Board approves ad hoc LCO committee and withdraws 2 acres of county forest for public‑safety communications site
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Summary
The board authorized an ad hoc committee to work with the Lac Courte Oreilles tribe on roads and trails and approved withdrawing 2 acres of county forest near Draper to host a public-safety communications/simulcast radio site—both steps tied to an ongoing radio‑tower project.
The Sawyer County Board approved formation of a three‑member ad hoc committee to work with the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) tribal government on ATV/snowmobile-trail issues and safe‑roads topics. The chair asked the board to approve three members — "Mr. Jim Evans, Mr. Mark Kellweg, and myself," he said — and the board approved the ad hoc committee on a voice vote.
Earlier in the meeting, committee reports on land, water and forestry described approval to withdraw a 2‑acre parcel of county forest land east of Draper (off Highway 70) so it can be used for public‑safety communications and a simulcast radio site. Land‑committee members said the parcel was targeted because of coverage gaps in the area; the board approved the withdrawal by voice vote.
Public safety updates noted the communications/tower project is waiting on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a property owner/entity identified as "TGB" for an existing tower site; staff reported weekly coordination and projected some work could be done in summer once agreements are in place. County staff emphasized the withdrawn parcel is "essential to this project moving forward."