Chippewa County board authorizes DNR grant signatory power, urges court funding, sells firearms range and adopts traffic ordinances

The Chippewa County Board of Supervisors approved a set of administrative and land-use measures and adopted several traffic ordinances at its meeting, including a resolution giving the county administrator standing authority to apply for Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grants, a resolution urging increased state funding for county circuit courts, the sale of the county'owned firearms range, and amendments to local traffic ordinances.

The actions affect county grant administration, court operations funding advocacy, county property ownership and disposition, and local road rules for ATVs/UTVs and motor vehicles.

The board unanimously approved Resolution 11-25 to renew standing authority for the county administrator or a designee to prepare and submit applications and to sign documents for grants from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Matt Hanson, the Chippewa County Forest Administrator, told the board the county routinely administers those grants and that the state requires renewal of the authorization every two years. "I'm Matt Hanson. I'm the County Forest Administrator. I, administer most of these grants even though the County Administrator's name is on the grant or his designee," Hanson said, explaining that much of the administrative work typically falls to his office. The resolution was forwarded by the Land Conservation and Forest Management Committee and will remain in effect until the county board rescinds it.

The board also approved Resolution 12-25 urging Governor Tony Evers and state lawmakers to increase the circuit court costs appropriation by $70 million in the 2025-27 biennial state budget. Dave Bidel, Chippewa County clerk of court, explained clerks statewide are pushing for the increase because the state'to'local funding split has shifted and counties now cover a larger share of courtroom-related costs. "When it was established, it was kind of more of a fiftyfifty type of operation. Where now the state is only contributing about 12% and the rest is falling on to the county," Bidel said, adding that costs for court-appointed attorneys, guardian ad litems and interpreter services have risen. He told the board the governor's initial budget proposals include partial increases but said the statewide clerk associations are pressing for the full $70 million figure.

On property disposition, the board accepted the highest bid for the former Chippewa County Public Firearms Range. Resolution 13-25 awards the property to Carrie Michaels for $197,700, subject to the offer's terms; a second bid from Jacob Johnson for $172,657 was named as the backup. County staff told the board they obtained a certified survey map and an appraisal valuing the property at $162,000, which established the minimum sale price. The facilities and parks committee recommended Ms. Michaels' bid; county staff reported outstanding fiber work and other small invoices had been paid prior to closing. The resolution authorizes the corporation counsel to prepare closing documents and directs the county clerk and board chair to execute them; proceeds will be deposited to the county property sales account.

The board adopted Ordinance 2-25, amending Section 58-39 of the county code to designate two additional ATV/UTV routes (County F and County M in the Town of Sampson). Paul Krumenauer, representing the Chippewa Valley ATV Council, provided public comment earlier in the meeting and distributed maps showing county roads and the ATV trail. Board members discussed safety thresholds for route approvals; one supervisor asked the highway department to consider raising the traffic threshold used in planning from 750 to 1,000 vehicles per day for future reviews, and another board member noted the routes met the county's minimum safety criteria that had been reviewed by the Executive Committee.

The board also approved Ordinance 3-25 extending two no-parking zones in the town of Cleveland (County Trunk Highway Double C) and on County Trunk Highway 0 in the Village of Lake Hallie to create enforceable no-parking areas recommended by an engineering consultant. Under Ordinance 4-25 the board updated several speed-zone descriptions to match existing signage and engineering findings and reduced the speed limit on a stretch of County Trunk Highway Double O in the Village of Lake Hallie to 40 mph following an approved engineering speed study; county staff said the change aligns with an upcoming reconstruction project.

Separately, the board approved county administrator appointments to the Housing Authority Commission and accepted the monthly claims and consent agenda items with routine votes.

During an agenda'period for future consideration, several supervisors expressed frustration about committee communications, agenda placement and committee assignments; the board chair and other supervisors discussed processes for placing items on future agendas and the limits of taking actions not publicly noticed on the meeting agenda. A motion to adjourn carried and the meeting ended.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 11-25: "Authorize county administrator to apply for and administer Wisconsin DNR grant funds" — Moved by Supervisor Omar; seconded by Supervisor Bergeron; outcome: approved. - Resolution 12-25: "Urge Governor and state to support county circuit courts (increase appropriation by $70,000,000)" — Moved by Supervisor Flynn; seconded (not specified); outcome: approved. - Resolution 13-25: "Approve sale of Chippewa County Public Firearms Range Property" — motion and second recorded; outcome: approved; high bid $197,700 to Carrie Michaels; backup bid $172,657 to Jacob Johnson. - Ordinance 2-25: "Amend Sec. 58-39 designating ATV/UTV routes (County F and County M, Town of Sampson)" — motion and second recorded; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 3-25: "Amend Sec. 508-304 Code of Ordinances regarding no-parking zones (County Trunk Highways Double C and 0)" — motion and second recorded; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 4-25: "Amend Sec. 508-301 Code of Ordinances regarding speed zones (multiple updates; Double O reduced to 40 mph in Village of Lake Hallie)" — motion and second recorded; outcome: approved. - County administrator appointments to the Housing Authority Commission — motion and second recorded; outcome: approved.

Next steps: staff will proceed with grant application authority under the renewed resolution; corporation counsel will prepare documents to complete the firearms-range sale; county staff and the highway department will implement the approved signage and speed-zone updates.