Administration Committee — Agenda Packet

1 Sawyer County Administration Committee Meeting Thursday, May 14, 2026 @ 10:00 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/92546130740. You can also use the dial in at 1-312-626-6799with the Webinar ID: 925 4613 0740. 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 Committee. Please adhere to the following when addressing the Committee: • Comments will be limited to 3 minutes or less per individual. • Comments should be directed to the Committee as a whole and not directed to individual Committee members. • The Committee cannot respond to your comments during this time. • Please sign in and fill out a public comment sheet if you wish to speak on an item. 8. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING a. April 9, 2026 Minutes 9. COUNTY CLERK REPORT a. County Clerk Department Report 10. VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE REPORT Page 1 of 14 2 a. Veteran Service Office Report 11. VETERANS TRIBUTE UPDATE a. Project/Bids Update b. Carson Kipfer 12. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REPORT a. IT Report 13. HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT a. Human Resource Report 14. PERSONNEL POLICY MANUAL UPDATES (DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION) 15. RESOLUTION 2026-____TO ADOPT SUPERVISORS POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL (DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION) a. Resolution 2026-____to Adopt Supervisors Policy and Procedure Manual 16. RESOLUTION 2026-____REQUESTING GREATER LOCAL CONTROL FOR WISCONSIN COUNTIES (DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION) a. Resolution 2026-____for Local Control 17. SAWYER COUNTY ADMINISTRATION a. County Administrator's Report 18. BOARD APPOINTED COMMITTEE UPDATES 19. CORRESPONDENCE, REPORTS FROM CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS 20. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 21. NEXT MEETING DATE /TIME: THURSDAY, JUNE 11 AT 10:00AM 22. 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 Page 2 of 14 3 established attendance at this meeting as an official function of the Board or committee(s) or 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. Page 3 of 14 Minutes of the Meeting of the April 9, 2026 Sawyer County Administration Committee of the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Board Room; Sawyer County Voting Committee Members (X) Present: Others Present: Chair: Ron Kinsley Mike Markgren Vice Chair: Ron Buckholtz Liz Klein Tom Duffy Gary Elliot John Righeimer Jay Kozlowski- Virtual Stacey Hessel- Excused Call to Order –Chair Ron Kinsley called the meeting to order at 10:00 am. Certification of Compliance with the open meeting law was met. Roll Call taken; quorum was met. Meeting Agenda – Set Public Comments – Linda Zillmer Minutes from the previous meeting dated: March 12, 2026 Motion to approve by: Mr. Duffy Second by: Mr. Righeimer Motion carried without negative vote. Appointments to LEPC— Motion to approve the recommended appointments to LEPC for confirmation by the County Board by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Mr. Duffy Motion carried without negative vote. County Clerk Report- Ms. Klein provided a written department report and updated the committee on dog license sales, preparations for the April election, PIO training, and letters from students to the County Board. Veterans Service Office Report - Mr. Elliot provided a written report of March department activity: 499 phone calls, 1157 letters/emails/faxes sent and 232 office visits. VSO contacts have been steadily increasing. 48 disability claims have been filed to date with $216,474.66 awarded in Veterans’ favor. The department is co-hosting counseling sessions at La Crosse Vet Center and Coffee & Conversation; the social media report was provided. The department is experiencing increased workload and delays of claims due to federal VA mishandling of claims. Veteran’s Tribute Update- Design/construction update- Mr. Markgren reported that he site is now razed and JR Excavating did a good job. He presented an alternative design for the Tribute with brick or split block wall design. The committee discussed the water supply to the fountain (city water vs. electric pump) and will speak to the city to get a cost comparison. Motion to get bids on Ms. Hessel’s proposed design and Mr. Markgren’s proposed design by: Mr. Righeimer Second: Mr. Buckholtz Motion carried without negative vote. Page 4 of 14 Information Technology Department Report - Mr. Coleson provided a written IT report on ongoing IT projects. Ms. Klein thanked him for IT support on election night and Mr. Markgren concurred that Mr. Coleson and Mr. Butterfield provide excellent service to the staff. Human Resources Report - A written report was provided on staffing and recruiting for open positions within the county. Mr. Markgren noted that the county continues to get good responses and applicants for open positions. Zoning—Solar Moratorium Ordinance Discussion— A discussion on renewing, extending or approving the Zoning Solar Moratorium Ordinance addressed the pending expiration deadline and timeframe to act within notice deadlines of zoning committee and County Board meetings. Mr. Kozlowski stated the towns have the proposed Ordinance with Zoning Committee recommended changes- if more time is needed for town feedback, there is still time to notice and hear the issue