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Committee approves five emergency fire wardens; forestry and Forest Service report timber‑sale activity
Summary
The committee approved five emergency fire‑warden appointments and heard county forestry and U.S. Forest Service reports about active timber sales, market disruptions and planned sales in the Miquanaco area; staff described sale values and a temporary buyer suspension affecting local timber markets.
The Sawyer County Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee unanimously approved five emergency fire‑warden appointments and received updates on forestry operations and national forest activity.
The committee approved nominees for emergency fire warden positions: Henry Bearhart (Town of Hayward), Dan Denine (Town of Sand Lake), Greg Kelsher (Town of Spider Lake), Sarah Demaria (City of Hayward) and Sebastian Payne (City of Hayward). County staff explained the role is primarily administrative for issuing burning permits; permits can be obtained online or at certain local outlets and the approval is a county board formality. The motion was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; individual roll‑call votes were not recorded in the transcript.
County forestry staff reported 18 active sales in January, an inventory (sold and uncut) valued at just over $4.6 million, January sale revenue just under $100,000 and a near‑term build‑out figure of roughly $350,000. Staff also reported market disruption after a major buyer (identified in the transcript as LP) temporarily suspended wood deliveries, requiring staff and contractors to repackage some no‑bid sales. The county said it is initiating a Good Neighbor Authority contract for 2025.
Mike Martin, district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service's Great Divide Ranger District, told the committee the Forest Service currently has 10 active sales and plans to advertise three to four more this quarter. Martin highlighted emphasis in the Miquanaco area around Forest Roads 319 and 320 off Highway 77, east of Hayward, said the agency is adjusting utilization standards to make some sales more marketable, and described a near‑term stewardship agreement with the National Deer Association for implementation and resource work. He also noted high winter recreation use and pre‑season fire preparations.
When asked about protecting a ski trail in the Mukwonago area during harvest operations, Martin said the Forest Service coordinated with its recreation planners, will use special slash treatments and may reroute segments to preserve skier experience, and plans public outreach hikes to show how units will be managed and restored over time.
