37 Completed 41 Open 16 Tasks completed • Onboarding 3 Terminations 4 • Computer replacements 2 • Mezzanine network room upgrade: replace 3 switches. New patch panels. Re-wire. • Sheriff firewall scheduled replacement. • 3 Cameras installed: 63 & Dakota intersection, Hayward Fire Tower, Courthouse CoC Hallway • 3 Squad modem replace or swap • Hayward Senior Resource Center 2 TVs installed. • Surveyor office move. Tasks in progress • Set up ambulances like squads for better integration with Dispatch. Realtime location tracking. Gencom doing final installation. Pending Tasks • Additional outdoor cameras • Leased printer replacements (2027) • Security enhancements (Conditional Access, Security Operations Center) • Senior Resource Centers Exeland, Stone Lake TV install. • UW Extension TV install Page 20 of 21 Sawyer County Human Resources October 2026 Report 2026 Turnover 9/2/2026 John Minto Committees Term 9/4/2026 Emily Rodriquez HHS Term 9/8/2026 Ramona Norton HHS FT 9/11/2026 Kelsy Schultz Clerk of Court Term 9/16/2026 Mathew Scott Sheriff Term 9/17/2026 Ida Kinsley Committees PT 9/17/2026 Kimberly Hill HHS Term Staffing Snapshot • Vacancies: 3 • Separations: 4 Hired (2) Clerk of Court, Dementia Care Specialist, HHS Fiscal Recruiting for 9-1-1 Dispatcher, County Administrator recruitment Interviewing Family Services Facilitator Working with Department Heads on various FMLA and workers' compensation leaves, ongoing personnel matters, and employee relations. Page 21 of 21