Office of the County Clerk, January 27, 2026. The Board met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by Chairperson Gabrielson at 7:00 p.m. in the County Board Room, located at 320 South Walnut Street, Appleton, Wisconsin. ROLL CALL: 32 present, 4 absent. Members present: Thompson, Johnson, Smith, Patience, Gabrielson, Kostelny, Hammen, Lawrence, Krueger, Lamers, Ferguson, Hermes, MacDonald, Zabronsky, Croatt, Heiser, Mitchell, Cuff, Hagen, Klemp, Thiede, Janke, Weinberg, Culbertson, Monfils, Winterfeldt, Nejedlo, Clegg, VanderHeiden, Rettler, Koury, and Lautenschlager. Members absent: Supervisors McCabe, Wegand, Spears and Thyssen. The Board Chairperson requested the Board's confirmation to excuse Supervisors McCabe, Wegand, Spears and Thyssen. No objections; so ordered. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chairperson Gabrielson. MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 2026 COUNTY BOARD MEETING Supervisor Cuff moved, seconded by Supervisor Koury, to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2026 County Board meeting. ROLL CALL: 32 yes, 4 absent. MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 2026 COUNTY BOARD MEETING ARE APPROVED. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS – Anne Van, Executive Operations and Public Relations Specialist, provided an update on the Uniquely Wisconsin film series featuring Outagamie County This Uniquely Wisconsin segment featured Outagamie County's Friends of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), which is a volunteer-based non-profit 501c3 that raises funds and provides essential supplies and support to help responders who have been on the scene of a crisis event for an extended period of time. Their team recently attained a new response truck and trailer, which helps enhance and streamline their volunteer efforts. The trailer provides essential supplies for relief, nourishment (food and beverage), rest and the ability to rehabilitate to reacclimatize out of the crisis environment. They are committed to help with disaster preparedness training and ensuring the safety of law enforcement/first responders/fire fighters, and the community they serve. Representatives (Dan Lenz, Friends of CERT volunteer, Gene Reece, Friends of CERT Chairperson, and Greg Peterson, retired Grand Chute Police Chief) who were featured in the short, provided a question and answer opportunity after the segment viewing, and explained overall services provided through training efforts (Basic First Aid, Hazard Identification, Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Assessment, Damage Assessment, Light Search and Rescue, and Public Safety Outreach). Anne Van, Executive Operations and Public Relations Specialist, provided a preview of the newly revamped Outagamie County website. The former website domain, www.outagamie.org will be phased out within 30 days of launch of the new website, www.outagamie.gov – there will be no automatic redirect option. She iterated the website revamp was a project that took over a year of planning, facilitating, and executing. From streamlining pages from 3,000 to 600, reducing unnecessary clicks from the main page to visitor resources, the update provides the alleviation of website traffic, phone traffic, and in-person visits, as the user is able to locate information in a more straight-forward framework. She stated there are additional features now available for county departments and county residents because of the website refresh including OpenForms and the GovDelivery system components. A Standard Operating Procedures was developed for maintaining this website, which provides scope of roles and expectations, audit recommendations, content standards, best practices with writing, and ensuring accessibility compliance. Greg Baneck, Land Conservationist, and Kevin Englebert, Development and Land Services Director, provided a brief overview regarding the establishment of a Wetland Mitigation Bank Land Conservationist Baneck started the presentation with explaining compensatory wetland mitigation and the reasoning behind the practice: Most wetlands are protected from filling or damage from either state or federal regulation, but construction projects may require filling or grading in a wetland area. Because