[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6316507,"mediaKeyId","2376697-c19de6112b2732e2e7e74f6bba61ddfb","parentId",2376697,"title","Votes at a glance: Sawyer County Board actions Feb. 20 include radio system, temporary bridge, animal control change and broadband endorsement","audioSeconds",1284,"startMs",3914000,"endMs",5198000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2376697-c19de6112b2732e2e7e74f6bba61ddfb&start=3914&end=5198","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2376697-c19de6112b2732e2e7e74f6bba61ddfb/thumbnail_3914000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6316507/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Sawyer-County-Board-actions-Feb-20-include-radio-system-temporary-bridge-animal-control-change-and-broadband-endorsement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316507-43dc5ee47b9d3a15c5407d8c1a10d19f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773737258&Signature=fgEUpTlIQ63Av9WnucFop3Jcb5I3KxRebO6q~TTveDVHYQZf7Mb7gSEMKO9qFwujTgz4BhzCuWspDaq-9kodesd-LY1aohDpmXwqYoqcHhizNs25rzfsM6me8vE9WZnW8Cix-ENf22uaorNGD2zkbabYMz4zzvNCcUsmraklf7OHe4Dhfyxi4m~K4L4uhftIeeJ-sLImtZujV0t2UZJXJss0Wmhq7xP0CsoAY5IXtxyUNuU1-YN0ZrMWHm24sEdBNwtzLxM~a1KqGNw7ixAbi5kQeMtZ~4-p~O5LYEsSqrVOPR~kCqRl7cjgpACgNg5eKArgIWNo4jOKuWIiJZcL3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sawyer County, WI","date","2025-02-21T02:53:32Z","article","The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors recorded multiple formal actions at its Feb. 20 meeting. Major votes and outcomes are summarized below; motions were generally adopted by voice vote unless otherwise noted.

Key outcomes

- Rezone case 25‑001 (land swap in Town of Hayward): Approved. Motion to approve was made by Supervisor Sessel, seconded by Supervisor Savinski; zoning committee and town planning commission had recommended approval.

- Rezone case 25‑003 (Strau(b)el/Straybill equipment repair rezone in Town of Hayward): Denied. Motion to deny (per Town of Hayward resolution of disapproval) carried; county counsel advised the board not to approve while the town resolution was in effect.

- Appointment: Dale Magnuson appointed county board supervisor for District 15. Motion to approve carried by voice vote; Magnuson was sworn in and assigned committee seats including Zoning and Land, Water & Forestry.

- Highway commissioner reappointment and ordinance establishing term: The board reappointed the incumbent county highway commissioner to a new term and adopted an ordinance establishing the county’s process and a term structure for the highway commissioner position (retroactive appointment dated 01/01/2025). Motion carried.

- Public safety radio system improvements: The board approved proceeding with a contract engagement with GenComm to advance design and procurement for public safety radio system improvements. Staff reported an initial design estimate of $2,825,000; the board approved moving forward with GenComm contract work and directed staff to return within about two months with final budget and design details.

- Temporary bridge purchase (Town of Winter): The board approved allocating $85,000 from county forest surplus stumpage revenue to acquire a used temporary bridge (14 ft by 60 ft, two sections) located in Pennsylvania, to be delivered and installed to restore access over the Thornapple River; the county will retain ownership for future reuse. Motion carried.

- Animal control ordinance amendment (domestic cats): The board adopted proposed ordinance language removing domestic/stray cats from the county animal control ordinance. The public safety committee and county counsel had recommended the change; the board approved the ordinance on voice vote.

- BEAD broadband endorsement: The board approved a county endorsement for Bertram Communications to apply for federal BEAD funds for specified towns (specific towns listed in county packet). Committee members noted endorsements are town‑level and that the county endorsement does not constrain where providers may deploy service if they obtain BEAD funding.

- Library planning committee and county library plan: The board adopted a resolution establishing a county library planning committee (statutorily required under ch. 43) and approved appointments to that committee to complete the five‑year county library plan process.

Procedure notes and follow up

Most motions were carried by voice vote and recorded as “motion carries.” Several items require staff follow up: final design and budget for the radio project, bridge procurement and installation scheduling, transmitting the lake‑district statute resolution to legislators, and notifying the applicant for rezone 25‑003 of the denial and filing limits.

