Daryl Standafer reclaims St. Croix County Board chair

• Judges Scott Needham, Edward Vlack and Howard Cameron swear in new county board members on the left

Members of the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors were sworn into office to start a new two-year term Tuesday morning. The 2012 group includes 12 new supervisors on the 19-member board. Judges, from left, Scott Needham, Edward Vlack and Howard Cameron give the oath to new members on the left, Agnes Ring, Duane Russett and Travis Schachtner. Incumbent Daryl Standafer, center, was re-elected to chair the board. Photo by Jon Echternacht

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Daryl Standafer won a second consecutive term to chair the St. Croix County Board and a new group was sworn into office Tuesday morning April 17 including 12 new supervisors.

Standafer, an incumbent, was unopposed in his quest to lead the new board. Incumbent Roger Larson was appointed chair pro-tem to officiate over the nomination.

Larson then won the bid for vice-chair by a slim 10-9 margin over Dave Peterson.

William Peavey, a winner in District 19 by a slim two-vote margin over Roger Bauer that required a recount in the spring election, was relegated to the back row by himself until a vice-chair was selected from the membership. When Larson took his place on the panel, Peavey moved back into the general population.

Administrator Pat Thompson made appointments to the Health and Human Services Board that included six supervisors. Larson and Fred Horne are currently serving on the board with terms that expire in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Tim Hood, Fred Yoerg, Chris Kilber and Tom Hawksford were added.

With those positions in place, the board set to the arduous task of electing supervisors to the standing committees. The four standing committees include: public protection, administration, transportation and community development.

Supervisors must serve on at least one committee but not more than two. There are five board members on each of the standing committees.

The community development committee kicked off the proceedings with a round of secret ballots. Joe Hurtgen, Andy Brinkman, Ron Kiesler, Larson and Dave Ostness won the positions.

The selection of members for the administration committee turned into a marathon. Finally after eight ballots, the committee was set with Dave Peterson, Tim Hood, Tom Hawksford, Agnes Ring and Standafer.

The transportation committee included Peavey, Joe Hurtgen, Buck Malick, Brian Hurtgen and Dave Ostness.

Finally the slots in the community development committee were filled with Travis Schachtner, Richard Ottino, Duane Russet, Agnes Ring and Andy Brinkman.

With the committees in place, the board acted on its first piece of real business and unanimously approved a resolution to sell 2.29 acres of county land in the town of Emerald to Robert Bliss for $12,000.

The parcel of land is at 1508 250th St. with a 180-foot abandoned communications tower constructed in 1972.

The county had previously determined it would cost $8,000 to remove the tower and clean the site, said Administrator Thompson. Bliss, who is a ham radio operator, will use the tower for communication.

County board notes