Finance committee recommends prioritized Ho-Chunk grants, adds $10,000 from Land & Water reserve for conservation cost-share

The Finance Committee reviewed a second round of Ho-Chunk project requests and, on a motion from Supervisor Charlie Jacobson seconded by Supervisor Martha Olson, recommended a prioritized slate of projects. The minutes list total requests of $485,271 and record a recommended package with itemized amounts that sum to $413,500.

Among projects listed in the minutes are: Emergency Management—two automated external defibrillators ($3,590); Land & Water Conservation—direct payments to producers for contour planting ($20,000) and a Conservation Partners Grant Program contribution ($25,000); Register of Deeds—rebinding 13 record books ($19,500); Community Development—rebranding contingency ($13,400), generator project contingency ($50,000), and Elevate Vernon small-business support ($150,000); Highway—two message boards ($45,000); Sheriff's Office—13 AEDs ($23,400); Information Technology—core switches ($63,590). The minutes show a total of $413,500 for recommended projects.

Separately, County Conservationist David Hettenbach requested use of $10,000 in non-lapsing reserve funds to add to the Ho-Chunk allocation and to create a cost-share program aimed at encouraging perennial filter strips along agricultural contours. Supervisor Will Beitlich moved to approve forwarding a resolution that would utilize the $10,000; Supervisor Martha Olson seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

The minutes do not reconcile the difference between the $485,271 in total asks and the $413,500 listed as the committee-recommended total; the record does not specify criteria used to trim requests or the remaining funding sources required to meet all asks. The committee forwarded the recommendation package and the proposed non-lapsing reserve resolution to the full county board for action.