[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"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","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86,98],{"_32":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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6501760,"mediaKeyId","5785557-44cc7c119f1589fcef488fb95f938beb","parentId",5785557,"title","Votes at a glance: Barron County Board approves zoning change, farmland plan update, ETF resolution and appointments","audioSeconds",1298,"startMs",2034000,"endMs",3332000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785557-44cc7c119f1589fcef488fb95f938beb&start=2034&end=3332","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785557-44cc7c119f1589fcef488fb95f938beb/thumbnail_2034000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6501760/Barron-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Barron-County-Board-approves-zoning-change-farmland-plan-update-ETF-resolution-and-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501760-e8b47e4b688541e7cdfd9d7b32ba9f98/orig.mp4?Expires=1770117074&Signature=KAaMWKOg2J2du4OgYi6xqJi-mxjhWz4uu9pxTFynklqUdSVIKfDbaI0i3xvX4KcLrc9AYBi8dBPQwaJw8LBppTSZYwR4-ujIRRP69Tx-y73pFSVSHXrpFCpqxLbq3nXN~lV2YV-h29Ueq-Rx-wzF-lilMvEwwYRdtuRt7fy8KapcvYdd8Poj~F76LKHOPQLusiTubLk-dn0vX~Xguc7i8UWYo6kowHunqRIRoBzRmD~fwv2ZXTBRfEfjM0GjVdu6SY1yTvodDgvp6vmZW-rV-wgK8~qKeQ5GF5e3pKNxE4XjMK27QEVaQtgYiumZ8alXNIVGBjhrMLEkcLKJY~4aaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Barron County, WI","date","2025-09-16T04:45:04.173Z","article","The Barron County Board of Supervisors recorded several formal votes during its Sept. 15 meeting. Below are the items the board voted on and the official outcomes as recorded in the meeting.

• Approve meeting agenda — Motion by Supervisor Cook; second by Supervisor Bob Anderson. Vote: 25 yes, 4 absent (approved).

• Approve minutes of Aug. 18, 2025 meeting — Motion by Supervisor Heller; second by Supervisor Olson. Vote: 25 yes, 4 absent (approved).

• Zoning ordinance amendment: Rezoning in the Town of Cedar Lake (applicants Laura L. and Daniel P. Ekstrom) — Motion by Supervisor Cook; second by Supervisor Heller. Vote: 25 yes, 4 absent (approved). Specific ordinance text and rezoned classification were not specified on the meeting audio.

• Resolution 2025 — Barron County Farmland Preservation Plan Update — Motion by Supervisor Gore; second by Supervisor Rogers. Vote: 25 yes, 4 absent (approved).

• Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Fund (ETF) resolution to continue inclusion under the income-continuation insurance plan (no cost to the county while ETF premium holiday remains) — Motion by Supervisor Banks; second by Supervisor Heller. Vote: 25 yes, 4 absent (approved).

• Appointments: Four committee appointments to replace seats held by Bernell Hansen (appointee Tim Pletz named) — Motion by Supervisor Olson; second by Supervisor Moen. Vote: 25 yes, 4 absent (approved). The meeting record shows Tim Pletz was confirmed to fill the listed committee positions; committee names were not detailed in the audio excerpt.

Notes: Where the meeting transcript did not provide full text (for example, the exact rezoning ordinance language or the complete committee-list for the appointments), this summary marks those items as “not specified.”

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Board 2025/09/15","oneSentenceSummary","The Barron County Board approved multiple routine and policy items on Sept. 15, with recorded votes of 25 yes and 4 absent on each motion listed below.","taxTitle","Barron County, Wisconsin","taxId",72846,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6501766,"County administrator outlines 2026 budget plan; levy growth limited as equalized valuation rises",800,2802000,3602000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785557-44cc7c119f1589fcef488fb95f938beb&start=2802&end=3602","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785557-44cc7c119f1589fcef488fb95f938beb/thumbnail_2802000.jpg","/articles/6501766/Barron-County/Wisconsin/County-administrator-outlines-2026-budget-plan-levy-growth-limited-as-equalized-valuation-rises","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501766-c84fac15178548e2e291b7509d80720d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770117074&Signature=bnQxWjSZCtJvhvW7uxZLRaa1zhq187HrG607mnoE3UFnKDqDlpjDHs61J9J8bD3ck9F~yf5z7Xw616-lrUW7HNlSm5OcfryUe9zNrkL3WUX2Y0jtGy-QNserrBl8kKNmabsTNFPhXbMWq~AKBxzFL-f0elBIs2zTEWgb7kos9tiGRMo0uaoMVYNAdF3WtA0nJa0~tkvf6OEuyBEQtMtHwTTRnZpNqc~5FHfZ-3aov0Htcr6gv5JCC9JTjgpgPD9PbwxB3J3fLRmBUuIu6Plg2OvVG~h5rgXF5AfnvPCw5U6QTa4iG3kZm~2DmAvBGqpYva1DD3jQbaMDzoCD3BYg1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The County Administrator presented the top-level elements of the proposed 2026 county budget and reviewed related state statute citations and funding documents.

