Edgewater resident urges Sawyer County to adopt land acknowledgement, raises ATV/UTV route concerns

During the public comment period at the Sawyer County administrative meeting, a resident identified as Linda Zilmer of Edgewater urged the county to adopt a land acknowledgement and raised concerns about the county’s process for opening county highways to ATV and UTV travel.

Zilmer told supervisors that towns have taken different positions on opening county highways to ATVs and UTVs and said some towns feel the county did not respect their wishes when routes were opened. She said some routes within the LCO area were not opened and that she appreciates efforts to keep a conversation with the tribe open.

Zilmer said she emailed supervisors a proposed land-acknowledgement statement and guidance for drafting one, and she asked the county to consider adopting a land acknowledgement to reflect the county’s relationship with the tribe.

Why it matters: the comment raises procedural and relationship concerns about local decisions to open county highways to recreational vehicles and about formal recognition of tribal lands or history. Zilmer framed the request as part of maintaining a constructive relationship with the LCO tribe.

Context and next steps Zilmer made the remarks during the meeting’s public comment period; no formal action was taken by the committee at that time. She said she provided an example acknowledgement and drafting guidance by email to supervisors and suggested the county consider adopting one.

Ending Supervisors did not take formal action during the meeting; Zilmer’s email and request were entered into the public record via her comments.