Board of Supervisors Meeting — Minutes

Minutes of the February 19, 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 Tweed Shuman 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 Thomas W. Duffy 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 Dale Magnuson 15 T Winter W-2, T Draper, V Winter Also present: Mike Markgren, Liz Klein, Jay Kozlowski, Doug Mrotek, Bryan Deyo, Lori Baltrusis (virtual), Derek Leslie (virtual), Karl Kemper (virtual), Virginia Chabek (virtual) Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance– Chair Kinsley 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. Meeting Agenda – Set Public Comments – Fred Clark, Linda Zillmer, Scott Wheeler Minutes from the previous meeting dated: January 15, 2026 Motion to approve by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Mr. Magnuson Motion carried without negative vote. Northwood Technical College-- Dr. John Will gave a presentation on the college: it is the largest of 16 tech school districts in the state and offers virtual courses, four campuses and mobile labs. The school provides a variety of two year technical degrees that are easily transferred to four-year schools, with a high success rate of post-degree employment at starting salaries of $56,000 and up. Dr. Will shared information on the college’s role in the Impact 7 HOMES housing project that is being completed at Hwy 27/Hospital Rd., where the school will offer local tech training opportunities in a community building with mobile labs for welding, dental and other degree programs here in Hayward. Appointments— Sawyer County Board of Appeals/Adjustment—The county received letters of interest for two openings on the BOA. Motion to move up Joe Beran to a full member of the BOA for a 3-year term by: Mr. Buckholtz Second by: Mr. Shuman Motion carried without negative vote. Motion to appoint Virginia Chabek as a full member and James Bassett as alternate member of the BOA for 3-year terms by: Ms. Wilson Second by: Mr. Shuman Motion carried without negative vote. Zoning Committee – Mr. Buckholtz reported on Zoning Committee actions on CUPs and rezones; the committee will discuss solar and other ordinance amendments at its next meeting. Aerial technology will be used to identify and enforce zoning violations. Mr. Kozlowski presented three Rezone applications with recommendations from town boards and the Zoning committee. Zone District Map amendment RZN #26-001 for Carter Lang and Cayden Thompson to rezone 5.72 acres in the Town of Meadowbrook from F-1 to A-1 was approved on a motion by: Ms. Hessel Second by: Mr. Helwig Motion carried without negative vote. Zone District Map amendment RZN #26-004 for Stephen and Marisha Schletty to rezone 37.47 acres from F-1 to A-1 in the Town of Meadowbrook was approved on a motion by: Mr. Shuman Second by: Mr. Savitski Motion carried without negative vote. Zone District Map amendment RZN #26-005 for Mathew Winter and Justine Abel to rezone 15.928 acres from RR-2 to Industrial One (I-1) in the Town of Bass Lake was denied on a motion by: Mr. Kariainen Second by: Mr. Evans Motion carried without negative vote. Public Works Committee— Mr. Helwig updated the Board on department reports for Maintenance, Airport, Highway. And the Ad-hoc Committee meeting with Tribal members. Airport Layout Plan—Mr. Kemper from Becche-Hoppe presented a pen and ink amendment to the Airport Layout Plan, showing outlined recommendations for future airport property that could be acquired with 95% FAA funding as part of the pending Airport Master Plan. Motion to approve the recommended ALP amendment by: Mr. Neumann Second by: Mr. Righeimer Motion carried without negative vote. Public Safety Committee — Mr. Buckholtz reviewed the Jail, Code Enforcement, Emergency Management, Dispatch, Child Support, Code Enforcement and Ambulance 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. The USDA APHIS Wildlife Management claims were approved by the committee and do not need to be approved by the board. Mr. Kozlowski presented the Land & Water Resource Management Plan for County Board ratification following its approval by the state: the proposed plan went before the LWFRC committee twice, had a public hearing, suggested changes were made, it was approved by the LWFRC and was well received by the state when presented by Ms. Erler and Mr. Seidl. Motion to approve the Resolution setting forth the Land & Water Resource Management Plan by: Mr. Neumann Second by: Mr. Kariainen Motion carried without negative vote. The 2026 Emergency Fire Wardens list was approved on a motion by: Mr. Helwig Second by: Mr. Neumann Motion carried without negative vote. Finance Report - Mr. Righeimer provided an update on county finances and department budgets. Mr. Markgren presented proposed wages for the upcoming four-year terms for Clerk of Court and Sheriff. Resolution 2026-____ to Establish Elected Official Wages was approved on a motion by: Mr. Helwig Second by: Mr. Evans Motion carried without negative vote. HHS Report— Ms. Wilson reported on the February 10 meeting of the HHS Board. Motion to confirm the appointment of Pam Mueller to the HHS Board by: Ms. Wilson Second by: Mr. Hoehne Motion carried without negative vote. Economic Development and UW Extension Committee— Mr. Righeimer gave the Economic Development and UW Extension Committee report. The Forestry Revitalization Act passed in the state assembly and will go to the senate for a vote; if passed and built in Hayward, the economic benefit to the county would be great. 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. The Veterans Tribute is moving forward. Resolution 2026-___ to Establish Membership with MS-ISAC was presented by Mr. Markgren. This is an internet security program that was federally funded prior to cuts; counties are asking the state to fund the program. Motion to approve Resolution 2026____by: Mr. Righeimer Second by: Mr. Buckholtz Motion carried without negative vote. Mr. Markgren shared feedback on the staff Wellness In-service day, recent work with Adam Lamoureaux, status of financials, and updates on the WOJB radio tower. CJCC met on February 11—Mr. Markgren presented changes to CJCC Bylaws that require board approval. Motion to approve the amendments to the CJCC Bylaws by: Mr. Helwig Second by: Mr. Savitski Motion carried without negative vote. Mr. Markgren presented a request by Namekagon Transit for permission to build a grant-funded garage on County owned property: the building would be an addition to the north side of the transit building and would not interfere with fair parking or future Highway Dept. expansion or increase the county’s insurance. Motion to approve the garage building by: Mr. Helwig Second by: Mr. Righeimer Motion carried without negative vote. Mr. Markgren presented the Strategic Plan to the Board for discussion and final approval: the document is not static, it is designed to be utilized by staff for continuous improvement. Motion to approve the Strategic Plan as presented by: Mr. Righeimer Second by: Mr. Magnuson Motion carried without negative vote. Board Appointed Committee Updates— None Correspondence, Reports from Conferences and Meetings- Mr. Buckholtz reported on Namekagon Transit and the Senior Resource Center has two open board positions Future Agenda Items- None Meeting Adjourned at 8:13 pm Next meeting: Thursday, March 19, 2026 Time: 6:30pm Location: Board Room Minutes recorded by Liz Klein, County Clerk