Langlade County Committee Awards Park Planning Contract, Eliminates Administrator Position

Highlights from the Langlade County Forestry, Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting of June 3, 2026 found at:  https://www.co.langlade.wi.us/government/minutes_and_agendas/minutes/

Executive Summary During its June 3, 2026 meeting, the Langlade County Forestry, Parks and Recreation Committee voted to award a master planning contract for the Charles de Langlade Recreational Facility. Following a closed-session discussion regarding employee compensation and candidate recruitment, the committee also voted to formally eliminate its unified administrator position and restructure departmental leadership.

Thematic Sections

Charles De Langlade Park Planning Contract The committee reviewed planning proposals to develop a master planning document and a long-range development road map for the Charles de Langlade Recreational Facility. Forestry Department representative Tom Lazers reported on reference checks conducted for two bidding firms, Ayres and Robert E. Lee, noting that staff met with the City of Antigo as part of the evaluation process. Lazers explained that the chosen vendor will conduct public and organizational meetings to gather data for two to three conceptual plans. The committee compared a $50,000 proposal from Ayres against a $29,500 proposal from Robert E. Lee, which partnered with Parkitecture. A motion by Poltrock, seconded by Roehrig, passed unanimously to award the contract to Robert E. Lee.

Personnel Restructuring and Compensation Decisions After convening in a closed session to discuss candidate recruitment and staff compensation, the committee approved significant changes to departmental leadership. The committee voted unanimously to formally eliminate the overarching Forestry, Parks, and Recreation Administrator position. In its place, the committee referred separate, new job descriptions for a Forestry Administrator and a Parks and Recreation Administrator to the Personnel Committee. Additionally, the committee authorized a stipend for Assistant Forest Administrators Rick Dedeyne and Cody Brauner, retroactive to the February 1, 2026 pay period.

Property Leases and Fairgrounds Policy Updates Corporation Counsel Robin Stowe updated the committee on county-owned property at Moose Lake, which includes a public boat landing and four lots. The Town of Norwood and the Friends of Moose Lake have requested that the property be returned to a park-like setting. The committee discussed a proposed 10-year lease with renewable terms. Assistant Forest Administrator Brauner is scheduled to meet with the Town of Norwood to sign the lease before the agreement is referred to the County Board via resolution.

Separately, the committee reviewed the fee use policy for the county Fairgrounds, focusing on clarifying no-fee status for county-affiliated event sponsors and distinguishing between non-profit and for-profit entities. A discussion regarding the future purchase of tables and dividers for the Fairgrounds was referred to the Public Property Committee.

Key Action Items & Decisions:

Previous Minutes Approved: Approved the May 20, 2026 minutes with a correction directing Assistant Forest Administrator Brauner to remove steel targets and return to paper targets without a specified completion deadline.

Park Contract Awarded: Approved a $29,500 contract to Robert E. Lee and Parkitecture for master planning services.

Departmental Restructuring: Formally dissolved the primary unified Administrator position, split the roles into two distinct job descriptions for Personnel Committee review, and approved retroactive stipends for the assistant administrators.

Concluding Sentence The next regular meeting of the Forestry, Parks and Recreation Committee is scheduled for July 1, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. in the Highway Department Conference Room.