Frequently Asked Questions

At the November 2023 Board of Supervisors Meeting, the County Board approved a $10 increase to St. Croix County’s vehicle registration fee. Effective March 1, 2024, the fee increased from $10 to $20. This was the first increase since 2008. This will help address the increased costs of maintaining and improving our roads as our County continues to grow and experience more traffic.

This is a fee added to vehicle registration to generate revenue for the maintenance and improvement of roads, bridges, and public transportation systems. These funds contribute to enhanced road safety, reduced vehicle wear and tear, and overall improvements to our transportation infrastructure.

You can learn more about vehicle registration fees on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s website:

• Municipal or County Vehicle Registration Fee Information
• Midwest Driver Fee Calculator

Speed limits are complicated issues, and we utilize a number of factors in setting limits. Speed limits on County roads in Wisconsin are determined through a detailed process that considers various factors, including road conditions, traffic volume, accident history, and the surrounding environment.  

Safety is always a primary concern, but simply changing a speed limit sign doesn’t necessarily make a road safer. Artificially lowering speed limits can decrease safety by creating a greater disparity in vehicle speeds. Local authorities work to match speed limits with the appropriate speed for the area. For more detailed information on speed limits, visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website. 

Please visit the Employment Opportunities section on the St. Croix County website.

Noxious Weeds

The Department strives to kill all noxious weeds within the County ROW upon discovery. Under Wisconsin §66.0407 - Noxious weeds are defined as Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed, any weed designated as a noxious weed by the department of natural resources by rule, and any other weed the governing body of any municipality or the county board of any county by ordinance or resolution declares to be noxious within its respective boundaries.

Invasive Species

Various groups (WisDOT, WCHA, DNR, etc.) are developing “Best Management Practices” to guide local units of government in Wisconsin with identifying and controlling invasive plant species in the right-of-way as well as to educate and inform land owners. These practices will appear odd to the traveling public as there will be areas of the ROW that will be treated differently than the surrounding ROW with regard to mowing, cutting, and height of vegetation due to the preventative measures needed to accomplish these BMP goals.

Herbicide Spraying

St. Croix County has acknowledged a need to initiate a higher level of maintenance regarding rural roadside vegetation management, primarily the eradication of noxious invasive plant species.

Invasive species within the road right-of-way and adjacent properties can pose significant health risks to highway workers, utility workers, emergency responders, and anyone else utilizing the right-of-way. Staff has been trained and certified in applying EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) certified herbicides.Crews spray these areas to help control and eradicate Wild Parsnip and other harmful invasive weed species in late April or early May. The window of opportunity will be dictated by weather. These herbicides are plant specific and will not hurt native plants. This means that grasses, milkweed, and other native plants will flourish, helping our wildlife and pollinators. Our intention is to spray all County roads and State roads from State Highway 65 to the east. St. Croix County will also spray invasive vegetation at the request of the Towns.

Organic growers are encouraged to contact the St. Croix County Highway office with concerns and questions regarding this program.

If you have any questions, please contact the Highway Department at (715) 245-4200.

Herbicide formula to be used:

St. Croix County Highway Department works to mirror the guidelines noted for State highways in regards to the placement of signs.  Any signs along roadways, including political/campaign signs, garage sale, for sale, etc. pose potential hazards.

Improperly placed signs can:

• Obstruct a motorist’s view
• Distract a driver’s attention
• Compound damages or injuries in the event of a crash
• Endanger the safety of individuals who are erecting signs along busy highways
• Present obstacles to crews who maintain (mow) roadways
• Political/campaign signs, especially larger billboard-type signs, are particularly dangerous when placed in vision areas at intersections.

To report a dead deer please call the St. Croix County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 715-386-4701.

The St. Croix County Highway Department is not responsible for damage to vehicles caused by loose gravel or shoulder material kicked up by motorists. These are categorized as typical road hazards and are not reimbursable. Motorists that receive damage to vehicles while traveling need to report their loss to their insurance companies. Insurance is a requirement to drive on Wisconsin highways.

Temporary Signs

The Department erects temporary signs when normal or routine maintenance activities are occurring to warn motorists to take appropriate caution/action.

If you have any questions, please contact the St. Croix County Highway Department at 715-245-4200.

Mailboxes are the only structure that private owners are allowed to install within the right-of-way without a permit as a matter of convenience to the landowners and are not as a matter of right. Neither the St. Croix County Highway Department nor U.S Postal Service issue written permits for the placement of mailboxes within the public right-of-way. Rural mailboxes are allowed on highway right-of-way as a matter of convenience to the landowners or occupants and not as a matter of right. Encroachments of any kind on the highway are strictly forbidden by Wisconsin Statue which governs encroachments on highway right-of-way.

Standards

Mailboxes must meet minimum/maximum standards of support, setting and size. The issue of public safety will be the basis of the Department taking any action to have individuals repair, replace or relocate mailboxes. 

Reimbursement

Reimbursement may be considered if it is determined by the supervisor that Highway Department equipment came into direct contact with the property. Although the mailbox owner may have invested considerable time and material in the mailbox installation, including a special box, support or landscaping, any reimbursement will be limited to the “standard” post and/or box found at most home stores as well as possibly up to the Department’s current manual labor rate for one (1) hour of time.

Helpful Resources

Please call 715-245-4200 if you have any questions or concerns.

Landowners need to be aware of the dangers that highway encroachments may present. An encroachment is any prohibited use or activity by property owners within the highway ROW restricting the full use or purpose for which the ROW was established. Encroachments may include, but are not limited to, improperly located mailboxes, trees, signs, crops, fences, driveway headwalls, etc. within highway ROW. Dangerous situations arise from signs and objects placed in vision triangles and along highways and may add unnecessary liability to the landowner. Decorative rocks and modifications to driveways also present a hazard in the clear zone and ditches of highways. Any excavation or activity within the ROW of any highway requires a permit from the agency that has jurisdiction of that highway.

Most recent is the encroachment of corn planted in the road Right-of-way. The height of the corn has caused the restriction of vision especially at intersections.

Pushing snow or other materials onto or across highways from private driveways can cause accidents and injury, and is prohibited by Wisconsin §86.01, §86.07, §346.94(5), and/or §346.95.

Doing so may create potential safety concerns for the traveling public and may impede the snow and ice removal process.  Snow shall not be stored in any manner, which will obstruct or limit vehicular or pedestrian vision, movement or access. Sections 17.60of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances and Wisconsin §86.191 prohibit obstruction of vision clearance triangles at intersections.

Equipment operators are encouraged to drive in a courteous, law-abiding manner and respect local weight limits whenever possible. Non-agricultural vehicle operators are encouraged to respect agriculture’s right to utilize roadways, follow safe passing signs and drive in a courteous and law-abiding manner. Farm-equipment signage for areas with the greatest use would be helpful in warning vehicles of possible slow-moving or parked equipment on highways.

Farmers are not exempt from highway weight restrictions except under certain circumstances during harvest time. In reference to Wisconsin §348.17(5) annually lifts weight limits on Class A highways from September 1 to November 30 to harvest corn, soybeans, potatoes, vegetables or cranberries. The law allows weight limits to be exceeded by up to 15 percent for transport from farm field to initial storage or initial processing point. Farmers must meet all other vehicle requirements for size, operation and driver qualifications, and cannot travel on roadways or bridges with special weight restrictions or on most interstates.

In reference to Wisconsin §86, also keep in mind, any person who injures/damages any highway shall be liable in triple damages, to be recovered by the political division in charge of the maintenance on said highway, and the amount recovered shall be credited to the highway maintenance fund.

From September 1 to December 31 of each year, no permit shall be required for the transportation of corn, soybeans, potatoes, vegetables, or cranberries from the field to storage on the grower's owned or leased land, from the field to initial storage at a location not owned or leased by the grower, or from the field to initial processing in a vehicle or combination of vehicles having a registered gross weight of 50,000 pounds or more or described in s. 340.01 (24) (b) that exceeds the weight limitations under s. 348.15 by not more than 15 percent. This subsection does not apply to the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for that portion of I 39 between USH 51 and I 90/94.

Refuse containers (including garbage and recycle containers) are not to be placed on the shoulder of roadways. They are best placed in the driveway to which they serve, off the shoulder line of the highway. Any encroachment should be brought to the attention of the local unit of government for corrective action. St. Croix County Highway Department does not issue written permits for the placement of containers within the public right-of-way.

The St. Croix County Highway Department adopted a County Tourist Directional Sign (TODS) program in September 2017. Please click on the link for more information.

Learn about the County's TODS Program

The jail holds people arrested or charged with any level of offense from a misdemeanor driving offense to a serious felony as well as people convicted of a crime and serving time on a sentence. Intoxicated persons who may be a danger to themselves or others are occasionally held in the jail temporarily until transportation to a detoxification center is available. The Sheriff's Office follows an inmate classification process to determine which housing unit would be the best place to house a particular inmate to best maintain the safety and security of the facility.

