County staff updated the committee on two related items: a planned expansion of the Shawamigan Humane Association facility and a likely future request to replace the county’s ice-rescue vehicle (referred to in local discussion by its informal name).

Staff said all three governments—the county, Bayfield County, and the City of Ashland—have agreed to contribute $50,000 each toward a larger animal shelter project while the Humane Association pursues a state grant to cover the remainder. The county noted that the state grant would require a long-term lien (20 years) on the property as a condition of funding; staff said that condition was not expected to be problematic.

Separately, staff discussed a necessary replacement for the county’s ice rescue vehicle and related equipment. The current rescue craft is more than 20 years old and staff said the boat replacement could cost roughly $450,000–$500,000. If grant funding is available and approved, staff estimated Ashland County’s share could be about $125,000–$150,000; Bayfield County would face a similar obligation. The city’s shore-based role in rescues was described: the city provides trained personnel to operate rescues up to certain shoreline limits while the counties retain responsibility for on-water incidents.

Committee members debated terminology used in federal grant discussions and preferred calling the craft a ‘‘windsled’’ in some contexts rather than the local colloquial name. Staff said an earlier federal earmark attempt failed because of terminology confusion and that the county will continue to pursue grants and partnerships to lower the local share of replacement cost.

Staff cautioned that any county contribution for a replacement craft would likely be included in next year’s debt levy and encouraged supervisors to plan for an approximate $125,000–$150,000 request in the coming budget cycle.