Town of Peshtigo Hears Water Flow Concerns

The Town of Peshtigo Board meeting on Tuesday, March 16 began with an announcement from Clerk Clarence Coble as a reminder that the election is on Tuesday, April 6. Coble said, "Contrary to what everyone seems to think, we are open for in person voting at the Town hall for 13 hours from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Per requests, we have sent out over 250 absentee ballots so far, but people are encouraged to vote in person. It costs the town quite a bit to send out, but we are willing to send them out for those who can't come in person or don't feel comfortable doing so".

In other announcements, Supervisor Kayla Furton announced there will be the WDNR PFAS Listening Session #13 at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17 available via zoom with information on the WDNR website of how to attend. Furton added, "Also there is a copy of the statement the WDNR just released regarding the Tyco PFAS settlement for the areas that Tyco/JCI has been non compliant in. Also last week and the week before I was able to take part of meetings with Senator Baldwin, Congressman Gallagher and Senator Johnson's office as a part of the National Association of Towns to advocate for Town priorities and Federal bills".

Supervisor Kristin Edgar announced, "There were a few residents asking about the status of testing at the Heath Lane landfill and the results are expected early this week. The WDNR will work with their PFAS experts team and they will work with the board as a whole and once they get back to us I will contact Coble to set up a meeting so it can be gone over with the board as a whole along with the residents".

There were two bids for the Hale School Road repaving project, both coming in with the same specifications. Northeast Asphalt came in at $129,909.50 and Peshtigo Asphalt was at $155,548. The bid was awarded to the lowest bidder of Northeast Asphalt.

Treasurer Marsha Rettke discussed the Reconciliation report explaining what it is and why the town uses it. Rettke said, "It is a checks and balance system to verify that the Supervisors have reviewed the bills and there are some people that are not willing to sign. The policy has been for a long time that if someone does not sign, they don't get their check. This has been the policy for many many years".

Rettke questioned, "Those who are not signing, why are they not signing, do they not understand the process, Is there a question or what is the reasoning behind not signing, that is my concerns. I want everyone to understand this is something the auditors recommended. The board can look over the report and bills and if there are any questions they have time to ask before the meeting. I have provided supporting documentation when requested in the past".

Coble interjected saying, "Just to add to that, it was recommended by the auditor 10 years ago due to the fact the Clerk is also Deputy Treasurer and the Treasurer is also Deputy Clerk along with the close proximity of those offices and not being separated like a lot of businesses with a separate finance department. This is a check and balance system so the board can look at the end of the month with the whole months transactions in the report to see that is what actually happened and sign off on it. Basically what the supervisors are doing is checking the balances in the office that they are being done properly and doing your administrative duty as a board member and signing off that this is what took place this month.

Rettke added, "As treasurer, I don't want to be non-compliant in this because I am required to get the signatures on this. I give copies in advance and supporting documentation when asked, I don't know what else to do".

Conversation continued with opposition from Edgar and Furton in resistance about a negotiated bill that was paid at a different amount and not understanding that additional backup paperwork cannot be filed after signing. That was clarified that documentation can be attached in a file if the board agrees on it.

Rettke added, "I would like to see that if there is a problem the Supervisor comes to me and asks for documentation and clarification instead of holding their check and we can work together, figure it out and provide the proper documentation". Rettke also clarified that she did provide what she had from a prior request of a bill that was in question and she is always willing to provide whatever is asked for or needed to clarify any concerns.

Chairman Herman Pottratz announced the retirement of Attorney Dave Spangenberg as Town of Peshtigo Attorney. A letter of recognition and thank you will be sent to Spangenberg for appreciation of all of his hard work through the years as the town attorney.

The meeting then moved forward as to the discussion of finding a replacement Attorney with the onset of Spangenberg's retirement from town attorney. Furton advised a request for qualification was sent out to five different firms and there were some conflict of interest situations that some firms were unable to apply. We also received a few firms that reached out to us so I am extending the deadline for qualifications to be submitted so we have a wider pool to pull from. Two have applied so far that are interested in submitting and three more also showed interest in applying. A motion was made and approved that the new board will be making the decision of the new attorney after receiving more applicants.

Awards were presented to three persons that had a combined total of 93 years of service and are ending their tenure with the Town. Chairman Herman Pottratz, was recognized for his 24 years of service with two years as Supervisor on the Board and 22 years as Town Chairman; Dan Staudenmaier served as a Supervisor for 18 years and Ron Walters had a run of 51 years as Town Assessor. Walters commented, "It has been a pleasure working for the Town of Peshtigo. I got along well with the people and hopefully they got along with me. I don't remember the names of the people, but I DO remember their properties". The crowd showed their appreciation with rounds of applause for all three for their many years of service to the Town.

