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Committee approves CSM, discusses holding-tank ordinance and tourist rooming house enforcement
Summary
At its Aug. 16 meeting the Sawyer County Zoning Committee approved a Certified Survey Map, discussed an ordinance amendment to limit holding tanks, and heard calls for clearer tourist rooming house rules and additional zoning staff to improve enforcement and coordination with towns.
The Sawyer County Zoning Committee on Aug. 16 approved a Certified Survey Map (CSM) and held discussion on several procedural and ordinance matters, including making holding tanks an option of last resort and an update from the Tourist Rooming House ad hoc committee about proposed ordinance language and enforcement staffing.
The committee approved a CSM for Eugene Rumsey after an explanation from land surveyor Jesse Suzan; the motion to approve was made by Tweed Shuman and seconded by Kay Wilson and carried unanimously.
Zoning Administrator Jay Kozlowski introduced a proposal to amend county ordinance language so that holding tanks are treated as a last-resort option; Ginny Chabek, chair of the Tourist Rooming House (TRH) committee, spoke in favor of the change and Kozlowski said he would return with draft amendment language. Public commenter Linda Zillmer raised concerns about the proposal and the broader process; legal counsel Rebecca Roeker intervened during discussion to manage public-comment procedure.
Chabek and Ben Kurtzweil (Town of Hayward) also provided an update on the Tourist Rooming House ad hoc committee, urging timely changes to ordinance language and noting a need for additional zoning staff and enforcement capacity. Sawyer County Administrator Andy Albardo echoed the need for staff and suggested meetings with town chairs and supervisors to improve coordination. Kozlowski described examples from other counties and provided a handout summarizing options.
No final ordinance language was adopted at the meeting; Kozlowski indicated he would draft proposed amendments for committee consideration at a future meeting. The meeting adjourned at 11:04 a.m.
Next steps: zoning staff will draft holding-tank amendment language and follow up on staffing and intergovernmental coordination; a future meeting will consider any proposed ordinance language changes.
