[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_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",6231208,"mediaKeyId","3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4","parentId",3434854,"title","Sauk County Institute of Leadership graduates 26th class; program emphasizes connection and community resilience","audioSeconds",1004,"startMs",473000,"endMs",1477000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4&start=473&end=1477","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4/thumbnail_473000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6231208/Sauk-County/Wisconsin/Sauk-County-Institute-of-Leadership-graduates-26th-class-program-emphasizes-connection-and-community-resilience","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231208-fcb32457e95fb9cd2504e91f89f2beab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196011&Signature=IOZLtSg7rfrfSKlbVw-qp85nVUABIBXkwrbZGMDuyMHB9QaDS-tIu53N89ZAyD9DzQt~JdpdWBnFmsx8HKFeAcYjBfmXFcSfFULNH5TecsIp-80W8KFAtDCOTGzs3oTlZURCPy01j87TsLYNGZJQSYLfDMkKUMZa~ku9t5T-~Da1gK5Zp~JN2dQSWYVMJ7ADsAYRwXzIuyOdmWTB4h9mXqox0gKvsxn2DtEqy6oPUcfhb2G-yqc-zTydOVJHPkaJ9DpIX8EnS5c84J26CRPVWFOK73QGTA2BlTTtSesC0NOWYJRJSuB3ZXSZm7DGynjSgMcVD9oe24NgfsURN9HeIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","WI / Sauk County ","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","Morgan McArthur, a community development educator with UW–Madison Extension in Sauk County, presented the Sauk County Institute of Leadership’s graduating class and accepted the group at Wednesday’s county board meeting.

McArthur described the program—known as SCIL or Skill—as a nine-month leadership development series that has run since the late 1990s and is now in its 26th year. “The secret I think is simple. It's connecting,” McArthur said, explaining the program’s focus on self-awareness, inter-personal leadership and civic connection. He noted the program meets around the county, draws community leaders to sessions, and highlights nonprofit governance and local business culture through guest speakers.

Ben Gruber, a conservation warden assigned to Devil’s Lake and this year’s class speaker, described the program as a place to build leadership skills and community resilience. “One of the immeasurable things that came out of this program is an increased resiliency,” Gruber said, describing how the connections and training help communities respond to emergencies and long-term stresses.

McArthur introduced this year’s participants and said the program was full by mid-March with a wait list. The board also learned that the SCIL board selected Marietta Reuter of Sauk Prairie for the 2025 Skill Leadership Award; McArthur said the award recognizes a person whose sustained leadership has benefitted the county. The award presentation was scheduled later the same evening.

Why it matters: SCIL is a county-supported leadership pipeline that county officials described as strengthening civic engagement and cross-sector collaboration. The board acknowledged the program’s volunteers and venue hosts and congratulated the graduates.

No board action was required for the presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sauk County Board of Supervisors May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Morgan McArthur of UW–Madison Extension presented the Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) graduates; speaker Ben Gruber described personal growth and community resiliency; Marietta Reuter received the 2025 leadership award.","taxTitle","Sauk County, Wisconsin","taxId",63710,"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},6231213,"Board approves purchase of two vehicles for ADRC transportation program using DOT trust funds",100,2009000,2109000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4&start=2009&end=2109","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4/thumbnail_2009000.jpg","/articles/6231213/Sauk-County/Wisconsin/Board-approves-purchase-of-two-vehicles-for-ADRC-transportation-program-using-DOT-trust-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231213-8f0d4797e9619f42e676a7fcaf3b8d77/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196011&Signature=bxljLM575G4tWL~hkwX6xhVm-bG4FxUahwbFBB5JyWXEjk2BVVitUxPr-zzc7-m5elVBUg0O7yq9BjsmYGFhvoAjv4kwLhunsbEMIrse3Y1LFnhZC1QB-ZMqJfYP5D~Lv8EJU~hwdVMQRqpTTyDaTpVs~7WhnrAPf7mPSzZmXDaWu8REjSJBqJSLrXtZ~j00WeIpfkIjFtLxFnchJVkZQNKTw4Z5hBYUzN-hFHYvRFgPA9eEDVDM-dXZxXel9lmy4ZCfXVBLTpnMNWYqPBhnTHR4hWYLGDfiuM1fblVaxyE30ZK52c3mNxEZ7Wb6KYoV~46VdDcMJxWmmPkX~YQF4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sauk County supervisors voted to purchase two vehicles for the county’s Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) transportation program and to amend the 2025 budget to use Department of Transportation (DOT) trust-fund dollars for the purchases.