in May. County Administrator’s Report—Mr. Markgren reported that Administrative Professionals’ Day is April 22, April 12- 18 is National Telecommunicators’ Week and May 1 is the Governor’s Fishing Opener banquet. The Sawyer County/LCO EDC conducted interviews for an executive director, Finance is working on year-end transfers, the 2025 audit and starting the 2027 Budget process in May. Mr. Markgren attended the Ad-hoc Committee meeting with tribal members, an AI Forum hosted by UW Extension, and will attend a state airport seminar with Derek Leslie April 22-23. The County’s carbon credits are listed for sale on the market now. The Veterans’ Tribute demo is complete, and Justice Point received good feedback from a recent TAD site visit. Board Appointed Committee Updates – Mr. Buckholtz will attend the Namekagon Transit meeting today. Correspondence, reports from conferences and meetings– Mr. Kinsley reported on a successful ad-hoc committee meeting with Tribal members. Future Agenda Items- Elect Chair and Vice Chair, review meeting times Adjournment – 10:53 am Next Meeting: May 14, 2026 Time: 10:00 am Location: Board Room Minutes recorded by Liz Klein, County Clerk Page 5 of 14 County Clerk Department Monthly Report, Ending April 30, 2026 County Clerk Desk Activity/Revenue YTD: Activity Number of Licenses/Permits Total Revenue (including amounts sent to the State of Wisconsin Dog Licenses Late Fees (Retained by County) Donation to Animal Control 36 $385.00 $500.00 Marriage Licenses Clerk (County Retains) = $55/license Mediation = $20/license State = $25/license Waivers = $10/license $225.00 Plat Books Mailing Fee Map GL 218-00-42000 GL 218-00-42001 $60.00 Copies $5.00 General Department Report: Dogs- We are now in the statutory $20 late fee period as of April 1. On June 1 the late fee increases to $30. This late fee is required by statute: we notice it in both papers in January and March. The county retains the late fees. The exception to the late fee is a newly acquired dog within 30 days or a puppy under 5 months. Elections- We have invoiced the towns for shared notice costs and the 13 Reliers for performing their election administration duties. We are still seeing turnover in municipal clerk offices, with three towns moving to appointed clerks at their annual meetings. We are working with Administration and maintenance to finally finish the clerk’s office walls. We need a private place for marriage licenses and better security for the election materials. Page 6 of 14 Page 7 of 14 Page 8 of 14 May 14, 2026 Mike Coleson Sawyer County IT Director Administration Committee IT Department Report Page 1 of 1 _______________________________________________ Agenda items: none Service Requests February Completed 60 Open 12 New requests Department April Tickets Misc 3 Administration 11 Ambulance/Medical Examiner 1 Court 6 District Attorney 1 Health & Human Services 21 IT 2 Land Records/Survey 2 Register of Deeds 1 Sheriff 2 UW Extension 3 Zoning and Conservation 2 TOTAL 53 Tasks completed • Onboarding 4 Terminations 4 • Novus updates o Permit streamlining o TRH modifications for 2026 o Ad Hoc reports for Zoning staff Tasks in progress • Network gear upgrade on Hayward fire tower for Airport, Highway, and Radio network • Mobile Device Management HHS phones upgrade • Ojibwa Ambulance Internet replacement Pending Tasks • Planning for 2027 phone system replacement • Additional surveillance cameras for key Hayward intersections Page 9 of 14 Sawyer County Human Resources May 2026 Report 2026 Turnover 4/6/2026 Brittney Carroll HHS FT 4/8/2026 Desiree Velazquez Sheriff Term 4/8/2026 Nathan Stafford HHS PT 4/13/2026 Bill Wymer Ambulance Term 4/8/2026 Bonnie Tylee Highway FT 4/14/2026 Jessica Murdock ROD Term 4/17/2026 Allison Larson HHS Term 4/20/2026 Tweed Shuman Committees Term 4/20/2026 Dale Magnuson Committees Term 4/20/2026 Tom Duffy Committees Term 4/15/2026 Ashley Stroschine Sheriff FT to PT 4/21/2026 Steve Carroll Maintenance PT 4/21/2026 John Minto Committees PT 4/21/2026 Steve Longtine Committees PT 4/21/2026 Jim Miller Committees PT 4/28/2026 Joan Zecherle HHS Retired 4/30/2026 Melanie Rohloff HHS Term Staffing Snapshot • Vacancies: 7 • Separations: 6 Recruiting for Receptionist for Sheriff’s Office, Resident Assistant at Transitions, Dementia Specialist, Deputy Register of Deeds, 9-1-1 Dispatcher, Sheriff’s Confidential Secretary Hired Adult Long-Term Care Supervisor, PT Maintenance, Deputy Clerk of Court, driver/operator and flaggers at highway Oversee various FMLA and work comp leaves, working with department heads on personnel matters and employee relations Routed proposed changes to the personnel manual via email for your review Page 10 of 14 Resolution No.: 26- ADOPTION OF COUNTY BOARD RULES AS SET FORTH IN THE SUPERVISOR POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL WHEREAS, the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors recognizes the importance of clear, consistent, and transparent governance procedures to ensure the efficient and effective conduct of County business; and WHEREAS, the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Policy and Procedure Manual has been developed to provide guidance, structure, and expectations for members of the County Board in the performance of their official duties; and WHEREAS, the adoption of formal County Board rules promotes accountability, consistency in decision-making, and adherence to best practices in local government operations; and WHEREAS, the Supervisor Policy and Procedure Manual includes provisions governing meeting procedures, conduct of supervisors, committee structure, and other rules necessary for the orderly administration of County Board functions; and WHEREAS, the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors has reviewed the Supervisor Policy and Procedure Manual and finds it to be in the best interest of the County to formally adopt the rules contained therein. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors hereby adopts the County Board rules as set forth in the Supervisor Policy and Procedure Manual; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such rules shall govern the conduct of County Board meetings and related activities unless otherwise superseded by applicable state statutes or subsequent action of the County Board; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Board reserves the right to amend the Supervisor Policy and Procedure Manual and the rules contained therein from time to time as deemed necessary. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage and publication as required by law. Page 11 of 14 This Resolution is recommended for adoption by the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors at its meeting on May 21, 2026, by this Sawyer County Administrative Committee this 14th Day of May, 2026 _______________________________ ___________________________________ Ron Kinsley, Chair Stacey Hessel, Member _______________________________ ___________________________________ Ron Buckholtz, Vice Chair Marshal Savitski, Member ________________________________ John Righeimer, Member ______________________________________________________________________________ This Resolution is hereby adopted by the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors this 21st day of May, 2026. _________________________________ ____________________________________ Ron Kinsley, Chair, Liz Klein, County Clerk Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Page 12 of 14 Resolution No.: 26- RESOLUTION REQUESTING WISCONSIN COUNTIES ASSOCIATION LOBBY STATE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR ON LEGISLATION FOR GREATER LOCAL CONTROL FOR WISCONSIN COUNTIES WHEREAS, local governments in Wisconsin are closest to the people they serve and are best positioned to understand and address the unique needs, priorities, and challenges of their communities; and, WHEREAS, public meetings and hearings held by local units of government allow for significantly more opportunity for public input than meetings and hearings held by the Public Service Commission in Madison; and, WHEREAS, preserving local control is essential to maintaining accountability, transparency, and public trust in government, as well as ensuring that decisions reflect local values and conditions; and, WHEREAS, statewide, one size fits all regulations do not always appropriately address the issues and needs of every Wisconsin community; and, WHEREAS, a series of mandates and other agency actions have continuously shifted powers from the local to the state level; and, WHEREAS, the geographic, environmental, and demographic diversity across Wisconsin counties necessitates localized approaches to governance that reflect each county's unique characteristics; and, WHEREAS, state legislators have been making attempts to return local control to cities, villages and towns over large-scale wind and solar projects in several bills; and WHEREAS, such attempts should also be applied to counties and county boards who are democratically elected bodies that directly represent the interests and values of their constituents; and, WHEREAS, significant negative impacts on environmental habitats, public health, road infrastructure, and property values and taxes due to large-scale wind and solar projects in those areas where they exist are well established and documented; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors hereby requests the Wisconsin Counties Association consider this issue and/or adopt this resolution and lobby the Wisconsin State Legislature and Governor to support any and all efforts and legislation that would give local elected bodies greater control in regulating large scale wind and solar projects to in the best interest of their communities; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Wisconsin Towns Association, all local and state legislators who represent citizens across Sawyer County the Governor, and all county boards in Wisconsin for consideration, support, and action. Page 13 of 14 This Resolution is recommended for adoption by the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors at its meeting on May 21, 2026, by this Sawyer County Administrative Committee this 14th Day of May, 2026 _______________________________ ___________________________________ Ron Kinsley, Chair Stacey Hessel, Member _______________________________ ___________________________________ Ron Buckholtz, Vice Chair Marshal Savitski, Member ________________________________ John Righeimer, Member ______________________________________________________________________________ This Resolution is hereby adopted by the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors this 21st day of May, 2026. _________________________________ ____________________________________ Ron Kinsley, Chair, Liz Klein, County Clerk Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Page 14 of 14