There was much discussion in regards to an ongoing dispute in regards to property of Tom Fetterly of which water is being diffused off of his property and backing up in other neighbors property and on Hale Road. Edgar commented, "I received a suggestion from Scott from the WDNR that the town can provide a transit to get a general idea for the four residents that are in dispute about the drainage issue. What that would do is to provide an olive branch that the town can provide to see where the problems are with the flow to try to help the situation". Furton added, "That would pinpoint what the town is responsible for and what the residents are responsible for and would provide some clarity".

Resident Mike Collins replied, "The issue is the natural flow of water that is being restricted by Fetterly and going into a culvert across Hale Road. I think the main problem is the culvert that has been buried under Fetterly's ground for 70 years. I have been there long enough to witness that the main culvert needs to be replaced".

Furton added, "I think we need more facts and more information. The WDNR has offered to help with future conversations, look at the data, the software mapping capabilities and dig into that more". After further heated discussions, a motion was made by Furton to check into the cost of the survey of the area. Edgar seconded the motion stating with four home owners that are fighting at least we get an expert opinion. The motion was approved and Furton will look into the cost of the survey

In his Fire Department report, Mike Folgert stated, "Last month was a slow month, we had four calls with one ice rescue, one control burn, one downed power line and a downed tree in the roadway". Folgert also added they took delivery of the last two of the air packs, a number of old fire fighting equipment items have been listed on the Wisconsin Surplus Auction site and if anyone is interested they can go on this site and bid for the items. There was one resignation of a female firefighter because with now working three jobs she doesnt have time anymore to make the commitment.

Folgert stressed residents need a burning permit that can be obtained through the WDNR online or via phone call. The information will be posted on the Town Facebook page. The permit is good for a year but residents will have to call every day they want to burn to verify what can be burned, when it can be burned and how much can be burned to see if they can burn that day or not.

Folgert also had the opportunity to testify in support of Bill 156 sponsored by Senator Cole and co-sponsored by Eric Winnberger. It is a clean sweep program that includes collection and disposal of PFAS throughout the state. We are also kicking off the project to upgrade and purchase a new water rescue boat with a 50 HP motor. We will be doing fundraiser events and other events to fund this and it wiill be at no cost to the taxpayers. The first fundraiser will be for a six gun raffle and the tickets will be available at the election or you can contact a Town Firefighter to purchase tickets as well as they are available at Springer Creek Lodge. Tickets will be $50 each with only 100 tickets being sold. The second raffle will be for an ATV with more details to be announced at a later date. The Department will also be working with the Marinette Fire Department to compliment rather than compete.

In his Roads report, Supervisor Jon Drees announced five contractors were contacted for bids for ditching projects with only one response. Road King bid the projects at $8,200 and was approved to move forward with that bid. In Buildings and Grounds, Coble announced the plumbing work has been repaired at the hall. Edgar reported the Recycling Center hours will now be open until 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Bay Beach Recycling is willing to pick up TV's at the recycling center.

The next Board meeting with newly elected members will be held on Tuesday, April 20th. Coble announced he will not be able to attend that meeting due to family commitments and it will be the first board meeting he will miss in his 21 years of service.

