Polk County committee hears budget, broadband and parks updates; recommends fee changes

The Polk County General Government Committee met and received a broad update on county priorities including budget figures, broadband expansion, parks and capital projects, and public-safety improvements. The committee voted to recommend changes to the county fee schedule and adjourned after routine business.

At the meeting Administrator Moe presented fiscal figures and priorities. He said the county’s 2023 audit showed a $2.1 million deficit (down from a budgeted $2.9 million), reported a general fund balance of about $29 million with roughly $4.6 million committed and approximately $7.8 million available, and noted unresolved facility projects pending DNR plan review. Moe listed board priorities that include public safety staffing, substance-abuse initiatives, broadband expansion, parks and housing investments.

Broadband funding and equity were prominent in the discussion. Moe said the county set aside $1 million for broadband expansion (including $200,000 encumbered for the town of Beaver) with $800,000 remaining; he noted an additional $1.1 billion of federal broadband funding is being distributed in Wisconsin. Committee members raised concerns about last-mile costs for residents, citing examples of homeowners previously asked to pay as much as $1,800 to $7,000 to connect when they declined early easements. Members asked staff to develop policy options for equitably subsidizing last-mile connections or involving towns in distribution decisions.

The committee also heard updates from public works and the sheriff’s office. Public works reported routine fairgrounds maintenance, ongoing work on Clam Falls Dam with gate actuators ordered (five- to six-month lead time), and progress on an ATV-intensive park with fencing and signage nearly complete. Sheriff reported rollout of a command post used at the fair, an antenna replacement after a lightning strike, and that the department applied for a PSAP grant to equip a backup dispatch/command post.

On action items, Speaker 1 moved and the committee approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from July 2, 2024. Later, Speaker 4 moved to recommend the revised fee schedule to the General Government committee; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The committee adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

What’s next: The committee set its next meeting for Sept. 3 and was told petitions to change addressing in the Town of Bostwick will be on the next agenda.