Economic Development & UW-Extension Committee — Agenda Packet

1 Sawyer County Economic Development & UW-Extension Committee Meeting Monday, July 6, 2026 @ 8:30 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/97642007840. You can also use the dial in at 1-312-626-6799 with the Webinar ID: 976 4200 7840. 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 Board. Please adhere to the following when addressing the Board: • Comments will be limited to 3 minutes or less per individual. • Comments should be directed to the Board as a whole and not directed to individual Board members. • The Board 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. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING a. June 8, 2026 Draft Minutes 9. RESOLUTION 2026-____WEISS AND WINTER LIBRARY SUPPORT (DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION) Page 1 of 33 2 a. 2026 Weiss and Winter Library Support Resolution 10. LIBRARY UPDATES (JAN, APR, JUL, OCT) a. Weiss Library Report b. Winter Library Report c. LCO Library Report 11. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EXTENSION REPORT (FEB, MAY, AUG, NOV) 12. HAYWARD LAKES VISITORS & CONVENTION BUREAU REPORT a. HLVCB Report 13. NORTHWEST REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT a. NWRPC Report 14. SAWYER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REPORT a. EDC REPORT 15. TRAIL REPORTS- MOTORIZED AND NON-MOTORIZED a. Motorized b. Non-motorized 16. BOARD APPOINTED COMMITTEE UPDATES 17. CORRESPONDENCE, REPORTS FROM CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS 18. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 19. FINALIZATION OF BUSINESS 20. NEXT MEETING DATE /TIME: AUGUST 10, 2026 AT 8:30AM 21. ADJOURNMENT DISCLAIMER: A quorum of the County Board of Supervisors or of any of its committees may be present at 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 Page 2 of 33 3 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. Mission Statement: The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors will strive to provide excellent services and responsible leadership to protect and enhance Sawyer County citizens, businesses, and resources, while preserving our unique heritage. Page 3 of 33 Minutes of the June 8, 2026 Meeting of the Sawyer County Economic Development and UW-Extension Committee of the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Board Room; Sawyer County Voting Committee Members Present: Others Present: John Righeimer Mike Markgren Linda Zilmer Stacey Hessel Laura Bruce Jim Miller - Absent Mindy Simons Steve Longtine - Excused Brian Priester Randy Neumann Ann Larson Call to Order – Mr. Righeimer called the meeting to order at 8:30 am. Certification of Compliance with the open meeting law was met. Roll Call was taken. Quorum was met. Meeting Agenda -- Set Public Comments – Linda Zilmer spoke. Minutes from the previous meeting dated: May 11, 2026 Motion to approve made by: Mr. Neumann Second by: Ms. Hessel Motion carried without negative vote. Library Funding: Mr. Markgren discussed the library funding process and how the formula should be a data driven decision rather than an emotion driven decision. Having a resolution would take the guesswork out of the funding for both the Weiss and Winter Libraries. Ms. Hessel suggested this be presented at the Finance meeting and liked the idea of a resolution. Mr. Righeimer and Mr. Neumann both liked the concept of a resolution. Mr. Righeimer would like to see this as a July action item. Hayward Lakes Visitors & Convention Bureau Report— Ms. Simons detailed the Marketing report which included television, social media paid promotions, Midwest Outdoors email campaign and the YouTube Spring Fishing Ads. NWRPC Report— no report. SC Economic Development Corporation Report— Mr. Priester stated he is now six weeks into the position and still doing on the job training and meetings. He is building a new website and changing the logo due to the recent name change. He reported the THRIVE Grant has now been approved. Mr. Righeimer stated the name change should be reflected on the agenda. Trail Reports-- Motorized— Mr. Neumann read a report. New counters have been placed to better capture summer trail usage. The report thanked local entities for aiding in the opening of new trails. There have been positive reports from local businesses regarding the ATV/UTV business. Non-Motorized trails—No report. Board Appointed Committee Updates – No reports Page 4 of 33 Correspondence, Reports from Conferences— None Future Agenda Items – Library Resolution action item for July. Adjournment – 9:46 am Meeting Date/Time – The next meeting of the Economic Development and UW-Extension Committee will be Monday, July 6, 2026 at 8:30 am in the Board Room. Minutes recorded by Laura Bruce, Elected Official Deputy Clerk Page 5 of 33 Resolution #____-2026 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE WEISS COMMUNITY LIBRARY AND THE WINTER PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ESTABLISHING THE SAWYER COUNTY LIBRARY ALLOCATION FORMULA WHEREAS, the Weiss Community Library in Hayward and the Winter Public Library provide essential educational, informational, cultural, and technological resources that serve residents throughout Sawyer County; and WHEREAS, public libraries play a vital role in promoting