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Sawyer County administrator announces end‑of‑year retirement, highlights Opportunity Zone bid and grant work
Summary
County Administrator Mike told the Administrative Committee he will retire at the end of the year and outlined current economic‑development and public‑safety efforts, including reapplying for an Opportunity Zone, a radio‑network upgrade and a nearly $740,000 opioid‑response grant.
Sawyer County Administrator Mike told the Administrative Committee on the record that he intends to retire at the end of the year and said he will work to ensure a smooth transition while continuing current projects.
He told the committee he was working with Brian Prisler, the new executive director of the Sawyer County Economic Development Corporation, to reapply for the county's Opportunity Zone designation and expected an application to be filed the following Monday, with the application due at the end of the month. "It's really helping for investment in rural and other poor or low income communities," he said of the Opportunity Zone program, which he described as an incentive to encourage capital investment and local job growth.
In other updates, the administrator said work is underway on a Meadowbrook radio‑network upgrade that recently cleared zoning and is moving toward electrical work and construction so it can join the county's live network by year end. He also reported that staff submitted a rural opioid‑response grant application for "just under $740,000" to support the county deflection program, noting that previous funding had lapsed and that grant funds would not be county money but would support an existing initiative.
The administrator framed the projects as part of a broader effort to attract investment and shore up services before he leaves. "I'm going to work very hard until my last day here, work on a smooth transition, and get all the stuff done that we're working on, including the veterans tribute," he said.
The committee did not take formal action on these items at the meeting; the administrator said staff would report back as applications are filed and permits progress. He said he plans to remain in his post through the end of December and will assist in the transition process.
Next steps: staff will move forward with the Opportunity Zone application and follow up with the committee on any requests for municipal letters of support, provide regular updates on the radio‑network construction schedule, and report on grant award outcomes if the opioid‑response application is funded.
