Buffalo County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

County awards LP gas contract; board to weigh overtime policy changes

The Buffalo County Finance and Human Resources Committee awarded a 45,000-gallon LP gas contract to Consolidated Energy Company at $1.175 per gallon, effective in September. The unanimous decision came at the committee's Aug. 20 meeting, which also approved monthly vendor invoices, payroll, and an investment report. Separately, the county's Board of Canvass certified the Aug. 13 election results with no changes to vote totals and no rejected votes.

Finance committee awards LP gas contract

The committee voted unanimously to award the LP gas bid to Consolidated Energy Company for 45,000 gallons at $1.175 per gallon, starting in September. The committee also approved the meeting agenda, minutes from its July 16 meeting, and the monthly financial reports. No other substantive actions were taken.

Election results certified

The Buffalo County Board of Canvass reviewed election materials from all municipalities for the Aug. 13, 2026 election. The board examined inspector's statements, tally sheets, and poll books, and certified the results with no changes to vote totals. No votes were rejected.

Other recent meetings

The Highway and Maintenance Committee met Aug. 11 to discuss a fuel contract, equipment sales (including a Bomag RS 500 and Case Dozer #106), radio rental costs, and the 2027 budget. The agenda was procedural, and minutes have not yet been published.

The Agriculture and Extension Education Subcommittee met Aug. 17 and approved its agenda and previous meeting minutes. No substantive policy decisions were made.

The Board of Adjustment held a public hearing Aug. 19 on a variance request for a dwelling at W1805 County Road S in the Town of Alma. The request seeks to waive the 100-foot road frontage requirement. No decision has been published.

The Local Emergency Planning Committee met Aug. 20 to review its hazardous materials response plan, receive spill reports, and hear updates. The agenda was routine.

Coming up

The Buffalo County Board of Supervisors will meet Aug. 24 (today) to consider three resolutions: amending Policy 103 on overtime, compensatory time, on-call pay, and shift differential; establishing on-call compensation for the Highway Department; and a resolution on Wisconsin Statute §70.11(20) requirements. The meeting includes a public comment period.

Economic Development Committee elects new chair, vice-chair; county boards set to weigh budgets and contracts

The Buffalo County Economic Development Committee elected Nathan Nelson as chair and Gary Stanton as vice-chair at its Aug. 5 meeting, according to official minutes. Nelson was elected by paper ballot; Stanton was appointed by unanimous voice vote. The committee also approved minutes from its April 16, 2026 meeting. No other decisions were recorded in the minutes.

Other recent meetings

Several other county bodies met over the past two weeks, though their minutes have not yet been published and no decisions are confirmed.

ADRC Committee (Aug. 3) – The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Buffalo and Pepin Counties discussed a 2026 budget modification for additional ADRC funding. The agenda also included a presentation on the Senior Nutrition Program and an ADRC/EBS financial report.

Health & Human Services & Veterans Committee (Aug. 6) – The committee discussed funding options for an Economic Support Specialist position, part of a consortium plan to create six new positions with $629,000 in support. Monthly reports from Veterans Services, Public Health, and DHHS were on the agenda, along with approval of vouchers and minutes.

Recycling Committee (Aug. 6) – The committee planned to elect a new chair and vice-chair, review 2027 budget items including per-capita funding and container repainting, and discuss mattress recycling options. Clean Sweep 2027 hazardous waste program planning was also listed.

Miscellaneous Agendas (July 28) – Local Elected Officials discussed the state's assumption of workforce development functions, reviewed Workforce Development Board bylaws and a WDB-LEO agreement, and addressed reconstituting the board and recruiting a new fiscal agent.

Coming up

Highway & Maintenance Committee (Aug. 11) – The committee will consider a fuel contract, equipment sales (Bomag RS 500, Case Dozer #106), radio rental costs ($2,300/month) and alternatives, and the 2027 budget. Road updates include CTH O, CTH H/HH, STH 35/54, and US Hwy 10.

Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (Aug. 12) – The commission will vote on the 2027 WisDOT Rural Transportation Work Program Plan, contracts for comprehensive plans for the Village of Norwalk, City of Osseo, and Town of Jefferson, and industrial park studies with 7 Rivers Alliance. It will also decide on offering administrative services to TUMMA.

County Board of Canvass (Aug. 13) – The board will canvass the Aug. 11 partisan primary election results.

Board of Adjustments (Aug. 19) – A public hearing will consider variance application VAR 2026-1 for Eric Parks, Jeff Pank, and Dawn Pank, seeking to treat a parcel as a lot of record to allow a dwelling at W1805 County Road S, Town of Alma, without the required 100 feet of road frontage.

Buffalo County roundup: Land sale authorized, $474,950 in highway vouchers approved, two variances granted

Buffalo County committees advanced several items this past week, including authorization to sell roughly two acres of land along US Highway 10, approval of nearly $475,000 in highway department vouchers, and two property variances in Nelson and Alma. Minutes for some meetings have not yet been published, so certain actions are reported from agendas and may be revised when official minutes are available.

Finance & Human Resources Committee

The Finance & Human Resources Committee met July 16 and, according to the agenda, authorized the County Administrator to sell approximately two acres of land along US Highway 10. The committee also took up several policy resolutions: amending Policy 103 to change overtime, compensatory time, on-call pay, and shift-differential rules; adopting Policy 405, a new Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Use policy; and designating public depositories. The County Vehicle and Fleet Operations policy was also updated. No action was taken on the Fountain City Rod and Gun Club's request for a property-tax exemption, pending further information. Official minutes for this meeting had not been published as of this report.

Highway Committee

The Highway Committee approved $474,950.92 in monthly vouchers at its July 14 meeting, covering vouchers numbered 31927 through 31995. The motion was made by Mr. Ruff, seconded by Mr. Sendelbach, and carried. The committee also voted not to renew the Culligan water system contract, which cost $1,387.20 per year, directing instead that the machine be removed and bottled water be purchased. That motion carried on a motion by Mr. Ruff, seconded by Mr. Sendelbach. Members additionally voted to proceed with a one-year plow-blade supply if funding is found; a roll-call vote showed all members in favor. The June 11, 2026 minutes were approved.

Board of Adjustments

The Board of Adjustments approved two variances unanimously at its July 10 hearing. Variance 2026-2, for Barry Johnson's accessory building in the Town of Nelson, was approved with zoning staff conditions and a requirement to shift the building footprint 10 feet south. Variance 2026-1, for Eric Parks and the Pank family's residential parcel in the Town of Alma, was approved subject to zoning staff conditions. The board tabled approval of the November 11, 2025 meeting minutes until its next hearing.

Land Management Committee

The Land Management Committee met twice during the period. On July 15, the committee approved its agenda and previous meeting minutes and set its next meeting for August 7 at 8 a.m., adjourning at 9:36 a.m. On July 17, the committee acted on an ordinance amendment to rezone part of the Town of Mondovi on the county zoning districts map; the motion was approved. The meeting also included a presentation on remonumentation of Nelson Township, discussion of data center issues (slated for a future agenda), a surveyor report noting field work planned for Maxville, and a director report on a DNR manure spill affecting Danuser Creek. Minutes for the July 17 meeting had not been published as of this report.

Other Meetings

The Buffalo/Pepin Community Justice Collaborating Council met July 15 to review program updates, including Reentry Program sustainability and jail nursing program policy changes. The agenda listed a request from Ms. Bautch for committee approval of 2027 TAD Grant funding. The CJCC financial report showed a balance of $31,639.66, and the Community Work Service Program reported 8 new participants in 2026. Minutes were not yet published.

The Highway Safety Commission met July 16 to review a request to lower the speed limit on County Trunk Highway OO and receive briefings on the Waumandee Creek Bridge overlay project and resurfacing projects on Highway 35/Highway 54, Indian Creek Road, and Highway 10. Reports on storm cleanup and sign theft on Highway 95 and County Road O were also on the agenda. Minutes were not yet published.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings were listed for the next 14 days. The Land Management Committee's next scheduled meeting is August 7 at 8 a.m.