Supervisor Polivka said rising ride demand drove the request and that the county has $119,649 in the DOT trust fund. “The county cannot have or is not allowed to have more than $80,000 or we have to refund it to the state,” Polivka said, and added the vehicle purchases would draw down the trust fund to a total of $103,730 as presented in the packet. The resolution required a two-thirds majority and passed; the board recorded 26 votes in favor.

Why it matters: the county uses DOT trust funds to support transportation services for older adults and people with disabilities; the purchases are intended to meet increased demand in the ADRC program. County staff noted that failing to spend amounts above the state threshold would require refunding excess trust-fund dollars to the state.

Actions and financing: the resolution (Resolution 28) authorized the vehicle purchases and a budget amendment using DOT trust-fund balances; supervisors approved the measure with the two-thirds vote required for budget amendments. County staff will proceed with vehicle procurement and add the vehicles to the ADRC fleet.","Sauk County authorized buying two vehicles for the ADRC transportation program and amended the 2025 budget to use money in the DOT trust fund; vote required two-thirds and passed.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6231218,"Sauk County board approves new electronic voting equipment to replace decade-old machines",0,4584000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4&start=4584&end=4584","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4/thumbnail_4584000.jpg","/articles/6231218/Sauk-County/Wisconsin/Sauk-County-board-approves-new-electronic-voting-equipment-to-replace-decade-old-machines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231218-03c7e787fc9833fc621ff8719b0c520f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196011&Signature=S7YMfeeL68h1surOTaHScLU9xJMFUawAV-jFea7sNREJwsvUVhKmLnx5vUvXLJUkZVqpZ256ntBqmzBRW6Hqtb8-fwHscsHi9QDZSLusGIjrjKx1LI9QTpFtPFg4TiC5~Yo1yCdCzw23fmflfn1ihKqcesJSz4Ax9NupZyVrO5JduxW3cgWH~oBWVmIEt7qoUkSlQA-RjpRn230YQXqdgaApzSCn58bJE8iq04pUJkDyxz6fLAEjR8fI7O-KdS9yNubiNE0zU3mexibvWpBPzkogKfXYyeQeZCpYky1runGRIDoXpzv914Dq-LEmjEY7pbOCstyYTJ2gFua1Fs9Pyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sauk County supervisors voted to authorize purchase of new electronic voting equipment, including DS200 style tabulators and accessible voting units, replacing machines the county has used for about a decade.

Supporters said the county’s current equipment is 10 years old and procurement now would allow newly elected municipal clerks to train on the newer systems rather than learning legacy machines and retraining a year later. “The current election equipment in the county is 10 years old… it would be beneficial for [new clerks] to learn new equipment instead of learning on the old equipment,” Supervisor Carver said.

Opponents cited security and auditing concerns about electronic tabulators. “I really believe that we should be voting on one day and I believe that we should be voting with ballots that are counted… that are hand counted,” Supervisor Pepper said, expressing a preference for hand counting and saying she did not trust electronic machines. The county clerk clarified that the equipment being purchased tabulates ballots but precincts remain required to conduct required post-election checks and to maintain hand tallies for reconciliation.

The resolution authorizing the purchase passed by recorded vote, 23 in favor, 3 opposed, with 4 supervisors excused. County staff said the vendor currently used (Election Systems & Software) provided a quote and that using the incumbent vendor reduces transition costs because some existing components remain compatible.

