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Votes at a glance: Sawyer County Board actions Feb. 20 include radio system, temporary bridge, animal control change and broadband endorsement
Summary
The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 20 approved a package of actions including proceeding with a public safety radio upgrade, buying a temporary bridge for the Town of Winter, changing the animal control ordinance, and endorsing a broadband application; the board also handled rezone cases and appointments.
The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors recorded multiple formal actions at its Feb. 20 meeting. Major votes and outcomes are summarized below; motions were generally adopted by voice vote unless otherwise noted.
Key outcomes
- Rezone case 25‑001 (land swap in Town of Hayward): Approved. Motion to approve was made by Supervisor Sessel, seconded by Supervisor Savinski; zoning committee and town planning commission had recommended approval.
- Rezone case 25‑003 (Strau(b)el/Straybill equipment repair rezone in Town of Hayward): Denied. Motion to deny (per Town of Hayward resolution of disapproval) carried; county counsel advised the board not to approve while the town resolution was in effect.
- Appointment: Dale Magnuson appointed county board supervisor for District 15. Motion to approve carried by voice vote; Magnuson was sworn in and assigned committee seats including Zoning and Land, Water & Forestry.
- Highway commissioner reappointment and ordinance establishing term: The board reappointed the incumbent county highway commissioner to a new term and adopted an ordinance establishing the county’s process and a term structure for the highway commissioner position (retroactive appointment dated 01/01/2025). Motion carried.
- Public safety radio system improvements: The board approved proceeding with a contract engagement with GenComm to advance design and procurement for public safety radio system improvements. Staff reported an initial design estimate of $2,825,000; the board approved moving forward with GenComm contract work and directed staff to return within about two months with final budget and design details.
- Temporary bridge purchase (Town of Winter): The board approved allocating $85,000 from county forest surplus stumpage revenue to acquire a used temporary bridge (14 ft by 60 ft, two sections) located in Pennsylvania, to be delivered and installed to restore access over the Thornapple River; the county will retain ownership for future reuse. Motion carried.
- Animal control ordinance amendment (domestic cats): The board adopted proposed ordinance language removing domestic/stray cats from the county animal control ordinance. The public safety committee and county counsel had recommended the change; the board approved the ordinance on voice vote.
- BEAD broadband endorsement: The board approved a county endorsement for Bertram Communications to apply for federal BEAD funds for specified towns (specific towns listed in county packet). Committee members noted endorsements are town‑level and that the county endorsement does not constrain where providers may deploy service if they obtain BEAD funding.
- Library planning committee and county library plan: The board adopted a resolution establishing a county library planning committee (statutorily required under ch. 43) and approved appointments to that committee to complete the five‑year county library plan process.
Procedure notes and follow up
Most motions were carried by voice vote and recorded as “motion carries.” Several items require staff follow up: final design and budget for the radio project, bridge procurement and installation scheduling, transmitting the lake‑district statute resolution to legislators, and notifying the applicant for rezone 25‑003 of the denial and filing limits.
Detailed action list (motions, movers/seconds, outcome notes)
- Approve rezone 25‑001 (motion: Sessel; second: Savinski) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Deny rezone 25‑003 per town resolution (motion: Buckles; second: Newman) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve appointment of Dale Magnuson, District 15 (motion: Buckle; second: Tessel) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Reappoint highway commissioner and adopt ordinance establishing term (motion: Bennett; second: Newman) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Proceed with public safety radio system improvements and contract engagement with GenComm (motion: Vogt; second: Evans) — outcome: approved (voice vote); staff to return with final budget (~$2.825M design estimate). - Allocate $85,000 from county forest surplus for purchase of temporary bridge to assist Town of Winter (motion: Buckle; second: Haney) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Adopt animal control ordinance amendment removing domestic cats (motion: Sessel; second: Haney) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve BEAD endorsement for Bertram Communications for specific towns (motion: Buckles; second: Rickenheimer) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Adopt resolution establishing county library planning committee and approve appointments (motion: Evans; second: Newman) — outcome: approved (voice vote). - Other committee appointments and housekeeping motions: approved as listed in the official minutes.
