Board of Supervisors Meeting — Minutes

Minutes of the August 20, 2026 Meeting of the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Sawyer County Courthouse/Virtual Voting Committee Members Present (X) Roll Call Dis tric t Wards Steve Kariainen 01 T Lenroot W-1, T Hayward W-7, C Hayward W-5 Kay Wilson 02 T Lenroot W-2, T Round Lake W-1 Steve Longtine 03 T Hayward W-1 & 2 Stacey Hessel 04 T Hayward W-3 & 4 Randy Neumann 05 T Hayward W-5 & 6 Marc D. Helwig 06 C Hayward W-1 & 2 Jim Miller 07 C Hayward W-3 & 4 Marshal Savitski- Virtual 08 T Bass Lake W-1 & 2 Jim Evans 09 T Bass Lake W-3 & 4 Chuck Van Etten 10 T Sand Lake, T Edgewater W-1 Jeff Hoehne 11 T Edgewater W-2, T Bass Lake W-5, T Meteor, T Couderay, V Couderay John Righeimer 12 T Spider Lake, T Round Lake W-2, T Winter W-1 Ron Kinsley 13 T Hunter, T Radisson W-1, T-Ojibwa W-1, V Radisson Ron Buckholtz 14 T Radisson W-2, T Ojibwa W-2, T Weirgor, V Exeland, T Meadowbrook John Minto- Absent 15 T Winter W-2, T Draper, V Winter Also present: Doug Mrotek, Mike Markgren, John Pinnow, Jay Kozlowski, Bryan Deyo, Atty. Roeker Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance–Chairman Kinsley called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Roll call was taken; quorum was met. Presentation of Colors was made by Civil Air Patrol. Certification of Compliance with the open meeting law was met. Meeting Agenda – Set Public Comments – Ginny Chabek, Hazel Jonjak, Dennis Erickson, Jim Sosniak, Danielle Dale, Randy Eytheson, Heather Vabilitis, Linda Zillmer, Letter from Martin Hanson Minutes from the previous meeting dated: July 16, 2026 Motion to approve by: Mr. Evans Second by: Mr. Helwig Motion carried without negative vote. Review District 15 Supervisor Position— Chairman Kinsley stated that the District 15 Supervisor Minto came to the first meeting and one committee meeting and stopped attending. Atty. Roeker advised the board that there is a statutory process for removal and recommended sending a letter and getting a resignation in writing. Mr. Miller made a motion to have the sheriff serve a letter, second Mr. Evans. Ms. Hessel stated it was a discussion- only item on the agenda. Mr. Miller withdrew his motion. Discussion by Mr. Buckholtz on numerous attempts to contact Mr. Minto with no response. Chairman Kinsley stated he will proceed with a letter. Appointments— Supervisor Minto was removed from HHS and Zoning Committees by Chairman Kinsley, confirmed on a motion by: Mr. Evans Second by: Mr. Helwig Motion carried without negative vote. Supervisor Hessel was removed from the Economic Development/UW Extension Committee and appointed to the Zoning Committee by Chairman Kinsley on a motion by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Mr. Longtine Motion carried without negative vote. Ms. Reone Gheen was appointed as Sawyer County Medical Examiner on a motion by: Mr. Neumann Second by: Ms. Hessel Motion carried without negative vote. Public Comment Policy— Admin committee approved an amendment to the Board Policy and Procedures Manual Rule 8 to limit public comment to residents and add back Rule 10. Motion to approve the amendment to the Board Policy & Procedures Manual Rules 8 and 10 by: Stacey Hessel Second by: John Righeimer Discussion: Supervisors Wilson, Buckholtz, Miller, Helwig, Evans and Van Etten are opposed to limiting public comment. A roll call vote was taken: Mr. Kariainen-no, Ms. Wilson- no, Mr. Longtine- no, Ms. Hessel- yes, Mr. Neumann- yes, Mr. Helwig- no, Mr. Miller- no, Mr. Savitski- no, Mr. Evans- no, Mr. Van Etten- no, Mr. Hoehne- no, Mr. Righeimer- yes, Mr. Kinsley- yes, Mr. Buckholtz- no. Motion failed with 4 ayes and 10 opposed. Zoning Committee – Mr. Buckholtz gave the Zoning Committee Chair report: the committee has heard 483 LUPs to date. Zone District Map Amendment for RZN #26-012 for Todd’s Redimix Concrete LLC to rezone 80 acres from RR-1 to F-1 for the purpose of a new non-metallic mining operation was withdrawn. Motion to accept withdrawal by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Ms. Wilson Motion carried without negative vote. Zone District Map Amendment for RZN #26-013 for O’Brien Hill Properties LLC to rezone 5.0 acres of A-1 to RR-1 was approved on a motion by: Mr. Helwig Second by: Mr. Longtine Motion carried without negative vote. Data Center and Associated Infrastructure Moratorium Ordinance— Mr. Kozlowski presented a proposed 18 month moratorium on data centers to give the county time to review; this does not limit construction of small telecommunications infrastructure. Motion to approve Resolution 2026-____to adopt the Sawyer County Data Center and Associated Infrastructure Moratorium Ordinance by: Mr. Kariainen Second by: Mr. Hoehne Motion carried without negative vote. Public Works Committee— Mr. Van Etten reported on the Public Works Committee meeting and stated that the Hwy 27 construction project is the state, not the county. Public Safety Committee — Mr. Buckholtz reviewed the Clerk of Courts, Sheriff’s Department, Jail, Emergency Management, Dispatch, Child Support, Code Enforcement and Emergency Services and Tower reports for the board. Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee— Mr. Kariainen reviewed the Register of Deeds, Land Records, Surveyor, Forestry, Zoning Conservation and Trails reports. Finance Report - Mr. Righeimer provided an update on county finances and department budgets. HHS Report—Ms. Wilson gave the August HHS Board report. Resolution 2026-____Mental Health Funding was approved on a motion by: Mr. Miller Second by: Ms. Hessel Motion carried without negative vote. Resolution 2026-____Public Health Funding was approved on a motion by: Mr. Helwig Second by: Ms. Wilson Motion carried without negative vote. Economic Development and UW Extension Committee— Mr. Righeimer gave the August Economic Development and UW Extension Committee report. Administration Report— Mr. Kinsley reported that the Administration Committee met and talked about how to handle District 15, appointed the Medical Examiner and discussed public comment. The committee heard reports from the County Clerk, Veterans, IT, and HR departments. The HR department will look for new County Administrator candidates from within Wisconsin and Minnesota and the Admin Committee will conduct the interviews. County Administrator’s Report— Mr. Markgren shared that Mr. Priester submitted the Opportunity Zone application, the 2027 Budget is coming together, Net New Construction and valuation is high, five departments have moved within the courthouse and Oasis buildings, and the radio tower project is progressing. CJCC— Justice Point is yielding good results, the RCORPS grant has been submitted and the county received confirmation of receiving approval for the TAD Grant pre-application. Board Appointed Committee Updates— Mr. Kariainen reported that the CEP 2027 budget is finalized and ICAA is meeting in Sawyer County Monday 8/24 in the Board Room. Ms. Hessel reported that the NWRPC meeting will be in Park Falls next week with a tour of the St. Croix Rod Company. Correspondence, Reports from Conferences and Meetings- Mr. Kinsley said the County Fair was well attended. Future Agenda Items- Ben Poppe, 2027 Budget, Public Comment Rules, Rule 10 Board Policy Meeting Adjourned at 6:30 pm Next meeting: Thursday, September 17, 2026 Time: 5:00 pm Location: Board Room Minutes recorded by Liz Klein, County Clerk