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Sawyer County approves nonbinding resolution backing Apostle Islands national park designation
Summary
The Sawyer County Board approved a nonbinding resolution expressing support for designation of the Apostle Islands as a national park and said it will forward the resolution to state and federal officials; Bayfield County had earlier passed a resolution opposing the change.
The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a nonbinding resolution urging designation of the Apostle Islands as a national park and to forward the board’s opinion to state and federal elected officials.
The measure matters regionally because national-park designation proponents and opponents expect visitor spillover that would affect roads, services and regional economic ties across county lines.
The board considered a resolution that expresses the county’s support for national-park designation and agreed to send that opinion to legislators and the governor’s office and to federal representatives. Supervisor Tom Duffy moved approval and Supervisor Steve Carianan seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote; the record shows the resolution was advisory and nonbinding.
During discussion supervisors noted that Bayfield County had passed a resolution not supporting designation, citing concerns about whether local infrastructure could handle an influx of visitors. A presenter at a regional planning meeting was cited for a study showing regional impacts from park-scale attractions, and board members said they view the designation as likely to increase visitation to the larger northwest region, including Sawyer County.
The resolution does not change land-use rules or require county action; it represents the board’s formal opinion to be transmitted to state and federal officials.
