Price County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Price County committees weigh budget, opioid funds, dam grant

Price County committees met last week on a range of items, from the 2027 budget and employee benefits to opioid settlement funding and a dam grant. All meetings were agenda-only, with minutes not yet published, so no final decisions have been reported.

Budget and employee benefits

The Administration Committee met Aug. 11 to discuss and possibly act on employee status updates, 2027 employee benefits, a 2027 budget wage increase, and an employee handbook update adding an Artificial Intelligence policy. The agenda included new hires, terminations, and recruitments for positions such as Behavioral Health Social Worker, Deputy Sheriff, and Forester. The benefits discussion covers health insurance, voluntary benefits, group life insurance, and a benefits fair scheduled for Oct. 21.

Opioid settlement funds

The Opioid Ad-Hoc Committee met Aug. 12 to recommend how to use opioid settlement funds. The committee reviewed minutes from its July 8 meeting, heard public comment, and proposed a list of funding allocations to the Health and Human Services Board. A next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9 if needed.

Public health funding and services

The Health and Human Services Board met Aug. 12 to consider a resolution supporting sustainable state funding for local public health departments. The board also reviewed vouchers, a committee appointment for Stacy Pomeroy (term June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2029), an opioid committee update, and the 2025 annual report.

That same day, the board held its annual public participation meeting to gather input on 2026 services and budget planning. The agenda covered five divisions: Aging & Disability, Behavioral Health, Children & Youth, Economic Support, and Public Health. No formal decisions were scheduled.

Infrastructure and equipment

The Executive Committee met Aug. 13 to consider an amendment to a WDNR dam grant application for the Cranberry Creek Dam, bridge and culvert aid resolutions for the towns of Fifield, Hill, and Prentice, and a request for proposals for law enforcement radio equipment. The committee also received updates on the 2027 budget, land records software, and a website refresh project.

The Law Enforcement Committee met the same day to discuss amending Ordinance Section 398-19 and the Sheriff's Office radio project, including the RFP for radio equipment. It also received reports from the Coroner, District Attorney, Clerk of Circuit Court, and Sheriff's Office, and covered staffing, humane officer/animal control, K-9 units, and jail updates.

Transit and election procedures

The Transportation Coordinating Committee met Aug. 17 to review funding sources for Butternut and Fifield, route reports from Park Falls, Phillips, and Minocqua transit, and program reports on fares, hours, budget, and funding. The meeting included a Webex option for remote participation.

Also on Aug. 17, the Board of Canvassers met to canvass votes from the Aug. 11 Partisan Primary Election and issue certification. This was a routine post-election procedural meeting.

Training notice

On Aug. 19, county officials attended a virtual training session on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) hosted by Wisconsin Emergency Management. No county business was discussed or acted upon.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. Residents should check the county's official meeting calendar for future agendas.

Price County committees weigh permits, bylaws, and nutrition council leadership

Price County residents saw several committee meetings scheduled over the past two weeks, but minutes have not yet been published for any of them. That means no decisions, votes, or outcomes can be confirmed from the available records — only the agendas that were set.

Veterans Service Commission

The Price County Veterans Service Commission met July 22 to consider updates to its bylaws, including a proposed change to Article II on membership that would add "Space Force." The agenda also listed updates on the DAV Van, the Kimberly Clark Pallet-Storage Program, the Spouses of Veterans Tax Credit, and donations from the Legions, Posts, DAVs, and VFWs.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not known whether the bylaws update was approved or what was reported on the other items.

Land Use and UW-Extension Committee

On July 23, the Land Use and UW-Extension Committee was scheduled to hold public hearings and make decisions on two conditional use permits:

• A small-scale restaurant and tavern at N11151 County Road F, Town of Flambeau.
• A dog boarding and retreat facility at W8854 Schnur Ln., Town of Lake.