You can find a current list of people in our custody on our Inmate Roster and Public Safety Portal.

The initial court appearance is typically at 1 p.m. the following business day after arrest. It can take 2 to 3 hours for an inmate to be released.

You must have the exact amount of money needed as officer's can not give out change. Credit cards can be used on a limited basis. Call the jail at 715-386-4752 for information.

You can find instructions on how to post bond for someone here on the Paying Bonds page.

You can find information on how contact an inmate on our Contacting and Visiting page.

If an inmate has left the St Croix County Jail and was either required to leave behind their personal belongings or did not get back all their property at release, the inmate must pick up the property themselves or designate someone else to pick up the property within 30 days of their release date. The designee must bring identification.

• If the property was confiscated at the time of arrest, you will have to contact the Police Department that arrested the inmate.
• If a vehicle was impounded or towed, you will have to contact the arresting agency and/or impound lot to determine what is needed to retrieve the vehicle.

No items can be dropped off for inmates, except prescription medications, eyeglasses, or other medical equipment which must be approved by the jail nurse. The following items can be kept by inmates:

• Books, hygiene items, writing material, uniforms and shoes are provided to the inmate while in custody. Inmates may purchase stamps, snacks, soft drinks and other necessities through canteen with their own funds.
• You can drop off prescription medication in clean appropriately marked prescription containers. The information on the containers will be used to help verify the inmate's doctor, pharmacy, and dosage amounts.
• Photographs must be appropriate in nature. Please use the United States Postal Service (USPS) to mail all photos and letters. We will not accept any notes, letters, cards, or photos unless they arrive through the post office.

You can find information about fingerprinting services here.

A-Z Recycling & Disposal Guide | St. Croix County, WI

Pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 979.01, the Medical Examiner's Office is required to investigate deaths that fall into the noted categories on our Medical Examiner page. 

An autopsy will be performed when there is a need to establish or confirm a cause and manner of death for the purpose of issuing a death certificate, in cases involving criminal or suspected criminal wrongdoing, and in any case in which an autopsy is considered to be prudent at the Medical Examiner's discretion.

The Medical Examiner's Office is not designed to accommodate viewing. Arrangements can be made at the funeral home for viewing.

There is no fee for the autopsy. One copy of the investigator's report, autopsy report, and toxicology report ( when applicable) will be made available to the nearest next-of-kin at no cost, once the case is closed. There is a per page charge for all subsequent requests.

Select a funeral home and advise the funeral director of the involvement of the Medical Examiner's Office. Funeral directors are familiar with the operation of our office, and will assist you in making all arrangements for final disposition, including obtaining the death certificate. The funeral director will also pick up the decedent's personal property that is not being held as evidence. Often the deceased will be released the next day from our facility.

The death certificate should be completed within five to six days of notification of the death. The death certification is given to the Medical Examiner's Office by the funeral home for completion so it is important that a funeral home be selected. Arrangements to obtain certified copies of the death certificate are handled for the family by the funeral home.

Being a witness may not be convenient for you. Bringing a case to trial takes time. To protect every person's basic rights under the law, the criminal justice system has many steps. Your patience and cooperation make the system work.

Suggestions for Testifying

• Always tell the truth. This is the single most important item of advice. If you don't remember, it's okay to say so.
• Dress neatly. You want to be sure your appearance and manner does not distract the jury or judge, or make your testimony seem less valid.
• Be prepared. Think about the answers you will give to the questions you probably will be asked.
• Stick to the facts. The judge wants to hear only the facts as you know them to be, not what someone else told you.
• Relax and speak clearly. You have nothing to fear when giving true statements. Speak loudly enough that the entire jury and court reporter can hear what you say.
• One of the basic rules in a criminal case is that both sides have the chance to question the witness. Questions asked by both sides have the same goal - to find out what is true.
• Don't let the defense lawyer upset you. It may seem at times that s/he is trying to pin you down, but s/he has the right to test how many facts you know and remember. Your testimony will be much more valuable if you remain calm.
• Listen to the entire question before you answer. If you don't understand a question, ask that it be explained.

Contact the Department's Division of Narcotics Enforcement at 800-NAB DRUGS: 800-622-3784. Callers may remain anonymous.

If you answered yes to any of the following questions, you could be eligible for Crime Victim Compensation.

Are you any of the following:

• An innocent victim who has suffered injury from a crime?
• A dependent or legal representative of an innocent victim who has been killed as a result of a crime?
• A person who was injured while aiding a crime victim or helping a police officer?
• A person who has suffered a reaction from the death of a family or household member?
• A person who was injured in an automobile accident caused by an intoxicated driver?

Eligibility

• The crime must have been reported to a law enforcement agency within 5 days of the crime.
• The applicant must file a claim within 1 year of the date of the crime. This may be waived in certain circumstances.
• The victim must be current with court-ordered child support or maintenance payments.
• The victim's conduct must not have caused or contributed to the crime that led to an injury or death.
• The victim must not have committed a crime that led to the injury or death.
• The victim must cooperate with law enforcement officials in their investigation and prosecution of the crime.
• The applicant must cooperate with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in supplying information for the claim.

Car Accidents

If the victim was injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, the victim must have been:

• A pedestrian or a passenger in the other car
• A child passenger in the offender's car
• Unaware that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug

If you are a victim of a crime you can receive up to $40,000 for any one injury or death, including:

• Medical, hospital, surgical, pharmacy, and mental health counseling expenses.
• Lost wages.
• Loss of support to a dependent of a crime victim who is killed.
• Reasonable replacement cost of clothing or bedding held as evidence by the police, prosecutor, or crime lab-up to $300.
• Reasonable replacement value for property held as evidence and made unusable by crime lab testing-up to $200.
• Reasonable and necessary costs for securing and cleaning a crime scene-up to $1000.
• Cost of homemaker services.
• An additional $2000 may be paid for reasonable funeral expenses.
• No property loss or damage is covered other than those describe above.

Note: The State of Wisconsin pays only those out-of-pocket expenses that are not paid or payable by a private or group insurance plan, public funds, or any other source, including the offender. If you receive monies from the offender or a third party through restitution or any civil action, you must re-pay the state for any monies paid out on your behalf.

As a member of society you and/or your family have the right to feel safe at home, work, and in the community. If someone is violating these rights, you need to take appropriate actions to protect yourself and/or your family. 

Types of Restraining Orders

Depending upon your personal situation there are three types of restraining orders that can help protect you: 

• Domestic Abuse
• Child Abuse
• Harassment

1. You will need to contact an Advocate at the District Attorney's Office in the St. Croix County Government Center located in Hudson, Wisconsin. You may also contact a victim advocate by phone at 715-386-4666. By speaking with an advocate, you will be able to decide the type of petition that fits your situation.
2. You will need to come to the Government center to file your petition. At this time the advocate will help answer any questions you may have and help you in completing the petition. The victim advocate's office is located on the main level, Room 1259, of the Government Center, which is located at:
   1101 Carmichael Road
   Hudson, WI 54016
   
3. After completing the petition, the advocate will bring the petition to the Judge for review. During this time, the Judge will decide whether to grant a Temporary Restraining Order.

If a Temporary Restraining Order is ordered by the court, a court date will be set for an injunction hearing. The petitioner should then contact law enforcement to have them serve the papers on the respondent. Never give the respondent the legal papers yourself. At the Injunction hearing, as the petitioner, you must appear in court and may bring others/advocates for moral support. Both the petitioner and the respondent have the opportunity to be heard at the injunction hearing. If the facts show domestic abuse, harassment, or child abuse has occurred, the court may issue an injunction for a period of not more than two years. The respondent may or may not be present at the hearing but must be served notification of the hearing.

No. But, you may wish to hire an attorney or speak to an attorney prior to the hearing.

No, however, the respondent may hire an attorney to represent him/her. If so, you may wish to reconsider obtaining legal counsel. A free attorney will not be appointed for the respondent. This is not a criminal proceeding.

Yes. If the respondent violates the order, once it is in effect, report it to law enforcement immediately and every time. Then the respondent may be arrested for breaking the order and may face criminal charges.

Penalties

The penalties for the violation of domestic abuse and child abuse are imprisonment not to exceed nine months, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both. The penalties for the violation of harassment orders are imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both.

Yes. Before a hearing can be held, at which time the temporary restraining order can be replaced with an injunction which can be in effect for up to two years, the abuser must be served with a copy of the temporary restraining order/injunction petition. The respondent has the right to attend the hearing.

No. If you are seeking a domestic abuse restraining order, the court is prohibited from ordering any custody, physical placement or child support orders. A separate action may need to be filed in Family Court. You may need an attorney to assist with issues about custody/physical placement.

