The Price County Board of Supervisors met on August 18, 2026, covering a packed agenda that included updates on the Bug Tussel broadband partnership, gravel pit oversight, a new public safety radio system study, ARPA fund repayment through forestry carbon credits, and early warnings about the 2027 budget. The board passed all six resolutions unanimously with 11 supervisors present and two absent.
Bug Tussel Broadband Partnership: “Unraveling” Continues
Last updated: September 2026
The most closely watched item on the agenda was the ongoing effort to dissolve the county’s partnership with Bug Tussel, the broadband provider that was expected to expand high-speed internet across Price County.
Board Chair report indicated that there was “nothing new” on Bug Tussel at the regional level, but County Administrator Nick provided a more detailed update during the executive committee report. He described the process as “unraveling the partnership,” noting that progress had stalled because Bug Tussel’s bond counsel had departed for a different agency, forcing the company to find replacement legal representation.
The county is working with Andy Phillips and Ben Connard from Aholtz (spelling to be verified) on its end of the exit. Nick said both parties are interested in resolving the dissolution amicably.
“Both parties are interested in resolving this by unraveling the partnership so we don’t want to move forward with a product or a project that won’t be successful for them or us compared to what we originally had discussed several years ago,” Nick said.
He estimated a timeline of three to five months to complete the process. The complexity centers on the bond structure: the original $15 million project was financed through bonds purchased by investors expecting long-term returns. The county is attempting to use contract terminology that would allow the bond to be paid off early — effectively declaring that Bug Tussel completed a “satisfactory project at zero dollars,” which would reduce the liability to zero and repay bondholders their principal.
“The question is, is that acceptable through the bond agency legality of — I invested in a bond that was supposed to be 30 years, that was supposed to pay X dollars, and now that’s being closed at zero dollars after two years,” Nick said. “I didn’t get my investment.”
The Bug Tussel fund currently holds approximately $90,000, with an additional $60,000 accruing annually through a 40-basis-point return on remaining principal. That fund is being used for legal services related to the dissolution and has now been tapped to fund the first phase of the county’s public safety radio system study.
Public Safety Radio System Study Approved
The board unanimously approved Resolution 18-26, authorizing up to $55,000 for Phase 1 consulting services from TUSA, a Missouri-based public safety communications engineering firm. The actual Phase 1 bid was approximately $49,640, with the additional buffer allowing for scope adjustments without administrative friction.
The three-phase project is expected to take approximately two years. Phase 1 involves on-site assessment — TUSA will interview dispatch, law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel, evaluate existing equipment and infrastructure, and present three options ranging from a basic functional system to a top-tier configuration. Phase 2 would involve a detailed request for proposals process (typically 100-200 pages) to secure competitive, apples-to-apples bids. Phase 3 would be implementation.
Nick emphasized that the county’s current radio system is nearing “end of life” — meaning the manufacturer no longer produces the equipment — but clarified that “end of life” does not mean the system will stop working. Service life is distinct from product life, and third-party servicing options exist.
The sheriff, chief deputy, board chair, and county administrator participated in interviewing three finalists from four original bidders before selecting TUSA. The study will also explore whether Park Falls, Phillips, fire districts, and EMS districts could partner with the county on a unified system rather than procuring separate systems independently.
Funding for Phase 1 comes from the Bug Tussel fund. Any Phase 2 costs would be presented to the board separately, likely in spring 2027, with potential project costs incorporated into the 2028 budget.
Janke & Sons Gravel Pit: Conditions Amended, Reclamation Approved
The Land Use committee addressed the ongoing Janke & Sons gravel pit controversy on Solberg Lake Road across two meetings since the last board session.
At the June 18 meeting, the committee amended two conditions of the gravel pit permit and added a third condition related to a solid waste disposal site — the old Grand View Hotel, which is buried on the property. The committee ensured the operation would not encroach on that site. A reclamation plan for the same pit was also approved.
Land Use Committee Chair Mr. Copish acknowledged the controversy: “This was a lot of controversy. You’re probably not aware of this — we had a lot of controversy on this.”
Copish also reported on a separate gravel pit on East Solberg Lake Road. After public comment about noise and early start times, Janke & Sons agreed to push their start time from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. for approximately a two-week period. Copish said he drove by the site recently and described it as “a nice serene environment” with a new crushed stone road and a pile of screened topsoil. Operations are planned to begin in the back portion of the lot, screened by trees.
The committee also addressed several other land use matters: a home setback variance on East Wilson Foliage Road in the Town of Elk (approved), a reclamation plan by Granberg Brothers for a gravel pit on Highway 8 in Prentice (approved), a shed setback on Brownstead Road in Fifield (approved), and a small-scale dog boarding facility on Schnur Lake Road (denied in July after significant public opposition from neighboring residents concerned about noise and lot suitability). A small-scale restaurant and tavern on County Road F in the Town of Fifield was approved.
ARPA Funds: Carbon Credit Repayment On Track
The county advanced $650,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the forestry department to complete a project, with the understanding that the money would be repaid to the general fund once carbon credit revenue came in.
County Administrator Nick confirmed the repayment is progressing well. The arrangement allows the board flexibility — if carbon credit funds come in, the board could choose to repay the $650,000 to the general fund or redirect the carbon credit money to other forestry projects.
“It certainly appears to be [paying off] very, very nicely,” Nick said of the carbon credit arrangement.
The ARPA funds were technically in the general fund, as the county was permitted to write off a certain amount. The $650,000 allocation to forestry was a board decision made with the carbon credit repayment mechanism as a safeguard.
