HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board of Supervisors - Minutes - 9/30/2025
1
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
September 30, 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 6:01 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 via Teams; Jeff Holte –
present; Marty Milanowski - present; Madelaine Rekemeyer – present; 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; Lynn Hall and Ken
Disher; Xcel Energy, Vanessa Kane, Baker Tilly-remote via Teams.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.
Approval of August 26, 2025, Minutes: Milanowski made a motion to approve August 26,
2025, meeting Minutes, seconded by Rosa. Motion carried, Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Public Comment: None.
Introduction of Lynn Hall, Xcel Energy Community Relations Manager and Recognition of
Ken Disher: Mark AA recognizes Ken Disher for his work at Xcel as the Community Relations
Manager and introduces Lynn Hall as the new Xcel Energy Community Relations Manager, she
was previously working in Environmental Services for the last 15 years at the Xcel Power Plant .
2024 Audit Presentation, Baker Tilly: Vanessa Kane, manager of the County Audit is present
via Teams to give the 2024 Audit Presentation. She went over the auditor’s report, opinion for
the financial statement audit, and financial highlights. Baker Tilly issued an unmodified or clean
opinion on the financial statements for 2024 that state they are presented fairly and in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. Report on Federal and State awards had no
written compliance findings and no instances of noncompliance reported.
Consent Agenda Items: Crandall made a motion to approve all consent agenda items (a-f),
seconded by Rekemeyer. Roll call vote: Dougherty-Yes; Olsen-Yes; Rekemeyer-Yes;
Sandstrom-Yes; Fickbohm-Yes; Pocernich-Yes; Rosa-Yes; Ray-Yes; Lee-Yes; Strand-Yes;
Holte-Yes; Crandall-Yes; Milanowski-Yes. Motion carried, Yes-13, No-0; Absent-0.
2
Discussion and Possible Action, Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-105 Emergency
Management 2025 Budget Amendment for Tower HVAC. Milanowski made a motion to
approve Resolution No. 2025-105, seconded by Holte. Roll call vote: Dougherty-Yes; Olsen-
Yes; Rekemeyer-Yes; Sandstrom-Yes; Fickbohm-Yes; Pocernich-Yes; Rosa-Yes; Ray-Yes; Lee-
Yes; Strand-Yes; Holte-Yes; Crandall-Yes; Milanowski-Yes. Motion carried, Yes-13, No-0;
Absent-0.
Discussion and Possible Action, Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-106 Budget
Amendment for the Bayfield County Historical Society. Olsen made a motion to approve
Resolution No.2025-106 seconded by Lee. Roll call vote: Dougherty-Yes; Olsen-Yes;
Rekemeyer-Yes; Sandstrom-Yes; Fickbohm-Yes; Pocernich-Yes; Rosa-Yes; Ray-Yes; Lee-Yes;
Strand-Yes; Holte-Yes; Crandall-Yes; Milanowski-Yes. Motion carried, Yes-13, No-0; Absent-
0.
Discussion and Possible Action, Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-107 Ondossagon
School Housing Development Budget Amendment. Sandstrom made a motion to approve
Resolution No. 2025-107, seconded by Fickbohm. Roll call vote: Dougherty-Yes; Olsen-Yes;
Rekemeyer-Yes; Sandstrom-Yes; Fickbohm-Yes; Pocernich-Yes; Rosa-Yes; Ray-Yes; Lee-Yes;
Strand-Yes; Holte-Yes; Crandall-Yes; Milanowski-Yes. Motion carried, Yes-13, No-0; Absent-
0.
Discussion and Possible Action, Humane Officer Appointment Designation. Two sheriff
deputies, Stacia Macy and Luke Harnisch, went to state humane officer training, and both passed
the test. The Board needs to make the appointment of these two as Humane Officers, notify the
State and they will make it official. Fickbohm made a motion to appoint Macy and Harnisch as
Humane Officers, seconded by Lee. Motion carried, Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding $2,000 contribution for Cable sign. Decision
made to give item to Tourism Committee.
Discussion and Possible Action regarding the appointment of Pat Corneya to be a full
member of the Bayfield County Board of Adjustment and the replacement of the alternate
position. Pocernich nominates Pat Corneya as a full member of the Board of Adjustment, if
appointed his term would go through 06/30/2027. Ray made a motion to approve the nomination,
seconded by Lee. Motion carried, Yes-13, No-0; Absent-0.
Discussion and Possible Action, Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-108 Bond Issue.
Milanowski made a motion to approve Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-108 Bond Issue,
seconded by Holte. Roll call vote: Dougherty-Yes; Olsen-Yes; Rekemeyer-Yes; Sandstrom-Yes;
Fickbohm-Yes; Pocernich-Yes; Rosa-Yes; Ray-Yes; Lee-Yes; Strand-Yes; Holte-Yes; Crandall-
Yes; Milanowski-Yes. Motion carried, Yes-13, No-0; Absent-0.
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Bayfield County Assigned Fund Balance
Allocations. Ray made a motion to approve the Bayfield County Assigned Fund Balance as
presented, seconded by Sandstrom. Motion carried, Yes-13, No-0; Absent-
3
Reports:
a.) Future County Board Meeting Dates:
a. October 28, 2025
b. November 12, 2025 (Wednesday)
c. December 30, 2025 (No meeting planned)
b.) Budget 2026. Abeles-Allison talked about the budget and stated the Executive
Committee approved recommending the budget on to the County Board.
c.) Housing Initiatives. Kelly Westlund gave an update on housing. Housing projects are
moving ahead. The Aurora Place development in Washburn is progressing ahead of
schedule. Moving forward with Cornucopia, the Housing Authority has a request open
to any other property owners who might like to offer up land, there is currently a
preferred parcel with willing sellers but opened it up to see if there were other options.
d.) ERP Software Update. The county is moving ahead with selecting a new
accounting/software vendor.
e.) Indigenous Peoples Day. Included in the packet is a copy of our Indigenous Peoples
Day Resolution which is celebrated the second Monday of October.
Supervisors’ Reports: Fickbohm has a constituent who has gone through a lot of research on data
centers, and she is very concerned about them. She compiled some data on the topic for the Board
to read. Fickbohm also spoke about the Children’s Savings Accounts which is now called “SEED”
Saving Early for Education Dreams, and it has gotten off to a good start and is going very well.
Ray wanted to let Board members that there are conversations related to our school taxes and an
interest in having some transparency related to how much we spend on the private school vouchers
in the state and maybe have a line item on our tax bills that lets taxpayers know how much of the
levy is going to private schools.
Abeles-Allison let the Board members know that at 5:00 before the next board meeting on Tuesday,
October 28, 2025, that Ryan VanLanduyt (Energy Specialist) and Bill Bailey (President of Cheq
Bay Renewables) will give a presentation on the Energy projects that are going on in the county.
Ray asked for a quick update on Pigeon Lake. Abeles-Allison said a proposal was submitted to the
state and the state wanted an appraisal, so an appraisal firm was hired, Steigerwalt of Hayward and
waiting for a response.
Closed Session. Not necessary.
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Teamster Contract Ratification. Abeles-Allison
stated that at the last personnel meeting negotiations were held with Teamsters who represent the
Bayfield County Highway Department employees. Both parties agreed on the maximum
allowable amount, which was 2.64%. Motion made by Dougherty, seconded by Crandall to ratify
the Teamsters contract. Motion carried, Yes-13, No-0; Absent-0.
4
Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, Pocernich adjourned the meeting at
7:46 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