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Board Amends and Approves Resolution Asking U.S. Forest Service to Keep Great Lakes Visitor Center Open and Requests Responses from Legislators
Summary
The Ashland County Board amended and approved a resolution urging the U.S. Forest Service to maintain summer accessibility at the David R. Obey Great Lakes Visitor Center and requested that state and federal legislators and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture provide written responses on actions taken.
The Ashland County Board of Supervisors approved a revised resolution urging the U.S. Forest Service to keep the David R. Obey Great Lakes Visitor Center open at least during the summer season and asking recipients to respond with actions they will take.
Supervisor Bill Metzinger moved to amend the draft to request written responses from state and federal legislators and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; the amendment was accepted as a friendly change and incorporated into the resolution. The board also made technical edits (including grammar and relocating a clause from a “be it further resolved” paragraph into a “whereas” clause) before approving the revised resolution by roll call (15 yes, 1 no).
Discussion focused on staffing shortfalls at the Forest Service field office, the effect of closures on regional tourism and economic impact, and which elected officials could apply pressure or pursue budget remedies. Members of the public and supervisory board members who said they have contact with visitor-center stakeholders reported that staffing—rather than the visitor center’s operating plan—was the primary constraint and that federal budget actions would likely be required.
The board settled on specific outreach directions: the county clerk will forward the approved resolution to state and federal legislators and to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and request a written response detailing any plans or actions to address visitor-center staffing and access during the summer season. The resolution also asks recipients to respond to the county’s inquiry.
Board members discussed whether to delay adoption for redrafting; several argued the summer season timeline made prompt action necessary. The board elected to approve the revised language at the same meeting so the county could immediately seek responses from relevant officials and agencies.
Staff were asked to correct minor typographical errors prior to final transmittal. After adoption, a supervisor said they would also send a copy to neighboring Bayfield County, which had passed a similar resolution earlier.
