Sawyer County committee delays action on opening county roads to UTVs after tribal concerns

The Sawyer County Public Works Committee voted 3–2 Thursday to postpone any action on opening additional county roads to all-terrain and utility-terrain vehicles until a later meeting and until maps are completed.

The vote followed public comment urging broader UTV access and a request from a tribal official that the county consult with the Lac Courte Oreilles tribal government before taking steps that would affect roads on or near the reservation.

Public commenter Tim Davis, who identified himself as maintenance coordinator for the Sawyer County Snowmobile Alliance, urged the committee to allow greater north–south travel on county roads to reduce trail congestion. "There are more UTVs around on weekends than you can shake a stick at," Davis said. He also said the Tuscobia Trail is "probably our number 1 busiest trail" and that opening roads would "lighten the load on our trails."

Brian Bissonette, executive director of the Lac Courte Oreilles Division of Land Management, told the committee the tribe learned of a possible movement to open more county roads and asked that the county delay action so tribal leaders could be included in discussions. "Why would you exclude talking to the tribal governing board first?" Bissonette asked, noting the federal government–to–government relationship between tribes and state officials and referencing Governor Tony Evers' April 9, 2019, Executive Order 18 affirming tribal sovereignty. He asked the committee to "delay taking any action tonight, and let's get the appropriate people here, sit down and talk about the issues."

Committee member Sterling moved to postpone action until the TZB meeting next week; the motion was seconded and carried on a 3–2 vote. Chair Liz Zomer said she would ensure the item stayed on future agendas and noted that maps related to the proposal were expected by the end of the month.

Discussion during the meeting included competing concerns about trail safety, local business patronage by UTV users, and whether county action should proceed without direct tribal consultation. The committee did not approve any ordinance or map changes and provided no direction to staff to adopt or implement road openings at this meeting.

The issue will return to a future Public Works agenda after the committee receives the completed route maps and, per the motion, following the upcoming TZB meeting.