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IN SIDE
Playoff Saturday
Closed session policy tabled
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 Vol. 121, No. 10 • Shell Lake, Wisconsin
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Autumn Audubon
by Regan Kohler SHELL LAKE – A controversial policy was discussed and then tabled at a Washburn County Board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19, in the Elliott Building, Shell Lake.
Lakers win fifirrst-round WIAA playoff game 50-0 in hurricane weather; take on Luck this Saturday See playoff bracket in
SPORTS Pages 14 - 16
The county board and subcommittees sometimes have closed sessions during meetings, to which the public is not invited, to discuss land sale negotiations, union issues, employee performance or disciplinary matters, or financial, medical or personal issues of an employee. In the past, the county’s policy has allowed only certain people in these sessions, excluding board supervisors not on the committee. A recently created policy, B-19, would allow any supervisor who wished to participate in these sessions, except for governing boards or committees conducting union contract negotiations and union business, unless the supervisor is a member of the committee or
See Closed session, page 4
The footbridge over Twin Lake at Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary as captured by Register photographer Larry Samson. Hunt Hill has miles of walking trails open to the public. More of Samson’s photos on page 2.
County board discusses reducing its size
An incredible undertaking See page 13
Day care licensed for 32 kids See page 12
by Regan Kohler SHELL LAKE – The Washburn County Board discussed a possible reduction in members at a meeting Tuesday, Oct. 19, in the Elliott Building, Shell Lake. The board has 21 districts, and therefore 21 supervisors. In the past, the board has brought up the possibility of reducing its size, but opted to wait on any decision making until after the 2010 census data comes back, as that is a good time to look at redistricting, changing the district maps. At an executive committee meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 12, it was said that census information will be coming back to the county in early 2011, so the board will need to make a decision on its size by April, for adoption in May. Tuesday night, Chair Steve Sather said that the board is under a timetable for spring to redistrict if they opt to do so. He said that supervisors have told him that if the board doesn’t reduce its size itself, citizens might end up voting on a number that is unworkable. Administrative Coordinator/Finance Director Mike Keefe said that the board actually has 10 years, until the next census, to redistrict, as it can be done through petition or board approval. Supervisor Bob Washkuhn suggested 15 supervisors, and mentioned that with a reduction, there would have to be subcommittee restructuring. Supervisor Greg Krantz said, “How about a straw-pull vote to see if there’s enough in favor of reducing the size?” First Vice Chair Don Quinton said he has heard lots of talk from members of the public on the board being too large. He said the former corporation counsel told the board the public can petition to have its own vote on a supervisor district number. “They can arbitrarily determine a
number for us,” Quinton said. “It is on their mind.” If the vote passes, “we’re stuck,” he added. Quinton said the board needs to do some research, and he had a different number in mind. Supervisor Micheal Bobin said, “I do not oppose reducing the county board.” However, Bobin asked if this reduction would be done to save money or to provide better service for citizens. Quinton said that a reduction in board size would mean a “smaller, more costefficient, effective government.” Supervisor Tom Mackie asked, “If it’s not broke, why fix it?” Bobin said that if the board size is reduced but the number of subcommittees isn’t as well, they will be putting supervisors on more committees. Quinton said he also hears that the public feels supervisors aren’t well-informed, to which Bobin said these supervisors choose not to be. Supervisor Beth Esser said that if the board is too small, “you’re going to have limited people.” Those with full-time jobs will not be able to take on the responsibility of attending so many meetings, going back to Bobin’s comment about supervisors having to sit on more committees, and she said only retired people could put in that amount of time, and there could be discrimination. Supervisor Dan Hubin suggested holding off on a decision until the census data returned. Sather then reminded the board that the timetable is April 12, and Keefe added that the board needs to make a decision beforehand because the county clerk gets the data in April and the board must have a public hearing on the matter before making a decision at May’s meeting. Keefe said they should have a decision by March at the latest. Hubin asked why redistricting was so
important to do in 2010-11 if it can still be done within the next 10 years. He said the county could see a higher population later. Mackie asked, “What’s wrong with 21?” Bobin said he agreed that citizens will make a decision if the board does not, and they must be prepared for this, as the public wants a smaller board. Sather said the public feels now is the logical time to make any changes, and mentioned that the board can suggest a number for the county clerk before she divides the maps. Keefe added that they should set a number that makes sense for conducting the business of the county. Supervisor Nell Lee asked how Washburn County’s board size compares to others. Keefe replied that he did not know the average number for comparable size, but the state average is 23 supervisors on a board. Shell Lake Mayor Sally Peterson was sponsored to speak, and said that her city council had looked into a reduction of its eight seats in the past. “Both times, it was voted down,” Peterson said. Unless it is mandated, she said, she feels reduction means giving control to a smaller group of fewer representatives, more meetings to attend and less people interested in running for office. Supervisor Tim Brabec said that if the size is reduced, it could mean less mileage for those coming from the northern part of the county. Bobin, who represents the Minong village in northern Washburn County, said that he could see a problem with fewer representing those municipalities. “Our interests are completely different,” he said.
See Board size page 3
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