[{"_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",6488390,"mediaKeyId","5590772-e786578b0873be987256ca6a68b77728","parentId",5590772,"title","County clerk reports records digitization and push to increase WisVote training for town clerks","audioSeconds",174,"startMs",50000,"endMs",224000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5590772-e786578b0873be987256ca6a68b77728&start=50&end=224","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5590772-e786578b0873be987256ca6a68b77728/thumbnail_50000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6488390/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/County-clerk-reports-records-digitization-and-push-to-increase-WisVote-training-for-town-clerks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488390-81eaa1cf0f771e202bf607f51e6d627f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770657699&Signature=kpEIIH25rkvsZYlwyGDgssr0WpGqmQ9Z1fHibjGknggkZUFbzey4Sm5YdRju~L9aVID3aNP64CHUEtDMDQ8ku14Sq9Ajft1gnu0aY08kJ~8ljvEM7fIHT5OokoJ5IR~KzVUuf6VK2i2ej1vCVZT88Pcdeq~LLjoXiJvUY4w9PLZq9VnyTIl0zIZU6dWH~IOv6sb-3-5spkz26Oas4W3dR1IQCVUhBP3FM~WvR0eiHeSGoHnJJgv7AbxEqVW4ePmZ6CNqylJceVX0oB3HM-Nmx1DbVrpSuFXd8JU-yoeHGHI1fTeGzzCGvJbdGkaBTUFq9Hky~OVVCmwvqiWPubPCaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sawyer County, WI ","date","2025-08-16T00:10:51.693Z","article","Sawyer County Clerk Miss Klein updated the administration committee on a push to digitize county records and to increase local town clerks' proficiency with the state's election-management system.

Klein said the county is converting records into searchable PDFs for posting on the county website to improve public access. \"We're converting all the county records into searchable PDFs to put on the website so people can look for information they're looking for easier,\" she said, adding the county has increased the number of public notices posted on the front page after a cooperative arrangement with LCO.

On election administration, Klein encouraged more town clerks to become trained and certified on WisVote so they can perform more tasks locally. She described a hybrid model used by one town in which the local clerk enters absentee requests and issues ballots while county staff handle the more technical work. \"If we could get all the clerks to get that level raised because it's better for election integrity because the clerks know their own voters,\" Klein said.

Klein said some towns currently depend on the county for services because clerks lacked training; she said about 14–15 out of 21 towns still rely on the county for portions of election administration. She said the county refunded an MOU payment to Glen Root after that town began providing more services locally.

Committee members asked questions about how widely training has been offered and whether clerks were aware of the certification option. Klein said she had emailed town clerks and planned to continue outreach and training support.

No formal action was taken; Klein said she will continue conversion work and outreach to towns about WisVote training.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Administration 2025 08 14","oneSentenceSummary","Sawyer County clerk reported progress converting county records to searchable PDFs for the website and said she is encouraging town clerks to complete WisVote training so towns can handle more election tasks locally.","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},6488395,"Sawyer County administration outlines budget pressures; committees asked for department focus areas",1298,296000,1594000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5590772-e786578b0873be987256ca6a68b77728&start=296&end=1594","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5590772-e786578b0873be987256ca6a68b77728/thumbnail_296000.jpg","/articles/6488395/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Sawyer-County-administration-outlines-budget-pressures-committees-asked-for-department-focus-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488395-82b1638e5123db518d7e0332f8bd3c2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770657699&Signature=KPJrWkfMQU37twi7BryaXR9lVbhZSv8Zzx8SlRPGTShWvaKOxb-r1j6y5Wpe9fkt7HJOCWtkwxxNMCKFugr6KDPUZptYFWB7GnC6fZLpxtowmzEvN4z~QdJ2saMocb1-3VyJ9ZdCgUkCdhbpy2XV4kVgp9tsTsi-mc6ypyx-uJeK4UKkHZ~WZ0PLFBErvo3L8RlZ5vSgheHea470z-s2aVC2Fgg58Qe8dPS1DbM9L-~kMW4bVxabFzb5ovUkJmLx3kAOxlebBxWxm15V7IO0baGk91MaXZMEgifTLPwJLnkRZaYB8DLcJRmfPatqfU9VgN5e4HemO5zpe2DqzL6ZCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County administration told the Sawyer County administration committee the preliminary budget for the coming year is likely to show mostly routine increases but flagged several one-time and recurring pressures, including software renewals, consolidated Microsoft licensing and personnel costs.

At the committee meeting Miss Merkin presented a preliminary budget overview and said most departments show normal increases over the prior year. \"What you're gonna see is really just normal increases from the year before,\" she said, adding that printing costs had been increased after past underbudgeting.

County Administrator Mike said committee members will be asked in August to submit up to three areas of focus for each department of jurisdiction; those submissions will feed a baseline for the county's strategic plan. \"That is to build a baseline for our strategic plan and get some unfiltered information from the people in the trenches... and from the community,\" Mike said.

The information technology report referenced a planned email consolidation and a larger software renewal cycle next year. An IT presenter said consolidating Microsoft products into a single billing structure contributed to a budget increase and that several multi-year software renewals will create a one-year spike. \"The IT budget [is] going up about $120,000 for software,\" the presenter said.

