[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6273440,"mediaKeyId","3000716-5b100f29780010cd83b1a6ee185608d3","parentId",3000716,"title","Sawyer County approves $2.825 million public-safety radio upgrade, commits to debt financing","audioSeconds",753,"startMs",2543000,"endMs",3296000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000716-5b100f29780010cd83b1a6ee185608d3&start=2543&end=3296","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000716-5b100f29780010cd83b1a6ee185608d3/thumbnail_2543000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6273440/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Sawyer-County-approves-2825-million-public-safety-radio-upgrade-commits-to-debt-financing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273440-016f919709bd9b17d5041f2df0281746/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157595&Signature=jzeJDdjsJemhWUHMBCNdwqgOI1GDYKxqXQ8wazc0cFNmN18znGx1CxDP6yu07GJW-iWjIrA~MetgcaKDtuurYTGKVr20FDXIuQreDdqWuOFzxSwyQFxz~lWYfsR0uCulG4deBW~95nskoLdNgDTzBrzQUDzhJHvZZXSeRtgHK4xOfU6n5PxsAx7p4rSE73oUvHlm5g0L7KOMCfHDczTEhgM2RU0u3XastyZOT5rApsHwJYUW9OwGExMlMRBUkDA2t6ZyXsBbxGHZzSgh2FJaB6M~WVKkAiwjBGhF1J0iTOe0NVs0XQZIzRF1nEB06dwS7-ZZZ9NoXeomXRf7-5YJkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sawyer County, WI","date","2025-04-15T23:22:44Z","article","The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors voted to proceed with a GenCom public-safety radio system upgrade and committed to financing the project with a future debt issue.

The proposal, presented by GenCom and county staff, keeps the project budget at $2,825,000 and includes use of several leased tower locations plus construction of a new tower in the Draper area and equipment on the existing Flambeau Correctional Facility tower. Gary Pelletier of GenCom and county staff said the design aims to achieve maximum portable-radio coverage and includes contingencies and lease negotiations for tower sites.

County finance staff presented two financing scenarios over a 10-year period. The finance director estimated the “bottom line” cost impact at about 5¢ per $1,000 of assessed value; under that scenario a $300,000 home would see roughly $15 a year in additional county taxes if the debt were issued as modeled. “The bottom line here is about 5¢ per thousand, so on a $300,000 home would be about $15 a year in taxes,” the finance director explained.

Board discussion noted timing and contingencies: much of the system can be procured and installed before the Draper tower is built, while final leases and the Draper tower will take longer. County staff recommended committing to the project now and completing financing details later this year. The board approved the motion to proceed and to finance the project with future debt; the motion passed without recorded roll-call detail in the meeting minutes.

Project highlights:
- Total proposed budget including contingency: $2,825,000.
- New tower construction planned in Draper; additional coverage to use Meadowbrook, Edgewater area and the Flambeau Correctional Facility tower.
- Financing recommended via a future county debt issue; county staff presented 10-year amortization scenarios.
- Estimated mill-rate impact on homeowners: approximately $0.05 per $1,000 of assessed value (example given: about $15/year on a $300,000 home under one scenario).

County officials said earlier procurement of equipment is advisable to avoid long lead times and to keep the project schedule on track; approvals for some tower leases and a Draper build will follow. Implementation will also require final lease agreements and, later, a separate board action to approve the specific financing instrument (bond, note or other debt).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Board April 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors voted to proceed with a GenCom public-safety radio system upgrade and committed to financing the project with a future debt issue.","taxTitle","Sawyer County, Wisconsin","taxId",73055,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6273435,"Votes at a glance: Sawyer County board approves zoning ratifications, tax-deed ordinance changes, opioid budget and other measures",3183,3773000,6956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000716-5b100f29780010cd83b1a6ee185608d3&start=3773&end=6956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000716-5b100f29780010cd83b1a6ee185608d3/thumbnail_3773000.jpg","/articles/6273435/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Sawyer-County-board-approves-zoning-ratifications-tax-deed-ordinance-changes-opioid-budget-and-other-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273435-c318322ce4f14bece9443bd9777c02bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157595&Signature=SqrdC3GLbLDGfrvUKQOVnwhUS0Q-Us7wR8i9TnEpyJqhBA3f1Ruu2U~boqgv8eOgv0LaM-obs~2zSaR~CTwI9YTVkZnldRQij16aWDKh0vC-tarjxUmtYo0dlAjIjMekNILdZcjkwGay2NBVW3y2jUexup2DAYZUR8U-8-YNEEHJYir8r9s0kZokLba0DiFqgneajF0tDvRN2hmu6WVVBalViwlLTyysBCmSNAoThQWj3M~7BVZvsrjm0BPgqZdIEdDZ-VYR8IrlUidqS102OXaxaPkQf1NZg8r7gH4f8pBULEMT0VhMrxLW3vIwrqzHhzpg0QUEecq7QGGOPzv4qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors took a series of votes on routine and policy items during the meeting. Key outcomes are summarized below.