literacy, supporting lifelong learning, and enhancing the quality of life for Sawyer County citizens, businesses, and students; and WHEREAS, the services provided by these libraries directly support the County’s goals of community development, workforce readiness, and economic vitality by ensuring equitable access to knowledge and technology; and WHEREAS, Sawyer County has historically supported the Weiss Community Library and the Winter Public Library through annual County allocations that far exceed the Wisconsin Act 150 library funding formula; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of Sawyer County to continue recognizing and supporting the outstanding work of both libraries in serving County residents and promoting community well- being; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors, meeting in regular session, hereby expresses its full support and appreciation for the Weiss Community Library and the Winter Public Library, and acknowledges the valuable role both play in fostering education, community connection, and economic development across Sawyer County; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Sawyer County’s annual library allocation shall be the greater of: • 150% of the Wisconsin Act 150 circulation formula amount, or • 102.5% of the previous year’s County allocation, to ensure consistent and sustainable funding for both libraries; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Weiss Community Library Board and the Winter Public Library Board to demonstrate Sawyer County’s continued commitment to strong and accessible public library services. Page 6 of 33 This Resolution is recommended for adoption by the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors at its meeting on July 16, 2026, by this Sawyer County Economic Development & UW-Extension Committee this 6th Day of July, 2026. ________________________________ ___________________________________ John Righeimer, Chair Randy Neumann, Member ________________________________ ___________________________________ Stacey Hessel, Vice Chair Steve Longtine, Member ________________________________ Jim Miller, Member And this Resolution is recommended for adoption by the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors at its meeting on July 16, 2026, by this Sawyer County Finance Committee this 9th Day of July, 2026. ________________________________ ___________________________________ John Righeimer, Chair Marc Helwig, Member ________________________________ ___________________________________ Stacey Hessel, Vice Chair Jeff Hoehne, Member ________________________________ Steve Kariainen, Member __________________________________________________________________________________ This Resolution is hereby adopted by the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors this 16th day of July, 2026. _______________________________________ _____________________________________ Ron Kinsley, Chair, Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Liz Klein, County Clerk Page 7 of 33 Page 8 of 33 Page 9 of 33 Page 10 of 33 Page 11 of 33 Page 12 of 33 Page 13 of 33 Page 14 of 33 Page 15 of 33 Page 16 of 33 Page 17 of 33 Page 18 of 33 Page 19 of 33 Page 20 of 33 Page 21 of 33 Page 22 of 33 Page 23 of 33 WINTER PUBLIC LIBRARY 2026 Activities Report 2nd Quarter By Donna Knuckey winter.wislib@gmail.com Mission Statement: The mission of the Winter Public Library is to provide quality materials and services which fulfill the education, information, cultural and recreational needs of the entire community in an atmosphere that is welcoming, respectful and businesslike. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ I apologize for not being able to attend the July 6th meeting. I will be at 4-H camp preparing the arrival of Rusk and Sawyer youth. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at winter.wislib@gmail.com or contact me at 715-661-2688. Libraries serve as vital community hubs that provide free and equitable access to information, technology, and educational resources. Beyond lending books, they act as safe public spaces, support digital inclusion, host early childhood literacy programs, and connect residents to essential social and career services. The role of a modern library extends far beyond the traditional quiet repository for books. Key functions include: ● Digital and Internet Access: They bridge the digital divide by offering free Wi-Fi, computer access, and circulating mobile hotspots for patrons who lack reliable internet at home. ● Education and Literacy: Libraries foster lifelong learning through early literacy storytimes, tutoring, homework help, and language instruction for new immigrants. ● Community Connection: They function as essential "third places" where seniors can socialize, teens can study, and community groups can hold meetings, all free of charge. ● Social and Career Navigators: Librarians increasingly serve as community guides, helping individuals draft resumes, apply for jobs, and access housing or mental health resources. Friends of the Library Friends of the Library assists in fundraising efforts and also volunteers at library events. The group just completed a couple of our largest fundraisers for the year. As this report is being written, the July 4th fundraisers have not been completed but are planned and ready