Welcome to Douglas County WI Government, where meetings are broadcast live on Microsoft Teams, but if you blink, you miss them—because once they’re over, they disappear into the void. No video, no audio, just a bare-bones summary that leaves more questions than answers.

So let’s play a game: What actually happened in these meetings?

The Microsoft Teams Black Hole

So let’s get this straight:

 

• • Douglas County streams meetings live using Microsoft Teams—which literally has a record button built in.

• • But after the meeting? Poof! No recordings, no playback, just meeting notes that are about as detailed as a fortune cookie.

Why? Do they think these meetings are so thrilling that taxpayers will drop everything at 6 PM to tune in live? Never mind that most people are working late to pay their ever-increasing county taxes.

Even the Super Bowl gets replays, but here? Not a chance. If you can’t watch live, you don’t deserve to know what’s happening with your tax dollars.

What the Notes Say vs. What’s Missing

Looking at the January 16th and February 20th meeting notes, here’s what we officially know:

 

1. 1. Meeting started. (Groundbreaking.)

1. 1. Pledge of Allegiance recited. (Would love to know if anyone forgot the words.)

1. 1. Roll call was taken. (Four people were missing in January, two in February. Why? No idea.)

1. 1. Resolutions were passed. (No debate recorded, just “Motion carried.” Did anyone raise concerns? Was there even a discussion?)

1. 1. Public comment: None. (Was it because no one showed up, or because the public knows these meetings are a black hole?)

1. 1. Reports given. (No quotes, no details—just that a report was “given.” Inspiring.)

But here’s what we don’t know:

 

• • What was actually said? The notes don’t tell us who raised concerns, who pushed back, or if anyone even bothered to ask a question.

• • How long did things take? Did they fly through everything in 20 minutes, or was there awkward silence while someone shuffled through papers?

• • Did the public have any input? The notes just say “None”—but was that because no one spoke, or because they muted the microphone?

• • How engaged are these 21 supervisors? A board this big should be buzzing with discussion, but we wouldn’t know. The notes make it sound like a rubber-stamp session.

Douglas County’s Overcrowded Board

Speaking of the size of this board—21 supervisors for a county that’s shrinking in population. That’s a full football team, plus a couple of cheerleaders.

 

• • Do we really need 21 people to approve $1 surcharge increases and timber sale updates?

• • If we had recordings, would we see half the board asleep or scrolling their phones?

• • Could we cut this board in half and still get the same results? (Spoiler: Yes.)

Why Does This Matter?

Here’s the thing: Government meetings should be accessible. If they’re already using Microsoft Teams, why not post the recordings? What’s the excuse?

Why? SoupNutz is about to find out. We’re digging into the numbers, and soon, you’ll know exactly where your money is going.  When was the last time the County changed auditors hopefully more frequently than the city.

Because if they won’t post the receipts, we’ll go looking for them. Stay tuned.