Public works and highway staff presented several operational items to the Board of Commissioners on Nov. 4, and the board provided direction on committee appointments and cemetery maintenance while pausing action on a proposed naming and memorial designation policy.

Highway staff asked the board to appoint two commissioners to review ATV corridor access permit requests under the county’s ATV ordinance. Commissioners Sumner and Winger volunteered to serve; staff said the appointment would be placed on a future consent agenda for formal approval.

Staff also requested two commissioners to serve on a county road safety action plan task force to help identify crash‑reduction projects (rumble strips, shoulder widening, targeted intersection improvements and roundabouts). Commissioners Carlson and Winger volunteered to serve and staff will bring the appointments back on a consent agenda.

Bruce (highway staff) presented the Wilton Lutheran Cemetery matter: the county has been maintaining an abandoned cemetery that came to the county by default after the church ceased operations. A funeral home reported inquiries about whether new burials could occur; records indicated one plot had been previously purchased by a living person who may wish to be interred there. Commissioners reached consensus to keep the cemetery generally closed to future burials but to honor the one previously purchased lot if the purchaser still wishes it, subject to verification of location and confirmation that allowing the burial would not disturb unmarked graves.

The board debated a proposed county naming and memorial designation policy that would guide requests to name county property (roads, bridges, buildings). Several commissioners expressed concerns that a formal naming policy could create a ‘‘slippery slope’’ of frequent naming requests, administrative burdens, emergency‑address confusion and arbitrary decisions. Administrator Barry and staff noted the policy could include objective criteria, cost responsibilities and replacement‑sign limitations. After discussion the chair said the board would not adopt the policy at this time and asked staff to hold the draft until further direction.

Staff will return with formal consent agenda items for committee appointments and with the cemetery verification details if the purchaser wishes to proceed.