Dane meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Dane County Board approves rezoning, recycling facility contract, budget amendments

The Dane County Board approved 15 rezoning petitions, a contract for the Construction & Demolition Recycling Facility, and several budget amendments at its Aug. 13 meeting. The board also approved 16 consent calendar items and an ordinance regarding icebound lakes. All votes were voice votes with no recorded opposition.

County Board actions

The board approved a contract for operation of the Construction & Demolition Recycling Facility by a two-thirds vote, and established Waste and Renewables donation revenue/expenditure accounts by a two-thirds vote. It also approved a 2026 operating budget amendment for Pretrial Services electronic monitoring by a two-thirds vote.

The 16 consent calendar items included a flood insurance study update, landfill fees, speed limits, and multiple contracts. The board also approved bills over $10,000 and the minutes of its July 16 meeting.

Other committee decisions

The Opioid Settlement Subcommittee recommended a 2027 funding plan to the Health & Human Needs Committee, including continued opioid settlement funding, up to $10,000 for a needs assessment, and a reduction in syringe service staffing from 3 to 1 FTE. The recommendation passed 4-0 with 2 abstentions. The subcommittee also recommended reallocating savings from the FTE reduction to syringe services (4-0, 2 abstentions) and deferring drop-in center contracting until the needs assessment is complete (4-0, 2 abstentions). It struck items on syringe service program funding, semi-annual reporting, and disclosure of other funding sources.

The Health & Human Needs Committee unanimously recommended approval of four contracts and fund acceptance: a CCS contract with Alina Medical Center, a professional services contract with Greenfield Rehabilitation Agency, acceptance of funds from the City of Madison, and a POS contract amendment with WiSHOPE Inc. All passed 6-0.

The Personnel & Finance Committee recommended 17 resolutions and 1 ordinance amendment to the County Board, all by 6-0 voice votes. Items included contracts for airport services, county facilities, and social services, plus budget amendments. The committee also approved 10 administrative action items including expense appeals and vacancy requests.

The Board of Health for Madison and Dane County approved two resolutions unanimously (7-0): acceptance of funds from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the 'Take a Hike, Not a Tick' project, and line-item budget transfers.

The Lakes & Watershed Commission adopted its Draft 2027 Budget Recommendations by a 7-0 voice vote. A proposed amendment to model the Yahara Chain of Lakes at summer minimum levels failed on a 2-6 roll call vote.

Informational meetings

Several meetings were held for information only, with no business conducted. The County Board held two 2027 Budget Engagement Sessions (Aug. 4 and Aug. 7) and an information session and tour at Henry Vilas Zoo (Aug. 7). The Tree Board toured Olbrich Botanical Gardens on Aug. 11 with no official business.

Coming up

• **Airport Commission** (Aug. 17): Review of a land donation from the City of Madison, a lease with Breeze Aviation Group, and the proposed 2027 airport budget.
• **Board of Canvassers** (Aug. 17 and Aug. 18): Canvass and certification of the Aug. 11 partisan primary results.
• **Public Works & Transportation Committee** (Aug. 18): Fund transfers for Alliant Energy Center redevelopment and Waste and Renewables, plus contracts and leases.
• **Public Protection & Judiciary Committee** (Aug. 18): Jail diversion housing contract with House of Mercy, LLC, RACOM contract addendum, and grant acceptance.
• **Health & Human Needs Committee** (Aug. 20): Lease at the Dane County Job Center, CDBG Pro Housing awards, and Opioid Settlement Subcommittee recommendations.
• **Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee** (Aug. 20): Agreements for Yahara watershed and Glacial Drumlin Trail connector.
• **County Board** (Aug. 27): 2027 Budget Training Session (no business conducted).

Dane County Zoning Committee Approves Mineral Extraction Permit, Multiple Land-Use Requests

The Zoning & Land Regulation Committee approved a mineral extraction conditional use permit and recommended approval of 11 zoning petitions at its July 28 meeting, along with several other land-use actions. The committee also approved four other conditional use permits and a land division waiver, while postponing two County of Dane petitions.

