Sawyer County administrator to retire at year-end; county moves to renew Opportunity Zone

At a Sawyer County Administrative Committee meeting, County Administrator Mike announced he will retire at the end of the year and outlined several ongoing initiatives he plans to complete before departing. “I am going to retire at the end of the year,” he said, adding he will “work very hard until my last day” to ensure a smooth transition and to finish projects including the veterans tribute.

Why it matters: the administrator’s office coordinates several countywide initiatives. At the meeting he said the county will reapply for its Opportunity Zone designation, a federal program intended to spur investment in low-income communities, and that an application will be filed after a meeting with Brian Prisler, the Sawyer County Economic Development Corporation executive director. The administrator said the application is due by the end of the month.

The administrator also reported progress on several infrastructure and public-safety items. He said construction and permitting work for a radio-network upgrade at the Meadowbrook site is underway and that the county hopes to have the electrical work complete and the site operating as part of the live network by year’s end. “We’re looking at getting the electrical brought in for that and doing the construction,” he said.

The county has also sought outside funding to sustain public-safety and deflection programs. Committee members were told that CJCC submitted a grant application just under $740,000 for a rural communities opioid response grant that would support the county’s deflection program; the administrator said the program currently operates largely on grants and private donations.

Committee reaction and next steps: members praised the administrator’s work and asked about next steps for continuity planning and public outreach once he announces retirement more broadly. The administrator said he will prioritize transition work and continue bringing project updates to the Administrative Committee until items are complete. The committee did not take formal action on succession at the meeting; the administrator said he will remain at his post through the end of the year to finish outstanding work.

The committee will continue to receive monthly updates on the Opportunity Zone application, the Meadowbrook radio upgrade and other capital projects as the county advances funding applications and construction.