Lake Holcombe Town Board; Lions get parcel back
Many members of the public turned out for a hearing Aug. 12, as the Lake Holcombe Town Board asked for help in whether to give back a right-of-way to the Lions club. Overwhelmingly, support was given for returning the land to the Lions. Photo by Ginna Young
By Ginna Young
A piece of land is going back to its original possessors, after Town of Lake Holcombe residents made their feelings clear at a public hearing Aug. 12. The right-of-way access between the Lake Holcombe Lions Club and the Big Minnow, was discussed at the hearing, with an overwhelming majority in favor of giving the property back to the Lions.
Years before, the club agreed to hand over the parcel for access for a business that was proposed. Since then, the owners of the property adjoining the Lions, sold the property, and the club asked for the town to abandon the right-of-way and return it to the Lions.
Town supervisor David Staudacher said his father, Henry Staudacher, sold one of the pieces of property in that area and donated the other to the Lions.
“I have thought, what would Henry say?” said D. Staudacher. “And I’m not sure, but I know he was very pleased to see what the Lions did with that and I guess he’d probably be pleased to see them get it back.”
The board discussed how the right-of-way could be an access to help develop more of the town, but then they would need to construct the roads, something they typically don’t do. Instead, it’s up to the individual or business utilizing the property to build the access roads.
Town chairman Brian Guthman says for him, the biggest thing he looked at, is that the Lions gave the parcel to the town for a specific purpose and that is no longer important, as the current owner has access off State Hwy. 27.
After the board heard all sides, they voted during the following regular board meeting, to give the right-of-way back to the Lions club.
During the regular meeting, resident Larry Becker questioned if the recycling center could be open more than the second and fourth Saturdays.
“Is there any way the township would consider opening it up for every Saturday,” asked Becker.
Guthman said there are not enough people using it to make it worth the cost and manpower. The town operates the yard waste and recycling sites at the same time, which doubles the cost each time.
“We’d have to hire more staff to do it,” said Guthman.
Becker says he has heard many comments about the matter and can see how taxpayers on the lake who don’t live in Holcombe full-time, would be upset that they can’t always get to the sites the weekends they’re open. Guthman replied that some say they’ve never used the sites and don’t want to pay for them to be open, while others are upset that they are limited to what they can dispose of.
Therefore, Guthman wants to leave the weekends the sites are open, as is.
“I think it’s plenty,” he said.
“We are following DNR regulations,” said town roadman Ben Jordan. “They want to limit our quantities.”
Members also talked about shortening the Recycle Roundup time, which was from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., to 8 a.m. to noon.
“The last time we had it, we weren’t busy the whole time,” said Guthman.
Supervisor Doug Olson also asked if the town could have the spring round-up earlier in the year. While members agreed it was something to think about for next year, Jordan pointed out that they originally set up the later date for people who come to their cabins on Memorial Day, and who want to clean out the property.
One thing the board did approve, was internet at the town hall through Ntera.
“We cannot share the internet down there (town shop)… they do not allow that,” said clerk Tracey Larson.
There is a seasonal plan, where internet can be purchased on a monthly basis, for $40/month when in use and $5 when it is not in use. Olson asked if there is a reconnect fee each time, but Larson says the proposal didn’t say.
The board agreed to just go ahead and pay the $40 each month, to provide the service.
“I know this building’s really hard to make phone calls out of and all that,” said Guthman. “I think we should bite the bullet and get in the 21st century here.”
Guthman is also waiting on a quote from Chippewa Valley Mechanical, after he found out the hall’s downstairs furnaces were installed in 2008. Lucas Meyer, owner of the company, recommended that as long as the town has the money, they should get the furnaces changed out. He also will quote a price for air conditioning separately.
Guthman is also looking for a solution for people who don’t check to see if they need a building permit. In many cases, the residents receive one from the county, but not from the town, so Guthman says they might have to send a letter to each taxpayer, reminding them to check with the town clerk.
He also says he spent a considerable amount of time talking to the sheriff’s department and the DNR, to see what can be done to address concerns over the noise that aerators are creating in the lake. Guthman said there is not much that can be done on the town’s side, as it is out of their jurisdiction.
“That’s going to be an ongoing thing, because they’re going to be more and more of these aerators,” said Guthman.
Something else the public should be aware of, was addressed by resident Buck Steele, who said the county is checking wells for nitrates and has for many years. Until recently, the chart stayed steady, but in the last couple years, those levels skyrocketed.
Under DNR regulations, a well is allowed to have 10 parts per million (PPM) of nitrates.
“Anything over that, pregnant women and children should not drink the water,” said Steele. “We have wells in our county – quite a few of them – that are over 20.”
Steele says it is a growing problem, and that he wants the public to be aware of it and take measures to help keep nitrate levels low.
“Any idea what’s causing the spike, Buck?” asked Olson.
Steele said farm run-off contributes somewhat, but many people around lakes and rivers who use fertilizer on their yards, create run-off into waterbodies.
