Ashland County approves CDBG planning grant application, public participation plan and a set of routine resolutions

The Ashland County Board of Supervisors voted to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) planning grant to update the county comprehensive plan and approved a companion public participation plan required for the application.

Board members were told the comprehensive-plan update is expected to cost about $70,000–$75,000 and that CDBG can fund up to 50% of the project cost; the planning effort is expected to span roughly two years if the grant is awarded. The board approved initial authorization to submit the CDBG planning grant application and to continue the public outreach described in the public participation plan.

Pat Busse, chair of the county’s comprehensive-plan update committee (referred to in the meeting as Mr. Busse), briefed the board on the committee’s work and said UW Extension staff and local planner Alyssa Radke have done preparatory work. Busse said the committee intends to return to the full board for regular status updates and will solicit input from other county committees and local jurisdictions as part of the update.

Erica Henical, the county’s grant writer, clarified that the public participation plan before the board is the document required by the CDBG program for the application. Henical said the document outlines how the county will gather public input while the planning process proceeds.

The board also approved several other routine items:

- A resolution honoring Jerry Essela for his years of service to the county (resolution number listed in the meeting record). Supervisors praised Essela’s work in Human Services and thanked him for extended service prior to retirement; board members asked that a copy of the passed resolution be mailed to him.

- Approval of the 2025 Fire Warden list, a statutory annual requirement.

- Adoption of a master hangar lease for the county airport. Board members were told the airport is jointly owned by the city and county and that the lease language was reviewed by corporation counsel; the agreement was adjusted to allow reasonable timelines for construction so lessees are not forced to attempt winter builds.

- Appointment of Charlie Ortman as a non‑voting citizen member of the comprehensive‑plan committee. The board noted Ortman’s prior work on the county plan and his current service on Ashland City Council; the county will confirm whether he will participate on the committee as a citizen member or represent the city at select times.

Motions to approve the grant application authorization, the public participation plan and the other resolutions carried on voice votes. Where recorded in the meeting transcript, motions were made and seconded and the chair asked all those in favor to say “aye”; the chair announced each motion carried.

The board also discussed scheduling and process: the county administrator noted a special board meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 26 to consider a cluster of CDBG‑related resolutions, and finance staff reported a preliminary year‑end fund balance improvement that leaves the county’s reserve near its target range.

The public‑record resolutions and committee appointments approved at the meeting will be filed with county clerk’s office and, where applicable, included in grant application materials.