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Residents raise concerns about placement of high‑risk offenders and county spending at Barron County public comment
Summary
During public comment, a pastor and other residents questioned housing placements of high‑risk offenders, a possible conflict of interest, sheriff's department budget requests and surveillance costs; board members noted related state‑level uncertainties.
Several residents used the public comment period at Monday’s Barron County Board meeting to raise concerns about law enforcement placements, sheriff’s budgets and county expenditures.
Paul Poppe, a pastor who identified himself as living in Chetek, said he appreciates the county’s law enforcement but expressed concern about the placement of high‑risk offenders “north of Barron” near families and children. “These are men that had a very high likelihood to reoffend,” Poppe said, and he added that parents were worried because the house in question is owned by a Barron County deputy and rented to the state for about $3,500 a month. Poppe said many in the county perceive the arrangement as a conflict of interest.
Another resident, Dennis Rochelle, asked for minutes from a special committee and pressed the board for details about surveillance costs for a county building. He said he was told the county is spending “a little more than $3,800 being spent per month” on surveillance and requested clarification and the minutes related to the matter.
Board members responded during later agenda items that the county’s ARPA and fund balances were under discussion and that state budget uncertainty complicates county planning. During the WCA presentation, a board member asked whether the 9‑80 placements (placements discussed by members of the public) are being addressed at the state association level; the WCA speaker said he was not aware of active legislation on that topic and would need to check with colleagues.
Why it matters: residents flagged potential public‑safety and ethical concerns — proximity of high‑risk placements to children and a deputy’s ownership of a property used for state placements — and requested transparency about surveillance spending and committee minutes.
Speakers (from public comment): - Paul Poppe — resident/pastor, Chetek (public comment on law enforcement placements). - Dennis Rochelle — resident, requested committee minutes and questioned surveillance costs.
Clarifying details: - Resident statement about rental rate: $3,500 per month (claimed by public commenter regarding state payments to the property owner). - Resident statement about surveillance cost: "a little more than $3,800" per month (claimed by public commenter; county staff later said more detail is available online).
Ending: County staff told speakers that minutes and related materials are available online and that staff would follow up on requests; state‑level policy discussions about placements were described as an open item for WCA follow‑up.
