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County committee debates veterans tribute after city’s Main Street plaza idea surfaces
Summary
County supervisors and the administrator discussed whether a city-led Main Street pedestrian plaza and an existing county veterans tribute at the former Dairy Queen site can coexist; the committee heard a city-aligned plaza concept from Kirsten Kipper and expressed concern about timing, the historic fountain and committee authority.
The Sawyer County Administrative Committee spent a substantial portion of its meeting debating a county veterans tribute at the former Dairy Queen property and a separate, city-led proposal for a pedestrian plaza on Main Street.
Kirsten Kipper, who described herself as a local stakeholder, told the committee the plaza concept is exploratory and aims to improve pedestrian safety around Highway 63 while integrating green space and the historic fountain. "It's not a concept that's easy by any stretch of the imagination," Kipper said, adding the idea currently has no detailed costs or construction timeline and that she hopes the county will "engage" if there is interest.
Several supervisors objected to pausing or reopening the county's previously approved veterans tribute. One supervisor said the county had already authorized work on the tribute and warned that delaying it "sets a precedent" that every project could be reopened for hypothetical alternatives. Another supervisor emphasized the fountain's historic ties to veterans, saying the asset "was donated" in the early 1900s and should remain associated with the tribute.
The county administrator, who presented budgetary numbers and next steps for bidding and architectural work on the county project, said he welcomed additional information but did not intend to halt efforts already under way. He confirmed the county had not yet paid a $500 architectural retainer but planned to do so this week. "The directive was to move forward with both options," he said, noting site topography required architectural input for accurate bids.
Committee members also raised process questions: who directs design changes, whether an AI-generated design was adopted by the committee or by the administrator, and whether the two projects could be integrated. Kipper urged the groups to talk as their proposals mature; the administrator encouraged independent progress while leaving open the possibility of coordination.
The committee did not take a binding vote on the plaza concept. Members asked for additional information and indicated they may hold follow-up meetings to clarify whether and how the county tribute and any city plaza could be coordinated.
The committee recorded no final decision on moving the fountain or selling county property; supervisors noted the Dairy Queen lot is nonconforming for new construction and that any intergovernmental changes would need city, DOT and other approvals.