of this inevitability with some projects, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource (WI-DNR) have regulations and procedures with offsetting wetland disturbance. This is through a process of purchasing area to create new wetlands, or to purchase "credits" from an existing entity who has a wetland. After this land is processed in a mitigation bank, the bank sponsors can sell these credits to other entities to help offset the environmental disturbance or damage being done to wetlands as a result of other infrastructure projects. Outagamie County planned on starting a wetland mitigation several years ago. Land Conservationist Baneck shared the background of getting to this point: he explained the need for credits or establishing a wetland mitigation bank was decided in 2019 with the Finance Director and the County Executive. A coordinated study was done with Development and Land Services in 2020 that compared several locations. It was determined moving forward was a profitable decision for Outagamie County, and $750k was allocated in the capital budget in 2021 that has since been carried over, year after year, since the original intended site fell through. In 2025, a realtor was brought onto the project to help locate other potential available properties. Development and Land Services estimated a conservative return on investment for the particular site is $6.52, dollar for dollar, on the Bamboo Bend area. In reviewing eleven (11) possible sites, the Bamboo Bend location is deemed the long property just west of Shiocton, which boarders the Newton Blackmour State Trail. It was determined this site would be a viable property to restore wetlands and use as a resource of a wetland mitigation bank. The key to finding a site is to find one that is not currently a wetland. The site in question was used for a salt brine field area. Because of the inability to use the property for farmland, the price per acre is far lower to other comparable surrounding farmland. DLS Director Englebert explained an offer was drafted to the property owner with the following contingences: a completion of Phase 1 of the review of the property, and a preconstruction sampling of the wetland. Currently, the County has an accepted offer to purchase the property from the seller. The initial wetland mitigation bank prospectus document was submitted to the USACOE AND WI-DNR for the ninety (90) day review, and both entities provided their regulatory approval for the project. Thereafter, the County will finalize the property purchase and begin monitoring and testing the site, and will begin preparation of construction plans and banking document for submittal to the mitigation bank review team with ultimate construction starting in 2027. DLS Director Englebert and Land Conservationist Baneck explained the incentives to purchase the property and restore the biodiversity of the area: The project would provide us with wetland mitigation bank credits, as it is likely numerous departments may need them for future projects (Highway, Airport, Parks and Recreation, etc.) The area is adjacent to the existing Newton Blackmour State Trail, and would provide more educational and recreational opportunities for Outagamie County. Additionally, this is close to Mosquito Hill Nature Center, which could provide more county programming opportunities. Using the unsuitable farmland, would enhance the area's biodiversity, as wetland vegetation has the ability to thrive in areas where farmers would discredit the ability to use the land because of the salt pollutants; would provide flooding area. The proposed wetland bank location aligns with Outagamie County's Zoning and Comprehensive Plan. There is prospective great return on investment to the County, as the price point is a reasonable price per acre. The $585k investment could turn out to a conservative $8.8 million dollars in estimated return of wetland credit for a $585k investment. Additional incurred costs will run for five (5) to ten (10) years for monitoring efforts and help mitigate invasive species, until the area is a safe and improved habitat. If purchased, and if the County ends up selling any wetland credits to any other outside entity, the County would continue to retain ownership and use of the property, but