for the event. July Jubilee is a large event in Winter with thousands of attendees. The library has benefited from this event with our race, sale of raffle tickets, and glow items for the fireworks display. FOL 2026 fundraisers: Page 24 of 33 ● Book Sale-January, May, August ● 50/50 cash raffle ($4,000) ● July Jubilee 2 mile Color Run and 10K Race ● Sell glow items on July 4th ● Pop up raffle mid summer ● Canoe Races–kids games and raffles in August ● Duck Race down Chippewa River-Labor Day weekend ● Homespun Holiday Baskets and Cash Raffle in November StrongBodies facilitated by UW–Madison Division of Extension StrongBodies for Seniors strength training program continued throughout the year for area counties. The library provides a space for the participants to attend the program virtually each Tuesday and Thursday morning. Sessions continue all summer long. Lego Club Meets the second Thursday each month at 6:00 p.m. Lego Club begins with individual lego challenges and ends the evening with a team challenge. These sessions are all STEM focused to enhance learning with LEGOS concepts. 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten (Ongoing/Independent Activity) The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program is a free, nationwide early literacy challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to read 1,000 books with their children before they start school. How the Program Works The challenge is designed to be simple and flexible for families: ● Target Audience: Children from birth until they enter kindergarten. ● What Counts: Any book counts—including repeats (reading the same book 10 times counts as 10 books), audiobooks, and books read at library storytimes or daycare. ● Tracking: You can track progress using paper logs, spiral notebooks, or the official 1000 Books Before Kindergarten App. ● Milestones & Prizes: Winter PL offers small rewards like stickers, badges, or certificates for every 100 books read, with a special prize ( backpack and free book) upon completion. Why it Matters Early reading is one of the strongest predictors of future academic success. It helps: ● Build a robust vocabulary and language skills. ● Strengthen the bond between caregiver and child. ● Foster a lifelong love of reading and learning. Page 25 of 33 “Unearth your Story” Summer Reading Program The library offers several different program options for patrons of all ages throughout the summer. Birth to 4K We offer a Birth to 4K storytime on the first and third Tuesday mornings. Parents and children are welcome to attend this hands-on learning session. Story Hour sessions include books, songs, and connection time between the families. Children/Tweens Each Wednesday night from 5:30 p.m.-6:45 p.m., patrons are provided an hands-on learning opportunity related to the summer theme. Some of the programming is provided by the Sawyer County 4-H AmeriCorps member, Elaina. The collaboration is greatly appreciated and a great addition to our program. Adults The library is offering a Summer Reading Bingo challenge encouraging adult patrons to read a book or do an activity that they do not normally engage in to promote continuing learning of new things. The library has fabulous prizes donated by local businesses and volunteers for Bingo winners. Author Visit series The Winter Public Library has hosted a book signing event for B. E. Thidemann, born and raised in Winter, for her first book in a series; Heart of Stone. Barb will be returning later this summer to do a Book Talk and additional signing experience. Jigsaw Puzzle Challenges July 26th will be the next puzzle challenge competition. Teams of four compete to be the best Jigsaw Puzzle Solvers. Prizes donated by area businesses are received by the winning team. Snacks and music are provided by the library during the challenge. Digital Navigator Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board provides CLICK and learn sessions at the library. Once a month the community members can receive technology assistance with a digital navigator. This service is provided free to the library and is funded by a grant provided to the Workforce Investment Board. Page 26 of 33 Circulation Statistics Circulation Report 2025 Winter Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total 569 580 566 638 587 492 713 742 828 753 945 510 ILL 8 13 8 8 7 3 5 4 6 5 7 3 Total-ILL 561 567 558 630 580 489 708 738 822 748 638 507 Total Circulation as of 12/31/2025 =7,623 Circulation Report 2026 Winter Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total 556 494 525 547 594 ILL 4 3 2 6 1 Total-ILL 552 491 523 541 593 Total Circulation as of 6/25/2026 =1,050 Libby Statistics-E-Media-2025 Winter Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. July Aug. Sept Oct. Nov Dec State eBooks 158 160 179 158 129 141 140 152 122 122 134 156 State Audiobooks 127 130 153 98 102 109 126 113 90 121 90 114 State Magazines 51 29 27 27 45 33 50 41 53 52 27 36 Total eCirculation 336 319 359 283 276 283 316 306 265 295 251 306 Adv. eBooks 18 22 21 22 20 16 18 23 13 15 24 26 Adv. Audiobooks 20 16 24 12 16 11 22 31 25 16 12 17 New Users Added 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 0 1 Page 27 of 33 Unique Users 52 53 56 52 53 52 51 58 52 53 60 60 Page 28 of 33 Libby Statistics-E-Media-2026 