Price County Board Recap May 19: Ordinances Pass, New Appoin

Last updated: May 2026

The Price County Board of Supervisors met May 19 for a business meeting that covered more ground than the headlines suggest. Two animal control ordinances passed, a bridge aid resolution for the Town of Eisenstein moved forward, new appointments were confirmed across three county boards, and County Administrator Nick Trimner delivered a financial update that raised questions about escalating IT costs and whether the county’s budget can keep pace.

The meeting, held at 9:00 a.m. in Room 101 of the County Courthouse in Phillips and accessible via Webex, also included a public comment period that generated significant discussion — particularly around United Together Against Violence’s proposals and the Habitual Animal Offender ordinance. Those exchanges have been covered in detail elsewhere. This recap focuses on the full scope of the board’s business.

Employee Recognitions: 25 Years of Service

The meeting opened with Laura Palzkill presenting employee service anniversaries. Among those recognized were Krisan Bastil, a Health and Human Services Accounting Assistant celebrating 25 years, and David Wesenick, a Deputy Sheriff also marking a quarter century with the county. The recognitions are a regular feature of board meetings and serve as a public acknowledgment of the people who keep county government running — a reminder that behind every agenda item and resolution are employees who have dedicated decades to Price County.

April 28 Minutes Approved Without Discussion

The board approved the minutes from its April 28 meeting, which included the Bug Tussel broadband update, budget amendments, the local control resolution, and the committee leadership elections. The full April 28 minutes are available on the county website. Approval was routine, with no corrections or objections raised.

Animal Ordinances Pass, but Not Without Criticism

Two ordinances amending Chapter 223 of the Price County Code passed unanimously: the Habitual Animal Offender ordinance (Section 223-44.1) and the companion definitions update (Section 223-19). Both originated from the Law Enforcement Committee.

The Habitual Animal Offender ordinance was prompted by a specific case , a residence where a pack of dogs was involved in five separate attacks, but under existing law, only individual animals could be tracked rather than the premises itself. The new ordinance tracks the residence, giving the county a tool to address repeat violators at a single property.

During public comments, resident Ginny Strobl criticized the original language as “unnecessarily vague,” particularly the use of “may” instead of “shall” regarding the 10-year tracking period. The final adopted version changed “may” to “shall,” making enforcement mandatory rather than discretionary , a significant shift that addressed at least one of Strobl’s concerns. Whether the broader worry about unintended consequences in a two-page ordinance proves valid will depend on how enforcement plays out.

Town of Eisenstein Bridge and Culvert Aid

The board approved bridge and culvert aid for the Town of Eisenstein, specifically for infrastructure on Forest Road 149 and Cedar Rapids Road. The resolution came through the Executive Committee and is the kind of routine but critical county support for town infrastructure that rarely makes headlines but matters enormously to the residents who drive those roads daily.

Spring thaw and heavy rain routinely damage rural road infrastructure in northern Wisconsin. Counties can provide financial assistance to towns for bridge and culvert projects under Wisconsin law, and Price County has done so before . a similar resolution was passed in 2025 for the Town of Lake on Hamilton Road over Smith Creek. The Eisenstein aid follows the same pattern: the county helps the town fund infrastructure repairs that would otherwise strain a small municipality’s budget.

District 5 Special Election: Timeline Compressed

The board set the timeline for the District 5 special election, with an important amendment. The original proposal had the appointed representative serving through December 31, with the elected successor taking office January 1, 2027. Supervisor Robert Kopisch moved to compress that timeline, arguing that the person elected in November should start representing District 5 as soon as possible after the election.

The amendment passed 8-4, setting the elected official’s start date to November 12, 2026 , three days after canvassing , with the appointment ending November 11. The vacancy was created when Supervisor Jason Hastings resigned on April 22, 2026, citing concerns about constitutional governance and transparency. District 5 covers the Town of Fifield and the Town of Eisenstein (Ward 2).

What this means in practice: the appointed supervisor will serve roughly six months, then transition to the elected representative in mid-November. The county is publishing a vacancy notice, and anyone interested in the appointment should contact the County Clerk’s office. Candidates for the November 3 special election can begin filing nomination papers once the start date is formally set.

New Appointments Across Three County Bodies

The board confirmed three appointments that received less attention than the UTAV discussion but are significant for county operations:

Health and Human Services Board: Sally Huml was appointed to a three-year term running June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2029. The HHS Board oversees some of the county’s largest and most complex services, including behavioral health, children’s long-term support, and public health programs , the same programs that prompted the creation of new social worker positions at the April 28 meeting.

