Chippewa County Board Regular Meeting - October 13, 2026

At its October 13, 2026 regular meeting, the Chippewa County Board reviewed the proposed 2027 maintenance budget, with a public hearing scheduled for November 5 and a levy-adoption meeting scheduled for November 10. The proposed budget increases the levy by about $700,000 (3.23%) while reducing the tax rate by 5.49%; it is balanced, includes two previously approved new positions, and does not use fund balance to balance operations. The Board also heard that courthouse security upgrades approved under Hybrid Option 4 have been completed, including access controls, cameras, and expanded duress alarms; possible additional work in the DOA suite remains under consideration. The fairgrounds reported a $1.5 million safe-room project supported by an approximately $850,000 FEMA grant, alongside other services and emergency-use capacity. No new fairgrounds spending decision was recorded.

The Board approved Resolution 33-26 supporting increased, flexible, and sustained state funding for local public health departments, with no direct cost to the county, and approved the 2026–2031 natural hazards mitigation plan, whose development was largely federally funded through a BRIC grant and contracted to the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. The Board also considered HR policy revisions, including required training before employees use AI tools for work; CoPilot was identified as the county’s current platform. An ATV/UTV route ordinance received a first reading, with no vote that evening. The consent agenda was approved 20–0; no specific new procurement award or contract approval was identified.