Winter Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. July Aug. Sept Oct. Nov Dec State eBooks 171 136 117 148 124 State Audiobooks 137 109 183 128 134 State Magazines 49 28 50 22 19 Total eCirculation 357 273 350 298 277 Adv. eBooks 20 11 23 31 22 Adv. Audiobooks 25 26 24 21 28 New Users Added 1 1 2 2 0 Unique Users 62 58 59 59 55 Page 29 of 33 Page 1 H A Y W A R D L A K E S R E P O R T - J U L Y 6 E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M I T T E E Tourism Economic Impact Sawyer County — A Record-Breaking Year Sawyer County tourism generated a record $155 million in economic impact in 2025. A fourth straight record year and a powerful contribution to Wisconsin’s booming year for travel. Sawyer County by the Numbers In 2025, Sawyer County tourism delivered its strongest year on record. The gains reflect real growth, not just rising prices, with economic impact climbing well above the rate of inflation. $155 million Total tourism economic impact — a new record $424,657 Economic impact generated every single day +3.1% Year-over-year growth, outpacing the 2.7% inflation rate 4 years Consecutive record-breaking years, topping 2024’s $151 million 958 Local jobs supported by tourism across the county These numbers reflect the collective effort of every restaurant, lodging property, local guide, retailer, and attraction that welcomed visitors throughout the year. What Drove the Record Year Travelers showed up in record numbers While visitation can’t be broken out at the county level, Wisconsin welcomed a record 117.9 million visits in 2025; back-to-back record years statewide. Both day trips and overnight trips set records, and that surge in travel directly fueled local results. Every time a visitor books one more night, dines at one more restaurant, or adds one more stop, it generates meaningfully more dollars for Sawyer County. Page 30 of 33 Page 2 Spending was broad and year-round Tourism dollars flowed across all four seasons, reinforcing the Hayward Lakes Area’s identity as an all- seasons destination. From summer on the water to fall colors to winter snowmobiling and ice fishing, local businesses benefited throughout the calendar. Growth beat inflation With economic impact up 3.1% against a 2.7% inflation rate, the county didn’t just keep pace, it grew. Marketing That Works Sawyer County’s marketing efforts played a direct role in driving awareness and visitation in 2025. Haywardlakes.com had a standout year • +24% of total website users over 2024 • +27% overall sessions, with engaged sessions up a remarkable +73% • +85% total views, reaching 705,243 views for the year Shoulder-season YouTube campaigns delivered strong returns • Fall colors (Fall 2025): 163,483 impressions and 123,847 views on the video campaign, plus 76,720 impressions, 10,008 engagements, and 10,769 clicks through Demand Gen. • Snowmobiling & ice fishing (Winter 2025/26): 812,300 impressions and 559,210 views on the video campaign, plus 1.738 million impressions, 45,271 engagements, and 42,221 clicks through Demand Gen. These campaigns extended reach during the seasons that matter most for filling the calendar beyond peak summer. The Statewide Picture Sawyer County’s success was part of a record-setting year for Wisconsin as a whole: • Statewide tourism generated a record $27 billion in economic impact, up 4.4% and marking the state’s fourth consecutive record year. • Wisconsin hosted a record 117.9 million visits — back-to-back record years of visitation. • Tourism supported more than 183,000 jobs statewide and generated over $1.7 billion in state and local taxes. • Because of tourism, the average Wisconsin household saved the equivalent of $692 in taxes it would otherwise pay to maintain current government services. Page 31 of 33 Page 3 Looking Ahead to 2026 Today we celebrate a booming 2025, but there’s still a long way to go this year, with the all-important summer season just getting underway. We don’t make travel projections, but the indicators are encouraging. Nearly 90% of Americans plan to travel in the next six months, and 4 in 10 travelers say they’re looking to visit destinations closer to home. Situated between the Twin Cities and Chicago, the Hayward Lakes Area is well positioned to welcome travelers choosing shorter, closer trips. We’ll keep monitoring the key indicators throughout the year and keep doing the work that made 2025 a record-breaker. Sources: Sawyer County and Wisconsin Department of Tourism 2025 economic impact data; Longwoods International American Traveler Sentiment Survey (Wave 106). Page 32 of 33 P O B o x 3 4 1 , H a y w a r d , W I 5 4 8 4 3 w w w . s c l c o e d c . c o m 7 1 5 - 2 7 4 - 9 5 4 1 e d @ s a w y e r c o u n t y e d c . c o m June Sawyer County EDC Report Four days of Wisconsin Economic Development Association “Basic Economic Development Training” in Fond du Lac. Many hours on new web site Crafted support letter for WWBIC grant One on one meetings with: Mike Stamp Dalton Hessel Chris Ruckdaschal Jacci Sulley Jenni Stramma Prepared preliminary list of stakeholders for Kristen Fish-Peterson (consultant) to interview for Thrive Grant project on incubator. Researched Opportunity Zone in preparation for application. Continued to set up meetings with board members, community leaders and business leaders to learn priorities and challenges. Page 33 of 33