Zoning and land use

The committee voted 5-0 to approve a mineral extraction conditional use permit for Hepta S Inc. It also approved, each by 5-0 votes, conditional use permits for transient lodging (Nathaniel T McGree), a caretaker's residence (Waubesa Boat Works LLC), a limited family business (Tyler J Bronkhorst), and a garage height variance (Brandon Scullion).

A land division waiver for the Pfeiffer Trust was approved 5-0. The committee recommended approval of Ordinance Amendment 008, which addresses flood insurance study provisions, also by a 5-0 vote. Two petitions for the County of Dane — Rezone 12300 and CUP 2712 — were postponed by a 5-0 vote.

Insurance recommendation

The Employee-Management Insurance Advisory Committee voted 13-3 on July 30 to recommend insurance Option D and a cash in lieu proposal to the County Board for the 2027 Employee Handbook. A separate motion to recommend Option E with the cash in lieu proposal was defeated 6-10. The committee also approved its June 10 meeting minutes by voice vote.

Health board actions

The Board of Health for Madison and Dane County approved two resolutions at its August 5 meeting. Resolution 2026 BOH RES-023 authorizes acceptance of funds from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the 'Take a Hike, Not a Tick' project, passed 7-0. Resolution 2026 BOH RES-024 authorizing line-item budget transfers also passed 7-0. The board approved minutes from July 17, 2026, by a 6-0 vote.

Other meetings

The Opioid Settlement Subcommittee approved minutes from June 15 and July 13, 2026, each by 5-0 votes, at its July 27 meeting. It tabled the 2027 Annual Report and Recommendations to the Health and Human Needs Committee until August 3.

The County Board held multiple 2027 Budget Engagement Sessions on July 28, July 30, August 4, and August 7. According to the agendas, no business was conducted at these sessions. An information session and tour at the Henry Vilas Zoo was also held August 7 with no official business.

Several other committees met during the period with agendas only and no published minutes, including the Area Agency on Aging Board, City-County Homeless Issues Committee, Henry Vilas Zoo Commission, Advisory Committee on Data Centers, Reclassification Appeals Board, Broadband Task Force, Nutrition/Wellness Committee, Insurance Advisory RFP Subcommittee, Lakes & Watershed Commission, Youth Commission, Library Board, and Health & Human Needs Committee.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the next 14 days according to the provided data.

Dane County committees advance Alliant Energy Center rezoning, landfill fees, park land deals in busy week

Dane County committees took action on more than a dozen items in the week ending July 30, 2026, with the Alliant Energy Center Redevelopment Committee approving a condensed master plan and authorizing a rezoning application to the City of Madison for campus mixed-use sites.

Alliant Energy Center master plan advances

The Alliant Energy Center Redevelopment Committee approved a condensed version of the 2018 Master Plan on July 20 and authorized its submission to the City of Madison along with a rezoning application for campus mixed-use sites. Both actions passed by voice vote. The committee also approved minutes from its May 18, 2026 meeting. A separate July 20 meeting of the same committee was scheduled for discussion only — on who benefits and who is burdened by redevelopment and how to mitigate unintended consequences — with no committee business conducted.

Public Works & Transportation Committee

On July 21, the committee voted 4-0 on eight items. It recommended approval of landfill fee revisions, county highway speed limit adjustments, airport rental car concession agreements, airport master plan updates via Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., and a Ferris Center demolition contract to Speedway Sand & Gravel Inc. The committee approved five contract change orders for the jail consolidation project at 115 W. Doty St. and four contract change orders for PSC new facility construction. A lease with Employment and Training Association of Dane County, Inc. was postponed, also 4-0.

Park Commission recommends land deals

The Park Commission voted 5-0 on July 22 to recommend approval of RES-091, authorizing the sale of an easement at Babcock County Park to the Village of McFarland, and RES-092, authorizing land acquisition for Anderson Farm County Park. The commission also approved July 8, 2026 minutes (5-0) and received a presentation on forest restoration at the Springfield Hill Natural Resource Area.

