Public Safety Committee — Minutes

Minutes of the March 5, 2026 meeting of the Sawyer County Public Safety Committee of the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors Board Room; Sawyer County Voting Committee Members Present: Others Present: Chair: Ron Buckholtz Mike Markgren Leslie Strapon Vice Chair: Marc Helwig Laura Bruce Kristi Kare Jeff Hoehne Marge Kelsey Marshal Savitski Sheriff Mrotek Jim Evans Nicole Ripczinski Greg Ripczinski Call to Order – Chair Ron Buckholtz called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Roll Call taken. Quorum was met. Certification of Compliance with the open meeting law was met. Meeting Agenda- Set Public Comment – None Minutes from the previous meeting dated: February 5, 2026 Motion to approve made by: Mr. Helwig Second by: Mr. Evans Motion carried without negative vote. Clerk of Courts/Register in Probate Reports - There were no questions of the submitted report. Sheriff’s Department Report – Patrol Report – Mr. Ripczinski reported on the success of the Birkie, gave an update on the 2026 squad cars, and spoke regarding an application for a body cam grant. Jail Report – Sheriff Mrotek reviewed a written jail report for February with arrest data by race and gender. There was an average of 59 inmates incarcerated with a 67% unemployment rate at the time of booking, 1 on electronic monitoring. Sheriff Mrotek spoke regarding an apprehension of a suspect in a missing person case from Rusk County. Dispatch and Emergency Management – Dispatch- Ms. Ripczinski summarized the written reports. She stated there was an error in the submitted CAD numbers on the report. There have been two full time dispatchers hired. Emergency Management- Sheriff Mrotek spoke about the changes in the Birkie over the past twenty years. Code Enforcement- A written report was provided. Child Support Department Report – A written report was provided. Emergency Services— A written report was provided. Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Update – Mr. Markgren reported that CJCC met in February and made changes to improve quorums and JusticePoint received a donation in the amount of $10,000.00. Board Appointed Committee Updates—None. Correspondence, Reports from Conferences and Meetings— None Future Agenda Items – Mr. Buckholtz requested an agenda item be added labeled “Towers.” Meeting Date/Time – The next meeting of the Public Safety Committee will be April 2, at 9:00 am in the Board Room. Meeting adjourned at 9:12 am Minutes recorded by Laura Bruce, County Clerk Deputy