Lake Holcombe Town Board; Future road paving plans are taking shape
Scott Gygi has mowed the alleyway between his property and the Lake Holcombe Sanitary building for many years, but only owned half of the alley. After a Lake Holcombe Town Board meeting Oct. 13, Gygi was approved to take over ownership of the remainder of the alley. Photo by Ginna Young
By Ginna Young
Judging by criteria of “worse condition” and “most traffic,” a proposed five-year road plan is in the works for the Town of Lake Holcombe, as discussed at a board meeting Oct. 13.
“This is just a preliminary plan/draft,” said town chairman Brian Guthman. “At least you got some plans of knowing where you’re going to go.”
The draft shows that, potentially, repaving will take place in 2023, on 270th Avenue, from State Hwy. 27 to the Pine Lake Bridge; in 2024, on 295th Avenue, from State Hwy. 27 to 294th Avenue (Smith Loop), and 29th Avenue (Tuffy Loop Road); in 2025, on 240th Avenue, from State Hwy. 27 to the Fisher River Bridge; in 2026, on 279th Street to 301st Avenue (Pine Island Road), and 270th Street (Dain Road) by Underwood Court; and in 2027, on 290th Street from 250th Avenue, to 260th Avenue (East Fisher Road).
Until the plan is officially approved at the November electors’ meeting, public comment can be taken, if they feel a road has been neglected on the list. Guthman does remind residents that sometimes, a road gets “bumped” to the top, because it suddenly deteriorates.
“We have 52 miles of road and we do about a mile a year,” said Guthman. “We do what we can.”
Guthman and town roadman Ben Jordan are also thinking ahead to roads this winter, as they are having a problem with people pushing snow across the roads from their property and even into summer people’s vacant drives. This is a fire hazard, as fire trucks would be blocked from responding to a blaze.
“It could be catastrophic for some people,” said Guthman. He and Jordan will work on a letter to send to residents, asking them not to push/pile snow across the roadways.
The board is also looking at how their current ordinance reads for ATV/UTV routes, as Chippewa County wants to get the townships on the same page. Until they can determine what the hours of ATV/UTV operation are, the board tabled the matter.
“I was thinking we should be consistent,” said board supervisor Doug Olson.
Members did approve abandoning half of an alley by the sanitary building, on request from Scott Gygi, who agreed to pay all costs associated with the matter. The other half was abandoned to the Gygis years before.
“It’s been in the family for over 60 years,” said Gygi.
Guthman said he’s received many calls about the yard waste disposal site, since fall is a busy time for cleaning up leaves and brush.
“Most of them would like that to be open every Saturday, now in October and into November,” said Guthman.
Therefore, the waste site will be open through the second Saturday in November. Resident Jim Pyle was on-hand to ask that the site be open longer hours in the spring, but Guthman said, per the DNR, they need to limit the hours of operation.
Guthman also reported that the Wayside Park is closed for the season, but hotspots at the beach and pavilion are still in service. The park will be snow plowed so people can get to the hotspots to make a call or get online.
“They were used all of last winter,” said Guthman. “That’s what it’s there for.”
A fire board meeting was also recently held and since Eagle Point is leaving the unified department, the fire district will need to pay out 1.6 percent ($15,000) to them, since the district is funded based on assessed evaluation. Eagle Point has their own fire department and previously covered only a portion of their area on their own.
“They’re going to cover their whole area now, instead of just part of it,” said Guthman.