Detailed action list (motions, movers/seconds, outcome notes)

- Approve rezone 25‑001 (motion: Sessel; second: Savinski) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Deny rezone 25‑003 per town resolution (motion: Buckles; second: Newman) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve appointment of Dale Magnuson, District 15 (motion: Buckle; second: Tessel) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Reappoint highway commissioner and adopt ordinance establishing term (motion: Bennett; second: Newman) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Proceed with public safety radio system improvements and contract engagement with GenComm (motion: Vogt; second: Evans) — outcome: approved (voice vote); staff to return with final budget (~$2.825M design estimate).
- Allocate $85,000 from county forest surplus for purchase of temporary bridge to assist Town of Winter (motion: Buckle; second: Haney) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Adopt animal control ordinance amendment removing domestic cats (motion: Sessel; second: Haney) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve BEAD endorsement for Bertram Communications for specific towns (motion: Buckles; second: Rickenheimer) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Adopt resolution establishing county library planning committee and approve appointments (motion: Evans; second: Newman) — outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Other committee appointments and housekeeping motions: approved as listed in the official minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Board February 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 20 approved a package of actions including proceeding with a public safety radio upgrade, buying a temporary bridge for the Town of Winter, changing the animal control ordinance, and endorsing a broadband application; the board also handled rezone cases and appointments.","taxTitle","Sawyer County, Wisconsin","taxId",73055,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6316513,"Sawyer County board asks state to revise lake-district law as residents debate Callahan Mud Lake proposal",6264,306000,6570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2376697-c19de6112b2732e2e7e74f6bba61ddfb&start=306&end=6570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2376697-c19de6112b2732e2e7e74f6bba61ddfb/thumbnail_306000.jpg","/articles/6316513/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Sawyer-County-board-asks-state-to-revise-lake-district-law-as-residents-debate-Callahan-Mud-Lake-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316513-7cbf5169570b8ed6d2158b5af507f30b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773737258&Signature=MNT9C2JmAj68cEAYtyoNEoLJW9fElZXddEtvOjf-bkO~oHdJw4zfPIOWNtk1SOFnschSb2nQkl9JOpxhIYDFeJPZEYgI3Nl7VHdY~T8dyTf2bz7cpz4ppJKP1JbCONy7CzTSWtIGRqjx6P8c0YwkwinPEzKH50pAWol8qalhXQ2NrhrQIVT~ANvilxNkdilRAyqPLBhiyVbmzI8AXhVS~xb1cpiBUmAWHN~GRP63ZznDgEyl87ePIDhAlBT-M2h7oKmkfqNXrHSydL9PkbkGjg7a3bdJm~IplksmNbGnrMbz3R5GfHXp-Epi~ErL8YQAdLdiU1WL~Fz2riOQI9XicA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sawyer County Board on Feb. 20 approved a resolution asking the Wisconsin Legislature to amend Chapter 33—current law governing inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts—to give approving bodies authority to add conditions, set time limits and require reauthorization or monitoring of lake districts.

The vote came after a string of public comments both supporting and opposing the proposed Callahan Mud Lake District and a series of questions from supervisors and staff about long‑term oversight, taxation and dam ownership.

Several residents who signed a petition supporting the proposed district spoke to the board. Holly Robbins, who said she represented petition signers, noted that the county and the Town of Round Lake would have permanent voting seats on the Lake District board and told supervisors that “62% — a clear and broad majority” of local property owners had asked for the district. Robbins urged the board to follow the statutory criteria in reviewing the petition.

Other speakers pressed the board for more scrutiny. Tom Murray read historical dam inspection correspondence dating back about 70 years and described repeated ad hoc repairs to the Callahan Lake dam; he said the dam had been listed for abandonment in 1990 and that the town had disclaimed ownership in 1992. Murray told the board he opposed formation of the district in its current boundaries and asked the county to detach his property and nine others if the district were approved.

Natalie Lilleblad and other non‑riparian property owners spoke against automatic inclusion, saying they did not want to be assessed for lake work that they said did not benefit them. Lilleblad, who identified herself as a real estate professional, said adding taxes to non‑lake properties would stigmatize them and depress resale value.

County staff and supervisors framed the resolution as a request to the Legislature to add tools for local oversight. Administrator Andy Alvarado and committee members said the intent was not to directly alter any pending petition but to ask lawmakers to consider changes so future districts could be created with conditions such as a sunset clause, reauthorization requirement, or continued review by the approving unit.

A motion to adopt the resolution passed on a voice vote. Board members who spoke during the discussion described the request as a long‑term legislative reform effort rather than an immediate change to the Callahan Mud Lake petition process.