The agenda also included follow-up on a conditional land use permit for a gravel pit at N9510 E. Solberg Lake Road, a land division request by Ezra Gotham on behalf of Ralph Winter to create two lots in the Town of Kennan, and UW-Extension updates from Assistant Dean Jason Hausler.

No vote tallies or outcomes are available because minutes have not been published.

Health and Human Services Board — Nutrition Advisory Council

The Nutrition Advisory Council met July 30 with an agenda to elect a Vice Chairperson. The council was also set to receive a financial report from the Senior Services Manager and review program reports for five areas: Brantwood, Kennan, Ogema, Park Falls, and Phillips.

The election result is not yet known because minutes have not been published.

What this means for residents

All three recent meetings were listed as "agenda only," meaning the public record so far shows what was planned for discussion, not what was decided. Residents who want to know whether the restaurant and tavern permit, the dog boarding facility permit, the bylaws change, or the Vice Chairperson election were approved should watch for the published minutes on the Price County website.

Coming up

The Highway & Transportation Committee meets Wednesday, August 5. The agenda includes bridge and culvert aid resolutions for the towns of Fifield, Hill, and Prentice, a review of the Five Year Capital Improvement Plan for highway, equipment, and facilities, and discussion of a patch trailer purchase. Residents in those towns, or anyone interested in county road and bridge spending, may want to attend or follow the minutes.

Price County committees weighed land sales, opioid funding, and new staff position; outcomes not yet on record

Price County committees met the week of July 7 to consider land sales, opioid funding allocation, and a new county position, but minutes have not yet been published for any of the three meetings, so no outcomes are confirmed on the public record.

Forestry & Parks / Buildings & Grounds Committee — July 7

The committee was scheduled to review department financial reports and project updates. Agenda items included a land sale inquiry for Tax ID#s 17538 and 17539, a private power easement on Holy Cross Road for Charles Schoen, a recreational gold prospecting request, a Cranberry Creek Dam discussion, and landscaping for the Courthouse and Normal Building. Minutes are not yet published, so no decisions or votes can be confirmed.

Opioid Ad-Hoc Committee — July 8

The committee was set to hold a public meeting to hear comments, approve minutes from the June 10, 2026 meeting, and receive presentations on opioid impacts. Scheduled presenters included Robert Knaack and Mark Distin from His House of Hope, along with presentations from Aspirus and Marshfield Medical Center. The agenda listed a discussion and recommendations on how to allocate opioid-related funding. The next meeting is scheduled for August 12, 2026. Minutes are not yet published.

Health & Human Services Board — July 8

The board was scheduled to vote on a resolution to create an additional Economic Support Specialist position. Other agenda items included a committee appointment for Suzy Ocker's seat (term 6/1/2026–5/31/2029), a subcommittee appointment for Robin Nielsen's seat on the Nutrition Advisory Council (term 5/1/2026–4/30/2028), an opioid committee update by Paula Houdek, and quarterly reports from the Aging & Disability, Behavioral Health, Children & Youth, and Economic Support units. Minutes are not yet published, so the outcome of the staffing resolution and appointments is not confirmed.

Coming up

July 22 — Veterans Service Commission: The commission will consider updating its bylaws to add "Space Force" to Article II membership language. Other items include a DAV Van update, a Kimberly Clark pallet-storage program update, a spouses of veterans tax credit update, and donations from the Legions, Posts, DAVs, and VFWs.

July 23 — Land Use and UW-Extension Committee: The committee will hold public hearings and make decisions on conditional use permits for a small-scale restaurant and tavern at N11151 County Road F, Town of Flambeau, and a dog boarding and retreat facility at W8854 Schnur Ln., Town of Lake. The committee will also follow up on a conditional land use permit for a gravel pit at N9510 E. Solberg Lake Road, review a land division request by Ezra Gotham on behalf of Ralph Winter to create two lots in the Town of Kennan, and hear UW-Extension updates from Assistant Dean Jason Hausler.