The temporary restraining order/injunction only restricts the respondent for making contact with you and does not include the children, unless a separate child abuse temporary restraining order/injunction order has been filed on behalf of the child(ren). At the injunction heating, custody or physical placement issues may come up. By law, when issuing a domestic abuse temporary restraining order or injunction, the court may not address these issues. It is possible for a court to address issues regarding the children at a harassment injunction hearing because the law does not say the court is prohibited from doing so.

Exchange of the Child(ren)

It is preferable to arrange any exchange of the child(ren) through the party so that there is no direct contact between the two of you. Many abusers use child exchange contacts as an opportunity to abuse the victim. Third party exchanges in public places help to eliminate this.

If the emotional abuse includes threats, you may be able to get a  domestic abuse restraining order. In addition, the domestic abuse  restraining order law says if the person may engage in domestic abuse,  you can obtain a restraining order. The laws are extremely specific about the types of abuse a person must have been subjected to in order to obtain an injunction. For a person living with someone who is psychologically or emotionally abusive, the mental abuse can be equally, if not more painful, then physical abuse. The domestic abuse restraining order law says the respondent must have engaged in certain physical abuse or the threat of any behavior.

Harassment Restraining Order

If your abuser engages in a course of action, which harasses and intimidates and serves no legitimate purpose, you may be able to get a harassment restraining order.

Sometimes. You will want to make sure the respondent has been served and you would not be in any danger in going home. You can ask for police assistance in doing this, but often the police cannot immediately get to the task of serving the respondent with the restraining order and placing you in possession of your home. You may need to stay someplace else until the police can help you.

You are the best enforcer of this order. Every time the abuser makes contact with you, 911 should be called immediately. Not calling the police or only occasionally, gives the abuser confusing messages about the validity of the temporary restraining order/injunction. The abuser will begin to believe it is all right to have contact sometimes. Also, sometimes officers do not know about or ignore the provisions of the domestic abuse law, which says the order is not void if the petitioner allows contact.

At the injunction hearing when you are giving testimony, you will want to include any special requests, such as him/her staying away from you at your place of residence or work. If you happen to see each other at either of these places and your abuser does make contact with you, call the police immediately because it would be a violation of the temporary restraining order/injunction.

A petitioner can file a domestic abuse temporary restraining order or injunction in the county she or he is temporarily residing in or in the county where the respondent lives or in the county in the county where the incident occurred. A petitioner can file a harassment temporary restraining order or injunction in the county where the petitioner lives or in the county where the respondent lives or in the county in which the incident occurred.

The law says the respondent is prohibited from initiating direct contact with the petitioner. If the petitioner of a domestic abuse restraining order allows the respondent admittance into her or his home, the restraining order does not become null and void. The police are to enforce any violations of that order. However, if the petitioner continues to initiate contact, the police may believe that she or he is not serious about the injunction. The police can then arrest the petitioner and the prosecutor can charge the petitioner with aiding and abetting the violation of the restraining order.

If the injunction is for less than 4 years, the petitioner can get it extended for up to two years from the date it is first entered. The respondent must be notified once the extension is granted.

You may mail your payment to the Clerk of Court at 1101 Carmichael Rd, Hudson WI 54016. You may also pay on-line at https://www.wicourts.gov/ecourts/payonline.htm or Allpaid. If using allpaid.com to make your payment, you must type in "St. Croix County" and click "Get Started". Click on "St. Croix County - Pay This Agency: Fines, Traffic and Ordinance". This option will show Payment Location Code (PLC): 1586, then click on "Pay This Destination."  You must complete the required fields before clicking "Continue". 

You may submit a letter to the Clerk of Court stating that you plead not guilty.  You will need to include your name, current address and telephone number on your letter. Your not guilty plea must be filed with the Clerk of Court prior to the court date listed on your citation.

These are available Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the St. Croix County Clerk of Courts office. If you wish to order a copy by mail, please submit a written request including your name and case number to:

Clerk of Circuit Court
Family Division
1101 Carmichael Road
Hudson, WI 54016

You must include a check or money order payable to the Clerk of Circuit Court. (Copies are $1.25 per page and an additional $5.00 for a certified copy.) Please allow two weeks for processing.

If you do not know your case number, you can use the Wisconsin Court System or submit a written request listing the names of both parties involved in the case and the year the case was filed. You should include an additional $5.00, search fee, if you want us to determine your case number.

A good place to start is the St. Croix County Clerk of Courts office. You can use the public access computers or view the actual records involved. You can get useful information from the file and make copies of any documents that will help you clear your credit. There is a charge of $1.25 per page for copies.

Small Claims, divorce / legal separation forms and modification packets for family and paternity matters are available at the St. Croix County Clerk of Court office.

You may conduct a search by looking on the wicourts.gov for State liens and contact the Register of Deeds for Federal liens.

St. Croix County will pay you $20.00 for each half-day and $40.00 for each full day that you serve as a juror. You will also receive compensation for your travel to and from the court house at the rate of .51 cents per mile. When a trial is in progress, meals will be provided for you. Compensation checks are disbursed on a monthly basis.

The trial is composed of a series of events in a specific order that is determined by state law.

The Series of Events:

• Opening statements: Each attorney will discuss the merits of the case pertaining to his/her client. The attorneys will outline what they will attempt to show during the trial.
• Evidence: The plaintiff will present its evidence in the form of testimony, called direct examination and may introduce evidence in the form of exhibits. The defendant will also present evidence in a similar manner.
• Argument to the jury: After all evidence has been presented, the parties will present arguments or closing statements to the jury.
• Instruction to the jury: After arguments have been completed, the Judge will instruct you on the questions to be answered and the laws that pertain. The Judge may give his/her instructions before final arguments.
• Deliberations: The jury will then be given an oath and taken to the jury room where you will then discuss the case until you have reached a verdict. After delivering the verdict to the Court, you will be dismissed from the courtroom.

Your jury term will continue for one month as indicated on your jury summons. You need only report for jury service 5 times during the length of your term. However, if a particular case requires more time to conclude, your service may be more than 5 days. You are exempt from jury duty for four (4) years after your month of service.

Before the start of each jury year, the Clerk of Circuit Court draws the names of a sufficient number of eligible jurors from the master list of jurors. This selection is a random process, whereby names of potential jurors were drawn from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Driver's License and Personal Identification Cardholder list.

A summons will be mailed to you approximately three weeks prior to your month of service. This notice will advise you of the dates for which you have been selected to serve. Please be sure to retain the summons and attachments as it contains important information that you will need during your month of service, including your panel member number. St. Croix County uses a mass notification system to provide jurors with up-to-date information regarding the status of jury trials. You will receive a phone call, voice mail message and/or e-mail from the court. If you do not receive an updated notification, you must call the Juror Information Line at 800-640-8524 or 715-386-4629 after 5 p.m. the evening before each scheduled trial. If you report for jury service after the message indicated it was not necessary to do so, you will not receive compensation or credit toward your service for that day.

Juror Information Line: 800-640-8524 or 715-386-4629

By law, no qualified juror is exempt or may be excused from jury service, except by order of the Court, based on a finding that jury service would entail undue hardship. Any such request must be done in writing and addressed to the attention of the jury clerk. A request for exclusion due to vacation must be made in writing, addressed to the attention of the jury clerk, well in advance of your scheduled vacation date. If you find you are ill on a day you’ve been summoned to report for jury service, you must call the office at 715-386-4629 as soon after 8 a.m. as possible.

If your residence should change during your term of jury service, we ask that you notify the Clerk of Courts office immediately.

As a juror you are in the position of responsibility and are expected to conduct yourself in such a way that no one may question your impartiality and integrity.

Some Simple Rules to Follow:

• Be prompt: Tardiness causes delay and wastes the time of all involved.
• Listen Carefully: You will base your decision on the evidence presented to you.
• Keep an open mind: Do not form hasty conclusions or opinions.
• Do not discuss the case: During the trial, you should not talk about the case to anyone, including other jurors.
• Do not read or listen to outside newspaper or radio accounts: Newspaper and radio accounts may present a biased or unbalanced evaluation of the case.
• Control your emotions: You may be confronted with exhibits or testimony which make you uncomfortable. Be prepared. You should not show any visual expression or make any audible sound that can indicate you have been affected.
• Do not inspect the scene of a case on your own: If the Judge determines that an inspection of the scene or premises involved in a case is appropriate, the Judge will arrange for the jury as a whole to make this inspection, accompanied by the court officials, attorneys, and the parties involved.
• Report any violations of these rules to the bailiff: If you have become aware of anything outside the courtroom that causes you concern, inform the bailiff.

The most important qualifications of a juror are fairness and impartiality. You must lay aside all bias and prejudice. You are the foundation of our Judicial system, and your actions and decision should reflect this important rule.

Call 911. All law enforcement agencies within St. Croix County are dispatched through the St. Croix County Emergency Communications Center. The Emergency Communications Center is the best place to start, as the Telecommunicators can assess the nature of your call and send the appropriate agency depending upon circumstances and jurisdiction.