Insurance committee backs Option D

The Employee-Management Insurance Advisory Committee voted on July 30 to recommend insurance Option D and a cash in lieu proposal for the 2027 Employee Handbook to the County Board, passing 13-3. A separate motion to recommend insurance Option E with the cash in lieu proposal was defeated 6-10. The committee also approved June 10, 2026 minutes by voice vote.

Pretrial monitoring budget amendment recommended

The Public Protection & Judiciary Committee recommended approval on July 21 of RES-097, amending the 2026 operating budget for Pretrial Services electronic monitoring, by a 4-0 vote. The committee approved June 30, 2026 minutes (4-0) and held discussions on an Automated License Plate Reader RFP, with presentations from the Juvenile Court Program and Corporation Counsel.

Land Conservation fee schedule approved

The Land Conservation Committee approved a new fee schedule on July 23 by a 4-1 vote with 2 abstentions. The committee approved June 11, 2026 minutes 7-0. Chair Blazewicz announced he is stepping down, and Vice Chair Fries will assume the chair role.

PSA-DMF study finds no measurable effect

The Community Justice Council's Pre-Trial Services Subcommittee received a presentation on July 23 from Professor Jim Greiner of Harvard Law School on a randomized control trial evaluating the Public Safety Assessment and Decision-Making Framework in Dane County. The study concluded the tool produced no measurable effects on failure to appear, criminal activity, or incarceration days. The subcommittee postponed consideration of June 4 and July 10, 2026 minutes.

Other meetings

The UW Extension Committee approved June 22, 2026 minutes and received presentations on dairy programming, winter barley trials, and a report on budget reduction proposals and staffing. The Opioid Settlement Subcommittee approved June 15 and July 13, 2026 minutes (5-0 each) and tabled the 2027 Annual Report and Recommendations to HHN until August 3, 2026. Several bodies met in agenda-only sessions with no published minutes, including the Airport Commission, Equal Opportunity Commission, Food Council, County Board property tour, and Zoning & Land Regulation Committee public hearings on 15 rezone petitions and four conditional use permits.

Coming up

• **Aug. 3** — Opioid Settlement Subcommittee meets to finalize and vote on the 2027 annual report and recommendations (RPT-269); hybrid at City-County Building Room 357 or Zoom.
• **Aug. 4** — Advisory Committee on Data Centers holds a hybrid meeting with presentations by Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin and Clean Wisconsin, plus a public comment period.
• **Aug. 5** — Lakes & Watershed Commission discusses 2027 budget recommendations and a Chapter 49 Ordinance Amendment update.
• **Aug. 6** — Health & Human Needs Committee reviews four service-contract resolutions, including a new CCS contract with Alina Medical Center (RES-077) and a POS contract amendment with Wishope Inc. (RES-093).
• **Aug. 6** — Library Board votes on the 2027 proposed budget.

Dane County Board approves affordable housing agreements at 952 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

The Dane County Board adopted a resolution approving agreements for an affordable housing project at 952 N. Fair Oaks Ave. in Madison, the most consequential action in a busy two weeks of county meetings. The board approved the measure by voice vote on July 16, 2026, following earlier recommendations from the Health & Human Needs Committee (6-0) and the Personnel & Finance Committee (7-0).

County Board actions July 16

The board adopted multiple resolutions by voice vote, including:

• RES-005: Agreements for the affordable housing project at 952 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
• RES-052: Urban water quality grant to the City of Sun Prairie.
• RES-058: Addendum to contract 16119 with Icon Venue Group LLC.
• RES-060: Contract for medication vending machine support with the City of Madison.
• RES-067: Employee group dental insurance contract.
• RES-068: Change order for Dane County landfill site construction at 4402 Brandt Rd.
• RES-071: Sale of easements at Babcock County Park to Town of Dunn Sanitary District No. 3.
• RES-072: Sale of easements at Babcock County Park to Kegonsa Sanitary District.

The board also denied five insurance and service claims and adopted multiple zoning petitions, each by voice vote.