Transportation Coordination Committee: Susan Stanke was appointed to fill a vacant term running May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2027. This committee coordinates transportation services across the county, a critical function in a rural area where many residents , particularly seniors and people with disabilities , depend on coordinated rides for medical appointments and essential errands.

Land Information Council: Appointments were made “as listed” in the agenda packet. The Land Information Council oversees the county’s GIS mapping, land records modernization, and related technology investments , work that intersects with everything from property tax administration to emergency response planning.

Financial Summary: IT Costs Rising Faster Than Revenue

County Administrator Nick Trimner’s financial summary drew less public attention than the UTAV exchange, but the numbers he presented may have more direct impact on residents’ property tax bills in the coming years.

One software product’s annual maintenance fee jumped from $36,000 to $76,000 , a 111% increase with no corresponding improvement in service. For a county with roughly 170 employees and a general fund budget around $10 million, that single line item now consumes nearly 1% of the entire budget. Email costs have tripled. Cybersecurity requirements push expenses higher every year. The county maintains three separate backup systems , local, off-site, and cloud , because the cost of a data breach would far exceed the cost of redundancy.

Trimner told the board he has been communicating with state officials about operating costs climbing rapidly while levy limits restrict how much the county can raise to cover them. Sales tax collections hit a record $107,000 in February, up from $73,459 the prior year, but Trimner cautioned the county may be hitting a plateau. Cash on hand stands at $10.6 million, above the state-recommended 90-day reserve threshold, but reserves alone do not solve structural cost growth.

The math is straightforward: costs are growing faster than revenue. This is not a crisis today, but it is a slow-moving budget problem that will show up in property tax levy discussions, service reductions, or both , probably within the next two budget cycles. The June 16 meeting and the fall budget process will be where it starts to surface.

Annual Report of Wages Filed

The board received the Annual Report of Wages for 2025, placed on file as required by state statute. This report provides a public accounting of county employee compensation , a routine transparency measure, and one that takes on added significance given the budget pressures Trimner outlined.

Committee of the Whole: Chair and Administrator Reports

During the Committee of the Whole portion of the meeting, Board Chair Brian Ernst provided updates on carbon credit discussions (no new developments) and other county business. County Administrator Trimner reported that he will travel to Washington, D.C. from May 31 through June 5 to attend training from the County Leadership Institute through the National Association of Counties (NACo). Supervisor Larry Palecek expressed pride in Trimner’s appointment to the program, and Ernst agreed for the record.

Committee chair reports were brief, as most committees had not met between the April 28 and May 19 board meetings. The Administration Committee met May 12, the Executive Committee met May 14, and other committees were on their regular schedules.

Next Meeting: June 16

The next Price County Board of Supervisors business meeting is scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 9:00 a. See also: five questions the board needs to answer on June 16.m. in the County Board Room. Residents can attend in person at 126 Cherry Street in Phillips or join remotely via Webex. Meeting access information is posted on the county’s agenda center when the agenda is published.

Items likely to surface in June include the fall budget planning process, ongoing discussions about broadband and emergency communications infrastructure, and potentially further discussion of the UTAV proposals that remain in board packets without a committee referral. The District 5 vacancy notice will also be published by then, opening the application period for the appointment.

For more Price County government coverage, see our preview of the May 19 meeting and our recap of the April 28 meeting. For a different kind of Northwoods experience, Ripsaw Saloon’s patio season is officially underway.

Sources

Price County Board of Supervisors meeting minutes, May 19, 2026
Price County Board agenda packet, May 19, 2026
Price County Office of Administration financial summary, April 2026
County Administrator Nick Trimner’s financial presentation, May 19, 2026
Price County Board of Supervisors meeting minutes, April 28, 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Price County Board of Supervisors meet?

The Price County Board of Supervisors meets the third Wednesday of each month at the Price County Courthouse in Phillips. Agendas are posted at co.price.wi.us.

What are carbon credits and how do they affect Price County landowners?

Carbon credits allow landowners to earn money by preserving forested land instead of logging. In Price County, programs like the Family Carbon program and NCX have enrolled over 92,000 acres, raising concerns about long-term land use restrictions.

What is the property tax rate in Price County Wisconsin?

Price County’s property tax rate varies by municipality but is generally lower than the Wisconsin average, with mill rates between $15-$22 per $1,000 of assessed value depending on the school district and local levies.

What is UTAV and what does it propose for Price County?

UTAV (United Towns Association of Virginia, operating in Wisconsin) proposes building broadband infrastructure in rural Price County. The four-point plan includes tower construction, fiber backhaul, fixed wireless, and community Wi-Fi, with debate over public subsidy and timelines.

How much of Price County is forested?

Over 80% of Price County is forested land, including county forests, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and private timberlands. Logging remains a significant economic driver, generating millions in timber revenue annually.