Yes. St. Croix County Emergency Communications subscribes to a translation service, which provides access to interpreters who speak many languages.  These services are available 24 hours every day.

Yes, we prefer voice calls but if you find yourself in a situation unable to speak or if you are hearing impaired the 911 center is equipped with a Telecommunications device (TDD) for the hearing impaired.

A Telecommunicator will attempt to call you back.  You may also receive an automated text from St. Croix County 911 asking if you have an emergency.  If contact is not made with the caller a law enforcement officer will be contacting you.

Telecommunicators are trained to get as much information as possible. Questions are asked to obtain details related to your emergency. Depending on the nature of the call questions may be asked in order to help provide the caller with first aid instructions, life and personal safety instructions, the severity of injury, locations, people/property involved, etc. The information provided by callers will assist the responders in determining what they will need in order to keep others safe and out of harm’s way. Telecommunicators are trained to multi-task and will often be dispatching emergency response units while talking to you.

No, the displayed caller ID is provided solely to let the recipient know the call is from St. Croix County.

While the SCC-Alert provides all the necessary technology to send the information out we can not guarantee you will receive notification in all cases.  Disasters and emergencies are chaotic and unpredictable, notification is dependent on external providers such as your wireless carrier or email delivery service outside the county's control.  The alert notification system uses several means of communications to try to ensure that should any one communication method, technology, or delivery option be unavailable to reach residents, other methods will be used to improve the likelihood that citizens will receive the message.

To update your existing information visit the smart911 website.

Go to the smart911 website and register your contact information.

When a serious incident occurs that meets the criteria for sending out an alert to the public, emergency dispatchers will gather the necessary information and push out an alert to the affected area.  Alerts can be sent out county-wide to everyone who has opted-in to the system, or to a specific area or neighborhood for more localized events.

SCC-Alerts will be sent only sparingly.  The number of alerts you receive will depend on the frequency of critical incidents in your neighborhood.  Emergency alerts will only be sent when there is a potential threat to life and/or property or local authorities determine circumstances warrant notification.  This system is not intended to bombard you with information.

Yes.  The information you provided in the past is no longer available.  We are asking all residents to sign up with current information.

The personal information you provide is used only to notify you for official communications and to support St. Croix County's emergency services.

Opting In

Your information is not used for marketing purposes and will not be sold to telemarketers or data-mining organizations. A variety of "opt-in" mechanisms are available to ensure you are getting just the messages you want to receive, delivered via the devices and communication modes that you chose.

Privacy & Security

The system utilizes the highest standards in physical and computer security technologies and conducts regular audits to ensure all information is kept secure. Privacy policies are also outlined in the Terms and Conditions you review when you sign up to receive notifications.

If you choose to provide the additional information in the Emergency Preparedness section, authorities may use this information during 911 calls, Emergency Planning, and to provide statistics for planning purposes.

Emergency alerts are sent 24/7 when there is an immediate threat to life and/or property.  The alerts may include information for your area concerning flooding events, lost or missing people, public safety risks and other emergency notifications from your public safety officials.

Once you have signed up online and confirmed your contact information within the system, you are ready to receive alerts.

When emergencies happen, be the first to know.  St. Croix County uses SCC-Alerts to send official, real-time alerts to the public with information about potentially life-saving actions they may need to take to keep themselves and their families safe or information from local authorities about a critical situation.

Residents who have a landline phone may receive alerts.  However, there are strict rules governing when St. Croix County can use this contact information to send out an alert.  Extremely critical alerts containing potentially life-saving information will be sent, as well as information that local authorities have deemed necessary.  In order to ensure that you are able to get all emergency alerts we recommend that you sign up.  If you do not register your contact information you will not receive alerts on your preferred devices and may miss out on receiving important information.

Yes, St. Croix County has a Public Health Officer that leads the Public Health Department. St. Croix County Public Health is a level III health department. This is the highest level defined by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Level designation of the health department is determined by a review of operational services by the state DHS-Division of Public Health every 5 years. The department is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).

The Public Health Officer leads the St. Croix County Public Health Department. Together they work to ensure the areas where you live, work, and play are safe and protect the health and wellbeing of the people in St. Croix County.

The St. Croix County Public Health Department was established in 1936. St. Croix County Public Health is a level III health department and is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).

You can learn more about the St. Croix County Public Health Department and the services they provide in the Public Health section of our website.

Additionally, you can learn more about the role of Public Health Officials by reading Wisconsin State Statute 251.

St. Croix County employs a Public Health Officer that leads a level III health department. This is the highest level defined by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Our current Public Health Officer has a master’s degree in public health and 14 years experience in the field, exceeding all requirements of a Public Health Officer in a level III Public Health Department required under Wisconsin State Statute 251.06.

The community, health care delivery systems, employers and businesses, the media, academia and the governmental Public Health Infrastructure are all stakeholders in Public Health.

There are currently 25 sirens in St. Croix County.

Warning sirens are maintained by each City, Village or Township.

Outdoor Warning sirens are activated by the St. Croix County Emergency Communications Center for the following reasons:

• A notice of severe weather
• Toxic chemical spill or hazardous materials alert
• Counter-terrorist information

The Register of Deeds office is charged with the duty of being an independent custodian of records relating to real estate.  As such, the only area we can assist you in is general process questions.  We cannot assist you in the actual drafting of documents.  We highly recommend that you obtain legal counsel for these transactions.  

Although several legal documents have been developed into “fill-in-the-blank” style forms and appear to be very easily completed, it is the answers to those fill-in-the-blank questions that are critically important.  Those answers can vary widely from person to person.  Determining the correct answer for your situation constitutes “legal advice” we are not licensed to practice real estate law.  Even if we were, our role as custodian of the records would still prevent us from assisting in the creation of the records.

If you are borrowing money from a financial institution in order to make the purchase, a title search will be ordered by that financial institution well in advance of the closing. This search will reveal any outstanding liens.

Strictly speaking, the answer is “yes”.  Practically speaking, however, the answer is probably “no”.  The real estate records in the Register of Deeds office are open for public inspection.  However, unless you are familiar with how real estate records are organized and how to perform a “Grantor/Grantee” and a “Tract Index” search, it will be difficult for you to find the information you want.  Additionally, there may be documents on file with other county offices that may impact the property you are interested in.

It is our experience that the expertise a professional title searcher offers is well worth the money you will spend – especially when you compare it to the value of the transaction you are about to enter.

No. The Register of Deeds office is not authorized to render opinions regarding the status of title. Professional title examiners or abstractors use the records in our office as well as searching records in other county offices to determine if the title is good and clear.

Visit our How to Change Your Deed to Reflect Your New Name page for more information about this.

According to a member of the Probate and Real Property Section of the Wisconsin State Bar Association that we conferred with, the answer is “No.” The trust remains in effect. However, it is prudent to review the trust with your attorney periodically to determine if modifications to the trust would be advisable.

Under Wisconsin law, you only ever receive one deed to your property and you should have received it shortly after you closed on your property.   If you take a look at your deed, you will notice that your name appears as a “grantee” but the bank is never mentioned.  So, when you pay your mortgage in full, it is not necessary to update your deed. 

What does need to be done is to have a “Satisfaction of Mortgage” document recorded with the Register of Deeds office.  Financial institutions are required to record such a document within a specified timeframe.  If you received a “Satisfaction of Mortgage” endorsed with a time, date and document number from a Register of Deeds office, nothing further needs to be done.  If you have not received the endorsed satisfaction, you should check with your lender to be certain they processed the appropriate paperwork.

Find more information about Federal Income Tax Liens on our Federal Income Tax Lien page.

See information about legal descriptions on the Legal Description of Property page.

The local municipality mails its property tax bills in mid-December.

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If you do not receive your tax bill, please call the County Treasurer's office at 715-386-4645. Failure to receive a property tax bill does not relieve the taxpayer of the obligation to pay taxes on time.

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The first installment or full payment option is due on or before January 31.

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No. Please contact the local treasurer of your municipality for options to pay your first installment.

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If the first installment is not paid by January 31, the entire unpaid balance becomes delinquent and is subject to interest and penalty retroactive to February 1 at a rate of 1.5% per month until it is paid in full. Delinquent real estate tax payments are payable to the St. Croix County Treasurer.

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Property tax payments are considered timely if they are received on or before the respective due dates according to Wisconsin State Statute 74.69(1). We urge taxpayers to mail payments several days early to avoid postal delay.

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No, but we encourage taxpayers to make whatever payments they can to reduce their outstanding balance as well as the amount of interest and penalty that will accrue.

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The second installment of property taxes is due on or before July 31 to the County Treasurer.

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You can update your tax bill mailing address on our Tax Bill Change of Address Form.

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In addition to the mailing of your annual property tax bill, the tax bill address is used for any purposes needed to communicate with the landowner of a property by the County, local municipality, or the public. 

This can include, but is not limited to, public notices, septic pumping cards, delinquent tax notices, and more. 