Next steps: the county will proceed with procurement and schedule training for municipal clerks and election workers; equipment purchases will be built into next year’s budget cycle per staff notes.","Supervisors approved purchase of new voting and accessible ballot-tabulation machines to replace 10-year-old equipment, citing training benefits for newly elected municipal clerks; vote was 23–3.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6231223,"Sauk County approves new space-needs study, will re-evaluate courts and Quartz buildings",1083,4131000,5214000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4&start=4131&end=5214","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4/thumbnail_4131000.jpg","/articles/6231223/Sauk-County/Wisconsin/Sauk-County-approves-new-space-needs-study-will-re-evaluate-courts-and-Quartz-buildings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231223-70a3224b0734e3efbf56b5fbf7b67bb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196011&Signature=cme2hJJok3AasrMQzocp9pOkGHmBAp59R~m845bxQVDg6vNZJwdWLOcr4SZvYD1k0YNQa3hs~WhXX9GlEqAXqc8T5Jfcqkcl-h5cPMW6FTrtB59cX7pHUfuyqgBgVVwz1CfcPcOfTyJIOar3TOseMJjD1FPq~mTv3eWXco2qESpLtrjRWJ1Dejpv5pmv2OFKPw72eQ8mVHD2dG5evzg8K~sP2zCv8tgFFSFAm0QpOZLDeFH4~9-eg3nvRn1mhQN6JP5Vl1kEgjbTjY5DgtYvV8MGSUUcxHs5q29TdZeOocBYCfyKG-SjxAtOJieYwrxFVnddkAyDq~814InR5ttqyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sauk County supervisors voted to hire Strang Incorporated to refresh the county’s 2019 space-needs study and to evaluate the courts building and a nearby facility known as the Quartz building as potential county space.

The contract authorizes an updated assessment of department footprints, shared-office “hoteling” options and whether county services should be relocated or consolidated. Ian, a county facilities staff member who described the work to the board, said Strang is already familiar with the earlier study and can update the analysis faster and at lower cost than a new firm. “Going with Strang is probably our cheapest and best route to go because they're already familiar with everything,” Ian said.

Why it matters: the county in 2019 identified additional space needs; since then departments and technology changes — and the COVID pandemic — have altered space use. The courts building has been marketed in recent months and county staff said the Quartz property includes about eight acres and roughly 38,000 square feet; asking prices mentioned in discussion have varied, and at one point the courts building was cited as listed near $7 million before reductions to about $4 million.

During discussion supervisors asked whether the study would assess different facility types and whether campus properties already owned by the county (including parcel(s) at UW–Baraboo campus) could accommodate departments. Ian and other staff said Strang would interview department heads about current and projected needs, lay out proposed square-foot plans, and examine alternate sites. The measure passed by roll call, 25 in favor and 1 opposed; five supervisors were excused.

Next steps: Strang will collect department input, reassess current space allocations and return recommendations on whether to pursue courthouse expansion, repurpose existing buildings or consider other properties. County staff said the study should clarify whether the county should pursue the courts building while it remains available or decline and consider other options.

Board action recorded: Resolution to contract with Strang Incorporated to revisit the 2019 space-needs study and evaluate the courts building for county functions, approved 25–1.","The board contracted Strang Inc. to update a 2019 space-needs study and evaluate the courts building and a nearby Quartz building for county use; vote was 25–1 in favor.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6231228,"Sauk County board reconfirms lawyers’ authority in opioid suits, commits settlement funds to matched treatment grant",166,2141000,2307000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4&start=2141&end=2307","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3434854-b3f9415bded34a50ac8620eb893038f4/thumbnail_2141000.jpg","/articles/6231228/Sauk-County/Wisconsin/Sauk-County-board-reconfirms-lawyers-authority-in-opioid-suits-commits-settlement-funds-to-matched-treatment-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231228-7f03a0488cbb090351d92796c2ace308/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196011&Signature=Qf8PFkrmIW8G6l5tYzEdbutXzdhzIdM6oBq-SK3-74jjiqkr-tIB3qfo4MrAbXCkOlR4Sz7gsPphgpuCft2oAzAISx4LuT5FgqVFS22kIusAlZJQ8BbP9BjCOR1u9uF9dJ1XWMDhwz4FvhDZlgyDs0UbOQ0y0TdwoAwdCEHGx61l59MDDodDY1gqWkZx4LrXo2RxaTQl~HZ1jdWwLe2KlLXhuM1MWg0de1tef2nt1Kt0h80Zv3pFhw3z8uSd2GDPkQKcfimFNXHdakq7~z~PvIyV5xQI81Hdbi14j9spWGauaFKo9xTLwN~bVB0NtGwcdZaGYXAxvgnqUM2e9nPzPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sauk County Board on Wednesday voted to reaffirm its corporate counsel’s authority to add additional defendants to ongoing opioid litigation, addressing a claim from pharmacy-benefit manager OptumRx, and later approved using county opioid settlement funds as a $100,000 match for an outside treatment grant.