Personnel & Finance Committee

On July 13, the Personnel & Finance Committee approved June 16, 2026 minutes (7-0) and took action on more than 20 items, all by 7-0 votes. Approved fund transfers included the Highway Capital Bridge Project, the Office of Justice Reform, and a vehicle purchase. The committee recommended to the County Board the affordable housing project at 952 N. Fair Oaks Ave., the Sun Prairie water quality grant, the Icon Venue Group LLC contract addendum, the City of Madison medication vending machine support contract, DHS FoodShare administration funds, a WI DOT freeway service team contract, the employee group dental insurance contract, the Dane County Landfill construction change order, DOJ behavioral health grant funds, both Babcock County Park easement sales, and a professional engineering services addendum.

The committee also approved expense appeals for Kingree, Bruce, and Larson; a Juvenile Court vacancy filling; bid request waivers for Urban League, Pharo Marine, Viapath, and General Kinematics; and July 13, 2026 bills and accounts — each by 7-0.

Health & Human Needs Committee

On July 9, the committee approved June 11, 2025 minutes (6-0) and recommended three resolutions: affordable housing agreements at 952 N. Fair Oaks Ave. (6-0), FoodShare administration funds (6-0), and Wisconsin Department of Justice grant funds (5-0).

Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

On July 9, the committee approved June 11, 2026 minutes (5-0) and recommended approval of an ordinance amending Chapter 71 regarding icebound lakes (5-0), an Urban Water Quality Grant award for the City of Sun Prairie (5-0), and both Babcock County Park easement sales — to Town of Dunn Sanitary District No. 3 (5-0) and to Kegonsa Sanitary District (5-0).

Opioid Settlement Subcommittee

On July 13, the subcommittee elected Supervisor Colin Barushok as Co-Chair, uncontested. It set Thursday, August 20, 2026 as the due date for the 2027 Annual Report and Recommendations to the Health and Human Needs Committee. Members agreed to complete an ethics-training video and email staff member Kelsi Gullickson upon completion. The meeting was adjourned by a motion of Chair Galey, seconded by Smith.

Henry Vilas Zoo Commission

On July 7, the commission approved the July 7 meeting minutes by voice vote and scheduled future meetings for August 4, September 8, October 6, and November 10. The meeting adjourned unanimously at 9:12 a.m.

Board of Health Budget Committee

On July 17, the committee approved June 18, 2026 minutes (voice vote 2-0), approved the 2027 public health budget proposal presentation and referred it to the full Board of Health (voice vote 2-0), and adjourned (voice vote 2-0).

Coming up

• **July 20 — Alliant Energy Center Redevelopment Committee:** Will consider approving the Condensed Master Plan and authorizing its submission with a rezoning application for campus mixed-use sites to the City of Madison.
• **July 20 — Airport Commission:** Will vote on rental car concession contracts (RES-083), a master plan update contract with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (RES-084), and a foreign-trade subzone designation request (RES-086).
• **July 21 — Public Protection & Judiciary Committee:** Will consider RES-097 amending the 2026 Pretrial Services Department operating budget for electronic monitoring, and discuss an automated license plate reader request for proposals.
• **July 22 — Park Commission:** Will vote on RES-091 authorizing sale of an easement at Babcock County Park to the Village of McFarland, and RES-092 authorizing land acquisition for Anderson Farm County Park.
• **July 23 — Community Justice Council / Pre-Trial Services Subcommittee (joint):** Will hear Professor Jim Greiner of Harvard Law School present Public Safety Assessment Report final results from a multi-county randomized control study.

Dane County committees approve infrastructure contracts, housing agreements, and icebound lakes ordinance

Dane County committees advanced a slate of infrastructure contracts, an affordable housing agreement, and an ordinance amendment on icebound lakes during the first week of July, with several items now heading to the County Board for final action.