Your tax address is public information. We do not maintain email address or phone numbers of landowners. The tax bill address is often the only way a landowner can be contacted. 

The owner listed on a property or parcel is the owner to the deeds of record. 

If you have questions or concerns about how your name is reflected on the tax bill, please contact St. Croix County Real Property Listing at: 715-386-4680

Back to the Treasurer's Office page

A report from Forward Analytics, "Revaluation and Property Taxes: Do Higher Property Values Mean Higher Taxes?" explores the possible impacts that a municipal revaluation will have on individual property taxes. Learn more on the Forward Analytics website.

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Owners of a home in Wisconsin who use the home as their primary residence on January 1 (certification date) of the year in which property taxes are levied. Primary residence is defined as the home where an individual lives more than six months of the year. If they are temporarily absent, it is the home to which the owner returns. Only one primary residence may be claimed. Renters do not qualify.

In 1999 property owners filed an application for Lottery and Gaming Credit with the County Treasurer in order to have the Lottery and Gaming Credit applied to reduce the property tax bills produced in December 1999. The Lottery and Gaming Credit remains on the property tax bill unless the property no longer qualifies due to a change in use or ownership. You may have to apply for Lottery and Gaming Credit if you have purchased a home since 1999 or you now use your property as your primary residence. The Lottery and Gaming Credit appears as a credit that reduces the property taxes due on your property tax bill.

An owner who qualifies for the credit, but whose tax bill does not reflect the credit, may claim the credit until January 31 following the issuance of the tax bill with the treasurer responsible for collecting the property taxes. [s. 79.10(10)(bm) Wis Stats] You can file a late claim with the Department of Revenue from February 1 until October 1 of the year following the issuance of the tax bill.

A new owner must attest that to the best of their knowledge the previous owner owned and used the home as their primary residence as of January 1. Only in this limited circumstance may a new homeowner sign an application to receive the lottery and gaming credit. The application can be obtained from the County Treasurer. [s. 79.10(10)(bn) Wis Stats]

Seller

The Lottery and Gaming Credit stays with the property and will be deducted from the next tax payable on the next tax bill. When a property is sold the Lottery and Gaming Credit is "sold" with it. Ideally, the amount of the credit should be considered when pro-rating the property taxes between buyer and seller.

Buyer

The Lottery and Gaming Credit stays with the property and will be deducted from the net tax payable on the next tax bill. Ideally, the amount of the credit should be considered when pro-rating the property taxes between buyer and seller. [s. 79.10(10)(bn) Wis Stats]

The property tax bill printed in December is based on the assessment of the property as of January 1. The taxes will be based on that assessed value. The Lottery and Gaming Credit will be deducted from the net tax payable on the next year's tax bill. Lottery and Gaming Credit will be applied only if the home is completed and occupied on January 1 of the qualification year. [ss.79.10(1)(db), (9)(bm), (10)(b) Wis Stats]

Visit the Wisconsin Department of Justice Concealed Carry page for more information.

Find information about obtaining a drivers record on the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Obtaining Driver Record Information page.

You can find your crash report on the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Crash Reporting page.

See information about child safety seats on the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Child Safety Seats page.

Register your ATV, snowmobile or boat on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website.

The St. Croix County Government Center NO LONGER services vehicle licensing, titling or registration.  The Hudson DMV is now a full service location, and parties can now get all requested applications and / or items at the Hudson DMV Counter, located at 2100 O’Neil Road, Hudson, WI 54016.  Please visit the DMV Website or call the Automated help line:  608-266-1466 if you have further questions.

Find information about being fingerprinted on our Getting Fingerprinted for Your Job page.

Find information about how to file a late accident report on the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation Crash Reporting page.

Use the Wisconsin Court System Circuit Court Access website to check if you have an active warrant against you.

If the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office is holding found or seized property, contact the evidence custodian to ensure that certain requirements have been met for release or call 715-381-4354.

Find the rights of a tenant and a landlord on the State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Landlord / Tenant Guide page.

• Call 715-531-1930 or 715-531-1907 to reserve bins over the phone. You can also stop into the Resource Management office at the Ag Service Center in Baldwin to reserve bins in person.
• Be prepared to provide your name, phone number, dates bins will be picked up and returned, # of bins you would like and if you would like to purchase any additional bags (2 are provided per bin, additional bags can be purchased in packs of 10 for $5).
• A $50 deposit for each bin rented will be collected at the time of pick up. Please pay with a check. We will hold the check until you return the bins. If everything is returned in good condition, the check will be returned to you.

The most effective recycling occurs when there is a recycling bin right next to a trash bin. This provides convenience for guests to recycle and makes them think twice before throwing something in the trash. So, estimate how many trash bins you have and rent the same number of event recycling bins!

The event recycling bins come with the main x-frame base, a lid, 2 bags per bin, and stakes (upon request).

The event recycling bins can be rented out for any event, indoor or outdoor. Some common events include:

• Family Reunions
• Graduation Parties
• Sporting Events
• Town Festivals
• Weddings

Event recycling bins are reserved on a first come, first serve basis. We recommend calling us at least a few days ahead of your event if you only need a few and ideally a month ahead of time if you need more than 10 bins. Just a reminder that the bins can only be picked up and dropped off Monday - Friday, so keep that in mind when calling us to reserve the bins.

Event recycling bins can be picked up and dropped off at the Ag Service Center in the Resource Management Division office in Baldwin. The address for the Ag Service Center is 1960 8th Avenue, Baldwin and the office is open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Under both federal and state law, local governments must redraw municipal ward boundaries and political jurisdictions every 10 years to accommodate changing population and demographic trends. This process begins after the United States Census Bureau releases the decennial census data. Local governments oversee changes in maps for city and county government. 

St. Croix County is only working on redistricting for our County and local municipalities. State lawmakers draw new district lines for the state’s Assembly and Senate seats and congressional districts.

Our goal is to complete the redistricting process by December 1 while continuing to ensure a non-partisan redistricting process that prioritizes public hearings and public input on the process and the tentative maps. There will be two public hearings to review the maps. The maps will be posted to the St. Croix County website when they are available for review. The County Clerk’s Office and the Community Development Department are working with local municipalities on the redistricting process. 

Below is a tentative timeline of the redistricting process. These dates may change. 

• August 20: St. Croix County Community Development creates tentative Supervisory District maps for Administration Committee review
• August 25: St. Croix County Administration Committee reviews maps and recommends one tentative supervisory district plan for review by the County Board
• September 9: St. Croix County Board holds public hearing to review and adopt a tentative supervisory district plan via resolution
• September 10 to October 14: Municipalities adopt ward plans by resolution and submit ward plans to St. Croix County.
• November 2: St. Croix County Board of Supervisors holds a second public hearing to review and adopt a final supervisory district plan via resolution.

Depending on the population changes, wards, aldermanic districts, county supervisory districts, state assembly, senate, and federal congressional districts may be redrawn. Any approved changes to the maps will be updated on the St. Croix County website before December 1. 

St. Croix County is only working on redistricting for our County and local municipalities. State lawmakers draw new district lines for the state’s Assembly and Senate seats and congressional districts.

Voting:

You can find your polling place and what is on your local ballot at MyVoteWI.gov

Running for Local Office:

If you want to run for County Board Supervisor in the 2022 spring election, review the updated County Supervisory District Maps to determine which district you live in and contact the County Clerk’s Office for the proper paperwork. The updated map will be available on the St. Croix County website before December 1, 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Census Bureau was delayed in collecting and sharing the data we need to begin the redistricting process. Due to this delay, the redistricting process is on a compressed timeline to create updated maps that accurately reflect our current population by December 1.

You can find more information about the census and redistricting on the following sites: 

• United States Census Bureau
• Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) Guidebook to Redistricting
• Wisconsin Technology Services Bureau Redistricting Resources
• Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) County Decennial Redistricting Resources
• Current St. Croix County Supervisory District Information (2012-2021)

If you have questions that are not answered here, please contact the St. Croix County Clerk’s Office.  

When this project was being considered, St. Croix County was the fastest-growing county in the state of Wisconsin. Our County remains one of the fastest-growing counties today. The information below was originally shared while the project was under consideration to help explain why additional space and improved facilities were needed.

In a population projection report from the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) (page 19) they state that “St. Croix County is projected to be the fastest-growing county, in terms of percentage change, through 2040, increasing by 41% (from census data in 2010). As a component county of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, it also ranked as Wisconsin’s top-growing county from 1980 to 2010.”

This report was created in December of 2013 using 2010 census data. If the DOA updates this report with 2020 census data, we will share that information.

The image of the table below is from the DOA report and shows fastest growing counties in Wisconsin by percent from 2010 to 2040. St. Croix County is the fastest growing county with a projected 41.1% change in population followed by Calumet County with a 31.1% change and Kenosha County with a 26% change.

Back to the Government Center Expansion page.