2027 Budget: Levy Limits Create Squeeze
The county is facing a $500,000 to $1 million gap between operational budget requests and projected revenue for 2027, driven by rising costs for technology, insurance, and radio system maintenance.
Nick outlined the challenge: the state’s levy limit framework caps annual levy increases at roughly net new construction value — typically under 1% for Price County — while costs like radio maintenance contracts have jumped from $36,000 to nearly $80,000 per year, server costs from $3,000 to $8,000, and email licensing from $1.25 to $5.25 per user monthly.
“We’re about a half a million to a million dollars over budget,” Nick said, noting that figure includes a proposed 2% wage increase across the board.
One mechanism available to the board is borrowing for liability and property insurance — approximately $400,000 — which sits outside the levy limit. The highway committee is also requesting a rotating $500,000 annual debt allocation for “yellow equipment” (front loaders, graders, bulldozers) under a five-year plan.
Nick noted the county has averaged a 6-7% levy increase over his 15-year tenure, though the mill rate has actually declined as equalized values rose. He expressed cautious optimism that state legislators may revisit levy limits after the November election.
Tourism Investment: Chamber Reports Strong Returns
Jonathan MacArthur, director of the Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the biannual tourism report. The county allocates $30,000 annually to the chamber for tourism promotion.
Year to date (January through August), the chamber’s advertising has generated nearly 2 million impressions targeting audiences outside Price County through Google Ads, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The chamber works with two advertising agencies: Skyfear (Hakey Hakenan, Prentice) for social media and Platypus Design (Dan Tresinski, Butternut) for Google and YouTube campaigns.
Using a Wisconsin Department of Tourism formula — 5% ad effectiveness at $184 per overnight traveler — MacArthur estimated the $30,000 investment has generated nearly $500,000 in overnight traveler revenue through August. Lodging occupancy rates have climbed from 40% to 60-70% during shoulder months.
Phillips on Tap, the chamber’s flagship event, drew an estimated 4,000 attendees, with all county lodging completely booked. The chamber also secured a $38,000 Travel Wisconsin grant for the event, requiring a $9,000 match.
MacArthur urged the board to consider increasing the county’s allocation. “What we’re doing with $30,000 is amazing. What we could do with $60,000 would really move the needle here in Price County,” he said.
Other Business
Cranberry Creek Dam: The board amended Resolution 7-20 to approve increased costs for the Cranberry Creek Dam repair project, located south of Phillips across from the shooting range. Total estimated cost rose to $67,524, with the state and county each responsible for $33,762. The dam washed out in 2018, and engineering delays extended the timeline. The highway shop will perform the installation work, accounting for approximately $22,000 of the estimate.
Bridge and Culvert Aid: The board approved three aid requests — $12,000 for the Town of Fifield (culvert on Forest Road 136), $12,500 for the Town of Hill (culvert on Holtman Lake Road), and $8,000 for the Town of Prentice (culvert on Old 8 West Road).
Economic Support Specialist: The board created an additional economic support specialist position in the Health and Human Services Department. The position is part of the Northern Maintenance Consortium covering 11 counties, with costs fully covered by additional state revenue — no county tax levy required.
Health and Human Services Financial Pressures: High-cost placements for children and youth have reached $573,000 year-to-date, up from $344,000 at the same time last year. AODA (alcohol and other drug abuse) behavioral health placements are at $208,830, up from $175,000. Each high-cost placement runs $12,000 to $20,000 per month per person.
Coroner Report: Coroner Casey reported 16 deaths in July with 12 cremations, four burials, and one autopsy. June saw 16 deaths with 15 cremations, one burial, and three autopsies. May had six reported deaths and six cremations.
District Attorney: New DA Alexis Nash is working through a backlog of 250 pending cases with 50 newly filed. Nick described her as “a real aggressive gal” with “some spunk.”
Open Records Requests: The sheriff’s office is experiencing a surge in open records requests — 195 in 2024, 322 in 2025, and 220 year-to-date in 2026. The county is exploring ways to manage the volume more efficiently.
Sheriff’s Office Staffing: Deputy Dawson Housechild is completing field training in early September. New hire Brandon Boggs is graduating from the recruit academy in Rhinelander in early September and will return for field training. The county is interviewing for a third vacancy.
Register of Deeds: July property sales totaled over $20 million, with a single July 1 sale exceeding $2 million. The county is budgeting for cloud-based software that would allow the Register of Deeds to resume operations within hours of a cyberattack, at a cost of approximately $10,000 to implement plus annual fees.
Dam Water Levels: All county dams are running below normal levels due to lack of summer rainfall: Jobe’s Dam at 3.5 inches low, Weimer’s Dam at 3 inches, Prentice at 5 inches, Sailor Creek at 3.5 inches, Solberg at 4.5 inches, and Mussel at 3 inches.
Forestry Stumpage Down: Stumpage revenue year-to-date is $551,000, down from approximately $1 million at the same time last year. However, Copish noted that four active sales are currently underway, which could improve the picture.
AI Policy: The Administration Committee is developing an AI usage policy for county employees. Current use is limited to a few corporate accounts testing applications, including a project to build “TJ 2.0” — an AI system trained on 30 years of IT knowledge from the county’s IT director to preserve institutional knowledge before retirement. Concerns about data security, particularly around passwords and personal information, are the primary barrier to broader adoption.
Fair Commission Request: The Price County Fair Commission presented updates on roughly $265,000 in recent investments to the fairgrounds, including historic barn restorations and grandstand improvements. Attendance and sponsorships are growing. The county currently allocates $20,000 annually; the commission is requesting additional funding in the 2027 budget.
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2026.
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