[{"_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",6063934,"mediaKeyId","3258723-617034b8777c873fbf706c145bbd08d4","parentId",3258723,"title","DNR, design and cost concerns cloud Sawyer County's County E reconstruction project","audioSeconds",816,"startMs",816000,"endMs",1632000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3258723-617034b8777c873fbf706c145bbd08d4&start=816&end=1632","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3258723-617034b8777c873fbf706c145bbd08d4/thumbnail_816000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6063934/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/DNR-design-and-cost-concerns-cloud-Sawyer-Countys-County-E-reconstruction-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063934-fea91a61ab10891dfd99d8d587bc5ed7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770867517&Signature=DW4HDcPcW5j0mjrwfQ8L9-fen6rKJZcxU7sCo3BalaBiEUedNsd8iAGz36bUpjumrW59A~H3MobytGcURI7xdy99SdXyeORo3CFTjpDIjpKFGIZeXYGyFsXuVOR6V3Zov2~qbRa0gHxwE9xYshIlzcMMLsTcD08KLRe9OwQbgbRjyARJvzAKfQxz3WLNPL4XoCx-GyXWojP~7y2hsaXAP7vEtqMSpMHW60ovK59K64hGICoaurrWgv8AF-TS6GG57qn9dPsDonuadednPgLC1c710T1KjalrrTKHE43xh6XCGkGxPLZJyQotVD5eV8Mzd~WkvY97qfZ3wTUGwxNFvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sawyer County, WI","date","2025-05-10T16:36:10.177Z","article","The Sawyer County Highway Department told the Public Works Committee that the County E reconstruction faces significant environmental and cost constraints tied to federal funding and pending DNR review, and that the project could be delayed again if state agencies do not approve design alternatives.

The highway commissioner (speaking as the department representative) said about $3.5 million in federal funding is available for the project but that the county already is on the hook for approximately $895,000 in local costs before right-of-way purchases and consultant fees. The commissioner said one design alternative would require \"almost a mile of retaining wall at over a million dollars county cost\" and warned the county could be on the hook for \"almost $2,000,000\" unless change management is approved by project sponsors.

The commissioner said County E North runs along Spring Lake and that DNR concerns about turtles and shoreline treatments (including restrictions on riprap) complicate acceptable designs. He said one option would be to \"pulverize and repave it on county dollar for less than a million\" but that federally funded alternatives trigger more stringent standards. The project, originally scheduled earlier, has been pushed back; the commissioner said construction is now expected in 2027 if approvals proceed.

Committee members asked about deadlines and alternatives; staff said they are short on time to submit 60% plans and that if the DNR delays or objects the project could be pushed back another year, increasing costs. The commissioner said he had provided the committee a list of alternatives and was working with experienced commissioners from other counties on next steps.

At the meeting the highway department also reported routine maintenance work: crack sealing and patching in preparation for County W paving starting May 19, replacement of about 793 signs on the State Highway 27 project, removal of road bans on May 21, and plans to start the CC Bridal bridge replacement mid-June (the bridge will be closed during construction with a signed detour). Staff encouraged residents to report complaints through the engineer or the airport manager when relevant.

The committee requested that staff gather cost estimates for county-led improvements (for example, adding guardrail or shoulder work on County F) and return with information so members can decide whether to pursue county-only fixes or pursue federal/state funding.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Works 2025 05 07","oneSentenceSummary","Highway staff told the Sawyer County Public Works Committee that federal funding rules, DNR requirements and potential retaining-wall costs could push county contributions into the high six figures or low millions and delay the County E reconstruction to 2027; staff presented alternatives including a county-funded pulverize-and-repave option.","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},6063939,"Sawyer County airport pavement removal moves quickly; McCain hangar lease transfer approved",439,368000,807000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3258723-617034b8777c873fbf706c145bbd08d4&start=368&end=807","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3258723-617034b8777c873fbf706c145bbd08d4/thumbnail_368000.jpg","/articles/6063939/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Sawyer-County-airport-pavement-removal-moves-quickly-McCain-hangar-lease-transfer-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063939-ee2dacd0ba606ae3a9b622faaae67553/orig.mp4?Expires=1770867517&Signature=DGP36ypNB8WCw6xg1a1vEmxwhIhW6-1~g1W9JiDvXD5fmo2h60-6O40Ht6fPaojQldhimTpP5ervZXt1OrdREsJPAHiBYzm~hNlNM~qtswskfCbct1XLH0n5PB7sEyV-kudnBP1~Bu1yXZm~plKIP08-yeKppijF1PufZXyhVBTrf44GyZQPy-tM7ruCcnavghsDkzLYFolYXOd4euyqsmp6bOj1QuaorojydZm4Wz3j~KXtgTQUfvt7X8ljbWB2x4uopf1BmMsEeGT228hiExK9edBY-Yplf-h4gEaPFzXBBcThYe~arUJBmPNWawX6iziAeoFixRjQ-gWDJ-HiVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sawyer County airport staff told the Public Works Committee that pavement removal on the county's airport improvement project is advancing rapidly and that the committee approved the transfer of a McCain hangar lease to a family trust.

