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Sawyer County committee approves resolutions requesting reinstatement of two grant programs
Summary
The county committee approved two resolutions asking the full county board to request reinstatement of federal grants that were cut, and agreed to forward both documents with a technical edit clarifying “MOUD” as medications for opioid use disorder.
A Sawyer County criminal justice committee on June 11 voted to send two resolutions to the full county board requesting reinstatement of federal grant funding lost to recent cuts.
The committee approved a resolution to request reinstatement of the Building Bridges grant and a separate resolution asking for reinstatement of funding through the Institute of Intergovernmental Research’s Reaching Rural program. The Building Bridges resolution was amended at the meeting to insert language requested by Judge Elaine Smith clarifying that MOUD refers to “medications for opioid use disorder.”
Why it matters: both grants were described at the meeting as proposed expansions to existing county programs; committee members said the funds were cut before work on planned expansions began. Members said the loss creates gaps in services that were intended to supplement ongoing county initiatives.
Mark Helwig moved the Building Bridges resolution with Judge Smith’s recommended change; the motion was seconded and the committee chair called the question. The motion passed and the resolution will be forwarded to the full county board with the edit. Helwig also moved the Institute of Intergovernmental Research resolution; that motion was seconded and also carried.
Committee members discussed the broader budget implications of the funding cuts. One member asked whether the county board had identified sources to replace the lost grant dollars or whether the programs would simply not be implemented; staff answered that the grants had been proposed as supplements and that no cuts to existing services had yet occurred because the expansion work had not started. The committee noted the upcoming county budget cycle as the appropriate time to consider alternatives.
Votes at a glance: - Request to reinstate Building Bridges (resolution). Motion: approve with Judge Smith’s recommended insertion clarifying “MOUD” = medications for opioid use disorder. Mover: Mark Helwig. Second: not specified in the record. Outcome: approved and forwarded to full board. - Request to reinstate Institute of Intergovernmental Research Reaching Rural funding (resolution). Mover: Mark Helwig. Second: not specified in the record. Outcome: approved and forwarded to full board. - Approval of prior meeting minutes. Mover: Mark Helwig. Second: Mr. Spitzky. Outcome: approved.
The resolutions will be presented to the full county board for final action. Several committee members urged staff and the board to consider searching for alternative grant sources or budgeting options during the county’s upcoming budget process.
