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Bayfield County · Bayfield County · meeting of Aug 25, 2026 · Minutes
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Bayfield County Clerk
Lynn M. Divine
Jeran Delaine, Deputy Clerk Erin Tibbits, Clerk II
Ph: 715.373.6100 ● Email: Lynn.Divine@bayfieldcounty.wi.gov ● 117 E. Fifth Street, PO Box 878, Washburn, WI 54891
MINUTES
MONTHLY MEETING of the BAYFIELD COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AUGUST 25, 2026
Meeting held in the Bayfield County Boardroom, Courthouse, Washburn, WI
Call to Order: The monthly meeting of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors was called to
order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Jan Lee. Roll Call was taken by County Clerk, Lynn Divine, as follows:
Steve Sandstrom – present: Jamie Tucker – present; Larry Fickbohm – present; Charly Ray – present;
Jan Lee – present; Jeff Olsen – present; Dennis Pocernich – present; Fred Strand – present; Jeff Holte
– present; Marty Milanowski – present; Jackie Roguski – present; Jim Crandall – present; Sue Rosa –
present. Present-13; Absent-0. A quorum was present to conduct business.
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator; Kelly Westlund, Deputy
Administrator; Lynn M Divine, County Clerk; Mary Motiff, Tourism Director; Vanessa Kane, Baker
Tilly Auditor; Meagan Quaderer, EMS/PSAP Director; Bryan Ziemann, EMS Coordinator
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.
Approval of July 28, 2026 Minutes: Milanowski made a motion to approve the July 28, 2026,
meeting Minutes, seconded by Rosa. Motion carried. Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Resolution 2026-74 Appreciation of Town, City, Village, County Clerks, and Election Workers
for a Smooth August 11, 2026, Primary Election: Abeles-Allison introduced the resolution.
Fickbohm made a motion to approve Resolution 2026-74, seconded by Milanwoski. Motion carried.
Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Resolution 2026-75 2026 Bayfield County Fair Recognition and Report: Tourism Director Mary
Motiff reported that twice as many season tickets were sold this year. Fair attendance, camping, food
vendors and sponsor donations were up, t-shirt sales doubled due to having a merchandise booth, and
the Dirt Dash and Tuff Trucks events went very well. There was a 14% total revenue increase from
last year. Motiff stated that this was the first year attendees could pay with a credit card at the gate
and the Lion’s Club put on a breakfast for the first time each morning. Holte made a motion to
approve Resolution 2026-75, seconded by Crandall. Motion carried. Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Resolution 2026-76 Recognition of Badgerland Midways: Abeles-Allison introduced the
resolution. Motiff spoke about the difficulties of running a carnival and the great efforts made by
Badgerland Midways to provide a clean, safe and enjoyable event. Tucker made a motion to approve
Resolution 2026-76, seconded by Crandall. Motion carried. Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
2025 Audit Report, Baker Tilly: Vanessa Kane gave a 2025 audit summary and discussed the three
audit reports issued: Financial Statement Audit Opinion; Report on Federal and State Awards and the
Reporting and Insights Letter.
Countywide EMS Rollout Plan: Meagan Quaderer, EMS/PSAP Director, reviewed the draft of
EMS Performance Assistance Plan for providing funds to local EMS services to improve
performance. She discussed the three core objectives of the program: recruitment and retention of
EMS personnel, strengthened on-call and hourly compensation, and improved reliability of 9-1-1
response coverage. She stated that a final version of the plan will be brought to the Sheriff’s
Committee in September for approval and then to the County Board in September or October.
Ad Hoc Bayfield County EMS Advisory Committee Appointments: EMS Coordinator Bryan
Ziemann discussed the Executive Committee’s motion to reinstate the Ad Hoc EMS Advisory
Committee with goals of supporting ongoing system improvement, coordination and strategic
planning across Bayfield County’s EMS network. He also outlined the specific tasks that the
committee will take on and is seeking diverse viewpoints from different parts of the county.
Ziemann discussed appointment recommendations: Marty Milanowski and Jeff Holte from the
County Board; Lyn Cornelius, Bayfield EMS; Joseph Labouton, Washburn EMS; John Swanson,
AFD; Dr. John White, Tamarack Health; Tony Janisch, City of Washburn; Ryan Matthews, Dispatch
Coordinator. No interest from Tribal leadership yet.
Chair Lee appointed Marty Milanowski, Jeff Holte, and Larry Fickbohm from the County Board; Lyn
Cornelius, Bayfield EMS; Joseph Labouton, Washburn EMS; John Swanson, AFD; Dr. John White,
Tamarack Health; Tony Janisch, City of Washburn; PSAP, Ryan Matthews, to the Ad Hoc EMS
Planning Committee. Lee also appointed James Small, Meagan Quaderer, Bryan Ziemann, Kelly
Westlund and Mark Abeles-Allison as advisory members. Crandall made a motion to approve Lee’s
selections, seconded by Roguski. Motion carried. Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Public Comment:
John Swanson, Ashland Fire Department, spoke about being appointed to Ad Hoc EMS Committee
and stated he looks forward to being a part of the evolution of EMS in his community.