a stipulation is the area must remain wetland area. Outagamie County would ultimately be responsible for selling the credits as the bank owner. Their presentation ended acknowledging the County's Mitigation Bank Team, which consists of Greg Baneck, Land Conservation Director, Kevin Englebert, DLS Director, Jeremy Freund, Land Conservation Deputy Director/Environmental Engineer, Curtis Riedy, Highway Department Director, and Justin Schumacher, County Parks Director. Chairperson Gabrielson informed the County Board, at 8:33 p.m. per County Board Rules, the County Board was eligible to take a short recess, as the meeting surpassed the 90-minute mark. Considering there were several requests to take the recess, he asked for a recess and to reconvene at 8:45 p.m. The meeting reconvened and resumed at 8:45 p.m. ESTABLISH ORDER OF THE DAY– Chairperson Gabrielson requested to have all resolutions locked in at the meeting. No objections; so ordered. COMMUNICATIONS – Chairperson Gabrielson summarized the communications. There are 3 Supervisors who still need to complete the most recent cyber security training course, titled Core Concepts: Password / Business E-mail e-mailed to mailboxes on November 19, 2025. The regularly-schedule County Board meeting is cancelled for February 10, 2026, however, committee meetings still may meet. Please continue to check e-mails in lieu of the County Board meeting cancellation. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED TO ONLY MATTERS LISTED ON THE AGENDA AND FOR A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN MINUTES WHICH MAY BE EXTENDED TO 30 MINUTES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR – None. APPOINTMENTS – None. REPORT BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE – Chairperson Gabrielson acknowledged County Executive Nelson asked to be excused due to illness. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None. NEW BUSINESS – Resolution No. Z-12—2025-26 – Agriculture, Extension Education, Zoning and Land Conservation Committee. Approve the rezone request for Bluemound Properties LLC, for parcel 103100900, from the LC- Local Commercial District to R3- Single Family Attached Residence District, in the Town of Grand Chute, as depicted on the attached review and map. Supervisor VanderHeiden moved, seconded by Supervisor Krueger, for adoption. Supervisor MacDonald moved, seconded by Supervisor Hagen, to request to suspend the rules to allow Development and Land Services Director Englebert to speak. Chairperson Gabrielson asked for unanimous consent to suspend the rules in order for Development and Land Services could address some outstanding questions. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ROLL CALL: 26 yes, 6 no (Thompson, Ferguson, Hermes, Thiede, Janke, Lautenschlager), 4 absent. RESOLUTION NO. Z-12—2025-26 IS ADOPTED. Resolution No. 145—2025-26 – Property, Airport, Recreation and Economic Development Committee. Approve the Land Conservation, Highway, Parks, and Development and Land Services departments to purchase 117 acres of agriculture land in the Town of Bovina, to establish a Wetland Mitigation Bank, included in the 2025 capital budget, with no additional county funding required, as detailed on the attached fiscal note. Supervisor Culbertson moved, seconded by Supervisor Krueger, for adoption. Supervisor Lautenschlager moved, seconded by Supervisor Krueger, to amend Resolution No. 145—2025-26 to include the purchase price of $5,000 per ace to line 15 of Resolution No. 145—2025-26. Chairperson Gabrielson asked for unanimous consent to suspend the rules in order for Development and Land Services Director Englebert could address pending offer conditions and speak on Resolution No. 145—2025-26. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ROLL CALL: 28 yes, 4 no (Gabrielson, Lawrence, Ferguson, Thiede), 4 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 145—2025-26 IS AMENDED. ROLL CALL: 31 yes, 1 no (Janke), 4 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 145—2025-26 IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED. Resolution No. 146—2025-26 – Property, Airport, Recreation and Economic Development Committee. As part of the CTH N reconstruction project, approve the WB-11 Residential Offer to Purchase, as amended by the WB-44 Counter-Offer of real estate located at N321 County Road N in the Town of Buchanan, and approve the $290,000 purchase price and increase the line items of CTH N – CTH KK to CTH CE Operating Expenses and Non CRB – HWY Intra County by $282,750 each, as detailed on the attached fiscal note and attachments. Supervisor Culbertson moved, seconded by Supervisor Cuff, for adoption. ROLL CALL: 32 yes, 4 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 146—2025-26 IS ADOPTED. Resolution No. 147—2025-26 – Health and Human Services Committee. Authorize and approve the Veterans Services Office to transfer funds approved in the 2025 adopted budget, to account for changes in activity that occurred during 2025, with no additional county funding, and approve the following budget adjustments to the Veterans Services Office cost center line items: decrease Salaries by $12,000, decrease Fringe Benefits by $4,000, increase Supplies by $4,000, and increase Purchased Services by $12,000, as detailed on the attached fiscal note. Supervisor Krueger moved, seconded by Supervisor Zabronsky, for adoption. ROLL CALL: 32 yes, 4 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 147—2025-26 IS ADOPTED. Resolution No. 148—2025-26 – Finance Committee. Authorize and approve the County Parks Department to increase the rental fee for The Hillside at Plamann Park shelter by $150 for all non-business entities to enable the park staff to manage the table setup and takedown process to ensure the proper maintenance and longevity of the tables; and approve increasing the line item Rec Fees – Rental Revenue by $7,000 and decreasing the General Fund Surplus Fund Balance Applied by $7,000, as detailed on the attached fiscal note. Supervisor Lautenschlager moved, seconded by Supervisor Lawrence, for adoption. Supervisor Ferguson moved, seconded by Supervisor Hermes, to amend Resolution No. 148—2025-26 by striking the language in lines 2 and 12 pertaining to "for all non-business entities". Supervisor Ferguson called Point of Order, as County Board Supervisors strayed away from the amendment. Supervisor Janke moved to call the question, seconded by Supervisor Patience, third by Supervisor Krueger, fourth by Supervisor Lamers, and fifth Supervisor Klemp, to close debate on the motion to amend Resolution No. 148—2025-26. Supervisor Smith called Point of Order, to provide context if calling the question needs to be on the turn in which one is speaking or can it be done at any time. Corporation Counsel stated it could be announced by a member of the body during the debate. ROLL CALL TO CLOSE DEBATE: 31 yes, 1 no (MacDonald), 4 absent. DEBATE ON TO AMEND RESOLUTION NO. 148—2025-26 IS CLOSED. ROLL CALL: 18 yes, 14 no (Patience, Gabrielson, Kostelny, Hammen, Lawrence, Lamers, Heiser, Cuff, Hagen, Klemp, Culbertson, Monfils, Nejedlo, Koury), 4 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 148—2025-26 IS AMENDED. Supervisor Cuff moved, seconded by MacDonald, to suspend the rules to allow Finance Director Uitenbroek to speak on the subject. Chairperson Gabrielson asked for unanimous consent to suspend the rules in order to allow Finance Director Uitenbroek to speak on the matter. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Supervisor Heiser moved, seconded by Supervisor Janke, to refer Resolution No. 148—2025-26 back to committee as amended. Supervisor Monfils called Point of Order, to provide clarification on what needed to be reviewed at committee. Supervisor Thiede called Point of Order to confirm about a subsequent break due to County Board Rules stating that every 90 minutes of discussion, the County Board would qualify for a short recess. Chairperson Gabrielson explained next allotted break opportunity would occur at 10:15 p.m. ROLL CALL: 14 yes (Thompson, Johnson, Kostelny, Lawrence, Krueger, Lamers, Zabronsky, Heiser, Hagen, Janke, Culbertson, Nejedlo, Rettler, Koury), 18 no, 4 absent. REQUEST TO REFER RESOLUTION NO. 148—2025-26 AS AMENDED BACK TO COMMITTEE IS DEFEATED. Supervisor Croatt moved to call the question, seconded by Supervisor Smith, third by Supervisor Heiser, fourth by Supervisor Patience, and fifth by Supervisor Janke, to close debate on the motion to adopt Resolution No. 148—2025-26 as amended. ROLL CALL TO CLOSE