Infrastructure and facility upgrades approved

The Public Works & Transportation Committee approved a series of contracts and fund transfers on June 30, all by 5-0 votes. Items included a Highway Capital Bridge Fund Transfer, Contract Change Order #05 for Courthouse Cooling, Contract Change Order #06 for the District Attorney's Office, Contract Change Order #01 for Landfill Site 03, and Addendum #6 to an Engineering Services Contract. The committee also approved a Declaration of Conditions for the Sustainability Campus (5-0). A lease agreement with the Employment and Training Association was postponed to the next meeting (5-0).

Affordable housing and social services recommendations

On July 9, the Health & Human Needs Committee recommended approval of affordable housing agreements for a project at 952 N. Fair Oaks Ave. (6-0). The committee also recommended FoodShare administration funds (6-0) and Wisconsin Department of Justice grant funds (5-0). The June 11, 2025 minutes were approved 6-0.

These housing agreements are among the items the Personnel & Finance Committee is scheduled to review at its July 13 meeting, along with the landfill construction change order and the Babcock County Park easement sales.

Icebound lakes ordinance advances through multiple bodies

Ordinance Amendment 2026 OA-005, amending Chapter 71 of the Dane County Code regarding icebound lakes, received recommendations from three bodies. The Public Protection & Judiciary Committee recommended approval 5-0 on June 30. The Lakes & Watershed Commission recommended approval 8-0 on July 1. The Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee also recommended approval 5-0 on July 9. The County Board is scheduled to consider the ordinance on July 16.

The Lakes & Watershed Commission also elected Dan Blazewicz as Chair and Alan Levin as Vice Chair, both unanimously. A presentation on neonicotinoid insecticides prompted staff to investigate potential regulatory authority. The March 4, 2026 minutes were approved 5-0 with 3 abstentions.

Babcock County Park easement sales recommended

The Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee recommended approval of easement sales at Babcock County Park to the Town of Dunn Sanitary District No. 3 (5-0) and to Kegonsa Sanitary District (5-0). The committee also recommended an Urban Water Quality Grant award for the City of Sun Prairie (5-0) and approved June 11, 2026 minutes (5-0).

The Park Commission had been scheduled to review resolutions on these easement sales (Resolution 2026 RES-071 and RES-072) on July 8, along with a presentation on the history of Scheidegger Forest. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published.

Public Protection & Judiciary Committee actions

On June 30, the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee recommended fund transfers for the Office of Justice Reform and for a vehicle purchase, both 5-0. The committee also recommended resolutions urging severe weather emergency plans (RES-047), supporting a medication vending machine contract (RES-060), and authorizing a freeway service team contract (RES-066), all by 5-0 votes. June 9, 2026 minutes were approved 5-0.

Meetings with no published minutes

Several committees met between July 6 and July 8 with agendas only, meaning minutes are not yet available. These included the City-County Homeless Issues Committee, which reviewed the 2027 budget outlook and a HUD Notice of Funding Opportunity overview; the CDBG Commission, which held a public hearing on Round 3 PRO Housing Grant funding recommendations; the Henry Vilas Zoo Commission, which reviewed an interpretive master plan; the Traffic Safety Commission, which reviewed seven traffic crashes resulting in eight fatalities and two injuries between April and June 2026; and the Safety and Working Conditions Study Committee, which discussed extreme cold impacts on worker safety. A County Board supervisor training session on July 7 conducted no official business.

Coming up

• **July 13 — Personnel & Finance Committee:** Will consider affordable housing agreements at 952 N. Fair Oaks Ave., landfill construction changes at 4402 Brandt Rd., Babcock County Park easement sales, employee dental insurance, and multiple fund transfers.
• **July 16 — County Board:** Will consider multiple rural rezoning petitions, Ordinance 2026 OA-005 on icebound lakes, and approval of bills over $10,000 (2026 PAY-011).
• **July 16 — Executive Committee:** Will consider resolutions urging Wisconsin to adopt severe weather emergency plans for mobile and manufactured home communities and to advance non-animal testing methods.
• **July 17 — Board of Health for Madison and Dane County:** Will review the 2027 Public Health budget proposal, a UW Population Health Service Fellows Program agreement, and grant acceptances from the Medical College of Wisconsin and the UC System.
• **July 23 — Community Justice Council / Pre-Trial Services Subcommittee:** Joint meeting featuring a presentation by Harvard Law School Professor Jim Greiner on Public Safety Assessment report results.

