Sawyer County board approves Phase 2 environmental study for veterans tribute parcel

The Sawyer County Board’s administrative committee voted to approve a Phase 2 environmental study consisting of soil borings for property intended for a veterans tribute, with unresolved questions about the final cost and who will pay for the testing.

The motion to move forward with Phase 2 — described in the meeting as the next step after a Phase 1 assessment — passed on a voice vote. Committee members discussed differing cost figures and whether the county or the parcel seller would be responsible for the expense before approving the study.

Why it matters: committee members said they want to determine whether the site is contaminated before completing the parcel purchase and spending tribute funds. The parcel is intended for a veterans tribute; the board had previously authorized earlier assessment work (Phase 1), but members said they had not been given a clear summary of the Phase 1 findings.

Committee discussion and details Committee members debated both the need for further testing and the budgetary source. One member said a Phase 1 report of about "1,300 pages" exists but there had been no succinct summary provided to the committee. Members asked whether the county should purchase the lot before completing Phase 2, and whether cleanup costs would fall to the county if contamination were found.

Cost estimates were inconsistent in the discussion: at one point a member quoted a $7,500 estimate for soil borings; later the figure "$3,500" was cited for the soil borings. County staff said the county had already paid for Phase 1 and that who pays for Phase 2 — the county or the building/owner — was still being determined.

County Administrator Mike Markham told the committee he would work on clarifying whether the county would pay or the building owner would be responsible for the Phase 2 cost. Members noted that if county funds pay for Phase 2, less money could remain for the tribute project’s construction and related expenses.

Formal action The committee passed a motion "to approve Phase 2" (recorded in the meeting as approval to proceed with the Phase 2 study and associated spending). The motion passed by voice vote; the record shows the motion carried.

What remains: committee members requested clearer documentation of Phase 1 findings and a definitive cost and payment plan for Phase 2 before moving further on the site purchase and any construction planning. Staff said work beyond securing the lot is stalled until the parcel is purchased.

Ending The committee approved the Phase 2 soil-boring step but left open who will fund the testing and asked staff to return with clarity on Phase 1 findings and the payment allocation for Phase 2.