Rod Eslinger

The Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors convened to discuss several key items. The board approved a proclamation for Overdose Awareness Day in Eau Claire County. They addressed a rezoning request for the Town of Washington, which will be discussed in a future meeting. The board also discussed amending sections of the Eau Claire County Code related to meetings, budgetary procedures, purchases, fund transfers, and finance department operations. Additionally, the board authorized the expenditure of opioid settlement funds for youth prevention programs and harm reduction services. Amendments to the code regarding all-terrain vehicle routes and speed limits were enacted. Resolutions were adopted to create a full-time limited-term juvenile detention worker position and to restructure resource specialist positions within the Human Services Department. The board also awarded bids for the sale of tax delinquent properties and approved the appointment of Kayleen Rosman to the Groundwater Advisory Committee.

The Climate Action & Resilience Plan (CARP) identifies opportunities for improvement within Eau Claire County operations to achieve carbon neutrality goals. It focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, with strategies including energy transition, building optimization, fleet decarbonization, and waste reduction. The plan emphasizes sustainability by balancing environmental impact, community well-being, and fiscal responsibility, aiming to align county operations with renewable energy and carbon neutrality by 2050.

The County Board of Supervisors meeting included oral reports on the Final ARPA Report and the 2026 Budget Requests Update, as well as an Interim County Administrator Update. The board discussed ordinances related to amending all-terrain vehicle routes and setting speed limits on certain county highways. Additionally, resolutions were adopted to designate the Farmland Preservation Plan Update Steering Committee as a special committee, freeze corporal positions while unfreezing correctional officer positions in the Sheriff's Office, and delegate authority to enter into agreements with opioid defendants. The board also addressed amending human resources policies and awarding bids for the sale of tax delinquent properties.

The meeting included the confirmation of Jon Johnson's appointment as County Administrator, effective September 8, 2025. The board also affirmed the authorization for the County Board Chair and Jon Johnson to enter into an employment contract, contingent on the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors' approval.

The Eau Claire County Opioid Task Force is authorized to use settlement funds for community assessment and opioid abatement purposes, including expanding addiction treatment workforce, increasing adoption of clinical best practices, and improving enforcement of mental health parity and consumer protection laws. The task force recommends purchasing an additional one-year supply of Narcan units and Fentanyl test strips to ensure availability if grant funding ends.