Price County Executive Committee Confronted Over Flock Camera Data Sales as 2027 Budget Draft Debuts

By /

County Resident Confronts Executive Committee Over Flock Safety Cameras, Alleges Data Selling

The Price County Executive Committee held its regular monthly meeting on September 10, 2026, covering the 2027 budget first draft, a delinquent tax property auction, and county cash flow. But the most pointed moment came during public comment, when a Phillips resident and former sheriff candidate challenged the committee over its Flock Safety Camera contract.

Madsen Alleges Flock Cameras Sell Resident Data

Waldemar Madsen, representing District 11 in Phillips, used his two minutes of public comment to confront the Executive Committee about Price County’s contract with Flock Safety Cameras. Madsen named committee member Larry Palachuk, former committee member Alan Barkstrom, and Chief Deputy Sheriff Robert Hahn as the individuals who brought the Flock camera program to the committee.

Madsen alleged that the original August 15, 2024 budget reallocation for Flock cameras was not transparently labeled on the agenda.

“The committee has decided on August 15, 2024, the reallocation of the budget for Flock Safety Cameras. However, it’s not on the agenda that that’s what the reallocation was for,” Madsen said.

Madsen said that approximately two days before the meeting, counties across Wisconsin discovered that Flock Safety Cameras are selling resident information to other companies.

“Counties across Wisconsin discovered that Flock Safety Cameras are selling our information to other companies. And I’m not okay with that,” Madsen said. “My information being sold to other company in the interest of public safety.”

Madsen claimed that Second Amendment rights are being violated through the camera program, though the constitutional concerns he described relate more closely to Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and surveillance.

“I didn’t give you consent, Sheriff Robert Hahn, to surveil me or get my data sent,” Madsen said.

Madsen shared a personal story about his fiancee and her son being kidnapped, saying he has a recording of the sheriff telling him the cameras were not used to help in that case because the sheriff did not like them.

“You want to use them for public safety? Then use them for everybody, not just the people that like them,” Madsen said.

Madsen told the committee he would return at the next county board meeting. “I’ll be back on Tuesday,” he said.

The committee did not respond during public comment, which is standard procedure for the format.

Madsen ran against Robert Hahn in the 2026 Price County sheriff primary, losing by a vote of 2,489 to 423.

2027 Budget Presents First Draft

County Administrator Nick Trimner presented the first draft of the 2027 budget to the committee. The total tax levy collected last year was $13,564,311. The county is 67 percent through the year financially, with no major unplanned expenses reported.

Trimner noted that October will be a three-payroll month, which will cause a budget jump. The county’s base operational tax levy is $7,875,491, with net new construction of 0.9 percent bringing the maximum operating levy to $7,947,166.

The only budget assumption for 2027 is a 2 percent wage scale increase, costing approximately $268,739. Department adjustments total $306,840, driven largely by information technology costs. A 10-year radio maintenance contract expired, jumping from roughly $36,000 to $80,000 annually. Microsoft Office licensing costs increased from about $1.50 to $5.50 per user per month.

The county plans to borrow $480,000 for insurance premiums under Wisconsin Statute 67.045B3, which allows borrowing for operational costs. This would balance the budget with a total levy of $13,734,138, an increase of $168,629 over the prior year. The operational levy increase would be 0.53 percent, with a total levy increase of 1.24 percent. The mill rate would decrease from $5.43 to $5.22 per thousand dollars of assessed value, a drop of 3.85 percent.

Health insurance changes for 2027 include an HSA choice plan increase of $12 per paycheck for employees, from $25 total to $175 per month. The premium plus plan will increase by $100 per month. The county is transitioning voluntary benefits from Allstate to a C and B product line, moving dental coverage to Delta Dental.

The committee recommended keeping library services funding at 80 percent, as it was in the prior year, rather than reducing it to the 70 percent presented in the draft. The change from 70 to 80 percent would cost approximately one penny per thousand dollars of assessed value. Representatives from the Phillips and Park Falls libraries spoke about usage, with Phillips reporting about 2,200 active users and Park Falls reporting 15,695 visitors this year.

The committee also discussed raising the debt levy by $500,000 for equipment and capital projects. Highway department requests include a $300,000 loader, a $55,000 patch trailer, an $18,000 mower, $60,000 in portable traffic lights, and a $67,000 tractor. At $500,000 in additional debt, the mill rate would remain at $5.42, still below the prior year rate. A final decision on specific items was deferred to the next meeting.

Two outstanding claims against the county remain active, with one estimated to take 16 to 18 more months to resolve.

Delinquent Tax Properties Head to October Auction

County Treasurer Renee reported that 15 delinquent tax parcels went through court on August 18, with the gavel dropped on proceedings. Five parcels have homes on them, with the remainder being vacant land. The properties include three in Phillips, one in Prentice, and one in Brantwood.

One owner has already paid off, reducing the count to 14 parcels. Property owners have until September 25 to remove personal items. The auction will follow in October.

Birchland Realty won the bid for the Certified Market Analysis, which will set first bids at market value. The CMA is due September 25.

Three properties in the Town of Knox have been delinquent for an extended period, with buildings deteriorating. The county hopes to sell those three parcels as a single unit.

The treasurer, county administrator, and a deputy visited the properties in person after certified mail notices were returned as unclaimed for several properties with homes.

County Cash Flow Down 25 Percent, Not a Crisis

County cash stands at $7.4 million, down 25 percent from the same time last year. Trimner and Treasurer Renee emphasized this is a timing issue, not a financial crisis. The American Asphalt bill of $2 million was paid earlier this year via ACH instead of by check, accelerating the outflow.

High-cost placements reached $496,830, compared to $400,000 last year and $241,000 two years ago. Forestry stumpage collections total $672,000, down 40 percent from $1.1 million last year but in line with the prior year figure of $536,000.

County sales tax is 2.7 percent ahead of last year, with $662,212 collected. The county holds roughly $4 million in certificates of deposit that could be liquidated if needed.

Other Committee Business

New 2026 plat books are available at the Register of Deeds office for $40. The county ordered 100 copies this year. The Register of Deeds recorded 353 documents in August and issued 207 vital records.

Election training is scheduled for October 22 and 23, with more than 40 people signed up. County directories have arrived in navy blue this year.

Coroner pathology costs exceeded $11,000, driven by cases involving ATV accidents, drownings, and farm accidents that require autopsies. Court-approved counsel for indigent defendants cost $13,500, with judges hiring local lawyers when public defenders are unavailable.

The committee also approved several resolutions, including a $1.77 million short-term debt resolution for 2027 capital projects and highway construction, and a resolution to transfer funds to cover 2026 budget overages in several departments. The largest overages were in corrections and communications at $350,612, the sheriff’s office at $159,882, and information technology at $44,231.

The next Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for October 8, 2026.

See also: our ATV trail guide for Price County

See also: our guide to free camping in Wisconsin

See also: what makes Price County communities special

Sources

See us more often in GoogleOne click marks Price County Fun as a preferred source, so our articles sit higher in your Top Stories, AI Mode, and AI Overviews.
Scroll to Top