Lake Holcombe Town Board; Sanitary district is working well with new changes

Sandy Begalke (left) and Ken Begalke appeared at the Lake Holcombe Town Board meeting March 9, to clear up any misunderstandings about what comes into the sanitary district. It can be confusing about what classifies as septage, if you are not in the hauling or wastewater treatment business. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

After recommending some things that could be done to ensure the Lake Holcombe Sanitary District is in DNR compliance, the Lake Holcombe Town Board asked for an update at their regular meeting March 9. Town board chairman Brian Guthman says he talked to Jesse Claflin, the consultant the sanitary district hired to help get things on track.

“Things are going real well,” said Guthman. As part of the changes, the sampler is now running on flow, instead of time. During the recent DNR scheduled inspection, sanitary board chairman Buck Steele reported that the DNR looked over the district’s records, took photos and a lot of samples.

“I don’t think we had anything out of sort,” said Steele, adding that it could be several weeks before the results of the inspection comes back.

“So, we’ll know more when we get the report back,” said town board supervisor Doug Olson. “It sounds like we’re making progress as we go forward.”

Sandy Begalke, Ken’s Septic Service, wanted to clear up some misunderstandings that are going around in the community and between board members on the different types of septage.

“Holcombe never received sewage from any of the companies, our licenses do not permit that,” said Begalke. “The only thing that ever came to Holcombe, was holding tank waste. Too many people put sewage into the category of everything as septage and it’s not true.”

A holding tank is a container that only holds waste, where there is no distribution after it enters the tank.

“Most of those are less than three months in time frame (of emptying),” said Begalke. “That’s the waste we’re bringing to Holcombe.”

A septage tank is one that holds sewage on a three-year maintenance schedule.

Guthman did have something else of concern on his mind when talking about the sanitary district, as state statute says the sanitary board members must be residents of the sanitary district. However, all involved are having a hard time finding out if all of the Town of Lake Holcombe is considered part of the sanitary district or only where the service extends to.

Steele has searched for the records and town board supervisor David Staudacher has even joined in the hunt at the county level, but no luck.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” said Steele. Since it’s unclear where the district is for sure, no action was taken on the matter.

“So far, everything that I’ve seen, is that it’s the whole town,” said Staudacher. “It always seemed a bit odd to me. I can see where it might be easier for expansion.”

No action was taken on another sewer matter, as town board treasurer/Holcombe Area Veterans Memorial chairman Jim Mataczynski mentioned that a sewer extension is needed for the planned memorial. While the memorial is in the early stages of building, work on the extension should be done now, but a price is needed, as well as who will pay for it.

“Is the town that generous?” asked Mataczynski. Olson says, as far as he’s concerned, the town should not be responsible for installing a lateral. He also mentioned that if the memorial would get a 501(c)(3), they could apply for more funding that is available.

Mataczynski said the memorial tried to get a 501(c)(3), but were told they are not eligible, because the memorial is an entity of the town.

“They shut us right down,” said Mataczynski. Olson suggested the memorial hire a lawyer who writes for non-profit applications and was confident they would be awarded that status. Regardless, without pricing and specifications, nothing could be done about the sewer extension at the present.

“Any way you look at it, it’s going to have to happen, one way or the other,” said Mataczysnki.

Something that was approved at the meeting, was sealed bids for upcoming road projects. A bid for paving was awarded to Chippewa County, for 24,071 tons, with a unit price of $76.25. Others submitting bids, were Senn Blacktop, 24,050 tons, $99.60; and Monarch Paving, 25,061 tons, $82.69.

Coming in as the only bid for gravel, was Haas Sons, for 2,662 tons, at $11.

A pulverizing bid was awarded to Haas sons, for 16,016 square yards, at .38 cents, beating out A-1 Excavating, who did not submit any square footage, for $.43 cents.

Haas also was awarded the bid for shouldering, at 507 tons, for $22, winning over Chippewa County, at 490 tons, $24.16. In addition, Haas put in a bid for manhole castings, with five of them at $750 each.

The board also approved an agreement for the Chippewa County Outdoor Recreation Plan that is in the process of updating. The county is shouldering most of the cost, but municipalities can join in for $500.

Eligible projects in townships must support or enhance outdoor recreation activities. In the past, the focus has been on nature-based outdoor recreation projects, such as land acquisition for parks/trails, construction of canoe launches, fishing piers, park shelters and campgrounds, picnic areas and restrooms.

The county will work with the town to identify what demand there is for improvements in the township. Guthman said there are a couple ideas in the works to enhance the current park and possibly install a kayak launch at other spots on land the town owns.

Guthman also reported on a Memorandum of Understanding the town has with some residents on the end of 263rd Street, as they want to take down a bunch of plantation pines and asked if they could take the ones down in the town’s right-of-way, as long as they’re at it.

“They’re really no good to us, they just shade the road,” said Guthman.

He also says the bridge inspections came out well, except for the 295th Street bridge, with the deck scratched from plowing. The inspectors recommend putting a lift of blacktop on, which falls in line with the town’s upcoming plans.

“Next year, it just so happens we’re going to be doing that road,” said Guthman.

Guthman also reported that the satellite fire department that is in the works is seeing progress, as a committee was formed of three firefighters, three EMS, and three of the fire board and ambulance board members. The new committee is looking into grants and what type of building they want.

Getting a station at Holcombe, will not only help with response times, but will help with everyone’s insurance within the fire district, whether they live in Holcombe or elsewhere.

“Things are getting sorted out,” said Guthman.