Human resources staffing changes were noted: the county has interviewed candidates for the maintenance director post and has posted the highway superintendent position after the incumbent announced retirement.

Administrators warned the upcoming budget cycle is more challenging than recent years because the county is unlikely to receive significant new revenue increases from sales taxes or interest earnings. The administrator explained timber sales and shared revenue helped in prior years, but those are not guaranteed sources going forward.

Committee members were asked to return strategic-plan focus sheets by the stated deadline so staff can compile them for the board. No final budget decisions or appropriations were made at the meeting; department heads and staff will return with detailed estimates and follow-up information during the budget process.","County staff told the administration committee to expect modest, routine increases in departmental budgets, flagged one-time software renewal and personnel cost pressures, and asked each committee to submit three focus areas for the county strategic plan.",{"_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},6488400,"Sawyer County veterans office reports steady claims work; county moves forward on veterans tribute project",2154,410000,2564000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5590772-e786578b0873be987256ca6a68b77728&start=410&end=2564","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5590772-e786578b0873be987256ca6a68b77728/thumbnail_410000.jpg","/articles/6488400/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Sawyer-County-veterans-office-reports-steady-claims-work-county-moves-forward-on-veterans-tribute-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488400-c69c7c75b1e7160d7391c68ed4c0cac0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770657699&Signature=jqx9qrC4dR4UNWbijTDBmPMrzt9QwkcHr456KYncUwNPcVem9D1iqjb7ki9l00qTd5AwQ~DFIg8DhabfHj6cxZPhM3616kHvrtTqbDOL3KlVYV2JwKmrFwP88BMwCxgiVXXEz~TF3j6UqxRj-hOI3axuamHec~7zTgFqSZpMxca62-t-x1EH7gGIz6EhThaEQ7ZduUr~xZ7sqwWZnFFrn71znXtjf0911RLUSmc295uDyFXncY7YbcPynqCB3Gg52TFbCRyBHweNO-v-PM4qipq4eItuun4l0N-qYwxrY5HgDUKKVrGCS0XabJ6g4KlalwQmaEsZKscw4RKn4gsiSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sawyer County Veterans Service Office reported high monthly contact and claims activity and told the administration committee the county brings significant federal veteran benefits back to local residents, while county staff also described next steps on a separate veterans tribute memorial project.

Veterans service officer Mister Elliott said the office handled 419 phone calls, 596 letters/emails/faxes and 213 office visits in July, and reported 907 disability claims filed year to date with a retroactive payment totaling $256,348.16. \"We usually average somewhere around, 24 to 25 I'd say 25,000,000 in in vet in benefits that come back to this county,\" Elliott said, describing the broader scale of benefits his office helps secure for residents.

Elliott emphasized that the number of claims can be misleading because a single claim may include many items that each require separate review. He described the office's low operating costs, saying support for telehealth and outreach often involves staff time and use of county space rather than direct payments: \"We'll load that up in the computer... give them a room that's... privacy and allow them to see, seek, you know, counseling,\" he said.

The office also highlighted limits in state capacity for veterans' residential care. Elliott said Wisconsin recently closed two veterans homes, leaving one remaining facility in Union Grove that he described as fully occupied. \"If the state really wants to do this, the state of Wisconsin... had a choice on what they cut and what they didn't cut for the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs,\" he said, arguing that gaps in state services require county officials to press for change.

Committee member Miss Cecil thanked Elliott for his work and asked how county resources link to veterans' mental-health supports. Elliott said many clinical services are provided by federal or VA partners and noted the county can help by connecting veterans to existing state and federal benefits or by advocating for expanded services at those levels.

Separately, county administration provided an update on the veterans tribute memorial project. County staff said SEH (the consultant) has completed visual inspections and is conducting a historical study. The county administrator described wanting clearer design plans, material specifications and a fund-raising strategy before bidding construction. He proposed offering commemorative bricks or tiles as one fundraising option and said the county will follow formal bid procedures when the design and budget are ready.

On the tribute's property status, staff told the committee the county does not yet own the proposed site. Committee members asked for a timeline and for the administrator to bring a schedule and cost estimate to the administrative committee as part of strategic-plan and budget discussions.

No formal action was taken on either the operational reports or the memorial update; the committee requested follow-up information and a timeline to inform future budgeting and potential fundraising.

The committee also discussed outreach events the veterans office organizes. Elliott said the office hosts \"coffee and conversation on the first Wednesday of every month\" and that La Crosse Vet Center group and individual sessions continue to be made available, sometimes with the county providing space and technical assistance when VA partners need it.

Members said they value the veterans office's work and asked staff to return with a project timeline and estimated costs for the tribute memorial so the administrative committee can consider funding needs during the budget process.","The Sawyer County veterans service office reported monthly caseload and benefit totals and described limits of state veteran-home capacity. County staff updated the committee on a planned veterans tribute memorial and preliminary design, fundraising and ownership questions.","actionData","errors"]

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County clerk reports records digitization and push to increase WisVote training for town clerks

Sawyer County administration outlines budget pressures; committees asked for department focus areas

Sawyer County veterans office reports steady claims work; county moves forward on veterans tribute project