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Bayfield County Clerk Lynn M. Divine Jeran Delaine, Deputy Clerk Erin Tibbits, Clerk 11 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 JUNE 30, 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 Sanstrom – present; Jamie Tucker – present; Larry Fickbohm – present; Charly Ray – present; Jan Lee – present; Jeff Olsen – present; Dennis Pocerncih – present; Fred Strand – present; Jeff Holte – present; Marty Milanowski – present; Jackie Roguski – absent; Jim Crandall – present; Sue Rosa – present. Present-12; Absent-1. A quorum was present to conduct business. Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator; Kelly Westlund, Deputy Administrator; Lynn M. Divine, County Clerk; Erin Tibbits, Clerk II; Jeremy Bates, Veteran’s Service Officer; Andy Runice, Deputy Sheriff; Emma Grove, Clerk of Courts; Craig Parks, Maintenance Supervisor; Ben Dufford, Conversationalist; Scott Galetka, Land Records Administrator; Pat Doust, BART Director and other members of the public. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. A moment of silence was held to honor the passing of Kenneth “Bucky” Jardine who served as a Bayfield County Board Supervisor for 22 years. Approval of May 7, 2026 and May 26, 2026 Mintes: Milanowski made a motion to approve both the May 7, 2026 and May 26, 2026 meeting Minutes, seconded by Fickbohm. Motion carried. Yes- 12: No-0; Absent-1. Public Comment: Mary Doughtery - City of Bayfield. Spoke on effect of Bayfield County’s CAFO ordinance in other parts of the country; supports the public safety cost recovery ordinance and requested reimbursement of attorney’s fees. Jeff Silbert (remote) – City of Washburn. Requested Abeles-Allison to read aloud an email he had submitted in support of the public safety cost recovery ordinance. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-61, Packers Protect & Serve Award Recognizing Bayfield County Chief Deputy Andy Runice for Heroism and Public Safety: Deputy Sheriff Andy Runice was present and spoke of his appreciation for being recognized out of over 80 applicants. Pocernich noted that Runice donated the award money he received to the Town of Cable Women’s Auxiliary. Abeles-Allison presented a signed resolution to Runice. Fickbohm made a motion to approve Resolution 2026-61, seconded by Milanowski. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-62, Recognizing the 2026 Employee, Department and Elected Official of the Year: Abeles-Allison spoke and listed Employee of Year winners, Jason Bodine and Ayris Kirschbaum, Sheriff Department Employee of the Year Michael Kastern, Department of the Year, Clerk of Courts and Elected Official of the Year, Sheriff Tony Williams. Tucker made a motion to approve resolution 2026-62, seconded by Holte. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. Military Friendly Employer Recognition: Veterans Service Officer, Jeremy Bates, spoke of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Program and the Patriot Award that is awarded to supervisors that go above and beyond in their support of uniformed soldiers in their employment. Land Records Administrator, Scott Galetka, was presented with this award at the summer picnic. He was nominated by Erica Muelmans. In 2014, Bates worked in Land Conservation and nominated Ben Dufford, but left employment before the award could be presented. Bates presented Ben Dufford with his award from 2014. Bay Area Rural Transit Presentation: Pat Doust, Director of BART (Bay Area Rural Transit) reported that BART was formed in 1981 and has grown exponentially since. BART went from two counties of Ashland and Bayfield and expanded into Price and Iron County and partners with both Red Cliff and Bad River transit systems. Bayfield County contributes to the core route which runs between Odanah and Red Cliff and started with the original charter. BART also uses an electric van as much as possible. The service has already hit 50% of its projected ridership for the year and their revenue is 80% of what was projected for 2026. BART also offers free rides for veterans. Doust also spoke of plans to get electric busses in the future. Milanowski asked about ride fees. Doust discussed the four zones for charging. He also discussed the door-to-door, on-demand service called BayCo. He stated that it has been very difficult to get EV charging stations serviced and he has been working very hard to get that done. Special County Board Meeting on Wednesday, July 15th at 2:00 p.m. on the Topic of Countywide EMS as it Relates to Proposals Received. Brian Zieman, EMS Coordinator, provided an update on the RFP process stating that three competitive bids were received. Zieman outlined the six options for future EMS coverage, including three new proposals, a county owned/operated BLS ambulance service, a county owned/operated Quick Response vehicle, and to maintain the status quo. Zieman proposed a timeline with a special board meeting on July 15, public forums on July 22nd and 23rd, with a final decision to be made at the July 28th board meeting. It is anticipated to include the 2027 budget figures. Milanowski made a motion to approve a Special County Board of Supervisors Meeting on July 15th at 2:00 p.m., seconded by Sandstrom. