ELLSWORTH – At the Nov. 2 Pierce County Finance & Personnel Committee meeting, members considered changing the county’s official seal/logo since it hasn’t been updated since 1941.

County Administrator Jason Matthys said the lack of uniformity across county departments in using a seal/logo is noticeable, as each department has its own letterhead. Most use a variation of the historic courthouse dome. A new seal would move the county into modern times, considering the court functions will be moving to a new judicial center.

Matthys designed an example of a new seal, which highlights unique features in Pierce County such as the St. Croix and Mississippi River bluffs, the iconic Prescott train bridge, rich agricultural farmland with a classic red barn and the historic Ellsworth courthouse dome on the horizon.

Corporation Counsel Brad Lawrence’s research indicated that the last time the board adopted a seal was 1941 but he couldn’t find it.

Supervisor Mike Kahlow, of River Falls, said he found the proposed seal “a little busy,” but moved to approve it to “get it over with and out the door.” His motion was halted by discussion.

“I love it compared to what we have,” said Supervisor Kris Sampson, Prescott. “But I thought we were looking at the Minnesota capitol. What I’m not seeing from the economic development standpoint is any business, any history, the Great River Road. Likes the people, places, possibilities, a bright tomorrow. Is this what we’ll carry on our letterhead, on our website? If we’re going to be using it for marketing and promotion, from a Prescott point of view, it seems a little too ag.”

Kahlow thought it would be a good idea to have a contest, to have good local designers provide their services.

Board Chair Jon Aubart said maybe UW-River Falls should be part of it since they’re a big component in the county.

“I’m just throwing that piece out there,” he said.

Matthys said he ran the logo in black and white and felt it looked clean, fresh and modern. However, he is open to any direction.

Kahlow said his thought was it should be cleaner and simpler, but it’s hard to get everything on a seal this size.

“But it is something we’ll be known by for a little bit. It’s hard to do well, it’s easy to do pedestrian, it’s also easy to do badly,” he said.

Supervisor Neil Gulbranson agreed with Sampson that the courthouse dome on the seal looks more like the Minnesota capitol. He asked if Pierce County has its own flag.

Kahlow proposed amending his motion to send the matter to the Economic Development Committee for further consideration, which members unanimously approved.

Oak Grove land sale

The committee voted unanimously to repeal the sale of county-owned property in Section 33 of Oak Grove township.

The county board voted in June 2026 to sell the 7.956-acre parcel, located off 435^th Avenue, based on perceived lack of public access. However, further review and investigation revealed the county has easement access to the property, making it a possibility for a county park along the bluff line.

The county acquired the property as part of an agreement between the Land Management Committee and a developer for park land dedication in connection with the creation of a land division for the Diamond Bluff Estates. During subsequent land development phases, the developer became insolvent, and adjacent properties that were expected to develop and create road access to the park land were sold off for agricultural use.