Three studies have been done on St. Croix County Government facilities since 2012.

A 2012 facilities planning study found the Government Center in Hudson to be in good condition and noted the growing needs of District Courts.

A 2019 Jail study determined that jail population projections will potentially increase at a rate consistent with the 10-year annual trend of just under 3%. Projecting out 5 years from the study (2024), the anticipated average daily population would be 146; at 10 years (2029) the average daily population would be 166; and at 15 years (2034) the average daily population would be 189.

A 2020-2021 masterplan study considered the data from the two previous studies and additional data from each department head. The department heads provided past staffing data, anticipated rate of growth, and outlined current space issues. The planning team then met with the departments to determine their current and future space needs. The result of the department interviews provided a space needs assessment used for the masterplans. Read the 2020-2021 Masterplan Study here.

A Government Center Building Subcommittee was formed in March of 2021 to discuss and review the need for an expansion of the St. Croix County Government Center in Hudson. The committee reviewed these previous studies, toured County facilities, and met with County employees to learn more about the space needs of the Government Center. After seven months of discussion, the subcommittee voted to recommend the project move forward to the Administration Committee meeting in January 2022 for consideration.

Back to the Government Center Expansion page.

County leaders began exploring this project in 2021, and the County Board approved an $80 million bond issue in March 2022 to fund an expansion and renovation of the Government Center in Hudson.

To fund the project, an increase to the County’s portion of property taxes was added during the 2023 tax year based on each property’s equalized value. The estimated initial annual increase at the time of consideration is shown below (per $100,000 of equalized value).

The information below was originally shared while the project was under consideration to help explain estimates cost. The actual cost came in below initial estimates.

It’s important to note that these figures represent maximum estimated impacts and do not factor in future growth. As St. Croix County continues to be one of the fastest-growing counties in Wisconsin, the cost is expected to be shared among more taxpayers, which will help reduce the individual burden over time.

Property taxes are determined by the County’s mill rate. St. Croix County’s mill rate has decreased every year since 2013.

While no one enjoys seeing property taxes rise, it’s important to remember that County taxes make up around 20% of the average property tax bill — meaning around 20 cents of every property tax dollar goes to essential County services such as 9-1-1 dispatch, the Sheriff’s Office, courts, and winter road maintenance. This expansion ensures those critical services can keep pace with the needs of our rapidly growing community.

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During the planning process, the team met with County representatives to review various expansion options. The options included a north expansion, a south expansion, both north and south expansions as well as a separate administration building. Building security, staff circulation, and inmate movement were considered in all options. The decision was made to pursue a north and south expansion.

The County did look into virtual working environments. Many County employees have the capability to work remotely if needed for flexibility. However, many of the services we offer the residents and visitors of St. Croix County are best served or can only be served in-person by having a physical presence in the Government Center Building.

Back to the Government Center Expansion page.

A Government Center Building Subcommittee was formed in March of 2021 to discuss and review the need for an expansion of the St. Croix County Government Center in Hudson. The committee reviewed previous studies, toured County facilities, met with County employees to learn more about the space needs of the Government Center. After seven months of discussion, the subcommittee voted to recommend the project move forward to the Administration Committee meeting in January 2022 for consideration. Below is a timeline of this project:

• November – December 2021:Held public open houses for residents of the County to learn more about this project from County employees and representatives.
  • November 10, 2021 Open House
  • December 8, 2021 Open House
• December 2021: The plan was presented at the County Board of Supervisors Meeting on December 7.
• January 2022: The proposal was brought in front of the Administration Committee. The Committee recommended the County Board review the proposal for consideration.
• February 2022: Although the majority of the County Board voted in favor of the Government Center Expansion Project at the February County Board Meeting, the bond issue for the project did not receive the required three quarters vote to pass. This project was modified to address the feedback from the County Board. The modified project was reviewed at the February Administration Committee meeting.
• March 2022: The County Board voted to approve funding for this project.

Back to the Government Center Expansion page.

You can find more information on the Government Center Expansion web page. If you have questions that are not answered on this page or in these FAQs, email St. Croix County's Public Information Officer.

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Testing is recommended for symptomatic persons or pets only. If you or your pet are experiencing symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or veterinarian immediately.

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You can contract Blastomycosis when the soil is disturbed, and you breathe in the fungal spores. Approximately 50% of people who inhale the spores either don’t become ill or develop a mild, self-resolving respiratory illness.

You can reduce your risk of exposure by limiting activities that may disrupt the soil and vegetative matter in the area mentioned on St. Croix County’s Blastomycosis page. Higher risk scenarios for spread occur when the soil is near a water source and has been disturbed, when soil is moved by gardening, camping, hunting, hiking, riding all-terrain vehicles, clearing brush, or excavation and construction projects. You may consider avoiding high-risk activities in wooded areas or at the water’s edge, particularly if you have a compromised immune system. For pets, avoiding activities such as sniffing or digging in the soil at the water’s edge, landscaped area, or wooded terrain could help prevent infection.

There are diagnostic tests and treatments available for both humans and pets. If you or your pet are experiencing symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or veterinarian immediately.

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No environmental testing is available to identify the Blastomyces species. If you or your pet are experiencing symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or veterinarian immediately.

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Blastomycosis is treated with anti-fungal medications. The course of treatment can range from 6 months to a year depending on the severity of the infection and the person’s immune status. Local healthcare facilities and veterinary clinics will be notified of the presence of Blastomycosis in the area mentioned on St. Croix County's Blastomycosis page. If you or your pet are experiencing symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or veterinarian immediately.

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Throughout the course of the investigation, there were 4 people and 5 dogs diagnosed with blastomycosis. Blastomycosis infections are rare, finding a small cluster like this is rarer still. With 1 to 5 reported cases annually, St. Croix County is not considered an area with hyperendemic transmission.

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Early in 2022, St. Croix County Public Health began working with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate cases of blastomycosis in people and dogs in an area adjacent to the Willow River near Boardman, Wisconsin. The investigation ended in late 2022. Although this investigation has closed, outreach and education about blastomycosis is ongoing.

Early in the response notifications were sent to local physicians and veterinarians to inform them of blastomycosis infections in the area and the symptoms to look for. Information about the investigation and fact sheets on blastomycosis were sent to residents in the area of the investigation. Additionally a web page was created on the St. Croix County website with more information and resources on Blastomycosis.

Public Health continues to share to information about blastomycosis. Due to the nature of their work, Public Health is currently communicating with contractors and construction workers in the area about blastomycosis, the symptoms, and how to protect themselves. 

The referendum will ask voters to decide whether or not to support an increase in the County’s annual tax levy, beginning in 2025, to cover the cost of 8 additional public safety positions:

• 2 Mental Health Co-Responders
• 2 Correction Deputies
• 1 Sheriff's Office Investigator
• 1 District Attorney Investigator
• 1 Youth Justice Early Intervention Specialist
• 1 Deputy Clerk of Court

Back to the Public Safety Referendum page.

The following question will be on the April 2, 2024, Spring ballot:

“Under state law, the increase in the levy for St. Croix County for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2025, is limited to 2%, based on St. Croix County’s best estimate, which results in a levy of $46,002,438. Shall St. Croix County be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2025, for the purpose of hiring two Mental Health Co-Responders, one Youth Justice Early Intervention Specialist, two Sheriff Corrections Deputies, one Sheriff Investigator, one District Attorney Investigator, and one Deputy Clerk Of Court; to address the County’s most pressing public safety needs, by a total of 1.96%, which results in a levy of $46,898,438, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $896,000 each fiscal year going forward?”

A “Yes” vote means that you support additional personnel being hired to address the increasing public safety needs within St. Croix County at a cost of $896,000 per year, added to the tax levy. The one-time increase creates a new authorized tax levy total amount going forward. The one-time increase is equivalent to $5 per $100,000 of property value.

A “No” vote means that you do not support additional public safety personnel being hired at a cost of $896,000 per year, added to the tax levy.

Note: The language used in the referendum question is required by the state of Wisconsin. During the Spring 2023 Public Safety Referendum a common concern we received was that, due to the required wording, it sounded like the referendum would result in additional increases each year. This is not the case. The referendum would result in a one-time permanent increase of $896,000 – an increase of $5 per $100,000 of your equalized value.

Back to the Public Safety Referendum page.

If the referendum is approved by a majority of voters on April 2, St. Croix County will be able to fund 8 additional public safety positions. This will increase staffing levels to ensure that there are adequate resources to sufficiently respond to the public safety needs of our County.

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If the referendum fails to pass, the County will be faced with difficult decisions about how to address the growing need for public safety services. A rejection of the referendum would have a negative impact on our public safety service capacity. The existing two Mental Health Co-Responder positions will be eliminated at the end of 2024, forcing law enforcement to spend more time at scenes where a Co-Responder would be able take over and work toward better outcomes for those experiencing a mental health crisis.

