Barron County Board Supervisor Jamie McCready, who was sworn in at the August meeting to fill the District 8 vacancy, was given time at the September meeting to introduce herself to the board and public.
McCready shared, "A bit about me is I was born and raised in Cumberland, and have called Turtle Lake home for the last 16 years. I live within the village of Turtle Lake with my husband and two of the three boys we have and several pets."
She added, "I have worked for Cumberland Healthcare since 2005 starting as a certified nursing assistant within the nursing home. Since then, I obtained my associate degree in nursing from WITC (Northwood Tech now) in 2008 and graduated with my bachelor's degree in nursing in 2015. During my time as a nurse I have worked our Medical Surgical Unit, Emergency Department, have been a sexual assault nurse examiner, and currently a part of our leadership team serving as our infection preventionist, employee health nurse, antimicrobial stewardship leader, and emergency preparedness coordinator."
McCready also talked about her many connections in Barron County.
"I have been involved with many things through the years including a member of Northwestern Wisconsin Emergency Readiness Coalition, represented Barron County on the Community Referral Agency board of directors, was a part of Barron County's Sexual Assault Response team, and Coordinated Community Response team," she said.
Asked why she expressed interested in filling the vacancy, McCready said, "I chose to seek out this position after seeing a Facebook post of the vacancy while being frustrated by our political climate throughout the nation. My contribution to this end is to serve the people locally in a manner I believe in, with integrity and kindness."
County Board Chairman Louie Okey apologized for not giving McCready time to introduce herself after she was sworn in and said, "Thank you for serving."
McCready fills a vacancy left by Charles Bergeson, who resigned after two months on the board. McCready now represents taxpayers in the town of Almena and the village of Turtle Lake's ward 1. Her husband Patrick serves on the Turtle Lake Village Board.
Further business
The County Board also:
• Heard Kathleen Mintari's concerns regarding emergency services in the town of Cedar Lake. Okey informed her that Emergency Services Director Mike Judy is addressing the town's call center, radio dispatch and tower issues that will hopefully be resolved soon.
• Received an annual update from West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission by Executive Director Scott Allen and lending specialist Amanda Veith. As a governmental partner in leveraging funds, resolving intergovernmental issues and being a repository of data for developers, they said the commission offers unique services unavailable elsewhere. In the past year the commission has helped three county businesses, Northwoods Cycle LLC and Christine's Dance Studio of Rice Lake and Island Ice of Cumberland, in creating new or improved business goals.
• Discussed the 2025 budget that will be finalized in October. County Administrator Jeff French said it's no longer property tax that drives the county budget but sales tax, which sets Barron apart from other counties where sales tax revenues have flatlined or declined.
• Approved, with 21 yes, five no and three absent, expending $122,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Barron County Housing Authority as it continues the long process to rehabilitate 70 units. The county is holding not more than $3.5 million in ARPA dollars for the rehabilitation project pending submission of bills/invoices that are a part of the overall project. The vote, which required two-thirds of the 29 members affirming it, just barely passed.
• Authorized, with 26 yes and three absent, a rezoning request from Mervin and Diana Johnson of the town of Arland, as recommended by the zoning committee. They requested to change approximately 30 acres from Ag-2 to Recreational-Residential with the purpose to rent out current vacant land as a campsite.
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