HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board of Supervisors - Minutes - 11/12/2025
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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
November 12, 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 6:00 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 -
absent; Charly Ray - present; Jeff Olsen - present; Fred Strand – present; Jeff Holte – present;
Marty Milanowski - present; Madelaine Rekemeyer – present via Teams; Jim Crandall - present;
Sue Rosa - present; Dennis Pocernich - present; Jan Lee - present. Present -12, Absent -1. A
quorum was present to conduct business.
Others Present: Mark Abeles-Allison, County Administrator; Lynn M. Divine, County Clerk;
Jaime Cadotte, Clerk II; Kris Kavajecz, Human Resources Director; Jake Benson, Highway
Commissioner; Tom Croteau, Sarah Traaholt, Heather Gilbertson, Stephanie Eder, Kathy
Wolfram-Moran, Tom Moran, Dick & Cheri Weidinger. Via Teams- Cheri Deragon, Heather
Lee, Keith Bailey, Tony Williams, Andy Runice, Brie Roland, and other members of the public.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.
Approval of October 28, 2025, Minutes: Milanowski made a motion to approve the October
28, 2025, meeting Minutes, seconded by Lee. Motion carried, Yes-13; No-0; Absent-0.
Public Comment: Tony Williams, Bayfield County Sheriff addressed concerns about the wage
study and doesn’t want it rushed through.
Bayfield County Resolution No.2025-133 Retirement of Kathy Wolfram-Moran. Abeles-
Allison gave recognition remarks and thanks to Kathy Wolfram-Moran, Bayfield County’s
longest standing employee. Kathy has worked for Bayfield County for 36 years. Ray made a
motion to approve Resolution No.2025-133, seconded by Milanowski. Motion carried, Yes-12,
No-0, Absent-1.
Bayfield County Highway Year End 2025 Report and Plans in 2026. Jake Benson, Bayfield
County Highway Commissioner gave a recap on projects for the Highway Department for 2025
and talked about project plans for 2026.
Discussion and Possible Action on Wage Compensation Plan for 2026. Kavajecz and
Abeles-Allison explained how the wage compensation plan works; it does not include Sheriff’s
or Highway Department union members. The board reviewed options for the pay schedule,
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recommending a 13-step schedule, setting the control point at 2.5% above the market median at
step 5, and ensuring a minimum 4.5% wage adjustment for all non-represented employees to
address concerns about lower-than-expected increases for some staff. Strand made a motion to
accept and implement the new proposal for the wage scale in 2026 which consists of 13 steps,
2.5% increments, second by Sandstrom. Roll call vote: Ray-Yes; Dougherty-Yes; Holte-Yes;
Lee-Yes; Pocernich-Yes; Sandstrom-Yes; Olsen-Yes; Rekemeyer-Yes; Rosa-Yes; Strand-Yes;
Milanowski-Yes, Crandall-Yes. Motion carried, Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1.
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Consent Agenda Items.
a) Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-121 Cooperative Law Enforcement
Services Between the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office and the Red Cliff Tribe
b) Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-122 Animal control 2025 Budget
Amendment
c) Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-123 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
2025 Budget Amendment
d) Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-124 Ashland-Bayfield County Emergency
Communications Center 2025 Budget Amendment
e) Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-125 Sheriff’s Office 2025 Budget
Amendment
f) Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-126 Planning & Zoning 2025 Budget
Amendment
Ray made a motion to approve the consent agenda items a-f, seconded by Lee. Roll call vote:
Ray-Yes; Rekemeyer-Yes; Sandstrom-Yes; Pocernich-Yes; Dougherty-Yes; Strand-Yes;
Milanowski-Yes; Lee-Yes; Crandall-Yes; Olsen-Yes; Rosa-Yes; Holte-Yes. Motion carried,
Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-127 Short-Term Bond Projects 2025 Budget
Amendment. Crandall made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2025-127, seconded by
Milanowski. Roll call vote: Pocernich-Yes; Sandstrom-Yes; Rosa- Yes; Dougherty-Yes;
Crandall-Yes; Ray-Yes; Rekemeyer-Yes; Lee-Yes; Milanowski-Yes; Olsen-Yes; Holte-Yes;
Strand-Yes. Motion carried, Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-128 Squad Fund 2025 Budget Amendment.
Milanowski made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2025-128, seconded by Holte. Roll call
vote: Ray-Yes; Rekemeyer-Yes; Olsen-Yes; Crandall-Yes; Sandstrom-Yes; Holte-Yes;
Dougherty-Yes; Pocernich-Yes; Rosa-Yes; Milanowski-Yes; Strand-Yes; Lee-Yes. Motion
carried, Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-129 Tax Charge Backs: Year of 2025-Town of Clover.
Motion by Sandstrom to approve Resolution No. 2025-129, seconded by Crandall. Roll call vote:
Ray-Yes; Rosa-Yes; Pocernich-Yes; Sandstrom-Yes; Dougherty-Yes; Lee-Yes; Rekemeyer-Yes;
Strand-Yes; Crandall-Yes, Holte-Yes; Olsen-Yes; Milanoski-Yes. Motion carried, Yes-12; No-0;
Absent-1.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-130 Designation of Authorized Depositories in 2026
for Bayfield County. Motion by Crandall to approve Resolution No. 2025-130, seconded by
Olsen. Motion carried, Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1.
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Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-131 Holding of Meetings as may be Necessary in
2026. Milanowski made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2025-131, seconded by Lee.
Motion carried, Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1.
Bayfield County Resolution No. 2025-132 Authorization for the County Board Chair,
County Clerk, and County Treasurer from Bayfield County to Borrow Funds on a Short-
Term Basis. Sandstrom made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2025-132, seconded by
Milansowski. Motion carried, Yes-12; No-0; Absent-1.
Reports:
a.) Future County Board Meeting Dates:
a. December 30, 2025 (No meeting planned)
b. January 27, 2026
c. February 24, 2026
b.) Aurora Place Update. Abeles-Allison gave an update on Aurora place housing
progress with some anticipated move-in dates in the end of December 2025 and
January and February of 2026.
c.) County Board Rules. Divine stated that they need to meet one more time before
being brought to Executive Committee.
d.) Board of Adjustment Decision. Denied conditional use permit for a mobile tower,
citing incompatibility with land use and potential adverse impacts.
e.) County Holiday Lunch. The holiday lunch will be Wednesday December 17, 2025,
from 11:30-1:00. Board members are recruited to help serve lunch.
Supervisors’ Reports: Strand reported that the Forestry Department sold 46 timber sales, covering
4,000 acres for $1,270,000 with annual sales totaling $3.5 million, meeting budget expectations
despite slightly lower prices.
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