The Clark County Board unanimously voted on Dec. 30, 2025 to rescind its designation of an official county newspaper, providing more flexibility in where and how notices are published.
The issue was covered in the Jan. 7, 2026 issue of the Tribune Record Gleaner of Loyal. According to the article:
Resolution 45-12-25 passed by the board states in part that the county, because of its population totaling fewer than 250,000, is not required to seek bids from newspapers for the publication of legal notices, according to Wisconsin State Statute 985.
The county previously designated the Clark County Press as its official newspaper even though it was not required. Resolution 19-4-19 designated the official newspaper and directed the county to publish board agendas, board minutes and employment vacancies in all six county newspapers.
Only five newspapers remain in the county — all available by paid subscription.
Resolution 45-12-25 rescinded 19-4-19 — leaving it up to the county’s discretion as to what is published where.
“This is really a cost thing,” said county board chair Tom Wilcox. “The law states that Clark County . . . we don’t need to have an official newspaper. This would allow us a lot more flexibility in how much we had to publish.”
The board’s executive committee estimated the resolution will save the county roughly $8,900 this year based on the 2025 county budget.
Board member Arlene Kodl proposed an amendment to the resolution that would require meeting agendas to be published in the West Central Wisconsin Shopper, Central Wisconsin Shopper and Black River Falls Shopper.
“Everybody gets The Shopper for free. That would make sure the everybody sees it,” Kodl said. “When I talked to people about this issue, their comment was, ‘Well, what are you guys trying to hide by not putting it in the paper?’
“So how are they supposed to know the that the county board meeting is the third Thursday of the month, when sometimes in April or November it’s a different date?” Kodl asked, “So they have to go online — if they have a computer — and check every couple of days to see when the county board meeting is?”
County board member Brandon Hasz asked what the posting requirements would be if the county board passed the resolution without Kodl’s amendment.
Wilcox said the resolution doesn’t lock the county into a specific newspaper, but instead put the notices into several newspapers — and the cost has been prohibitive.
Clark County Clerk Christina Jensen said it costs $600-900 to publish the county board minutes in all the newspapers each month.
The amendment failed on a 22-4 vote, with Kodl, Roy Tyznik, Al Bower and Wilcox voting in favor.
Adopting resolution 45-12-25 doesn’t exempt Clark County from publishing notices required by law — including tax delinquencies, land sales, civil annexations, legal notices for specific individuals and others.