The resolution asks that the county distribute the adopted position to surrounding counties, state legislators representing Sawyer County and the Wisconsin Counties Association. The board scheduled further discussion of the Callahan Mud Lake petition and related land‑water committee work for a future meeting.","After extensive public comments for and against forming a Callahan Mud Lake District, the Sawyer County Board approved a resolution asking the Wisconsin Legislature to allow counties and towns to place conditions and time limits on lake districts; residents raised concerns about taxation, representation and a deteriorating dam.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6316515,"Sawyer County board denies Hayward-area rezone after town files formal disapproval",3409,67000,3476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2376697-c19de6112b2732e2e7e74f6bba61ddfb&start=67&end=3476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2376697-c19de6112b2732e2e7e74f6bba61ddfb/thumbnail_67000.jpg","/articles/6316515/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Sawyer-County-board-denies-Hayward-area-rezone-after-town-files-formal-disapproval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316515-b084be035f553e6bebd29fd958da024b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773737258&Signature=id0Kmv~AUGBd5RLv9oigWxsuKYXL7-xMQs6nttCjFiCkquxIvsHnT6EOQPSLFtkjY-DK18M~hMyT1Idq6k0cPWzC4feTxwjn7U7QjCcfdBzuCOGvLzKRoPvhDo3E63uACrfrUWa9QOwSYcrAH0LHg09bDgJq~5oFyMavqHq9nkQZPFAmPWaLOmsBzaBxy~Q4vnjRkljplyvPdCFRcwqt6jWdPN1dLBSQYxOxoqmh6TLaGGdo0lsJvlA59iyYATNi7jW5FKWxTRgrFw9s7Xl0qY6PoVxbGBhft9pJuI-bJGI2jZgJLD~CdlQgRaLq4l4i~9YzN-2dCLEYncjMqxNyPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 20 denied a request to rezone a 1.25-acre parcel in the Town of Hayward from Residential-1 to Commercial-1 that the applicant said would host an equipment repair business.

The denial followed public comments from nearby residents and a Town of Hayward resolution of disapproval filed under Wisconsin Statutes, and legal counsel advised the county not to approve the rezone once the town submitted that resolution.

The rezone request, listed in the county packet as case 25-003 (owner name shown as William Ashley Straubill/Straybill in zoning documents), sought to change zoning to allow an equipment repair shop. County zoning staff reported the parcel lies along Highway 27, is 1.25 acres, and that the town’s comprehensive plan shows the site as future commercial. The Sawyer County Zoning Committee recommended approval 3–2; the Town of Hayward recommended denial 3–2 and later submitted a resolution of disapproval to the county clerk pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 59.69(5)(e)(3).

Residents who spoke at the county meeting urged denial. Scott Schultz, a neighbor who spoke during public comments, said the proposal amounted to “spot zoning” and raised air, noise and traffic concerns, saying diesel exhaust “is a carcinogen” and that trucks would create noise and access problems for adjacent properties. Schultz told the board the Town of Hayward had twice voted against the rezone and urged the county to honor the town’s decision.

The applicant, who identified himself as Will Scribe, said he intends to operate a small one-person business offering mobile and in-shop repairs and that he had engineering input and a driveway permit from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Scribe said he had submitted 16 letters of support and argued the request aligned with the town comprehensive plan’s designation for Highway 27.

County legal counsel advised supervisors that because the town filed its resolution of disapproval—albeit after the county zoning committee had acted—the statute’s legal effect is to remove the county’s jurisdiction to approve the rezone. The county’s counsel and county staff summarized the statutory procedure and recommended the board not approve the rezone.

Supervisor Buckles moved to adopt a resolution denying the rezone in accordance with the town’s disapproval; the motion was seconded and carried on voice vote.

The county’s zoning packet notes two mailed objections from adjacent property owners and additional objections heard at the public hearing. Zoning staff also noted that the nearest C-1 zoned property in the town of Hayward lies roughly 1,800 feet north of the parcel and that only limited C-1 zoning exists in the immediate area.

Under county zoning ordinance procedure the applicant may not return to the county for 12 months from the date of the public hearing; county staff referenced that provision while answering board questions.

The county action closes this phase of the rezone process; the applicant may seek other administrative or town-level avenues in the future, subject to the timelines and limits in county zoning rules.","The Sawyer County Board voted to deny a request to rezone a 1.25-acre parcel in the Town of Hayward from Residential-1 to Commercial-1 for an equipment repair business after the town board filed a statutory resolution of disapproval; public comment and legal staff analysis featured prominently in the debate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Sawyer County Board actions Feb. 20 include radio system, temporary bridge, animal control change and broadband endorsement

Sawyer County board asks state to revise lake-district law as residents debate Callahan Mud Lake proposal

Sawyer County board denies Hayward-area rezone after town files formal disapproval