Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Votes Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ashland County Board approves bond, ordinance change, fee increases and a slate of routine resolutions
Summary
The board approved a $2 million health care facilities revenue bond, moved from an elected coroner to a medical examiner system, increased medical examiner fees, approved compensation adjustments for elected officials, joined a statewide public-safety communications system, granted loan relief and approved several county contracts and capital repairs.
At its regular meeting the Ashland County Board approved a series of resolutions, an ordinance and routine contracts affecting county operations and local projects.
Key approvals included:
- Resolution R01-2026-1525 to issue and sell a $2,000,000 health care facilities revenue bond (series 2026A) for the Memorial Medical Center project; motion by Pat Kinney, seconded by Ron Stender, approved by voice vote.
- Ordinance 001-2026-132 to institute a medical examiner system and abolish the elective office of coroner; motion by Mitch Huber, seconded by Artie Vitek, approved by voice vote.
- Resolution R01-2026-1526 to increase medical examiner office fees; moved by Supervisor Blake and seconded by Ron Stender; approved.
- Resolution R01-2026-1527 establishing compensation for elected officials; moved by Marty Vitek and seconded by Elizabeth Vrainick; approved.
- Resolution R01-2026-1528 expressing Ashland County''s intent to join the statewide public safety interoperable communications system; motion carried.
- Waiver of repayment (loan relief) for Northwest Wisconsin SEP ($5,000) as an economic development support, approved after finance committee review.
- Approval of a UW Extension budget carryover request for up to $15,000 to purchase furniture and equipment for reduced office space, with staff noting possible state reimbursement for child-support-related moves.
- Approval of the sheriff''s deputy contract agreement and the 2026 emergency fire warden organization list.
- Approval of a resolution supporting the Forest Street Revitalization Act and authorization to replace the Health & Human Services building roof (finance recommended a full metal roof; bids ranged from roughly $50,000 to $88,000).
The board also approved a mineral-rights release to enable Friends of Copper Falls State Park to complete a conservation donation of a 40-acre parcel (the nonprofit had secured a Knowles Nelson stewardship grant), and approved minutes from the Oct. 28, 2025 meeting.
All motions noted in the meeting were carried by voice vote; a record of individual roll-call votes was not taken in the transcript.
What happens next: Approved measures move into implementation or follow-up by county departments; the board did not record separate roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript.
