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Land Use / UW-Extension Committee Meeting Minutes Date: February 19, 2026 Time: 9:00 a.m. Place: Courthouse County Board Room 101; 126 Cherry St; Phillips, WI 54555 Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Alan Barkstrom, Committee Chair. Roll Call Members Present: Alan Barkstrom, Michelle Drobnik, Doug Erickson, Jason Hastings (Remote), Robert Kopisch, Larry Meives Members Present for the UW-Extension Meeting: Rachel Hoffman (Remote) Also Present: Brian Ernst, County Chair; Evan Lund, Land Conservation and Zoning Administrator; Amanda McMeekin, Assistant Zoning Administrator; Amber Rehberg, Area 4 Extension Director (Remote); Nick Trimner, County Administrator Items For Discussion and Possible Action Zoning 1. Call to Order and Roll Call: As noted above. 2. Public Comment and Communications: None. Public Hearings (times are approximate) 3. 9:00 a.m.: Special Exception Permit filed by Mark Thomas for the purpose of building a home 30’ to the centerline of Pine Road on property located within part of Government Lot 1, Section 22, Township 37N, Range 1W, Town of Elk (N8486 Pine Road). Public Hearing opened at 9:01 a.m. Letters of notification were sent. No letters of communication were received in return. No public comment. Public hearing closed at 9:03 a.m. 4. Decision on the Special Exception Permit filed by Mark Thomas for the purpose of building a home 30’ to the centerline of Pine Road: Motion Kopisch/Drobnik to approve the Special Exception Permit filed by Mark Thomas for the purpose of building a home 30’ to the centerline of Pine Road. Motion carried. 5. 9:05 a.m.: Conditional Use Permit filed by Jess Oczachowski for the purpose of renting a home on a short-term basis on property located within part of the Musser Lake Subdivision, Lot 12, Section 32, Township 38N, Range 2E, Town of Worcester (N9900 Peninsula Drive). Public Hearing opened at 9:05 a.m. Letters of notification were sent. No letters of communication were received in return. No public comment. Public hearing closed at 9:06 a.m. 6. Decision on the Conditional Use Permit filed by Jess Oczachowski for the purpose of renting a home on a short-term basis: Motion Erickson/Kopisch to approve the Conditional Use Permit filed by Jess Oczachowski for the purpose of renting a home on a short-term basis. Motion carried. 7. 9:10 a.m.: Conditional Use Permit filed by Bradley Kmosena for the purpose of renting a home on a short-term basis on property located within part of Government Lot 5 & the SW1/4 SE1/4, Section 13, Township 37N, Range 1W, Town of Elk (N8633 E. Wilson Flwg. Road). Public Hearing opened at 9:10 a.m. Letters of notification were sent. No letters of communication were received in return. No public comment. Public hearing closed at 9:11 a.m. 8. Decision on the Conditional Use Permit filed by Bradley Kmosena for the purpose of renting a home on a short-term basis. Motion Drobnik/Erickson to approve the Conditional Use Permit filed by Bradley Kmosena for the purpose of renting a home on a short-term basis. Motion carried. 9. Land Division filed by Sam Kotke on behalf of Fifield Homestead, LLC to create one lot, Town of Fifield. Motion Kopisch/Drobnick to approve the Land Division filed by Sam Kotke on behalf of Fifield Homestead, LLC to create one lot, Town of Fifield. Motion carried. 10. Land Division filed by Patrick Beil on behalf of Jeffrey Peterson to create two lots, Town of Fifield. Motion Erickson/Kopisch to approve the Land Division filed by Patrick Beil on behalf of Jeffrey Peterson to create two lots, Town of Fifield. Motion carried. * At 9:15 a.m. Hastings was disconnected remotely. 11. Land Division filed by Ryan and Hailey Halmstad to create one lot, Town of Harmony. Motion Drobnik/Erickson to approve the Land Division filed by Ryan and Hailey Halmstad to create one lot, Town of Harmony. Motion carried. 12. Department Reports: January did not have many permits, which is historically the case, and 90% of the permits were involving non-metallic mines / gravel pits, which are due annually in January. 13. Adjourn: The Zoning portion of the meeting was adjourned at 9:19 a.m. by Barkstrom, Committee Chair. Land Conservation 14. Call to Order: The Land Conservation portion of the meeting was called to order at 9:19 a.m. by Barkstrom, Committee Chair. Roll Call: As noted above; Rachel Hoffman was also present remotely. 15. Public Comment and Communications: None. 16. Austin Dodge, USDA Wildlife Services, Northern District, WI a. 2025 Wildlife Damage Claims/Signature: The 2025 Wildlife Damage Claims report was presented and is on file. Chair Barkstrom signed the claims. Motion Kopisch/Drobnik to approve the signature of the 2025 wildlife damage claims. Motion carried. * At 9:23 a.m. Hastings was connected remotely. 