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To pay for the additional 8 public safety positions, property taxes would increase based off your equalized property value. The proposed levy increase is $896,000 each fiscal year going forward. The increase per $100,000 of equalized value is $5. It is important to note that this does not factor in growth to our County. We are currently one of the fastest growing counties in Wisconsin.

The increases in the table below are based on zero growth in the County. As our population grows and more people are paying taxes, the cost is spread out.

Our property taxes are determined by the County’s Mill Rate. The Mill Rate for St. Croix County has decreased every year since 2013.

We know that no one likes seeing their property taxes increase, but did you know that County taxes account for 20% of the average property tax bill? That means less than 20 cents on every dollar you pay in property taxes goes to fund important services like 9-1-1 dispatch and our Sheriff’s Department, Court Services, and keeping our roads clear in the winter. The referendum will help ensure our services keep up with the growing needs of our County.

Back to the Public Safety Referendum page.

Yes. If approved, the 8 public safety positions spread across the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Circuit Courts, and the Health and Human Services Department would result in a one-time permanent increase of $896,000 to our annual tax levy. This increase is spread out throughout the entire County. Property taxes would increase by $5 per $100,000 of your equalized value. Because this would go toward paying people's salaries, this would be a one-time permanent increase.

Back to the Public Safety Referendum page.

The state of Wisconsin limits the amount of property taxes counties and other local municipalities can collect each year. In order to exceed the levy limit to help fund important services, local governments need voter approval through a referendum. County levy limits in Wisconsin went into effect in 2005. In 2023, St. Croix County went to referendum for the first time in 18 years to ask for an increase to the tax levy.

Each year the County’s budget increases based off the net new construction. Our current growth has allowed our budget to increase on average 2% each year. While this has allowed us to address some priorities and offset some inflationary pressures, it has not been enough to keep up with the demand for our public safety services.

Net new construction refers to the increase in the assessed value of only new or improved property. When new buildings are constructed or existing buildings are improved, the assessed value of the property usually increases. It's important to note that not all new construction counts toward net new construction. For example, construction of exempt properties such as churches, schools, and government buildings are not included in the calculation of net new construction.

Back to the Public Safety Referendum page.

If approved, the levy increase would go into effect beginning in 2025. We would be looking to add positions at that time.

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Each year the County’s budget increases based off the net new construction. Our current growth has allowed our operating levy to increase by about 2%. This has allowed us to address some priorities and offset some inflationary pressures. However, the amount received from net new construction alone is not enough to keep up with the demand for our public safety services.

Net new construction refers to the increase in the assessed value of only new or improved property. When new buildings are constructed or existing buildings are improved, the assessed value of the property usually increases. It's important to note that not all new construction counts towards net new construction. For example, construction of exempt properties such as churches, schools, and government buildings are not included in the calculation of net new construction.

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You can find information on where and when to vote on our Voting and Elections page.

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A Zoning Code is a set of regulations that determine how land can be used in a specific area. Zoning Codes are typically established by county or local governments and are used to control the development and use of land within their jurisdiction. These codes can include provisions for things like the types of buildings and uses that are allowed, the density of development, the height of buildings, and the size of lots. They are designed to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the community by regulating the use of land in ways that are consistent with the community's vision for its future.

For St. Croix County, the main purpose of the Zoning Code is to implement the County’s long-term planning policies. These are found in our Comprehensive Plan. As part of the plan, the land use chapter, and Generalized Future Local Land Use Map (vol. 1-11) establishes long-term policies for land use. The Zoning Code establishes development and land use metrics that implement the comprehensive plan, and zoning districts that align with the Generalized Future Local Land Use Map. The Zoning Code provides clear rules about what is expected of applicants in order to gain approval to develop land in the County.

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St. Croix County General Zoning applies to all towns and unincorporated areas, except the towns of Forest, Hudson, St. Joseph, and Troy. Incorporated territories (cities and villages), such as the city of New Richmond and the village of Baldwin, implement and enforce their own Zoning Codes.

Shoreland, Floodplain, Land Division, Lower St. Croix Riverway Overlay Districts, and Sanitary apply to all townships.

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You can find your property zoning on St. Croix County's Interactive Zoning Map. Under the Layer List menu, check the box for the “Zoning Chapter 15” layer. In the search box you can enter your property address or parcel ID number (without dashes) to find your property (Example parcel ID: 236-1974-50-003, enter 236197450003 into the search box). You will find your parcel ID on your tax bill.

Additionally, your property may be subject to Shoreland, Floodplain, or Lower St. Croix Riverway Overlay zoning regulations. Those layers can also be found on the interactive map under the Layer List menu.

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The County’s Zoning Code is available online. Read our Zoning Code.

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A structure setback is a requirement in a Zoning Code that specifies the minimum distance that a building/structure must be set back from the property lines, structures, and natural features. Setback requirements are intended to provide space to ensure that structures are located in a way that is safe and visually appealing. They can also help to preserve natural features of the land, such as bodies of water, vegetation, slopes or wetlands, and to provide adequate light and air circulation around buildings. Setback requirements vary depending on the zoning district and the type of structure being constructed.

Once you have located your property on St. Croix County's Interactive Zoning Map and identified the zoning classification, you can find the general building setbacks under the corresponding Zoning District in Chapter 15 of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances. Setbacks may also be different if there are any other overlay zoning districts, such as Shoreland, Floodplain, or the Lower St. Croix Riverway. In addition, depending on the use of the proposed building, setback may also vary. Setback may also be recorded on the plat or certified survey map of the property.

Contact our Land Use Team with questions you have on setbacks for your property. If you have a question about zoning or setbacks email us at CDD@sccwi.gov with your name, contact information, property address or parcel ID number, and your question. We will contact you regarding your question.

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You can find your property documents using the links provided on the Register of Deeds webpage or go into the Register of Deeds Office at the St. Croix County Government Center.

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The Section 15.285 Use Table of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances provides a table of listed uses that are permitted within each zoning district. This table provides how each use is permitted in the different zoning districts, either Permitted by Right, requires a Land Use Permit, or Conditional Use Permit. 

Not all uses may be permitted or may require additional permitting if the subject property is in an overlay zoning district, such as Shoreland, Floodplain, or Lower St. Croix Riverway.

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You are encouraged to contact our Land Use Team if you have questions about whether a permit is needed for the use and/or development of your property, as there may be many factors that require a permit.

Email us at CDD@sccwi.gov with your name, contact information, property address or parcel ID number, and your question. We will contact you regarding your question.

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To apply for a permit, variance, rezoning, waiver, or land division, please fill out and complete the appropriate application for your request. Once you have completed the application, contact CDD@sccwi.gov to schedule a pre-application meeting with our Land Use Team. 

If you have any questions about what application is required for your proposed project, contact us at CDD@sccwi.gov with your name, contact information, property address or parcel ID number, and your question. We will contact you regarding your question. 

Applications

• Land Use Permit Application (PDF)
• Conditional Use Application (PDF)
• Variance Application (PDF) 
• Rezoning Application (PDF)
• Waiver to Land Division Design Standards (PDF)
• Major Land Division Application (PDF)
• Minor Land Division Application CSM (PDF) 
• Sign Permit Application (PDF) 
• Administrative Appeal Application (PDF) 

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Shoreland Overlay District 

Your property is within the Shoreland Overlay district if it is within the following distances from the ordinary high water mark of navigable waters (whichever distance is greater):

1. One thousand (1,000) feet from a lake, pond, or flowage; and
2. Three hundred (300) feet from a river or stream or to the landward side of the floodplain.

To determine if your property is within a Shoreland Overlay District contact the us by email at CDD@sccwi.gov with your name, contact information, property address or parcel ID number, and question. We will contact you regarding your question. 

The purpose of the Shoreland Overlay District is to promote the public health, safety, convenience, and welfare, and promote and protect the public trust in navigable waters by:

1. Further the maintenance of safe and healthy conditions and preventing and controlling water pollution.
2. Protecting spawning grounds, fish, aquatic life, and wildlife habitat.
3. Controlling development, placement of structures, and land uses.
4. Preserving and restoring shoreland vegetation and natural scenic beauty.
5. Preventing flood damage.

Riverway Overlay District

You can find if your property is within the Riverway District on St. Croix County's Interactive Zoning Map. Under the Layer List menu, check the box for the “Riverway Zoning” layer.

The purpose of the Riverway Overlay District is to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare by:

1. Reducing the adverse effects of overcrowding and poorly planned shoreline and bluff area development.
2. Preventing soil erosion and pollution and contamination of surface water and groundwater.
3. Providing sufficient space on lots for sanitary facilities.
4. Minimizing flood damage.
5. Maintaining property values.
6. Preserving and maintaining the exceptional scenic, cultural, and natural characteristics of the water and related land of the Lower St. Croix Riverway in a manner consistent with the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (P.L. 90-542), the Federal Lower St. Croix River Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-560) and the Wisconsin Lower St. Croix River Act (Wisconsin Statute § 30.27).

