Public Safety Committee — Minutes

Minutes of the July 2, 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- Absent Liz Klein Chaz Ann Olson Jeff Hoehne Bryan Deyo Kristi Kare Marshal Savitski Sheriff Mrotek Miranda Strenke Jim Evans Marge Kelsey Nicole Ripczinski Greg Rpiczinski Leslie Strapon 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 – None Minutes from the previous meeting dated: June 4, 2026 Motion to approve made by: Mr. Evans Second by: Mr. Hoehne Motion carried without negative vote. Clerk of Courts/Register in Probate Reports - Ms. Kelsey presented a written report and updated the committee on short-staffing challenges and thanked Kristi Kare for stepping in to clerk civil cases. A new Criminal Clerk is starting July 27th. Sheriff’s Department Report – Sheriff Mrotek stated that the receptionist/Sheriff’s secretary position has been filled, and that the department is supporting LCO with a recent homicide investigation that occurred. Patrol Report – Lt. Ripczinski reviewed the written patrol report: there were 714 calls in June, 28 traffic citations issued and 15 crashes- 2 with injury, zero deaths. Jail Report –Chief Deyo reviewed a written jail report for June with arrest data by race and gender. There was an average of 59 inmates incarcerated with a 68% unemployment rate at the time of booking, 1 on electronic monitoring. Dispatch and Emergency Management – Dispatch- Dir. Ripczinski reviewed a written report with updates on staffing, grant-funded upgrades to dispatch and jail consoles, upcoming events and the numbers and types of calls received in June. Emergency Management- Dir. Ripczinski reviewed a written report with updates on testing new weather and fire detection programs. The department will assist with Cops n’ Bobbers on August 8 at DJ’s Dockside Resort and cohost National Night Out on August 4 from 5-7 pm behind Hayward Intermediate School. Radio Towers Update- Mr. Markgren updated the committee on productive meetings with the Tribal Governing Board on the WOJB tower. The Meadowbrook tower cost came down since the June Public Safety meeting; the increase now is just the cost of connecting electricity to the site (approx. $40,000). Mr. Buckholtz stated that the Meadowbrook project was approved at the Zoning Committee. Code Enforcement- Ms. Olson reviewed her written report on dog licenses and a dog bite quarantine in the pound. There were three TRH complaints investigated in June, and one potential human health hazard (with two ongoing investigations from May). Child Support Department Report – Written reports for May and June were provided. Emergency Services— Mr. Froemel introduced his assistant Miranda Strenke. A written report was provided showing ambulance call volume, location and run times. Mr. Froemel shared that LCO will offer an advanced EMT course this fall and stated that the Sawyer crew has been working well with Birchwood. Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Update –Mr. Markgren reported the June CJCC meeting highlights: Aura Lea Carrell of Northwood Tech works with inmates ten hours a week on diplomas and access to tech school training for a grant-funded program that has reduced recidivism by 47% statewide. Judges Isham and Smith have seen good results from the Youth Justice efforts, and Dave Dixon at Timber Bay provides weekly youth programs that are well- attended. 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 August 6, 2026 at 9:00 am in the Board Room. Meeting adjourned at 9:28 am Minutes recorded by Liz Klein, Sawyer County Clerk