Key points: The administrator said the proposed levy increase is 1.6% (allowed under Wisconsin levy limits), while county equalized valuation rose about 10.7% year-over-year. The presentation showed the county intends to draw general-fund unassigned fund balance down to approximately 32 percent of policy levels and to apply part of the sales-tax fund balance to reduce the levy. The administrator said the budget assumes a 3.763% increase in health-insurance costs and included contingency and vacancy-line adjustments for employee payouts and retirements.

Personnel and projects: The proposed budget adds a sanitarian II position in Health and Human Services; the administrator said that position is grant-funded through Dec. 31, 2027. The presentation also listed capital and debt-service items (waste-to-energy payments, dam maintenance, and forest revenue assumptions). The administrator said the county’s equalized valuation increase has been driven in part by rising property sales values and that the county will continue to monitor reassessment activity across townships.

Process and next steps: The administrator described state-mandated steps for publishing the proposed budget and noted that the executive committee will recommend a published budget and a later public hearing before the County Board can adopt the final budget. No final budget vote took place at the meeting; supervisors asked clarifying questions about specific revenue and expense lines during the presentation.

","Barron County’s administrator presented the 2026 budget framework showing a 1.6% levy increase constrained by state levy limits, larger gains in equalized property valuation, a planned drawdown of fund balance to about 32%, and an added grant-funded sanitarian position through 2027.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6501770,"Groundwater study finds nitrate hotspots in Barron County’s sandy outwash areas; 11% of tested wells exceeded 10 ppm",1318,3172000,4490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785557-44cc7c119f1589fcef488fb95f938beb&start=3172&end=4490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785557-44cc7c119f1589fcef488fb95f938beb/thumbnail_3172000.jpg","/articles/6501770/Barron-County/Wisconsin/Groundwater-study-finds-nitrate-hotspots-in-Barron-Countys-sandy-outwash-areas-11-of-tested-wells-exceeded-10-ppm","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501770-1c8c7fb71d9031666ea5e8540ea2a8d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770117074&Signature=Lq0aqZbrS1KlZexATule1Izb5L889nSQGV8nzOfNRcEYhrhx92uwEd8pFG~qJFEaXAG5f2-YksueZyNS5kMRFQc~bpXbPrxzQuQaBwmSVd3iz~ZxkyXSKQ1XevxMQw3I8Bn-gQLeJgN4vrUTA0rVghXrkFGR9lm473XWNddzJ2ql~3aruCtlltkw10NnLBG7WLfXZ1PJ2Y95~98cqgSPiY-xn9wHDqgu8MLn8lyZNRGLT6lhVcPvXUoItdAHuoWDpfhXZVFYrAUyJWg-0yFlMJ3oMhKudiNn8WLc5pYB1HnwV0IKKNip8Ze0bI4rD5suXcKoXdKm31TXRs9rQ8s4aQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tyler Gritzmacher, Barron County conservationist, presented results from a multi-year groundwater monitoring study coordinated with the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Groundwater Center.

The study sampled private wells in 2022–23 with follow-up fill-in testing. Gritzmacher said the study identified a clear pattern: higher nitrate concentrations where agricultural land sits on well-drained, sandy outwash soils. He reported that about 11% of sampled wells exceeded 10 parts per million (ppm) nitrate, a common threshold for public-health concern. “We had a 30,” Gritzmacher said when asked about the highest nitrate value observed; he added that some publicly reported samples in the database registered in the 40s and 60s in isolated locations.

Why this matters: Nitrate in drinking water is primarily a human-health concern for infants and pregnant women at higher concentrations. The county presentation included maps showing predicted higher-nitrate areas east of Cameron, small pockets east of Rice Lake and east of Chetek, and concentration along the sandy corridor running roughly Rice Lake to Chippewa Falls.

Details and guidance: Gritzmacher said the distribution of high values correlates with two factors: an increased percentage of agricultural land cover within 500 meters of a well and sandier, better-drained soils that allow rapid recharge. He reported that 36% of wells tested were below 1 mg/L (natural background) and that public dashboards and individual results were available through the county Soil and Water Conservation Department. The presenter said the county did not test for PFAS as part of this study and noted that PFAS testing uses parts-per-trillion methods and targeted sampling.