Floodplain Overlay District

You can find if your property is within the Floodplain District on St. Croix County's Interactive Zoning Map. Under the Layer List menu, check the box for the “Flood Plain & Base Flood Elevation” layer.

This ordinance is intended to regulate floodplain development to:

1. Protect life, health, and property.
2. Minimize expenditures of public funds for flood control projects.
3. Minimize development in a floodplain which would obstruct flood flows and decrease the storage capacity of the floodplain.
4. Minimize rescue and relief efforts undertaken at the expense of the taxpayers.
5. Minimize business interruptions and other economic disruptions.
6. Minimize damage to public facilities in the floodplain.
7. Broaden the property tax base of the County by enhancing property values.
8. Discourage the victimization of unwary home and land buyers.
9. Minimize the occurrence of future flood blight areas in the floodplain.
10. Prevent increases in flood heights that could increase flood damage and result in conflicts between property owners.
11. Discourage development in a floodplain if there is any practicable alternative to locate the activity, use, or structure outside of the floodplain.

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Overlay districts have additional regulations that are likely to apply. If your property is within a Shoreland, Riverway, and/or Floodplain Overlay District, please contact our Land Use Team at CDD@sccwi.gov with your name, contact information, property address or parcel ID number, and your question.

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Scanned Property Files are available online. Select the records that you are searching (Example: Sanitary permits, or Soil Reports), select the Town, City, or Village where the property is located, select the Section (1-36) in which the property is located within the Town, finally select the Parcel ID Number of the property that is of interest to view the recorded files.

You can also view sanitary system maintenance records online. Enter your address and click “Find Now”, click on the Permit number (Example SAN- 1234). Then click the tab labeled “Maintenance” to view records.

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If your sanitary system is believed to be failing, please contact a licensed plumber to evaluate the system. The plumber will work with the County to acquire any permits that may be required. 

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You are receiving a card because the Community Development Department has been given a mandate (June 2005) by the state of Wisconsin to accurately keep a record of the maintenance on all private wastewater treatment systems (septic systems) in St. Croix County. Before the 2005 mandate, the property owner(s) were responsible to keep the system maintained. The State law has been in effect since 1981.

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The number of animals you are allowed to have on your property varies by the type of animal, size, and location of your property. Each type of animal is assigned an Animal Unit (AU) (example: a horse is 2 AU’s). Please use the Animal Unit Calculation Worksheet to calculate the total number of AU’s. 

• No AU’s may be kept on lots or parcels less than 3 acres, nor on lots or parcels in a major subdivision unless provided for in the plat.
• For Chickens and Ducks, you are required to follow the standards in Section 15.335 of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances. 
• One AU per acre of land suitable for animal waste utilization is allowed without a permit on lots or parcels of 3 acres or more in size. 
  1. Land suitable for animal waste utilization excludes:
     • Wetlands or lands below the OHWM
     • Closed depressions
     • Slopes in excess of 25% 
     • Other areas that may be determined as sensitive and adversely affecting surface water or groundwater quality

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No, each Town contracts their own Building Inspector that issues building permits. Please contact your Town to find the contact information for the Building Inspector. 

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If you still have questions, please contact the Community Development Department through email at CDD@sccwi.gov. Your email shall include the following:

• Your Name
• Contact information
• Property address and/or parcel ID Number
• Your specific question

We will contact you regarding your question. Once you have submitted your question to the above email address, please do not call any individual staff member, as this may create confusion and/or delay in the response to your initial question. 

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The term "100-year flood" is often used as an attempt to simplify the definition of a flood that statistically has a 1-percent chance of occurring in any given year. Likewise, the term "100-year storm" is used to define a rainfall event that statistically has the same 1-percent chance of occurring. In other words, during the course of 1 million years, these events would be expected to occur 10,000 times. Just because it rained 10 inches in one day last year doesn't mean it can’t rain 10 inches in one day again this year. (USGS)

The National Weather Service, based on the desires of the local community, establishes the "flood stage" gauge height for any given community. The flood stage gauge height is often the stage where damages begin to occur. Many communities desire to use the flood stage gauge height as an early warning alert, prior to the onset of significant damages. Significant damages may not occur until river levels are several feet above flood stage. Additionally, conditions along some rivers may have changed since the gauge and flood stages were established and reaching the flood stage may or may not result in actual damages. Again, stages are site-specific, so feet above flood stage at one location can’t be compared to another.

A site-specific measurement of river-level referenced as the height in feet above a designated zero reference point, called the gauge zero, at the site. The zero-reference point is sometimes, but not always, chosen as the elevation of the river bottom. Normally, stage values are always positive. Drought conditions could cause the river level to fall below gauge zero, and the stage reading at that time would be negative. Since each gauge was established independently at each location, the stage reading is good for that location only and cannot be compared to other locations. For example, a stage of 30 feet at Fargo, N.D., cannot be compared to a stage of 30 feet at Grand Forks, N.D. The only way direct comparisons between two gauges can be made is by converting river stage to elevation by adding the stage to the gauge zero elevation.

A flood advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, caution should be exercised, and it can lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.

People should be prepared for potential flooding. A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding.

A flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

Shortage If you are in a flood prone area move immediately to higher ground. A flash flood happens quickly and can take minutes to occur. water due to the demand for water exceeding the supply.

The Kitty Rhoades Memorial Memory Care Center provides short-term, specialized care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias experiencing a high level of memory care needs. The facility is open to individuals from Western Wisconsin, with priority given to St. Croix County residents.

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The Kitty Rhoades Memorial Memory Care Center is designed for short-term stays of up to 28 days to stabilize individuals. After an individual is stabilized, they will return to their previous living arrangements, and caregivers will be provided with education on the necessary interventions and treatments to support ongoing care.

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The Kitty Rhoades Memorial Memory Care Center helps with daily living activities, personalized care plans, therapeutic activities, psychiatry services, and family support and education.

Our team is available 24 hours to assist with the resident’s care. The facility features a calming and home-like environment with a two-way fireplace in the living and dining areas, secure outdoor spaces, and a private entrance with dedicated parking.

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We assess each individual to determine interests and provide activities that will calm as well and stimulate their senses in a positive and therapeutic way.  We offer music programs and therapeutic activities designed to promote engagement and well-being.

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At the Kitty Rhoades Memorial Memory Care Center, we provide resources, education, and guidance, helping caregivers and families understand dementia-related behaviors. Each resident will receive a personalized care plan to help both the person with dementia and their caregivers with ongoing care.

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Offering this service locally provides significant benefits, including closer proximity to home, family, and natural support systems, which can enhance the well-being and recovery of individuals in care. Additionally, providing services locally can result in cost savings for families, making it a practical and compassionate solution for those in need of dementia stabilization.

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A Registered Nurse is on call 24/7 and in the facility providing supervision and assistance as needed. Additionally, psychiatry services are available.

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Yes, the Kitty Rhoades Memorial Memory Care Center is a licensed Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) in the state of Wisconsin.

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Yes, the Kitty Rhoades Memorial Memory Care Center has secure outdoor spaces and enhanced safety measures to ensure the well-being of all residents.

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The rate at the Kitty Rhoades Memorial Memory Care Center is $650 per day, which includes all nursing care and services. Other services and amenities provided during the stay will be billed by the provider. Medications will be provided by the pharmacy and will be billed by the pharmacy.

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Contact us to learn more about the process. Our team will guide you every step of the way.

• Phone: 715-246-8300 
• Fax: 715-246-8331 
• Email: KRMC@sccwi.gov

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St. Croix County Parks has switched from the old hanging passes to a new plastic swipe card. This card works with the new gate systems at Homestead Park and Troy Beach. To use it, press the “SCAN PASS” button on the kiosk and swipe your card as you would with a credit card. The gate should open within 10–15 seconds.

The gates help us manage traffic more efficiently and give us more opportunities to improve the parks.

Yes. Annual park passes are valid immediately upon purchase and remain active until December 31 of the year printed on the pass.

Yes. Your pass card isn’t assigned to a single vehicle, you may move it between any vehicle you drive. However, only one vehicle may use the pass at a time as the gate will only allow entry for one scan. Please do not attempt to follow another vehicle through the open gate.

Your pass card has a time delay before it can be used again. Once enough time has passed, your card will be valid again, and you’ll be able to swipe.

We do not offer replacement cards. Because the pass can be used in different household vehicles, we do not have the ability to verify which pass belongs to which person.

At parks without gate systems, please place your pass card face up on your dashboard with the year clearly showing.

Yes. The gate kiosks accept credit cards. Follow the instructions on the screen, and the machine will discard an annual pass card or print a daily pass immediately.

The gate kiosks do not accept cash. If you would like to pay with cash, please visit the government center in Hudson or the Agricultural Center in Baldwin between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).

We’re happy to help. Please call us at 715-381-4440.