It is certainly crunch time in Sawyer County to complete their Comprehensive Plan. The Sawyer County Comprehensive Plan Development Committee will meet on Mondays, October 5, October 12, October 19, October 26, November 2, and November 9, 2009, from 9 a.m. to noon, in the Hayward City Hall Council Chambers. The agenda will include: Development of Sawyer County Comprehensive Plan and opportunity for public comment. These meetings will be working sessions for Committee members.

RANWW September Report

Those counties who are attempting to have Comprehensive Plans approved by January 1 are in the homestretch. Not much else is happening, with total focus being on completion of the plans.

Barron County

The Barron County Comprehensive Plan Committee discussed at their September meeting Intergovernmental Cooperation and Future Land Use maps. Until now it has been relatively smooth sailing. If any bumps are to occur, it will be during the future land use maps discussion.

Bayfield County

Bayfield County Comprehensive Plan Committee also has two meetings planned. The meetings will be September 30 at the Visitors Center and October 1 at the Grandview Town Hall. Both meetings are scheduled from 6-8 pm. Both of these meetings are to update the public on the progress of the plan.

Burnett County
The Comprehensive Plan Committee has two meetings scheduled to update the public on the progress of the plan. The Northern Cluster Meeting is September 21 at the Courthouse from 6-9 pm. The Southern Cluster Meeting is September 22 at the Grantsburg Community Center from 6-9 pm.

Sawyer County

While no Comprehensive Plan meetings have bee scheduled recently, I am assuming Sawyer County is still on schedule for passage of a Comprehensive Plan by January 1.

The proposal to require septic inspections at time of sale of the property has been pulled off the October Zoning Committee agenda. During the next few months representative of the Realtors® Association and Lakes Forum are to meet and attempt to develop a plan for the Zoning Committee to use to identify septic systems throughout the county. According to the motion made by the Zoning Committee, this plan "may or may not include point of sale inspections." More information will be available in the coming months.

The Burnett County Comprehensive Plan Committee has two meetings scheduled. The purpose of these meetings is to update the public on the progress of the plan. The Northern Cluster Meeting will be held at the Courthouse on September 21 from 6-9 pm. The Southern Cluster Meeting will be at the Grantsburg Community Center on September 22, also from 6-9 pm.


Bayfield County Comprehensive Plan Committee also has two meetings plan for the same purpose. Their meetings will be September 30 at the Visitors Center and October 1 at the Grandview Town Hall. Both meetings are scheduled from 6-8 pm.

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee is being asked to reconsider their decision to hold a Public Information Meeting on the proposal to require mandatory inspection of septic systems at time of sale. This meeting will be on Friday September 18.

The August Community Meetings to review progress of the Burnett County Comprehensive Plan will be held this week. The first is scheduled for Wednesday August 26 at the Great Lakes Visitor Center from 6-8 pm. The second is Thursday at the Town of Grand View, same time.

The Burnett County Comprehensive Plan Committee will meet on August 31 at the Courthouse from 1-3 pm.

According to the Chetek Alert... Longtime Chetek Chamber of Commerce members Butch and Barb Flor, right, were recognized ... for their 35 years as cochairmen of beer sales for the Liberty Fest.

August GAD Report

Barron County

Barron County Administrator Duane Hebert gave some parting thoughts to the County Board. After considering many options in a 22-7 vote it was decided to replace Mr. Hebert with another County Administrator.

The Chetek City Council is discussing withdrawing support from the Barron County Economic Development Corporation. Presently the City of Chetek pays $3505 toward the $69,000 salary of Barron County Economic Development Director David Miller. This decision will come soon during the 2010 budget process.

The Chetek and Weyerhaeuser area school boards voted unanimously to approve a resolution to consider consolidation-making them one step closer to approving a merger between the two school districts.

Bayfield County

The Bayfield Comprehensive Planning process marches on. Recently two Open Houses were held to facilitate public input into mapping possible future land use. SEH Project Manager Mike Darrow stated, "It is important for people to look at land use and make comments. We need citizen input. We have four months remaining." The next step in the planning process includes another set of open house meetings in August. In September, SEH plans to start producing draft plans for each town based on the policies the towns have created.

Burnett County

The next meeting of the Burnett County Comprehensive Planning Committee is scheduled for Monday August 31 at 1:00 pm. Four months to go and counting ...
The Rusk County Comprehensive Planning Committee has not met this year. Four months to go and counting ...

The Chetek and Weyerhaeuser area school boards voted unanimously to approve a resolution to consider consolidation-making them one step closer to approving a merger between the two school districts.

Sawyer County

The Sawyer County Zoning Committee will be discussing on August 21 both the sign ordinance and point of sale septic inspections. The RANWW has developed positions on both of these issues. No changes will be made at this meeting as it is not a Public Hearing. But, it could be a great discussion!

The Sawyer County Comprehensive Planning Committee has no new meetings scheduled at this time. Four months to go and counting ...

Washburn County

The Executive Committee will forward a resolution to the full board on a moratorium for constructing new wind mills. Two bills are before state legislators that would name the Public Service Commission (PSC) as the siting agency for wind generators in Wisconsin, a move that would replace a patchwork of local and county ordinances around the state. The intention is the Washburn County moratorium would stay in effect until a law had been passed by the state Legislature. Supposedly, two other counties already have passed similar moratoriums.

The Executive Committee will also place on the County Board agenda and item "requesting" all organizations receiving county funds to follow Wisconsin's open meetings and records law. This is due to action by the Economic Development Committee. The Spooner Advocate reported this exchange between committee members. Michael "Don" Quinton, a county supervisor and committee member, said the word "request" would suggest it is optional. "We request that they do or funding may be withheld," responded County Board Chairman Mike Bobin.
Rusk County

Barron County Administrator Duane Hebert gave some parting thoughts to the County Board. The Barron New-Shield reports ... In a 22-7 vote it was decided to replace Mr. Hebert with another County Administrator.

The Bayfield County Comprehensive Planning Committee will be holding two Open House Meetings this week. The first at the Town of Bell Community Center (Wednesday) and then the Cable Town Hall (Thursday). Both start with BBQ at 5:00 followed by the Public Presentation at 6:00 pm.

The Washburn County Zoning Committee has added to their July 28 agenda " Discussion on possible moratorium/resolution/ordinance for wind towers."

Bayfield County Comprehensive Planning Committee has scheduled two new Community Open House sessions. The first will be held at the Town of Bell Community Center on July 29. In an effort to bribe participation at BBQ will be held prior to the meeting. The BBQ is from 5-6 with the Public Meeting beginning at 6 pm. The next night July 30, at the same times the gathering will be held at the Town of Grandview Town Hall. See you there?