Questions and county response: Supervisors asked whether contaminants correlated with abandoned manure pits, highway salt use, or septic systems. Gritzmacher said he saw no clear link to abandoned pits and noted salt and sodium are a separate concern tied to road density; he recommended household water testing and water-treatment systems for affected homeowners, explaining that drilling a new well is not guaranteed to find better water.

Outcome and next steps: The presentation provided a county baseline. Gritzmacher said homeowners who participated received individual test reports and that the county may pursue targeted follow-up testing for nitrates or pesticide metabolites in identified high-nitrate areas. No formal board action was taken on the study at the meeting.

","A county presentation of a multi-year groundwater study led by the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point found higher nitrate concentrations in sandy outwash areas and agricultural land; roughly 11% of sampled private wells exceeded 10 parts per million (ppm). County staff recommended household testing and treatment options.",{"_32":99,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":100,"_40":101,"_42":102,"_44":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6501774,"Barron County board approves Rice Lake School District plan for playground and child-care center",971,2119000,3090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785557-44cc7c119f1589fcef488fb95f938beb&start=2119&end=3090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785557-44cc7c119f1589fcef488fb95f938beb/thumbnail_2119000.jpg","/articles/6501774/Barron-County/Wisconsin/Barron-County-board-approves-Rice-Lake-School-District-plan-for-playground-and-child-care-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501774-19850e75f01879c6180c8031cef444ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770117074&Signature=XoepHRhYHoKX8xedGzMv0h0pfm~mviIutwBe5t65zrc1Mc49QQfJPLyZUnfkVKG3ShCCFPnzb4~cyyrEpwYcnaoF-l-k8eBjTdpyB-O-YdrmfCI8ejZBnl3MS5hs7YAGXrnCZ3r3HMvgv1lnFCNRyvqqe0JYj8MQhUnlnWICjQjkYao0gjNGMaDfZhMuyjzk8ImIgR868OWuNVG1RS3YB7uEtL~Vy6je44~4XroC2MecuKUD4PwXagD-leAcLdIgUY-yR5D0uSYbiuZ~v4a8aKo3KDoSZyBdtFq8xJ1uhEVczFwDSliGjHfZ4KAys10gkZzudLFePhvV1Ay393dCDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Barron County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the Rice Lake Area School District’s plan to install a playground and operate a child-care program in space the district is converting to a child-care center.

District administrator Randy Drost presented the plan and timeline. “It’s gonna be about a 1 to 1 and a half million dollar project,” Drost said, and the district aims to have the child-care center “operational by February 2026” if scheduling and bidding proceed as planned. He said the center would serve roughly 100 to 110 children from about 6 months to about 5 years of age.

Why this matters: County supervisors framed the project as a local service need and an asset for families and area businesses. Board members asked about safety, drainage and visibility from county buildings and the nearby Cedar Side Trail. Drost described design changes the district made after property-committee review: shifting some equipment closer to the building, leaving a sidewalk for required egress, and siting a black-coated fence and landscaping to screen sight lines. He told the board that code requires playground areas for child care to have a maximum slope of about 1 percent, a factor that influenced the final siting decision.

Board discussion and details: Several supervisors expressed support and described site visits. Supervisor Patty Anderson said she had visited the site and opposed major excavation near the river; Drost and property-committee members said the revised plan avoids heavy excavation and places the fence about 27 to 30 feet away from the trail at the closest point. The district also informed the board that lead paint has been removed and asbestos abated in the building and that the project will go to bid; Drost said bids were expected to be released by early October.

Outcome: Supervisor Bartlett moved and Supervisor Thompson seconded a motion “to approve this plan.” The motion passed with 25 yes and 4 absent.

What was not decided: The board’s approval was for the presented site plan; final construction contracts, exact budget line items and grant or county funding commitments were not specified at the meeting.

Next steps: The district will proceed to bid the work and continue coordination with county staff and the property committee.

","The Barron County Board approved a plan from the Rice Lake Area School District to site an outdoor playground next to a planned child-care program in the former student center; the district estimates a $1–$1.5 million construction cost and capacity for roughly 100–110 children ages 6 months to about 5 years.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Barron County Board approves zoning change, farmland plan update, ETF resolution and appointments

County administrator outlines 2026 budget plan; levy growth limited as equalized valuation rises

Groundwater study finds nitrate hotspots in Barron County’s sandy outwash areas; 11% of tested wells exceeded 10 ppm

Barron County board approves Rice Lake School District plan for playground and child-care center