Dane County Board approves Sustainability Campus construction contract; housing and shelter items advance

The Dane County Board approved a contract with J.P. Cullen & Sons for initial building and infrastructure construction of the county's Sustainability Campus, a decision requiring a two-thirds vote. The board also approved two affordable housing projects and an emergency men's shelter agreement during its June 25 meeting.

County Board: Construction, housing, and shelter

The County Board's June 25 meeting produced the week's largest set of decisions. Alongside the Sustainability Campus construction contract, the board denied a contract for an RNG maintenance shop after the initial adoption motion failed and denial carried. On the consent calendar, the board approved an affordable housing project at 606 Reeve Rd, Waunakee, and another at 103 Perimeter Rd, Mount Horeb. It also approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Madison for an emergency men's shelter, a rezoning at 7228 Pine Row Rd that removed a wetland overlay, an Aurelian Voice Assistant Platform contract (Sub. 1), and land acquisition for the Badfish Creek Natural Resource Area. A separate County Board meeting that day, held as a Committee of the Whole, received a budget and financial trends presentation with no action taken.

Zoning & Land Regulation Committee: 8 rezones approved, 6 postponed

The Zoning & Land Regulation Committee recommended approval of 8 rezoning petitions on June 23, all by 5-0 votes. Approved items included rezone 12282 for residence separation with an easement condition, rezone 12284 with a deed restriction prohibiting further nonfarm development, and rezone 12290 for a 4-lot subdivision with a deed restriction. The committee postponed 4 rezones and 2 conditional use permits, also by 5-0 votes, including rezone 12295 for a 10-lot TDR subdivision pending town action, CUP 2707 for a short-term rental pending a town report, and CUP 2708 for outdoor storage needing more information. A separate site inspection that day for a proposed rezoning from FP-35 to HC Heavy Commercial at the Patton Road/County Hwy V intersection produced no testimony or actions.

Park Commission adopts 2027 fees

The Park Commission adopted the 2027 Dane County Parks fees by a 6-0 vote on June 24. The commission also approved its June 10, 2026 minutes (6-0), reviewed a draft of the Park Commission Manual, and recognized outgoing members.

Public Works & Transportation Committee

On June 30, the committee approved a Highway Capital Bridge Fund Transfer, Contract Change Order #05 for Courthouse Cooling, Contract Change Order #06 for the District Attorney's Office, Contract Change Order #01 for Landfill Site 03, and Addendum #6 to the Engineering Services Contract — all 5-0. It also approved a Declaration of Conditions for the Sustainability Campus (5-0) and postponed a lease with the Employment and Training Association to the next meeting (5-0).

Icebound lakes ordinance advances

The Public Protection & Judiciary Committee recommended approval of an ordinance amending Chapter 71 regarding icebound lakes (OA-005) on June 30, by 5-0. The Lakes & Watershed Commission followed with its own recommendation of OA-005 on July 1, voting 8-0. The commission also elected Dan Blazewicz as Chair and Alan Levin as Vice Chair, both unanimously, and approved March 4, 2026 minutes (5-0, 3 abstentions). A presentation on neonicotinoid insecticides prompted staff to investigate potential regulatory authority.

Leadership elections and routine business

The Specialized Transportation Commission elected Matt Veldran as Chair (5 votes vs 1, 1 abstain) and Jennifer Hardesty as Vice Chair (5 votes vs 1, 1 abstain) on June 24. The Condemnation Commission re-elected Allen Arntsen as Chair and Joel Batha as Vice Chair (unanimous) on June 25. The Executive Committee recommended approval of RES-054 regarding County Executive appointments by voice vote. The Area Agency on Aging Legislative/Advocacy Committee approved April 22, 2026 minutes (4-0) with no other action.