Rich Nemitz, Town of Iron River, expressed concern with EMS funding going directly to
municipalities instead of EMS providers.
Zoning Committee Recommendation for a Data Center Moratorium Ordinance: Kelly
Westlund, Deputy Administrator, discussed the draft of the ordinance based primarily on ordinances
from Sawyer and Manitowoc Counties. Westlund stated that if a temporary moratorium was put in
place, the County can then develop the regulatory zoning ordinance to govern how they work going
forward. The moratorium would sunset after 18 months or once the new zoning ordinance takes
effect, whichever comes first. Westlund stated that the ordinance has not been reviewed by
corporation counsel yet.
Consent agenda:
a. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-77 Condemnation Committee Compensation
b. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-78 Dome Project/IT Capital Improvement Budget Amendment
c. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-79 Establishing a Device Depreciation and Distribution Policy
and Approving Donation of Digital Navigator Program Devices to the Northwest WI Workforce
Investment Board
d. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-80 Law Enforcement Mental Health Grant Support Resolution
e. Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve
f. Bayfield County Amendatory Ordinance 2026-10, Larry & Judith Hinz Property Rezoning from
Residential-2 (R-2) to Residential-1 (R-1)
Fickbohm made a motion to approve consent agenda, seconded by Rosa. Roll call vote: Sandstrom –
Yes; Rosa – Yes; Lee – Yes; Strand – Yes; Tucker – Yes; Crandall – Yes; Fickbohm – Yes;
Pocernich – Yes; Ray – Yes; Roguski – Yes; Holte – Yes; Milanowski – Yes; Olsen - Yes. Motion
carried. Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Bayfield Resolution 2026-81, EMS Sustainability and Statewide Funding Resolution,
Advocating Statewide Investment, Modernization and Workforce Support for EMS: Lee
introduced the resolution and stated it will be considered at the WCA legislative meeting. Sandstrom
made a motion to approve Resolution 2026-81, seconded by Tucker. Motion carried. Yes-13; No-0;
Absent-0.
Reports:
a. Abeles-Allison stated that budgets are being finalized and provided a memo from Attorney John
Carlson regarding short-term borrowing. He stated any short-term borrowing will have to be
adopted before the County Board adopts the budget.
b. Westlund provided a snapshot of the Housing Investment for fiscal year 2027 Budget and
discussed current housing initiatives and requests for 2027.
c. Abeles-Allison provided a Delta Dam update stating that an informational meeting should be held
to discuss potential ownership and future of the dam. He stated a potential public meeting may be
held in October or November.
d. Abeles-Allsion provided a Department of Energy Update, stating that ten of the projects were
released and the environmental assessments were approved. There are four other projects
awaiting environmental approval.
e. Abeles-Allison provided a WCA update, stating that WCA platform resolutions were released last
week and all six of the county resolutions were approved.
f. September Executive Committee Budget 2027 Meetings:
Thursday, September 10th
Monday September 14th
Wednesday September 16th
Monday, September 28th
Future County Board Meetings:
a. September 29, 2026
b. October 27, 2026
c. November 10, 2026
d. December-possible skip
Closed Session: Milanowski made a motion to enter into Closed Session, seconded by Roguski.
Roll Call vote: Ray – Yes; Sandstrom – Yes; Crandall – Yes; Milanowski – Yes; Lee – Yes; Tucker –
Yes; Fickbohm – Yes; Olsen – Yes; Strand – Yes; Holte – Yes; Pocernich – Yes; Roguski – Yes;
Rosa – Yes. Motion carried. Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Motion made by Sandstrom to return to Open Sesson, seconded by Crandall. Motion carried. Yes-13;
No-0; Absent-0.
Pigeon Lake Property Purchase/Sale: Motion made by Sandstrom to approve the signing options
to purchase the Pigeon Lake Field Station property and to direct staff to continue negotiating terms
for the subsequent sale, with final terms subject to County Board approval, seconded by Tucker.
Motion carried. Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Adjournment: Ray made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Olsen. Motion carried.
Yes-13: No-0; Absent-0. There being no further business to discuss, Lee adjourned the meeting at
8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Lynn M. Divine
Bayfield County Clerk
lmd/ejt
Copies of Bayfield County Resolutions may be obtained by contacting the Bayfield County Clerk’s
Office at (715) 373-6100
The Bayfield County Code of Ordinances can be found at
https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/752/County-Ordinances
Source: Bayfield County website. First collected Oct 12, 2026.