Derek Lesley, speaking for the Sawyer County Airport, said crews \"hit it really hard\" and that pavement removals were expected to be finished \"tomorrow afternoon\" if weather and work schedules held. Lesley said equipment and trucks were staged and that surveyors planned markings for the next week; he added the county was optimistic the project could finish sooner than originally anticipated. Lesley also told the committee the airport may receive some money back for pavement being removed, which would allow work on deferred maintenance items.

The committee voted to approve a request to transfer the existing McCain hangar lease into the \"McCain Trust.\" The motion to approve the transfer was made by Mr. Evans and seconded by Mr. Newman; the committee approved the transfer.

Lesley and other airport representatives discussed several project details: material from the removed pavement is being hauled to the Millstone Mills pit on Highway 77, contractors had been putting in long workdays, and staff were considering doing some concrete-joint maintenance in-house to keep water from undermining pavement sections. Lesley said the airport layout plan cannot begin until the FAA approves the forecast, and he did not expect the master plan or layout plan work to be completed this year because of FAA timelines.

Committee members noted the airport improvement is large for the county: Lesley described it as \"a 4 and a half million dollar improvement to the airport.\" He also invited committee participation in the airport's July open house (formerly called a \"fly-in\").

No additional lease transfers or airport policy changes were acted on at the meeting; staff encouraged members and residents to report complaints to the airport manager or engineer so issues can be addressed promptly.","Airport representatives reported faster-than-expected pavement removal on the Sawyer County airport improvement project and the committee approved transferring a McCain hangar lease to a trust; staff said the airport layout plan and master plan remain delayed pending FAA approvals.",{"_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},6063943,"Sawyer County renews ATV/UTV road routes for one year amid resident safety concerns",1138,63000,1201000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3258723-617034b8777c873fbf706c145bbd08d4&start=63&end=1201","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3258723-617034b8777c873fbf706c145bbd08d4/thumbnail_63000.jpg","/articles/6063943/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Sawyer-County-renews-ATVUTV-road-routes-for-one-year-amid-resident-safety-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063943-c6d80a58dcdded07768c7057dfc982a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770867517&Signature=hPyaWMPcX80Dsg4cqHlz7AwbxmJZGKc9hVxV9sTe56T6xh1AbWNa47PNA-RIuqm0p6Ia6VInu3nwx4-BSqZp~rOe2kV6aBBq-KYyDJeaWEtrvnBIu54RUOuw~HzkyOTY7UKniSobHO5u7YFPAawuvc3IRzC1YDLzTJ0~kuelzt6kiZZIkKCK7agjgYMwD6St6KO3qXm1xvggRG8Klp-yeok8IfbQ-0GyQCUCBO3IRLbPoazhcGRyhEGe1kiyjb24tNCivoKkg47p8CXFDDSsAtVsMeBZhTh6IbwJicOvaoYUQ4-8ZRWpFZiW5H8UssQH0ypiA5gD9mJW6hIqLJBWPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sawyer County Public Works Committee voted to renew the county's listed ATV and UTV routes for another year after two residents urged caution and tighter oversight.

The motion to keep the current list in place for another year was made by Mr. Newman and seconded by Mr. Van Etten; the committee approved the renewal. The committee also discussed but did not adopt an automatic annual-renewal process, which staff said would require an ordinance change.

The renewal came after public comment from Kathy LaRue of the Sawyer County Snowmobile and ATV Alliance and Linda Zillmer, an Edgewater property owner, who described both benefits and problems from opening routes. LaRue told the committee the routes have \"provided a lot of connectivity for people\" and reduced demands on law enforcement, and she asked the committee to \"please consider renewing for another year.\" Zillmer said increased route openings after recent town elections had coincided with a rise in reckless driving and sign proliferation in the Birchwood and Edgewater area and asked the committee to consider ways to track and close problematic sections.

Committee members and staff weighed two operational proposals: (1) leave the ordinance and route list as written and renew for a year, or (2) revise the ordinance to make route renewals automatic and simplify the route list (for example, by stating broadly that county roads are open except for specified exclusions, rather than enumerating roughly 82 listed routes). Highway staff told the committee that an automatic renewal and code change were technically possible but not feasible this year because of limited staffing and the need to change the county code.

Members discussed the treatment of routes that pass through tribal lands. Staff said they could \"specify the routes that are open and closed within tribal boundaries\" during any future ordinance cleanup. No changes were made to how reservation roads are treated during the present renewal.

The committee did not adopt new enforcement measures at the meeting; Zillmer and others urged better tracking and closures when residents report dangerous behavior. Committee members asked staff to bring back proposed ordinance language and a cleanup plan for consideration next year.

The renewal vote extends the status quo while directing staff to consider a more permanent, simplified approach to route listings in the future.","The Sawyer County Public Works Committee voted to renew existing ATV and UTV routes for another year after public commenters described reckless driving and town board conflicts; staff said a permanent simplification of the ordinance will require more time and revision.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DNR, design and cost concerns cloud Sawyer County's County E reconstruction project

Sawyer County airport pavement removal moves quickly; McCain hangar lease transfer approved

Sawyer County renews ATV/UTV road routes for one year amid resident safety concerns