ELLSWORTH – The Pierce County Board unanimously passed a resolution March 24 that will increase the salaries of the elected Clerk of Court and Sheriff positions for the 2027-30 term.

According to the county board packet, the county board must establish salaries for those positions for the entire four-year term prior to the earliest date of filing for office.

The county board approved a 1.25% increase to the overall pay scale for non-represented employees for 2026. Employees at the top of their pay grade receive a 1.25% increase for 2026. Employees not at the top of their pay grade will also qualify for a step increase around 2.5% if a favorable performance evaluation is received, making the total increase about 3.75%, documents show.

Elected officials including the Register of Deeds, County Clerk, and Treasurer salaries were increased to $77,088 for 2025 and 1.5% for years 2026-2028 by a resolution.

“The Sheriff and Clerk of Court positions were not rated when the Compensation and Classification Study was done, therefore I have requested information on compensation from surrounding counties regarding these two positions,” Administrative Coordinator Jason Matthys said.

Here is how Pierce County’s compensation for Clerk of Court in 2026 compares:

Pierce - $71,465

Dunn - $97,697

Pepin - $68,778

St. Croix – 85,075

Barron - $87,666

Buffalo - $69,839

Chippewa - $89,289

Eau Claire - $96,276

Polk - $84,177

How the compensation for Sheriff varies in 2026:

Pierce - $98,034

Dunn - $137,977

Pepin - $90,635

St. Croix - $118,250

Barron - $112,793

Buffalo - $91,059

Chippewa - $116,270

Eau Claire - $128,601

Polk - $118,248

“It is necessary for Pierce County to remain competitive in its salaries in order to attract the appropriate qualified candidates to run,” Matthys said in a memo. “It has generally been practiced to keep the salaries for elected offices the same to the extent possible, with the exception of the Sheriff.”

The Finance & Personnel Committee recommended the following Clerk of Court salary for 2027-2030: adjusted to $79,418 effective Jan. 1, 2027, adjusted by 1.5% to $80,609 effective Jan. 1, 2028, adjusted by 2% to $83,221 effective Jan. 1, 2029, and adjusted by 2% to $83,865 effective Jan. 1, 2030.

The committee also recommended the following Sheriff salary for 2027-30: adjusted to $110,000 effective Jan. 1, 2027, adjusted by 2% to $112,200 effective Jan. 1, 2028, adjusted by 2% to $114,444 effective Jan. 1, 2029, and adjusted by 2% to $116,733 effective Jan. 1, 2030.

Transportation funding

The board passed a resolution by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Wisconsin County Highway Association supporting the state’s investment in sustainable transportation funding.

The resolution urges the governor and State Legislature to enact a comprehensive, sustainable transportation funding solution that:

• Provides adequate and reliable revenue growth for the efficient long-term planning and execution of state and local transportation programs
• Includes responsible and prudent use of General Purpose Revenue and bonding
• Adjusts any new and existing transportation user fees and other revenue mechanisms to sustain purchasing power in order to maintain and improve Wisconsin's transportation infrastructure
• Ensures transportation continues to deliver for Wisconsin by adequately funding reconstruction, preservation, and safety investments on the state and local systems

Slow no wake zone

The board heard the first reading of an ordinance that would establish an additional “slow no wake zone” from the Bay City Boat Launch to the Wisconsin Channel. The Department of Natural Resources listed many reasons for the request, inspired by the Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area Habitat Project, including:

• Reduction of shoreline erosion: Limiting vessel speed will reduce wake-generated wave action, helping to prevent shoreline erosion and project adjacent natural resources and infrastructure.
• Safe navigation in a narrow channel: The channel is narrow and used by a variety of watercraft types, including motorboats, personal watercraft, kayaks and canoes. A slow no wake zone would allow for safer passage, reduce conflict between users and improve overall navigational safety.
• Promoting responsible boating practices while balancing recreational access, environmental protection and public safety.

The new “slow no wake zone” proposal encompasses the area known as Catherine's Pass south of Bay City, from the northern head of the islands south to the Wisconsin Channel, between mileposts 787 and 786 of the Mississippi River.

The DNR would manage operation, maintenance, and signage/buoys. Habitat construction is active although it is paused for the winter and the overall project cost is expected to exceed $50 million, according to the Feb. 10 Law Enforcement Committee meeting minutes. The project goals include improved water quality, vegetation response, island construction, and expanded recreational use.

Catherine's Pass is a narrow cut between newly constructed islands. The DNR will incur costs for markers and handle maintenance/replacement.

Other business

• The board heard the first reading of an ordinance that would combine the Fair and Ag Extension committees.
• The board passed a resolution authorizing the county to retain Cedar Corporation for the administration of loans and ongoing file management for the remaining loans in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Cities Housing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) until the loans are closed and satisfied. The payment, not to exceed $8,000 annually, will come from the general fund and be reimbursed when loan payoffs come in.
• The board also passed a resolution to create a new subcommittee, required by state law, to hear certain delinquent property tax payment claims. The subcommittee will consist of the county board chair, the administrative coordinator, the finance director or designee and two other county board members.