Bayfield County Roundup: County Board Tackled EMS Proposals and Budget Resolutions; Most Outcomes Pending
The only fully documented action from the past two weeks of Bayfield County meetings was a routine minutes approval by the Transportation Coordinating Committee. Several other county bodies met or were scheduled to meet on major items — including EMS service proposals, land-use applications, and budget amendments — but official minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.
Transportation Coordinating Committee — July 21
The committee approved the minutes from its April 14, 2026 meeting, with all members in favor. Members also discussed the status of the Volunteer Driver Program and the expected delivery of a new electric bus in early 2027. No other actions were recorded in the available minutes.
County Board of Supervisors — July 28 (outcomes pending)
The County Board's agenda included several resolutions and a discussion on countywide EMS services. Because minutes have not yet been published, it is not known which items were approved or how any votes went.
Agenda items were:
- **Resolution 2026-70:** Increase the Human Service Risk Reserve Fund from $635,000 to $1 million.
- **Resolution 2026-71:** Budget allocation for the FY26 NG9-1-1 GIS Grant Program Track 2 Grant.
- **Resolution 2026-72:** Budget amendment for the 111 E 7th Street property purchase and $5,000 for improvements.
- **Resolution 2026-73:** 4-H CANSKI 2025–2026 season budget amendment.
- **EMS discussion:** Review of public input and analysis of proposals for countywide EMS services, including potential negotiations involving Essentia Health and Ashland Fire. A closed session for negotiations was anticipated.
- A presentation on data centers was also listed.
Planning & Zoning Committee — July 23 (outcomes pending)
The committee was scheduled to hold a public hearing and regular meeting on several land-use applications. No minutes have been published yet. Agenda items included:
- **Allan & Jeanette Forness:** Conditional use request for a shipping container in the R-1 district (Tax IDs 16822, 16616).
- **Scott Hoffman:** Conditional use to place a modular home on property with an existing residence in the A-1 district (Tax ID 16084).
- **Larry & Judith Hinz:** Petition to rezone from R-2 to R-1 (Tax ID 23931).
- **Blake Guski:** One-lot Certified Survey Map review in the A-1 district (Tax IDs 801, 805).
- **Grand View Station LLC:** Special use permit to construct a residence and garage in the Commercial district (Tax IDs 17874, 17873).
The committee also planned to discuss a zoning code rewrite and approve previous meeting minutes.
Board of Adjustment — July 30 (outcomes pending)
The board was scheduled to hold a public hearing on case #26-01B, in which applicants Stephen Nold and Susan Lindahl requested a reduced shoreline setback of 35 feet instead of the required 75 feet. The request would allow a driveway extension, a holding tank, and part of a new residence on a 0.87-acre lot. The agenda also included approval of February 26, 2026 meeting minutes, a status report on pending cases, and motions to enter and exit a closed session to confer with legal counsel about litigation strategy.
Ashland–Bayfield Consolidated PSAP Board — July 23 (outcomes pending)
The PSAP Board agenda included discussion and possible action on a 2026 budget amendment following the award of an Innovation Grant, a labor tracking system costing $5,000, CAD updates, 2027 budget topics, and authorization to search for a new PSAP Director. The meeting was held in person at the Bayfield County EOC. No minutes have been published.
Agriculture and Extension Education Committee — July 21 (outcomes pending)
This committee, overseeing UW-Extension matters, had action items including approval of May 13, 2026 meeting minutes and a vote on whether to move forward with the CANSKI Budget Amendment. Members also planned to discuss the 2027 UW-Extension budget and staffing possibilities for 2027. No minutes have been published.
Coming up
- **Highway Committee — August 5:** The committee will discuss and potentially act on 2027 Bridge Aid requests for several towns, including Argo Road (Town of Kelly), Oulu Pioneer Road (Town of Oulu), Klobucher Road and Keystone Road (Town of Keystone), and Green Road (Town of Orienta). The committee will also review the Local Small Structure Inspection Program and the High Risk Rural Roads Program.