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Sawyer County committee roundup: clerk updates, veterans office workload and benefit wins, IT and HR reports, wellness day and economic development recap
Summary
The committee received routine departmental updates: the county clerk reported election preparations and a new notary policy; the Veterans Service Office described heavier workloads and $52,234.17 in retroactive benefit payments; IT, HR, and the county administrator reported on projects including a staff wellness day and a talent‑recruitment grant decision.
The Sawyer County committee heard a series of routine reports on operations and county programs.
County Clerk reported that April election ballots were certified and shipped after approval by the Wisconsin Elections Commission and described steps taken to manage public records requests and a new notary policy adopted after county review. The clerk also noted website updates and lobby bulletin boards for senior resources and veterans services.
The Veterans Service Officer described a heavier January workload with increased phone and in‑office contacts and said the office submitted 18 disability claims for January and received $52,234.17 in retroactive payments for claims decided in veterans’ favor. The officer also described coordination with La Crosse Vet Center for counseling and cross‑accreditation work with neighboring counties’ CVSO offices. He reported recurring problems with federal processing systems for benefits and said a recent CHAMPVA health‑insurance application was incorrectly denied; he described difficulty reaching VA representatives by phone.
IT reported it is helping Public Health and Zoning track tourist rooming house licenses for a May renewal cycle, supported local event surveillance for the Berkbeiner ski race and is progressing on public radio/WOJV tower negotiations. HR reported strong applicant pools and relatively few vacancies. Administrator reviewed a staff wellness day survey (54 responses; average 4.22/5) and said the county chose not to pursue a Wisconsin Economic Development talent‑recruitment grant because the program required an expectation of 25 hires and local business interest was insufficient.
Board members took note of a $10,000 donation to Justice Point and continuing CJCC work on bylaws and quorum issues. The committee approved routine minutes and adjourned.
