A Fox Solar filing asks Oconto County to accept a minor siting adjustment enlarging on‑site maintenance and storage buildings and parking for a Morgan solar and battery project; county staff plan to review a Local Operating Agreement at the Nov. 3, 2026 Land & Water Resources Committee meeting.

The Land & Water Resources Committee is seeking feedback from town governments on whether to consider a temporary moratorium on large-scale ("hyperscale") data center development while the county reviews zoning, comp plan consistency, and potential impacts; responses were requested by Nov. 13, 2026.

Public Safety and Administration committees recommended a five‑year, locked‑price $1,120,000 agreement with Motorola Solutions for body‑worn cameras, squad cameras, radios and digital evidence management; cost to be recorded initially to prepaid expenses and amortized to county sales tax at $280,000 per year.

Facing changes in the BEAD program, the committee voted to recommend redirecting $360,000 originally approved for BEAD incentives to the Bug Tussel 1, LLC account approved in May 2022; funds must be used by June 30, 2027.

County Administrator Richard Heath updated the committee on Bug Tussel 1, LLC: the company has not defaulted but must make a payment from its debt reserve fund by Oct. 26, 2026; if it fails, participating counties will be notified and two law firms have been engaged to consider options.

Land & Water Resources Committee recommended text amendments to Chapter 16 to conform county recycling rules to DNR rule changes (NR 544) that took effect July 1, 2025; amendments clarify definitions, separation duties, multi‑family standards, hauler reporting and penalties.

Public Health Officer Jaelyn Scanlan told the Oconto County HHS Board that Wisconsin has 250 reported measles cases (six probable) and noted 21 people statewide are being monitored for Ebola exposure; she outlined recent local outreach and said she will join a panel to help shape a CDC grant application for measles response in Plain Communities.

Public Health Officer Jaelyn Scanlan reported 151 measles cases in Wisconsin (six probable, four hospitalizations) and 64 Ebola cases (26 in the northern region), and previewed school immunization clinics beginning Oct. 1 and a car-seat event on Sept. 23.

Chris Firgens told the committee the TC Energy Northwoods Project plans easement construction in 2028 and pipeline construction in 2029. The update was informational and no committee action was taken.

County transit ridership rose to 899 rides in Q2; staff said a 5310 grant will fund a minivan for Menominee Transit and an 8521 award of about $124,000 (with a 20% county match) will support 2027 service funding.

County Administrator Richard Heath updated the committee on the 2027 budget and capital projects, confirmed roof repairs for Oconto and Suring highway buildings are planned, said a potential highway facility property sale fell through, and reported Bug Tussel is seeking additional broadband funding though no formal request has been made.

Oconto County staff reported recent invasive-species work, including detection of black and pale swallow‑wort in the Krakow area—the first reported in the state—and authorized grant applications to fund invasive treatments on county land.

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