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Chippewa County accepts clean audit, approves grants and several procurement actions including two sheriff vehicles
Summary
The county's Finance Committee recommended — and the board accepted — a clean draft audit for FYE 12/31/2024; the board also approved multiple grants (including an HCZ award), accepted several procurement actions including two Chevy Tahoe police vehicles totaling $107,638 with a waiver of bidding, and authorized grant amendments and other routine items.
Chippewa County’s Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee presented a set of recommendations that the full board accepted on June 12, including a clean draft audit and multiple grants, and authorized several procurement actions.
Ken Talsma of Anderson, Tackman and Company told the committee the county’s draft financial statements for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2024, received an unmodified (clean) audit opinion and no findings. The committee moved to approve the draft audit pending final administrative approval before public release.
The board approved grant awards and submittals recommended by the committee, including a Healthy Community Zones (HCZ) award for $55,323 for the first six months of an 18-month grant and up to $175,825.60 in FY2026 for a project pairing local farmers with WIC and MIHP clients; a $25,000 Superior Health Foundation award to supplement Hepatitis C nursing time; and the Prosecuting Attorney’s estimated Victim Rights FY2026 allocation of $92,895 (General $90,380; Victim Needs $2,515). The committee also authorized submittal of a 91st District Court Mental Health Court grant request for $127,071.14.
On procurement, the board approved purchasing two 2025 Chevy Tahoe police-package 4WD patrol vehicles directly from Berger Chevrolet at $53,819 each (total $107,638) and waived the county purchasing policy because the vehicles were on the dealer’s lot; commissioners discussed encouraging local dealers to bid in future procurements. The committee also authorized a Request for Quotation for a 2025 Dodge Durango police/pursuit SUV, approved a $3,534 Lenslock camera and storage system in place of previously budgeted taser equipment, and approved a $5,960.64 parking-lot expansion at the Sheriff’s storage building from Special Fund 232. The board voted to release a notice to receive bids for a Generac generator for Central Dispatch and to approve Central Square Mobile CAD testing agreements with five local agencies.
Why it matters: The audit’s clean opinion affirms the county’s financial reporting for 2024; the grants and procurement approvals shape near-term public-health services, emergency communications modernization and public-safety equipment and facilities.
