The Vilas County Board of Supervisors took action on a number of resolutions included on the August meeting agenda, as well as heard from community leaders on topics that are important to the county and its residents.
Supervisor Aron Houdini, who also serves as executive director for the Land O’ Lakes Chamber of Commerce, gave a presentation on Vilas County tourism numbers.
He highlighted the massive dollars Vilas County brings in, citing the $402 million brought in in 2025. He compared that to the $190 million the Green Bay Packers bring in for the City of Green Bay in a season to show the massive impact tourism has on the area.
To promote the county’s attractions, Vilas County Tourism works on an annual budget of $125,000, plus money pooled from each town’s chamber of commerce through the newly created Vilas County Chambers nonprofit group.
Noting the huge financial impact tourism has to the area, Houdini said the county is being outcompeted by other areas with a larger budget. “We’re being out-marketed.”
Phelps chamber Director Laura Reichart shared some of the many initiatives that have been rolled out recently to put Vilas County on the map, including a series of print and digital publications, reels and videos, and apps that have proven popular with users and visitors.
Houdini also secured editorial space in a recent edition of Travel Magazine, one of the largest tourism magazines in the world. He is currently working on a winter spread to be featured later this year.
Amy Springer, director of Vilas County Public Health Department, spoke on a resolution to amend the public health budget to bring family planning services to the county using a state grant to cover the cost of the program.
“We are the only county in the northern part of the state with no family planning,” she said. Care used to be covered by Newcap, but that program has been dissolved leaving what Springer called “a huge deficit for the people of Vilas County.”
The family planning service would be a nurse-only clinic that provides contraceptive services, reproductive health and sexually transmitted infection screenings; as well as guidance on infertility issues, healthy relationships and identifying signs of abuse. Springer said these programs can help reduce unintended pregnancies and also support infant health.
Her department fields calls asking for these services and currently have to be referred to Oneida or Forest County for help, which can be difficult and expensive for people to travel to for service.
“This will be 100% paid for by a grant from the state,” Springer said.
Springer also indicated this program would not offer abortion services, referrals or other information.
It was passed unanimously.
The board also unanimously passed a series of other resolutions ranging from opioid funding usage to creating new positions within the courthouse where needed.
Supervisors approved the use of opioid settlement funds for the county’s portion of the 2026 Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) grant program match. TAD supports treatment and diversion alternatives to incarceration in efforts to rehabilitate people accused of drug-related or petty crimes and keep them out of the justice system.
Smith said the county’s opioid fund has $792,000 available and the board approved the usage of $41,659 to continue the program as it had previously done in 2024 and 2025.
Cottingham and Butler will again be hired to do a compensation market assessment for the county in order to review pay plans for employees. The board authorized up to $25,125 from the General Fund to pay for the review.
Supervisors also voted to create a part-time administrative assistant position for the Veterans Service Department in order to alleviate some of the strain on existing employees. It is a very busy office and having someone on hand to answer phones and schedule appointments was a great need, according to Kevin Eades, assistant veterans services officer. The position is contingent on funding being available in the 2027 budget with a hiring date beginning on or after Jan. 4, 2027.
Also okayed was the creation of a second environmental health technician position for the public health department. The one full-time position would eliminate three part-time positions and account for no additional cost to the county.
Circuit court Clerk Beth Soltow advocated for an increase in juror fees, raising the payment per day from the existing $25 to $30. There also would be an increase by $1 per day annually from 2028 to 2034, until the pay amount reaches $37 per day.
She also noted that juror compensation has not been raised in more than 40 years.
Soltow said that while nobody expects to get rich serving on a jury, it’s a very important service and the county should make a meaningful effort to recognize their work. The board agreed.
The board also okayed a Public Safety Answering Point grant application, a zoning ordinance update regarding shipping and temporary or portable storage containers in the town of Presque Isle, and a budget amendment for the Aging and Disability Resource Center Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources.
The next county board meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 9 a.m. at the Vilas County Courthouse.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here