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Barron County board approves $4.82 million bond sale, justice-center contract and multiple routine resolutions
Summary
At a Barron County Board meeting, supervisors approved the sale of general obligation bonds at a 4.14% winning rate, authorized a $1.77 million contract for a secure Sally Port and passed a slate of budget, ARPA and ordinance items; most votes were 28–1 (one absent).
At a meeting of the Barron County Board of Supervisors, members approved the sale of general obligation corporate purpose bonds series 2025A, awarded a construction contract for a secure Sally Port and passed a package of budget, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and ordinance measures.
The county sold bonds with a winning bid from BOK Financial Securities at a 4.14% true interest rate. Because the bidder paid a premium of $130,000, the county reduced the amount it will borrow to $4,820,000. County staff reported the presale estimate had been 4.47% and that accepting the premium allowed borrowing less while still funding planned projects, including the Sally Port. The bond sale resolution passed by the full membership, 28 yes and 1 absent.
The board also adopted a resolution authorizing a contract with Market & Johnson for the Barron County Secure Sally Port and professional visitation addition to the Barron County Justice Center, Highway 25 North, Barron, Wisconsin, for $1,767,898; that measure required and received a two-thirds vote. Supervisors were advised a minor wording change would be made in the published resolution to name BOK Financial Securities Incorporated as the awarded bidder for the bond sale.
Other measures approved included the final budget adjustment to close 2024 accounts, an allocation from the contingency fund for a deputy county clerk position, use of ARPA funds for a roof replacement at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Barron County campus student center and gymnasium, and $50,000 of ARPA funds for technology improvements tied to the secure Sally Port expansion. The board also passed a resolution supporting federal bipartisan legislation to expand direct primary care access and ordinance changes to allow ATV/UTV usage in county parks and to repeal and recreate section 50 of the Barron County Code of Ordinances regarding taxation. The votes on the several two-thirds items were recorded as 28 yes, 1 absent; other majority votes were recorded as 28 yes, 1 absent.
Procedural items included approval of the amended agenda and the minutes of March 17, 2025. The board received a brief sale-day presentation from the county's bond-sale presenter and staff, and members were told copies of the sale report and presentation would be shared with the board.
Votes at a glance (key items and recorded outcomes): - Resolution awarding sale of $4,820,000 general obligation corporate purpose bonds, series 2025A — approved; vote: 28 yes, 1 absent. Winning bidder: BOK Financial Securities; winning true interest rate: 4.14%; premium: $130,000; presale estimate: 4.47%. - Resolution authorizing contract with Market & Johnson for secure Sally Port and visitation addition — approved; vote: two-thirds (28 yes, 1 absent); contract amount: $1,767,898. - Final budget adjustment to close 2024 accounts — approved; vote: two-thirds (28 yes, 1 absent). - Barron County contingency fund allocation for deputy county clerk position — approved; vote: two-thirds (28 yes, 1 absent). - Roof replacement at UW–Eau Claire Barron County campus (ARPA funds) — approved; vote: two-thirds (28 yes, 1 absent). - $50,000 technology improvements for secure Sally Port (ARPA funds) — approved; vote: two-thirds (28 yes, 1 absent). - Resolution supporting federal legislation expanding direct primary care access (to be sent to federal and state legislators, including State Senator Jesse James) — approved; vote: majority (28 yes, 1 absent). - Ordinance amending parks and recreation to allow ATV/UTV usage — approved; vote: majority (28 yes, 1 absent). - Ordinance repealing and recreating section 50 (taxation) — approved; vote: majority (28 yes, 1 absent). - ARPA expenditures update (balance reported at $437,019.66 prior to actions taken) — informational; board noted that approved items reduce the balance by authorized amounts.
Board members asked staff procedural and timing questions about the bond issue, including whether the county could prepay or refinance after year eight. The county’s bond presenter said the county may prepay or refinance beginning in year eight at the county’s option. Board members were told the bond sale documents and rating report would be circulated to the board.
The board chair closed the business after the vote tallying and moved on to later agenda items.
