Board of Supervisors Meeting — Minutes

Minutes of the April 21, 2026 Meeting of the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Sawyer County Courthouse/Virtual Voting Committee Members Present (X) Roll Call Dis tric t Wards Steve Kariainen 01 T Lenroot W-1, T Hayward W-7, C Hayward W-5 Kay Wilson 02 T Lenroot W-2, T Round Lake W-1 Steve Longtine 03 T Hayward W-1 & 2 Stacey Hessel 04 T Hayward W-3 & 4 Randy Neumann 05 T Hayward W-5 & 6 Marc D. Helwig 06 C Hayward W-1 & 2 Jim Miller 07 C Hayward W-3 & 4 Marshal Savitski 08 T Bass Lake W-1 & 2 Jim Evans 09 T Bass Lake W-3 & 4 Chuck Van Etten 10 T Sand Lake, T Edgewater W-1 Jeff Hoehne 11 T Edgewater W-2, T Bass Lake W-5, T Meteor, T Couderay, V Couderay John Righeimer 12 T Spider Lake, T Round Lake W-2, T Winter W-1 Ron Kinsley 13 T Hunter, T Radisson W-1, T-Ojibwa W-1, V Radisson Ron Buckholtz 14 T Radisson W-2, T Ojibwa W-2, T Weirgor, V Exeland, T Meadowbrook John Minto 15 T Winter W-2, T Draper, V Winter Also present: Jay Kozlowski, Greg Peterson, Doug Mrotek, Bryan Deyo, Rachel Thompson, Mike Markgren-virtual Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance– County Clerk Klein serving as Chair pro tempore called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Roll call was taken; quorum was met. Certification of Compliance with the open meeting law was met. Oath of Office—County Clerk Klein performed the swearing in ceremony for the fifteen County Board Supervisors. Election of County Board Chair— Mr. Righeimer nominated Mr. Kinsley for Chair, second by Ms. Hessel. Ms. Wilson nominated Mr. Buckholtz; Mr. Buckholtz declined the nomination. With no further nominations or discussion, the election by secret ballot was made. The ballots were collected and counted by Clerk Klein and Deputy Clerk Bruce; Mr. Kinsley was elected by unanimous vote. Election of County Board Vice Chair-- Mr. Buckholtz nominated himself for Vice Chair, second by Mr. Helwig. Mr. Neumann nominated Mr. Righeimer. Mr. Buckholtz spoke stating his qualifications for the position. Mr. Righeimer spoke and acknowledged Mr. Buckholtz is well qualified but stated he would also be honored to hold the position. With no further nominations or discussion, the election by secret ballot was made. The ballots were collected and counted by Clerk Klein and Deputy Clerk Bruce; Mr. Buckholtz was elected by a majority vote. Chair Kinsley took over for the remainder of the meeting. Meeting Agenda – Set Public Comments – None Minutes from the previous meeting dated: March 19, 2026 Motion to approve by: Mr. Neumann Second by: Mr. Buckholtz Motion carried without negative vote. Motion to set a Special Meeting of the Board of Supervisors for committee appointments and orientation for Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 6:30pm by: Mr. Kariainen Second by: Ms. Wilson Motion carried without negative vote. There will be a WCA District meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at Sevenwinds Casino; Mr. Kinsley encouraged board members to attend. Zoning Committee – Mr. Buckholtz gave the Zoning Committee report: the committee heard 3 Conditional Use Permit cases and 1 rezone. Mr. Kozlowski updated the board on the Solar Ordinance that was approved by the Zoning Committee and sent out to the towns with a 50% approval response. The Ordinance will come before the board for consideration at the May 21 meeting. Zone District Map Amendment RZN #26-006 for James Sokuip & Sydney Ringheim to rezone 3.49 acres in the Town of Bass Lake from A-1 to RR-1 was approved on a motion by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Mr. Savitski Motion carried without negative vote. Public Works Committee— Mr. Neumann updated the Board on April department reports for Maintenance, Airport, and Highway. Motion to approve a utility easement at the Airport by: Mr. Neumann Second by: Mr. Evans Motion carried without negative vote. Mr. Kinsley reported that the Ad-hoc Committee has had productive meetings with Tribal members and lines of communication are open to discuss mutually beneficial issues. The next meeting is scheduled for April 27 and topics will be the tower, funding for the Sheriff’s Department, and the Economic Development Corporation. Public Safety Committee — Mr. Buckholtz reviewed the April Clerk of Courts, Sheriff’s Department, Jail, Emergency Management, Dispatch, Child Support, Code Enforcement and Emergency Services reports for the board. Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee— Mr. Kariainen reviewed the Register of Deeds, Land Records, Surveyor, Forestry, Zoning Conservation and Trails reports. Mr. Peterson presented background on the following three resolutions: Resolution 2026-____Removing Certain County Quit Claim Deed Guarantee From Ramy Seed Company Properties was considered again after being tabled in March. The resolution was approved on a motion by: Mr. Neumann Second by: Mr. Buckholtz Motion carried without negative vote. Resolution 2026-____Minocqua Grading, LLC Claim was approved on a motion by: Mr. Kariainen Second by: Mr. Neumann Motion carried without negative vote. Resolution 2026-____Outdoor Recreational Trail Aids was approved on a motion by: Mr. Evans Second by: Mr. Neumann Motion carried without negative vote. Finance Report - Mr. Righeimer provided an update on county finances and department budgets. Resolution 2026-____ to Designate and Transfer General Fund Balance was approved on a motion by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Mr. Kariainen Motion carried without negative vote. HHS Report— Ms. Wilson reported on the April 6 meeting of the HHS Board and shared reports from LCO, HHS, ADRC and Adult Protective Services, Community Support and Mobile Crisis, Child Protective Services, Youth Justice, Economic Support and Public Health. Of concern is a report that the drug xylazine is becoming a problem at nearby Lac du Flambeau. Economic Development and UW Extension Committee— Mr. Righeimer gave the April Economic Development and UW Extension Committee report. Administration Report— Mr. Kinsley reported that the Administration Committee met and heard reports from the County Clerk, Veterans, IT, and HR departments, and the County Administrator. Appointments to LEPC—The Admin committee recommended a list of the following appointments to the LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee): Group 1: Chief Deputy Bryan Deyo – Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office Group 2: • Warden Nicholas Al-Moghrabi – Wisconsin DNR • Forester/Ranger Brody Fischer –Wisconsin DNR • Chief Susie Taylor – LCO Police Department • Scott Johnson – LCO Public Health • Jay Kozlowski – Sawyer County Zoning Group 3: • Celia Horns – Sawyer County Record • Mark Lundeen – WHSM Radio Group 4: • Gary Hilgendorf – Faith/Spider Lake Church • Aaron Jenneman – GenComm/Radio Group 5: • Cory Sulley – LP Zac Deikonski – Enbridge The appointees were approved and confirmed by the County Board on a motion by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Ms. Hessel Motion carried without negative vote. County Administrator’s Report— Mr. Markgren updated the committee on staff recognition for National Telecommunicators’ Week and Administrative Professionals’ Day, a new Executive Director and LCO requesting removal of their name from the EDC, the upcoming 60th Annual Governor’s Fishing Opener in Sawyer County on Nelson Lake, Finance updates, an AI Forum, a Public Safety radio tower potential build needed in Meadowbrook, the county’s carbon credits entering the market, and his attendance at an Airport conference in Stevens Point. The Veterans Tribute site was razed in two days with excellent work done by JR Construction; two proposed designs will be bid out. CJCC—the Executive Committee is working on updating the bylaws and Justice Point had a recent TAD site visit that went very well. Board Appointed Committee Updates— None Correspondence, Reports from Conferences and Meetings- None Future Agenda Items- County Board Special Meeting Thursday, April 30 at 6:30pm for committee assignments and orientation Meeting Adjourned at 7:26 pm Next meeting: Thursday, April 30, 2026 Time: 6:30pm Location: Board Room Minutes recorded by Liz Klein, County Clerk and Laura Bruce, Deputy County Clerk