HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board of Supervisors - Minutes - 6/24/2025
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Bayfield County Clerk
Lynn M. Divine, County Clerk
Jeran Delaine Deputy Clerk Jaime Cadotte Clerk II
Ph: 715.373.6100 ● Fx: 715.373.6153 ● Email: Lynn.Divine@bayfieldcounty.wi.gov ● 117 E. Fifth Street, PO Box 878, Washburn,
WI 54891
MINUTES
Monthly Meeting of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors
June 24, 2025
Meeting Held in the Bayfield County Board Room, Courthouse, Washburn, WI
Call to Order: The monthly meeting of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors was called to
order at 6:03 p.m. by Chairperson, Dennis Pocernich. Roll Call was taken by County Clerk, Lynn
Divine, as follows: Steve Sandstrom - present; Mary Dougherty - present; Larry Fickbohm -
present; Charly Ray - present; Jeff Olsen - present; Fred Strand - present; Jeff Holte - present;
Marty Milanowski - present; Madelaine Rekemeyer – present-remote; Jim Crandall - present; Sue
Rosa - present; Dennis Pocernich - present; Jan Lee - present. Present -13, Absent -0. A quorum
was present to conduct business.
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator; Kelly Westlund, Assistant
Administrator; Lynn M. Divine, County Clerk; Jaime Cadotte, Clerk II; Kris Kavajecz, Human
Resources Director; Mary Pardee-UW-Extension; Kelly Pederson-UW-Extension and members
of the public.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.
Moment of silence: There was a moment of silence for Keith Larson, former Bayfield County
Highway Department Patrol Superintendent.
Approval of May 27, 2025, Minutes: Dougherty made a motion to approve the minutes from
May 27, 2025, board meeting, seconded by Rosa. Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0 Motion carried.
Public Comment: None
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-74 Retirement of Ian Meeker. Mary Pardee, UW-
Extension, spoke of Ian’s work and accomplishments. Fickbohm made a motion to approve
Resolution No. 2025-74 Retirement of Ian Meeker, seconded by Olsen. Motion carried, Yes-13;
No-0; Absent-0.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-75 Retirement of Nina Bucher. Crandall made a
motion to approve Resolution No. 2025-75 Retirement of Nina Bucher, seconded by Lee. Motion
carried, Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
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Employee and Department of the Year - Bayfield County Resolution Nos. 2025-76 through
2025-81. Ray made a motion to approve Bayfield County Resolution Nos. 2025-76 through
2025-81, seconded by Holte. Motion carried, Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Consent Agenda:
Milanowksi made a motion to approve all Resolutions on the Consent Agenda, Nod. 2025-82
through 2025-87 and the Report and Ordinance No. 2025-07, seconded by Lee. Roll Call Vote:
Fickbohm-Yes; Lee-Yes; Sandstrom-Yes; Strand-Yes; Milanowski-Yes; Crandall-Yes; Pocernich-Yes; Dougherty-Yes; Ray-Yes; Olsen-Yes; Holte-Yes; Rekemeyer-Yes; Rosa-Yes.
Yes-13, No-0, Absent-0. Motion Carried.
UW-Extension Annual Report Presentation, Mary Pardee. Mary Pardee presented the report.
She indicated that federal funding cuts may affect various programs in the future, notably the
Foodwise program that is funded through the SNAP program. Other USDA grants may also be
cut. Abeles-Allison, Ray, Fickbohm and Sandstrom offered compliments on the great work
Mary and her staff have done for the county.
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Board Of Adjustment Alternate Appointment.
Strand made a motion to approve the appointment of Darwin Adams as a Board of Adjustment
Alternate, seconded by Fickbohm. Motion carried, Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Guest Speaker, Secretary of State-Sarah Godlewski. Godlewski chairs the Board of
Commissioners of Public Lands that provides financing opportunities to communities. Spoke the
Harbor reconstruction in Bayfield now that the Ferry Line is publicly owned.
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Workforce Development Priority Areas.
Pederson gave a presentation on the findings of the Bayfield County Workforce work group. The
goal of the Workforce workgroup is to develop a set of strategies to build Bayfield County’s
capacity to attract and retain a skilled workforce for the next 20 years. She reviewed data and
shared future goals for the workgroup.
Amendment of Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-61 Recognition of the 250th
Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Ray made a motion to approve the
amendment to Bayfield County Resolution No.2025-6, Recognition of the 250th Anniversary of
the Declaration of Independence, seconded by Lee. Motion carried, Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Reports:
a.) Future County Board Meeting Dates:
a. July 29, 2025
b. August 26, 2025
c. September 30, 2025
b.) Emergency Declaration Process and Procedures. Abeles-Allison discussed the
purpose of declaring a Disaster/State of Emergency in Bayfield County. He stressed
the importance of reporting and documenting damage when natural disasters occur.
c.) Bayfield County Fair, August-7-11. Abeles-Allison stated that the deadline for free
exhibitor submittal is June 30, 2025.
d.) Pigeon Lake Request for Proposal. Abeles-Allison stated we have received a couple
of inquiries.
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Supervisors’ Reports:
Jan Lee attended the Northwest Lakes Conference for Invasive Species and Water Quality and was
pleased to report that they had a large attendance.
Steve Sandstrom, who serves on the WCA Agricultural, Environment, and Land Use Steering
Committee, indicated he will be attending a conference in Wisconsin Rapids on July 11, 2025.
Jeff Olsen stated the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Board of Directors are extremely active
in the Cable and Hayward area with ski and bike races and building bridges. He indicated that he
will help facilitate any zoning issues that arise. He also stressed the importance of the prevention of
tick bites as there has been another confirmed case of the Powassan virus in Bayfield County.
Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, Pocernich adjourned the meeting at
7:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Lynn M. Divine
Bayfield County Clerk
lmd/jc
Copies of Bayfield County Resolutions may be obtained by contacting the Bayfield County
Clerk’s Office at (715) 373-6100
The Bayfield County Code of Ordinances can be found at
https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/752/County-Ordinances