Rezone — Corman property (rezone 25-004)
- Motion: Approve rezone request (Matthew Corman and Steven Ann Corman) of 76.291 acres from Forestry 1 to Agricultural 1 to expand an existing cattle operation.
- Committee recommendation: Zoning committee recommended approval (5–0). Town of Meteor recommended approval (3–0). No adjacent-property objections returned.
- Board action: Motion to approve carried.

Ratification — Town of Spider Lake zoning map amendment (Wilson property)
- Motion: Ratify the Town of Spider Lake’s zone-district map amendment changing 17.08 acres owned by Eric and Cheryl Wilson from Forestry 1 / Residential Recreational 2 to Residential Recreational 1.
- Context: The town controls zoning in Spider Lake and requested county board ratification so Sawyer County’s official zoning map aligns with the town decision.
- Board action: Motion to ratify carried.

Resolution — Recreational trails aids (annual DNR submittal)
- Motion: Approve resolution to apply for recreational trails aids (snowmobile and ATV grants) required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
- Board action: Motion carried.

Ordinance update — Administration/management of tax-deeded land (Resolution 2025-04-9)
- Motion: Approve an amendment to the county code implementing state statutory changes to the tax-deed and tax-foreclosure process (Act 207/216 and related case law), shorten the county acquisition timeline and establish administrative fees.
- Key changes: County practice formally reduced from a prior 5-year wait to a maximum of 3 years to acquire title; new administrative fees were established (administration fee per tax-certificate and a $1,800 fee assessed when selling a property, plus recovery of legal and maintenance costs). Any proceeds above the county’s fees and costs will be returned to prior owners where required by statute and case law.
- Board action: Motion to approve the ordinance amendment and fee schedule carried.

Opioid-settlement budget (2025)
- Motion: Approve the proposed 2025 opioid-settlement budget.
- Details provided: County staff reported historical receipts (about $317,000 received through last year) and expected future receipts that vary annually through 2038; the packet proposed a $100,000 opioid spending plan for 2025 focused on harm reduction, prevention, treatment/recovery and staffing. Staff said the county expects settlement receipts through 2038 with annual amounts varying in the $60,000–$80,000 range in several years and that some settlement payments were advanced earlier in the process.
- Board action: Motion carried.

Health & Human Services fee-schedule amendment
- Motion: Approve amendments to the department fee schedule (clarifying language and adding fees for services missing from the schedule, including CBRF daily rate).
- Board action: Motion carried.

Library service plan (2025–2030)
- Motion: Adopt the county library service plan (required to maintain participation in the Northern Waters library system).
- Board action: Motion carried.

Assign general fund balance (dental)
- Motion: Assign fund balance related to self-insured dental program premium overpayments to a dental assigned fund balance for future claims/underpayments.
- Board action: Motion carried.

Appointment — Interim county administration duties
- Motion: Appoint Finance Director Mike Marker and Human Services staff member Rose (last name not specified in minutes) to split interim county-administrator duties at $50 per hour until a new county administrator is hired; weekly coordination meetings were scheduled.
- Board action: Motion carried.

