Sawyer County committee approves resolution asking state and WCA to address Canadian wildfire smoke

The Sawyer County committee voted to approve a resolution expressing concern about Canadian wildfire smoke and asking that the county’s view be shared with the Wisconsin Counties Association, the governor and the state legislature.

Committee member Stacy Hessel moved to approve the resolution “to make awareness” and to share it with the WCA; Steve Carianan seconded the motion. After a brief discussion about the complexity of cross‑border smoke sources, members voted in favor and the chair declared the resolution approved. No roll‑call tally of individual votes was recorded in the meeting transcript; the chair called for “all those in favor? Aye,” and then confirmed the resolution was approved.

In discussion before the motion, speakers described the problem as an increasingly severe seasonal air‑quality and public‑health concern that has grown worse in recent years and expressed a desire for the state and federal officials to identify what, if any, actions are possible. One committee member noted that smoke sources can be multiple — including fires in the western U.S. as well as Canadian provinces — and that a county resolution is an inquiry and awareness measure rather than a regulatory remedy.

The resolution, as discussed, requests that the county share its concerns with the Wisconsin Counties Association and ask the governor and legislature for information on possible responses. Committee members characterized the resolution as nonbinding and aimed at raising awareness and seeking an answer about whether state or federal steps are feasible.

Ending: The committee approved the resolution and directed staff to share it with the Wisconsin Counties Association, the governor’s office and the state legislature as described in the motion; no further county actions or financial commitments were made at the meeting.