Supervisors unanimously adopted Resolution No. 34 to update the county's rural functional classification map, a FHWA-required review that affects eligibility for federal transportation funding programs.

St. Croix County received a $150,000 grant to conduct PFAS testing across St. Croix, Polk and Pierce counties, with about 150 wells to be sampled to determine regional groundwater PFAS levels.

St. Croix County said its highway department secured a $4,700,000 "Safer Streets for All" grant that will fund safety projects including a roundabout at County Highways A and U and other corridor improvements.

The board approved the 2027 budget and tax levy (Resolution No. 33) by a 16-2 vote after a brief hearing; County Administrator Witt highlighted a 4% COLA, staffing changes and a projected $10.8 million debt in 2027.

The board unanimously approved three CUPs for a Saint Joseph riverfront property—grading within a slope-preservation zone, large-area grading outside the zone, and replacement of an incline lift—subject to erosion controls, engineered footings for the lift and DNR conditions on materials and vegetation.

Staff told the Board that DATCP and DNR inspected the meat processing site, identified items to fix, and that the applicant is pursuing required state licensing; staff said county inspections may be more frequent than the minimum and violations can trigger automatic revocation.

County legal counsel summarized Chapter 51 involuntary commitment standards, court timelines and initiation routes, and warned that local capacity is limited so counties often rely on state facility Winnebago at high daily cost, creating budget and transport challenges.

Public health surveillance shows a 12% increase in suicide and self-harm ER visits among roughly ages 14-25 from 2023 to 2025; the department has made youth mental health a five-year priority in the community health improvement plan and is promoting upstream programs like Empower Youth and 988/211 coordination.

St. Croix County's attorney summarized Chapter 51 involuntary-commitment criteria, three ways to initiate detention, and operational challenges: medical-clearance delays, few contracted beds locally and high costs at state facility Winnebago (~$2,000/day plus initial charges).

The Administration Committee voted unanimously Oct. 13 to adopt the county's 2027 budget and set the tax levy; the budget uses $160,000 of fund balance for Resource, Land and Water clean-water programs and preserves a $500,000 multi-year allocation under review by the Community Development Committee.

Supervisors discussed directing large data centers to industrial zones, requiring conditional-use permitting (CUPs), developer agreements with decommissioning assurances, and potential notice requirements for municipal proposals; staff recommended drafting ordinances and seeking corporate-counsel review and municipal input.

The Saint Croix County Board approved an initial resolution authorizing up to $20,000,000 in general obligation promissory notes to finance a multi‑phase upgrade of the county 9‑1‑1 communications system, including two new towers, replacement radios and dual‑band equipment; the vote was 19‑0.

The Saint Croix County Board created an ad hoc committee to analyze a potential jail expansion project — described as possibly the county's second‑largest bonding effort at an estimated $50–$70 million — and directed a final recommendation be issued by May of next year; the motion passed 19‑0.

Staff proposed directing large data centers to industrial zoning (I-1/I-2), using conditional-use permits and developer agreements for public-notice, monitoring, decommissioning and possible land recapture; committee members urged stronger language on emergency services, financial assurance and notification to cities/villages.

The St. Croix County Board approved an initial resolution (Res. No. 29) setting a $20 million borrowing cap to modernize the county's 9‑1‑1 communications system — the first formal step toward building new towers, replacing radios and moving to a dual‑band system. Vote: 19–0.

The National Park Service told county staff it would allow rebuilding in the same footprint and a limited 8.5-by-26-foot addition, but declined an extra 4–4.5 foot lateral extension; applicants said they would follow NPS recommendations.

A county staff member said the plan to relocate and build new radio towers will be executed in phases: nine months to prepare bid packages and roughly two years for construction and equipment deployment; portable radios were estimated at about $11,000 each and county inventory numbers were provided.

The board voted 4-1 to form an ad hoc committee to analyze a proposed $20,000,000 jail expansion and report back by May 2027 after amending language on the chair's replacement; some supervisors warned the committee could delay the project.

The St. Croix County Board of Adjustment approved variances allowing Joseph and Natalie Weber to rebuild a fire‑destroyed house at 1488 Twin Springs Road with limited additions, but excluded a 4.5‑foot lateral expansion beyond a former shed footprint and required mitigation and later conditional permits aligned with National Park Service recommendations.

St. Croix County staff proposed using roughly $500,000 from fund balance over ~4–5 years for a package of water‑quality measures: a field‑buffer cost‑share program, a reverse‑osmosis incentive pilot for private wells, and expanded groundwater and surface‑water monitoring, with USDA grants potentially scaling the effort.

After rescinding earlier approval of a drawdown application, the county is coordinating an informational meeting with DNR staff planned for Jan–Feb to explain the regulatory role in drawdowns. Supervisors urged pre‑meetings of dam owners, fact sheets, and a neutral facilitator to clarify dam ownership responsibilities, maintenance liabilities and watershed solutions including upstream phosphorus reductions.

St. Croix County presented a 2005–2022 emissions inventory showing transportation at 47% of county emissions, buildings 28% and agriculture 13%. Staff recommended aligning county programs with state strategies, expanding monitoring and noted national data‑center emissions research in response to public questions.

The St. Croix County administration committee voted to advance an initial resolution authorizing up to $20 million in general obligation promissory notes to the general committee for further consideration; staff outlined a two-tranche, bank-qualified strategy and a target financing timeline in mid-2027.

County staff told supervisors that after reviewing department requests and projected revenues the preliminary budget shows a $760,000 deficit, and pledged revisions ahead of the October Committee of the Whole meeting.

Staff said 911 operating costs rose by roughly $55,000 driven mainly by software/subscription increases and higher repair and maintenance at tower sites; the county has already included a $20 million EMS/system upgrade in its capital plan.