Committee forwards AI policy, personnel-manual updates to full Sawyer County board

The Sawyer County Administrative Committee voted to forward a proposed countywide artificial-intelligence policy and a set of personnel‑manual updates to the full county board.

Lilly Rue, representing human resources, told the committee the draft AI policy is intended as a countywide baseline and that some departments—such as EMS and Health and Human Services—may need stricter, more detailed rules because they handle protected health or client data. "We currently don't have an AI policy," Rue said, adding that the draft borrows language from other counties and may be adapted by departments that require stronger safeguards.

Committee members raised no substantive objections before a member moved that the AI policy be sent to the full board and another seconded the motion. The chair called the vote and the motion carried.

Rue also reviewed proposed personnel‑manual changes covering items such as county vehicle use, allowable payments and how county policy interacts with the sheriff's union contract. A committee member moved and another seconded that those manual updates be sent to the full county board; the motion carried without recorded dissent.

The committee did not adopt final countywide policy language at the meeting; both the AI policy and the personnel‑manual changes will next appear before the full county board, which may request modifications or department-level supplements before final adoption.