How to read this roundup: each item above reflects the motion offered and the board’s recorded disposition at the meeting. Where the transcript or packet provided numeric detail, it is summarized; where packet figures were unclear or multi-year, the minutes are cited as the source and the board’s formal approval is noted.","The Sawyer County Board of Supervisors approved a package of zoning ratifications, ordinance updates and departmental budgets, including a tax-deed ordinance change, an opioid-settlement spending plan for 2025, and interim administrator appointments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6273446,"Ford Analytics briefing highlights Sawyer County’s aging population, workforce squeeze and housing affordability gap",1623,676000,2299000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000716-5b100f29780010cd83b1a6ee185608d3&start=676&end=2299","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000716-5b100f29780010cd83b1a6ee185608d3/thumbnail_676000.jpg","/articles/6273446/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Ford-Analytics-briefing-highlights-Sawyer-Countys-aging-population-workforce-squeeze-and-housing-affordability-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273446-2e6640decfcc729dcb6e29c26a2f5dd4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157596&Signature=HXQbhiUUKdlPg1is-OFtwCEY8PJqK-8mBUuXoytn-0wmiI9CL7U2QJ2vDyRrDP2JbhlbL1wacv6ZoiF871sFzlyNDX5yZ53hMaIWCFp-PAwepIl5yla4TdDk10nM5m6IwIquiCUVAciPtaRzjq24dWd8msDkIz~pI8NiX3WX8oNncceSJhzAZ779f4724uZw~6pAuIGxNSYHe9QJ1gbD1V7pk9yKAm2bi3qfpSNYw0VWqALAmdnpKJL9bxfFnkTFwbPm0VVgIMFWlSCD1RkBp8GvSxpgMN8tK6-sh-3MorwhXp81b4tNGbCeUBfGoFig2I41Ilb58kk33pzY9wJxLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dale Knapp, research director with Ford Analytics, told the Sawyer County Board of Supervisors that while the county has seen faster-than-average population growth since 2018, longer-term trends pose challenges for employers and public services.

Knapp said Sawyer County ranked seventh in the state for five-year population change from 2018–23 and fifth for county sales tax per capita, but noted persistent weaknesses including one of the higher poverty rates in Wisconsin and a relatively small prime working-age population. “I hope you use it,” Knapp told supervisors as he distributed the Ford Analytics briefing. “If you don’t like the numbers, figure out what you can do to make some changes,” he said.

Knapp highlighted several measures he said should concern county officials: an unemployment rate averaging 3.8% last year (above the statewide average he cited at about 3%), a low labor-force participation ranking, and a high share of residents aged 65 and older—approaching roughly 30% of the county population. He said the county’s 20–64 age cohort has grown faster than most counties since 2020 but remains small relative to peers. Using Department of Administration population projections, Knapp warned of a projected decline in the county’s prime working-age population and a rapid rise in residents aged 75 and older.

Housing affordability was a focus of the briefing. Knapp explained Ford Analytics’ metric comparing the affordability of homes on the market to the county median household income: “In February 2024, Sawyer County was at 62,” he said, meaning the median household had about 32% less income than required to afford the median home for sale. He attributed the change to a mix of income and sharply rising prices plus higher interest rates.

Knapp outlined potential responses discussed in other communities: direct incentives to attract new residents, down-payment or relocation assistance, partnerships with school districts to provide land for housing, and emerging programs that catalog local incentives for prospective movers. He noted some states and localities have experimented with cash incentives and “human TIF” arrangements that redirect income-tax receipts to recruit and retain residents.

Board members asked follow-up questions about model programs and local policy options; Knapp said many successful efforts begin at the municipal or county level and often involve public-private partnerships. County staff and board members tied the data to upcoming strategic planning and budgeting decisions, noting the presentation’s relevance to housing, economic development and senior services planning.

The presentation was delivered as part of the board’s packet materials supporting the county’s strategic planning work. Knapp said Ford Analytics can provide deeper, county-specific data on request.","Dale Knapp of Ford Analytics presented data showing recent population growth but a shrinking prime working-age cohort, rising senior population, and home affordability below 100 (62 as of Feb. 2024). The presentation tied those trends to county planning, workforce recruitment and housing policy choices.","actionData","errors"]

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Sawyer County approves $2.825 million public-safety radio upgrade, commits to debt financing

Votes at a glance: Sawyer County board approves zoning ratifications, tax-deed ordinance changes, opioid budget and other measures

Ford Analytics briefing highlights Sawyer County’s aging population, workforce squeeze and housing affordability gap