Administrator outlines tax‑deed law changes, airport project, carbon‑credit timeline and opioid fund report

County Administrator Andy Avarano gave a broad operational update to the Sawyer County Administrative Committee covering changes to the state tax‑deed framework, implementation of a judge‑address‑shielding law, upcoming capital work at the county airport and progress on a county carbon‑credit program.

Avarano said the county will present an amendment to the county code next week to implement recent state law changes affecting tax‑deed management. He cited state acts (referred to in the meeting as Act 207 and Act 216) that shorten the county's tax‑certificate/tax‑deed timeline from a five‑year practice toward a likely three‑year timeline and require a faster administrative response. Avarano said the county must advertise sales and, when property is sold, return proceeds above taxes, penalties and expenses to prior property owners per the statutory change. He also noted ongoing litigation in other states stemming from a Minnesota court case and said counties have referred potential claims to insurers.

On records and privacy, both the county clerk and Avarano said the clerk's office is working to implement Act 235, the judge‑address shielding law that took effect April 1. The clerk reported adjustments to nomination‑paper and plat‑book procedures may follow state guidance from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Avarano told the committee the county airport construction project is scheduled to begin May 5 and will close the airport for about a month. He also said road bans expected to lift within two weeks, which was a condition for starting some projects.

On broadband and public safety communications, Avarano said the county has received tentative approval to use the WJB tower for the public safety radio system; details and costs remain to be negotiated. He also reported no final response yet on the CJCC memorandum of understanding but said the CJCC governing board will consider it; the committee will see opioid‑fund requests for 2025 and a report on prior uses at the next CJCC meeting.

Avarano provided an update on a county carbon‑credit project run by Anew and reviewed by a third‑party verifier. He said the project is at the third‑party review stage and likely will move to the American Carbon Registry by summer, with possible sales and receipts in the third quarter; he cautioned the county should not budget expected sales for 2026 until revenue is realized.

Avarano also noted internal transition planning: departments were asked to assemble turnover files summarizing current issues and priorities to support an incoming administrator. He said Dale Knapp of Ford Analytics will present updated demographic and workforce data to the board next week to inform the county strategic plan.