Public Safety Committee — Minutes

Minutes of the August 6, 2026 meeting of the Sawyer County Public Safety Committee of the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Board Room; Sawyer County Voting Committee Members Present: Others Present: Ron Buckholtz Mike Markgren John Froemel Marc Helwig Liz Klein Chaz Ann Olson Jeff Hoehne Bryan Deyo Kristi Kare Marshal Savitski Sheriff Mrotek Mike Woller Jim Evans Greg Ripiczinski Jim Onarheim Sandy Okamoto Rhandi Ehn Call to Order –Chair Buckholtz called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Roll Call taken. Quorum was met. Certification of Compliance with the open meeting law was met. Meeting Agenda- Set Public Comment – Linda Zillmer Minutes from the previous meeting dated: July 2, 2026 Motion to approve made by: Mr. Evans Second by: Mr. Hoehne Motion carried without negative vote. Clerk of Courts/Register in Probate Reports - A written report was provided. Ms. Ehn reviewed the 2027 preliminary department budget with the committee. Sheriff’s Department Report – Patrol Report – Lt. Ripczinski reviewed the written patrol report: there were 859 calls in July, 27 traffic citations issued and 24 crashes- 5 with injury, zero deaths. There have been 159 total crashes year to date, 50 with personal injury, zero fatalities. Jail Report – Lt. Woller reviewed a written jail report for July with arrest data by race and gender. There was an average of 69 inmates incarcerated with a 67% unemployment rate at the time of booking, 2 on electronic monitoring. Dispatch and Emergency Management – Dispatch- Lt. Ripczinski reviewed a written report showing 449 emergent 911 calls received in July, 11,500 received year to date. The department cohosted National Night Out and will assist with Cops n’ Bobbers on August 8 at DJ’s Dockside Resort. Emergency Management- Lt. Ripczinski reviewed a written report with updates on local events, the HazMat Grant application period, and the pending Hazard Mitigation Plan submission to the state. Sheriff Mrotek reviewed the 2027 preliminary department budget. Code Enforcement- Ms. Olson reviewed her written report on dog licenses, TRH and human health hazards investigated. There were five TRH complaints investigated in July, and three potential human health hazard complaints from June were investigated and passed on to other agencies. Ms. Ehn reviewed the 2027 preliminary department budget with the committee. Child Support Department Report – Ms. Okamoto presented a written report for July and discussed the department needing to meet performance measures of 70% in four areas to receive the full amount of state funding. Ms. Okamoto reviewed the 2027 preliminary department budget with the committee. Emergency Services— Mr. Froemel presented a written report showing ambulance call volume, location and run times and discussed the 2017 Ambulance study with the committee and how the findings from the study have been used to improve the delivery and tracking of emergency services in the county. There is state and federal push to provide “on scene care” coming in the near future, which will affect the department as early as 2028. Mr. Froemel reviewed 2027 preliminary department budget with the committee. Radio Towers Update- Mr. Markgren updated the committee on the status of the towers, which are still on schedule to be operational by October 2026. Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Update –Mr. Markgren reported the July CJCC meeting highlights: Justice Point programs including Diversion and Deflection are having a positive impact on the county. Board Appointed Committee Updates— None Correspondence, Reports from Conferences and Meetings— None Future Agenda Items- Radio Tower Update Meeting Date/Time – The next meeting of the Public Safety Committee will be September 3, 2026 at 9:00 am in the Board Room. Meeting adjourned at 9:48 am Minutes recorded by Liz Klein, Sawyer County Clerk