The confirmation resolution, described by corporate counsel as a clarification tied to a late claim by OptumRx, was adopted after discussion and a roll-call vote. “Basically what we’re doing is saying, we did allow for this initially, and if we didn’t we allow for it now,” counsel said during the meeting, summarizing counsel’s view of the county’s authorization. The board approved the resolution to confirm counsel’s authority in multi-district litigation MDL 2804 by recorded vote (16 in favor, 9 opposed, 1 abstention, 4 excused).

Why it matters: counsel said the clarification responds to OptumRx’s notice that the county’s earlier authorization did not explicitly authorize adding pharmacy-benefit managers as defendants. Board action preserves the county’s participation while legal teams address OptumRx’s claim. County officials also said prior litigation settlements have already delivered money to the county and that those funds have been used for opioid-related public health purposes.

County leaders said the board has received settlement proceeds to date. “We currently have 1,700,000.0. And that includes interest,” a county official said during the meeting, adding the county spent just under $50,000 on opioid-related public-health work in 2024 and budgeted roughly $120,000 for 2025. The board later approved a separate resolution (Resolution 33) to commit $100,000 of county opioid settlement funds as a local match to a one-year $100,000 grant for treatment and prevention programs; that motion passed 23–2.

Board members who opposed extending authority to add defendants urged caution. “We are poking the bear here,” Supervisor Pepper said, explaining a vote against adding more defendants. Pepper warned of potential indirect consequences for drug prices and questioned whether prescription opioids or illegal imports were driving local overdoses. Other supervisors said the county has used prior settlement money for Narcan, testing strips and other public-health interventions; a county staffer confirmed spending must follow the limits spelled out in the original settlement’s Exhibit E and that funds must be used for opioid-related programs.

Actions and next steps: the county’s corporate counsel will proceed with litigation steps under the board’s confirmed authorization. Separately, the health department was authorized to use $100,000 in opioid settlement funds as a required local match for the one-year grant; officials said the grant’s rules further restrict eligible uses but will allow the county to double the program dollars for approved treatment and prevention activities. County staff said the grant will not fund a sober living facility under its terms, but will support items such as Narcan distribution, staff time for treatment coordination and other opioid-response work.

The meeting packet identified the litigation as part of multi-district litigation MDL 2804; the board’s action was described as a confirmation and ratification of counsel’s authority to add defendants and to continue with civil litigation steps as advised by counsel. No settlement with OptumRx has been reported at the meeting; counsel said OptumRx’s notice seeks removal from the lawsuit unless authorized.","The Sauk County Board voted to confirm its counsel’s authority to add defendants in statewide opioid litigation after a claim from OptumRx, and separately approved committing $100,000 in county opioid settlement funds to match an outside $100,000 treatment grant.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sauk County Institute of Leadership graduates 26th class; program emphasizes connection and community resilience

Board approves purchase of two vehicles for ADRC transportation program using DOT trust funds

Sauk County board approves new electronic voting equipment to replace decade-old machines

Sauk County approves new space-needs study, will re-evaluate courts and Quartz buildings

Sauk County board reconfirms lawyers’ authority in opioid suits, commits settlement funds to matched treatment grant