17. Resolution Requesting Wisconsin Counties Association Lobby State Legislature and Governor on Legislation for Greater Local Control for Wisconsin Counties (Land Use/UW Extension): Motion Drobnik/Kopisch to approve the Resolution Requesting Wisconsin Counties Association Lobby State Legislature and Governor on Legislation for Greater Local Control for Wisconsin Counties and forward it to the Price County Board of Supervisors for consideration. Discussion held. Motion carried. 18. Department Reports: Discussed updates on Steve Creek at future committee meetings, possibly Forestry. 19. Adjourn: The Land Conservation portion of the meeting was adjourned at 9:37 a.m. by Barkstrom, Committee Chair. Miscellaneous 20. Minutes from December 18, 2025: Motion Kopisch/Erickson to approve the minutes from December 18, 2025. Motion carried. 21. Committee Vouchers: Motion Kopish/Erickson to approve the Land Use / UW-Extension Vouchers in the amounts of $16,716.87 for December 2025; and $195,683.68 for January 2026. Motion carried. 22. Set Next Meeting Date: March 19, 2026. No April meeting, and May 21st meetings will resume. 23. Adjourn: This portion of the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 a.m. by Barkstrom, Committee Chair. UW-Extension 24. Call to order and Roll Call: As noted above; Rachel Hoffman was also present remotely. 25. Public Comment and Communications: None. 26. Quarterly Educator Reports a. 4-H: Julie Diepenbrock, 4-H educator, presented the Price County Quarterly 2025-2026 Report, and it is on file. Updates included Ruthann Rehberg was honored in the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame. Project Saturdays continue to be offered Saturdays monthly including Fabric Stars and Dream Catcher, Cookie Baking and a Patchwork Quilt Bag, Crazy Bowl, as well as Lego Robotics. Market Animal Sale (MAS) allows 4-H members educational learning opportunities throughout the year including the Meat Animal Sale (MAS) Contracts meeting, a Poultry meeting, and a MAS Education session, Swine Educational Program, Rabbit Project meeting, and Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) training. 4-H programming has continued through the YMCA after-school program at Chequamegon Elementary School. Members of 4- H groups Flambeau 4-Leafers’ (Park Falls), Restless Rascals (Phillips) and Wilson Workers (Brantwood) strengthened leadership skills, participated in community activities, practiced public speaking and learned about civic involvement through planning for and participating in group events and meetings. UW-Extension is planning for summer camps, library programs, hiring for a summer intern, and looking forward to fairs. * At 9:42 a.m. Hastings was disconnected remotely. b. New Administrative Support: Price County Extension Program Assistant Nancy Olson was introduced and began work in the fall of 2025. Olson trained in Oneida and Taylor counties. Olson has been working on the website, organizing programming for market animal sales, and coordinated and supported 4-H Email Blast, 4-H Newsletter, and updates to the website and flyers; and managed services addressing horticulture and agriculture inquiries and research; and responded to various County and Extension inquiries. 27. Area Extension Director Updates a. Reality Day/Fair Update: Amber Rehberg, Area Extension Director, has been covering both areas three and four, and there will be an additional director hired to cover area 4. Updates presented on the UW Extension reorganization which was held at the end of 2025. The Price County Reality Fair curriculum and materials are being updated to reach students’ present-day educational needs, and to ensure the practices are applicable. Some of the principles, from the original fair, will remain the same, such as investing, saving and tracking. The Bite of Reality App is an example of an updated practice for students to simulate paying bills instead of using checkbooks. UW Extension partnered with Connexus Credit Union and Phillips High School. The Reality Fair will tentatively be held in Spring. Honorable mention to the Price County Fair Board that brings an educational and entertaining event to the community. Discussion on adding a position like the FoodWise Educator. Federal funding for the position ended in 2025. 28. UW-Extension Financial Reports and Vouchers: Vouchers were approved above. No updates. 29. Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m. by Alan Barkstrom, Committee Chair. Respectfully Submitted by Meredith Hueckman, County Clerk