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1 Consent Agenda: a. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-63, 2026 Opioid Settlement Budget Amendment b. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-64, Accepting the Transfer of Primary Applicant Status of a WI Coastal Management Program Grant from Ashland County to Bayfield County, and Amending the 2026 Forestry and Parks Department Budget c. Bayfield County Amendatory Ordinance 2026-08, Heinicke Family Trust Property Rezoning from Commercial to R-1 d. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-65, Tourism (County Fair) Budget Amendment Ray made a motion to approve Consent Agenda items a-d, seconded by Sandstrom. Pocernich requested discussion on Bayfield County Resolution 2026-65, as the resolution does not state where the donation came from. Abeles-Allison stated that the narrative stated that the donation came from Enbridge and Pocernich stated that he would like to see that added to the resolution. Pocernich made a motion to amend Resolution 2026-65, to include Enbridge as the source of the donation, seconded by Rosa. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. Roll Call Vote to Approve Consent Agenda: Crandall – Yes; Fickbohm – Yes; Olsen – Yes; Milanowski – Yes; Sandstrom – Yes; Rosa – Yes; Strand – Yes; Lee – Yes; Tucker – Yes; Ray – Yes; Pocernich – Yes; Holte – Yes. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. County Board Supervisor Attorney Expense Reimbursement: Abeles-Allison spoke on former County Board Supervisor Mary Doughtery’s request for reimbursement of attorney fees associated with an open meetings complaint. Pocernich made a motion to approve reimbursement, seconded by Fickbohm. Strand requested that a board policy be drafted regarding who and how corporation council services are engaged. Sandstrom requested the board receive training regarding open meetings law involving emails and other communications outside of the board meeting. Milanowski and Crandall discussed resources regarding open meetings laws. Roll Call Vote to approve Attorney Expense Reimbursement: Lee – Yes; Milanowski – Yes; Rosa – Yes; Sandstrom – Yes; Fickbohm – Yes; Pocernich – Yes; Tucker – Yes; Ray – Yes; Crandall – Yes; Holte – Yes; Olsen – Yes; Strand – Yes. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. Tourism Economic Impact Update/Reports 16 (b): Tourism Director Mary Motiff appeared remotely and noted that if you take the $75 million in direct visitor spending that came in from tourism in 2025 and multiply that by the one-half percent county sales tax, it comes out to be $335,000 that is directly coming into the county’s general fund. Motiff also stated that she received information from the WI Department of Revenue that one in four jobs in Bayfield County is sustained by tourism and how substantial that is. She added that in 2025, Bayfield County was tied at fourth for total economic impact and direct visitor spending. Letters to elected officials about the delay in SNAP administrative and benefit cost shifts: Abeles-Allison discussed a letter to be sent to elected officials regarding the SNAP assistance program, asking that delays in funding be eliminated. Fickbohm made a motion to support the letter be sent to elected officials, seconded by Holte. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. Public Safety Cost Recovery Ordinance 2026-09: Strand stated that it would be an undue burden and obligation to require established community organizations to enter into a cost recovery agreement prior to their annual events and that he thinks the county should require cost recovery agreements for new events and extended duration projects and make the cost recovery ordinance optional for the established annual events. Strand made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-09 with the following changes to section 5-12-4 parenthesis 2 to read “a public safety recovery agreement shall be required at the discretion of the County Administrator or designee when one or more the following conditions are present,” seconded by Crandall. Westlund discussed the reasoning behind the development of the Public Safety Cost Recovery Ordinance. She stated that the goal was to establish clear content neutral standards for when public safety services may be recovered and how costs are calculated, who may be responsible for payment and what procedural protection should apply. Motion carried. Yes-11; No-1; Absent-1. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-66, Budget Amendment for Courthouse Capital Improvements and the Iron River Highway Garage Project: Abeles-Allison provided an update on monies designated to the Iron River Garage Project and courthouse projects that cost approximately $1.5 million. The Iron River Garage bid came in under budget and the courthouse project bid came in over budget. Abeles-Allison provided updates on dome project repair and replacement bids. He suggested that both the minidome and main dome be restored at that same time which would require an additional $222,000. The additional money would come from designated fund balances that are specifically for the courthouse and annex buildings. Crandall made a motion to approve Resolution 2026-66, seconded by Milanowski. Rosa asked if this project is eligible for monies through historic preservation organizations. Abeles- Allison stated that the courthouse is on both state and national historic registers and monies were received fifteen years ago for stone replacement and this can only happen once per building. The county applied for a grant asking for $750,000 and received $142,000. This amount will be going toward the dome restoration project. Board members discussed the importance of historic preservation of Bayfield County buildings. Bayfield County Maintenance Director Craig Parks spoke about the coating that was put on the copper in the 1960’s to stop possible leaks at that time. Parks also stated that the courthouse is the oldest operating courthouse in Wisconsin. Roll Call Vote to approve Resolution 2026-66: Ray – Yes; Milanowski – Yes; Rosa – Yes; Lee – Yes; Tucker – Yes; Strand – Yes; Olsen – Yes; Pocernich – Yes; Sandstrom – Yes; Fickbohm – Yes; Holte – Yes; Crandall – Yes. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-67, Broadband Expansion Grant Support: Abeles-Allison spoke on the State of Wisconsin having a $60 million broadband expansion project and local providers are encouraged to apply. Olsen made a motion to approve Resolution 2026-67, seconded by Tucker. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. Bayfield County Resolution 2026-68, The Bayfield County Board of Supervisors Supporting the Designation of Eligible Bayfield County Census Tracts as Qualified Opportunity Zones and Gubernatorial Opportunity Zone Request for Bayfield County: Abeles-Allison spoke on how these opportunity zones create opportunities for economic development focused on distressed counties such as Bayfield County. The first round of opportunity zones in 2018 did not include Bayfield County. The State is updating and Bayfield County is still not listed as an eligible county. A petition is necessary to let the state and IRS know that Bayfield County should be eligible for some of the incentives. Fickbohm made a motion to approve Resolution 2026-28, seconded by Strand. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. Reports: Abeles-Allison outlined Norvado Broadband project updates regarding taking fiber to homes in Bayfield County. Westlund spoke on data center information sessions with Karl Green through UW-Extension. There is a lot of public interest, and another evening session was added, making four presentations in total. Abeles-Allison spoke on two thank you notes received from scholarship recipients Aiden Bodine and Carter Haveri. Future County Board Meetings: a. July 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Special Meeting b. July 28, 2026 c. August 25, 2026 d. September 29, 2026 Supervisors’ Reports: Abeles-Allison stated Maintenance Supervisor Craig Parks has been very busy overseeing many projects at the courthouse right now including tuck pointing and patching, brick repair and window caulking. Lee stated that she and Ray attended the NWRPC annual meeting and the Blatnik Bridge project was discussed. It is going to be a five-year project which will impact Douglas and Bayfield Counties. Closed Session: Motion made by Crandall at 7:43 p.m. to enter into Closed Session, seconded by Milanowski. Roll call vote: Sandstrom – Yes; Tucker – Yes; Fickbohm – Yes; Ray – Yes; Lee – Yes; Olsen – Yes; Pocernich – Yes; Strand – Yes; Holte – Yes; Milanowski – Yes; Crandall – Yes; Rosa – Yes. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. At 8:20 p.m. Ray made a motion to return to Open Session, seconded by Holte. Motion Carried. 12- Yes; 0-No; 1 Absent. Discussion and Possible Action on Sheriff Union Contract Approval: No action. Adjournment: Holte made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Tucker. Motion carried. Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1. There being no further business to discuss, Lee adjourned the meeting at 8:25 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