Coming up

• **July 6 — City-County Homeless Issues Committee:** Reviews 2027 budget outlook and HUD Notice of Funding Opportunity.
• **July 7 — CDBG Commission:** Public hearing and preliminary funding recommendations for Round 3 CDBG PRO Housing Grant Program.
• **July 8 — Park Commission:** Considers resolutions to sell easements at Babcock County Park to Town of Dunn Sanitary District No. 3 and Kegonsa Sanitary District.
• **July 8 — Traffic Safety Commission:** Reviews seven fatal/injury crashes from April–June 2026.
• **July 9 — Health & Human Needs Committee:** Considers affordable housing agreement at 952 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Madison, and a $105,834 bid waiver for the Fatherhood Responsibility Project.
• **July 9 — Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee:** Reviews icebound lakes ordinance, a water quality grant for Sun Prairie, and Babcock County Park easement sales.

County Board OKs Sustainability Campus construction contract, denies RNG facility

The Dane County Board on June 25 approved a contract with J.P. Cullen & Sons for initial building and infrastructure construction of the county’s Sustainability Campus, a project that required a two-thirds vote. A separate contract for a renewable natural gas maintenance shop was denied after the motion to adopt failed.

The board also moved several housing and land items on its consent calendar, including affordable housing projects at 606 Reeve Road in Waunakee and 103 Perimeter Road in Mount Horeb, an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Madison for an emergency men’s shelter, a rezoning at 7228 Pine Row Road that removed a wetland overlay, a contract for the Aurelian Voice Assistant Platform, and a land acquisition for the Badfish Creek Natural Resource Area.

Zoning and land use

The Zoning & Land Regulation Committee recommended approval of eight rezoning petitions on June 23, all with conditions such as deed restrictions or easements. Six items were postponed, including a 10-lot TDR subdivision and two conditional use permits, most because of pending town action or a need for more information. Every vote was 5-0.

Park fees and infrastructure contracts

The Park Commission adopted the 2027 Dane County Parks fee schedule on June 24, with a 6-0 vote. On June 30, the Public Works & Transportation Committee approved a highway bridge fund transfer and a series of contract change orders — for courthouse cooling, a district attorney’s office remodel, landfill construction, and engineering services — all by 5-0 margins. A lease agreement with the Employment and Training Association was postponed 5-0.

Committee actions

The Lakes & Watershed Commission voted 8-0 on July 1 to recommend approval of Ordinance Amendment 2026 OA-005, which amends Chapter 71 of the county code regarding icebound lakes. The commission also elected Dan Blazewicz as chair and Alan Levin as vice chair by unanimous votes. The same ordinance amendment was recommended 5-0 by the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee on June 30, which also advanced fund transfers for the Office of Justice Reform and a vehicle purchase, as well as resolutions urging severe weather emergency plans, supporting a medication vending machine contract, and authorizing a freeway service team contract.

In other leadership elections, the Specialized Transportation Commission selected Matt Veldran as chair (5 votes to 1, with 1 abstention) and Jennifer Hardesty as vice chair (same tally). The Condemnation Commission re-elected Allen Arntsen as chair and Joel Batha as vice chair by unanimous voice vote.

Area Agency on Aging bodies met but took no substantive votes beyond approving prior minutes or receiving presentations. The UW Extension Committee heard presentations on the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Literacy Link programs, and began discussing its 2026/2027 schedule.

Coming up

The City-County Homeless Issues Committee meets July 6 to review Dane County’s budget outlook and an overview of HUD funding. On July 7, the CDBG Commission will hold a public hearing on preliminary funding recommendations for the PRO Housing Grant Program’s third round.

The Traffic Safety Commission on July 8 will review seven recent fatal traffic crashes and discuss e-bike and e-moto trends. Also on July 8, the Park Commission takes up resolutions to sell easements at Babcock County Park to two sanitary districts. The Health & Human Needs Committee on July 9 will consider affordable housing, behavioral health grants, a bid waiver for the Fatherhood Responsibility Project ($105,834), and a possible public contract dashboard. That same day, the Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee will again take up the icebound lakes ordinance and a water quality grant for the City of Sun Prairie.