DEBATE: 30 yes, 2 no (Lawrence, MacDonald), 4 absent. DEBATE ON ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 148—2025-26 AS AMENDED IS CLOSED. ROLL CALL: 26 yes, 6 no (Johnson, Patience, Lawrence, Heiser, Hagen, Koury), 4 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 148—2025-26 IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED. Resolution No. 149—2025-26 – Public Safety Committee. Authorize and approve the County Sheriff's Office to accept and expend an unsolicited donation from Milk Source LLC for $1,000, and increase the Patrol line items for Donations and Supplies by $1,000 each, as detailed on the attached fiscal note. Supervisor Patience moved, seconded by Supervisor Lamers, for adoption. ROLL CALL: 32 yes, 4 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 149—2025-26 IS ADOPTED. Resolution No. 150—2025-26 – Public Safety Committee. Approve to support legislation that would ensure that individuals and businesses throughout the State of Wisconsin will have quick and easy access to emergency aid when needed. Supervisor Hermes moved, seconded by Supervisor Patience, to refer Resolution No. 150—2025-26 back to the Public Safety Committee for further review. ROLL CALL: 24 yes, 7 no (Thompson, Hammen, Ferguson, Zabronsky, Heiser, Thiede, Monfils), 1 abstain (Johnson), 4 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 150—2025-26 IS REFERRED BACK TO COMMITTEE. Resolution No. 151—2025-26 – Property, Airport, Recreation and Economic Development Committee. Approve the attached Lease Agreement between Outagamie County, Wisconsin (Lessor) and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (Lessee) Regarding Appleton Salt Storage Facility for a period of forty years, with no fiscal impact to the 2026 budget, as noted on the resolution and attachments. Supervisor Culbertson moved, seconded by Supervisor Kostelny, for adoption. ROLL CALL: 31 yes, 1 no (Ferguson), 4 absent. RESOLUTION NO. 151—2025-26 IS ADOPTED. RECONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NOS. Z-12, 145 AS AMENDED, 146, 147, 148 AS AMENDED, 149, AND 151—2025-26. Supervisor Lautenschlager moved, seconded by Supervisor Patience, to reconsider the above listed resolutions. Supervisor Janke moved, seconded by Supervisor Thiede, to separate Resolution No. 145—2025-26 as amended for reconsideration and lock-in. ROLL CALL: 16 yes, 16 no (Thompson, Johnson, Smith, Patience, Gabrielson, Hammen, Lawrence, Lamers, Zabronsky, Heiser, Hagen, Culbertson, Monfils, Nejedlo, Clegg, Lautenschlager), 4 absent. VOTE TO AMEND AND SEPARATE RESOLUTION NO. 145—2025-26 AS AMENDED FOR RECONSIDERATION AND LOCK-IN VOTE IS DEFEATED. Supervisor Thiede moved, Supervisor Ferguson seconded, to separate out Resolution No. Z-12—2025-26 for reconsideration and lock-in. At 10:15 p.m. Chairperson Gabrielson informed the County Board, per County Board Rules, the County Board was eligible to take a short recess, as the meeting surpassed the 90-minute mark for a second time. Considering there were several requests to take the recess, he stated a recess will commence with an anticipated resume time of 10:25 p.m. The meeting reconvened and resumed at 10:25 p.m. Vote to amend and separate Resolution No. Z-12—2025-26. ROLL CALL: 13 yes (Kostelny, Ferguson, Hermes, MacDonald, Zabronsky, Croatt, Mitchell, Cuff, Klemp, Thiede, Monfils, Winterfeldt, Koury), 19 no, 4 absent. VOTE TO AMEND AND SEPARATE RESOLUTION NO. Z-12—2025-26 FOR RECONSIDERATION AND LOCK-IN IS DEFEATED. Vote for reconsideration. ROLL CALL: 29 yes, 3 no, (Ferguson, Thiede, Janke), 4 absent. RESOLUTION NOS. Z-12, 145 AS AMENDED, 146, 147, 148 AS AMENDED, 149 AND 151—2025-26 ARE RECONSIDERED. Vote for lock in. ROLL CALL: 30 yes, 2 no (Thiede and Janke), 4 absent. RESOLUTION NOS. Z-12, 145 AS AMENDED, 146, 147, 148 AS AMENDED, 149 AND 151—2025-26 ARE ADOPTED AND LOCKED IN. REPORTS – None. ADJOURNMENT – Supervisor Lawrence moved, seconded by Supervisor MacDonald, to adjourn until February 24, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. VOICE VOTE CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting adjourned at 10:37 p.m. Please call the Outagamie County Clerk's Office (832-5077) if you would like further elaboration of these minutes. Run: March 16, 2026 WNAXLP March 16 2026 LWIX0478351