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Ashland County Board approves WCA reimbursement agreement for Line 5 public-safety costs amid strong public opposition
Summary
After hours of public comment and a lengthy Q&A, the Ashland County Board voted 10–7 to approve a Wisconsin Counties Association agreement that lets project-related public-safety costs be reimbursed from a third-party escrow; residents and tribal members said the arrangement creates conflicts of interest and risks to community trust.
The Ashland County Board voted 10–7 on Feb. 24 to approve a reimbursement agreement with the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) that creates an escrow mechanism to reimburse county public-safety expenses tied to construction and protest activity around the Line 5 reroute project.
Andy Phillips, an attorney representing WCA, told supervisors the agreement is not an endorsement of the pipeline project but a mechanism so that “if there are costs that are incurred by Ashland County as a result of the construction activities…that cost be borne by somebody other than the taxpayers.” Phillips said the WCA does not take a position on the Line 5 reroute and described the reimbursement terms as intentionally broad to capture potential public-safety expenses.
The board heard more than a dozen members of the public in a packed public-comment period. Tamara Tupesus, who identified herself by name and address, said Enbridge has “usurped” authority over local residents and appealed to the board’s stewardship of local water: “You cannot drink oil,” she said. Bailey Croll, another resident, urged supervisors not to “preemptively accept funds for arresting protesters,” saying the arrangement would make local law enforcement “hired protectors of Enbridge.” Saurin Bencki and other speakers warned the contract creates a conflict of interest and could divert scarce law-enforcement resources.
Board members focused questions on section G of the agreement, which addresses communications and confidentiality around reimbursement requests. Phillips said county governments remain subject to Wisconsin’s public-records law and that some operational public-safety details could be withheld only when disclosure would place officers or the public at risk. He also said the WCA expects funds to be placed in escrow and that the order of magnitude for the account would be “millions” rather than thousands.
Chief Deputy Dawson told the board that the three sheriffs from Ashland, Bayfield and Iron counties had negotiated on the agreement’s language and that the sheriffs “continue to go in favor of the proposed language in the agreement.” Dawson said the sheriffs’ principal concern is ensuring the counties are not left to shoulder the full financial burden of a large construction project.
Concerns raised by supervisors during debate included whether private security or contractor misconduct would be reimbursable and whether naming Enbridge explicitly as the funding source would improve transparency. Phillips said the agreement is with WCA, which will hold funds in escrow on behalf of the counties, and that the agreement deliberately did not limit who might put money into escrow.
The roll call produced 10 votes in favor and seven against. One supervisor recorded an abstention. Supporters said the reimbursement mechanism protects county taxpayers and helps ensure trained, accountable local law enforcement will be available if major events occur. Opponents said the contract risks eroding public trust and could effectively privatize parts of public safety by creating financial incentives tied to a private company’s project.
Votes at a glance: the board also approved the county’s 2025–2035 farmland preservation plan (after amending out a sentence the board judged subjective), the Highbridge post office ground lease, proclamations for Fair Housing Month and Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, updates to transportation and land-information fee schedules, and a congressional request resolution for an emergency service wind sled.
What happens next: the agreement is in effect as written; Phillips said the escrow mechanism will be available to reimburse eligible expenses for as long as the project creates public-safety demands. Several speakers and some supervisors said they will press for greater transparency about escrow receipts, how reimbursements are tracked, and whether the county should seek explicit naming of the party funding the escrow.
The board meeting record shows the agreement passed; the county administrator and sheriff’s office will manage implementation and any future reimbursement requests under the WCA process.
