Committee approves amendment to Sawyer County health department fee schedule; changes to lodging, campgrounds and water testing

On Tuesday, Jan. 6, the Sawyer County Health and Human Services Committee voted to approve a resolution amending the department's fee schedule for lodging, campgrounds, specialty lodging and water testing to reflect recent state licensing changes and rising program costs. Committee staff said the adjustments are intended to be budget-neutral: increased local fees will cover inspection, lab and temporary staffing costs rather than rely on property-tax revenue.

Julia, a county staff member presenting the proposal, said the county restructured license tiers to match new state categories for tourist rooming houses, added fees for specialty lodging ("think of the yurts"), and included a public-water testing fee tied to the DNR program. "So the reason why like some of these things look like... it's just here because that is a fee that the state has and, it's a license that we can administer should we need to," she said, explaining why the schedule includes tiers the county rarely expects to see.

Public commenter Linda Zillmer of Birchwood urged the committee to consider the budget impact on small, dispersed operators and asked why larger fee increases were not part of the 2026 budget process. Zillmer noted an example from the proposed schedule, saying she saw a $300 first-time inspection charge in the tourist rooming-house section and questioned whether the state's scale, designed for resorts, fits Sawyer County's smaller properties.

Committee members pressed for details on how increased fees would be conveyed and how quickly the county would notify affected establishments. Julia said letters are ready to go and the state will also notify operators that will change licensing category (for example, hotel/motel to tourist rooming house). She requested the county apply the new fees beginning Feb. 1 so staff can prepare ahead of the licensing cycle that restarts in April.

The resolution also formalizes a single reinspection fee structure (reinspection listed at $1.50; a second subsequent reinspection listed as $200 on the draft schedule) and includes a requirement that tourist rooming houses secure both coliform bacteria and nitrate water tests where applicable. Staff said lab partners include providers in Oshkosh and Stevens Point and that sample and shipping costs drove some increases.

A committee member moved to approve the resolution and it was seconded; the motion carried on a voice vote. The committee asked staff to place the item on the county board agenda for final consideration.

Next steps: The committee forwarded the resolution to the full county board and staff will send notification letters to affected licensees. The department said it will monitor lab cost changes and adjust internal staffing plans (including LTE support during peak season) to meet inspection demand without drawing on property-tax funding.