Recent stories, opinions and photos

Issue Date	Department	Headline
04-14-2021	Front Page	Peshtigo City Finances Get Good Audit Report
04-14-2021	Front Page	Recount April 15 For Middle Inlet Board
04-14-2021	Front Page	Officers Detonate Live Blasting Caps
04-14-2021	Front Page	DNR Extends Deadline For TOP PFAS Water Sampling
04-14-2021	Front Page	Marinette City Council Okays Four Capital Outlay Projects
04-14-2021	Community - Coleman	Vegetable Garden Plans at Coleman
04-14-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman Legion Flags For Sale, Meet May 4
04-14-2021	Community - Coleman	STEF Donation
04-14-2021	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Garden Needs Help
04-14-2021	Community - Crivitz	Country Gospel Jam April 16th
04-14-2021	Community - Crivitz	St. Mary, Crivitz Rummage Sale
04-14-2021	Community - Crivitz	Near North Municipal Court Sets $75 As Monthly Membership Fee
04-14-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Concert at Cornerstone Assembly
04-14-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Board To Set Graduation Plans
04-14-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Poppy Poster Contest Winners
04-14-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Middle/High School Lists Third Quarter Honor Rolls
04-14-2021	Sports	Bulldogs, Blue Devils Picked for Packerland All-Conference
04-14-2021	Sports	Panthers Whiting Tops Area NEC All-Conference Selections
04-14-2021	Sports	Wisconsin State Park System Spring Operations Updates
04-14-2021	Sports	2021 Youth Turkey Hunt April 17-18
04-14-2021	Sports	Barbarians Hold Spring Organizational Meeting
04-14-2021	Perspectives	From My Window
04-14-2021	Perspectives	Country Cousin
04-14-2021	Perspectives	From Our Readers...
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Gary S. Bugalski
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Daniel L. Hanson
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Helen J. Herson
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Harriet L. Kuchenbecker
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Beverly A. Lynd
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Stella Norton
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Elsie M. Neuens
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Irene E. Pell
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Dale A. Przewrocki
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Cletus V. Rouse
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Ronald J. Rynesh
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Irene I. Schlichting
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Geraldine Stodola
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Joan A. Stoeger
04-14-2021	Obituaries	Mari Julane Wickman
04-07-2021	Front Page	Tim Geltz Is Hero Who Saved Drowning Man
04-07-2021	Front Page	Republican Elijah Behnke Wins The 89th District Assembly Seat
04-07-2021	Front Page	Numerous New Faces On Local Governing Boards
04-07-2021	Front Page	Referendums Fail In Peshtigo, Pass For Lena School District
04-07-2021	Front Page	Criminal Interdiction Operation by Oconto Co. Sheriff Department
04-07-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman Board To View Audit May 12th
04-07-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman W&S Utility To View Phosphorus Issue
04-07-2021	Community - Coleman	Reunion for Classes 1943-65
04-07-2021	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Legion Auxiliary Minutes for March Meet
04-07-2021	Community - Crivitz	LNRB Meets On April 14th
04-07-2021	Community - Crivitz	Country Gospel Jam April 16th
04-07-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Blood Drive is Monday, April 12th
04-07-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Blood Drive is Monday, April 12th
04-07-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Legion to Meet April 20th
04-07-2021	Sports	DangleFest 3 on 3 Tourney Delights Local Hockey Fans
04-07-2021	Sports	WIAA Conference Realignment Task Force Conducts Review of Plans
04-07-2021	Sports	Evers Signs Emergency Order Relating To Elevated Fire Risk
04-07-2021	Sports	PHS Alumni Scholarship Golf Outing July 16th
04-07-2021	Sports	Wisconsin Spring Turkey Season Opens April 21st
04-07-2021	Perspectives	From My Window
04-07-2021	Perspectives	From Our Readers...
04-07-2021	Perspectives	Country Cousin
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Kathleen A. Allen
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Arlene E. Berggren
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Bernadine Borkovec
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Dwayne Brendemihl
04-07-2021	Obituaries	William D. Butterfield Jr.
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Marvin L. Davidson, Sr.
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Stephen L. Duenweg
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Deborah L. Gamelin
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Robert J. Johnson
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Harold E. Larsen
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Michael J. Madden
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Robert Nordquist
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Robert J. Picard
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Susan Presti
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Linda L. Schultz
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Richard C. Steinhaus, Sr.
04-07-2021	Obituaries	William J. Swanson
04-07-2021	Obituaries	Robert T. Wickham
03-31-2021	Front Page
03-31-2021	Front Page	Brick Tiles Still Available For Fish Viewing Platform
03-31-2021	Front Page	Oginski Honored For Life Saving Actions
03-31-2021	Front Page	Sentinel Structures Stops Production on March 31
03-31-2021	Front Page	City, Town, Village Electors Go To the Polls On April 6th
03-31-2021	Front Page	Dog Park Plan Change Gets Committee Okay
03-31-2021	Front Page	Mudbrook Road Site Rejected For Placement Of Sex Offender
03-31-2021	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Hires New Officer, Makes 4th of July Plans
03-31-2021	Community - Coleman	Lena Staff Held Spaghetti Supper
03-31-2021	Community - Coleman	Lena Pathfinders Hold Food Drive
03-31-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman School Cancels Reunion for Classes 1943-65
03-31-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman Library To Meet April 12
03-31-2021	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Business Association Names Persons of the Year
03-31-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Blood Drive is Monday, April 12th
03-31-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Legion Post 66 to Elect Officers Apr. 3
03-31-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Easter Egg Hunt Set for April 3
03-31-2021	Sports	Area Basketball
03-31-2021	Sports	Tony Strublic Wins Tom Lund Match Game Championship
03-31-2021	Sports	DNR Adopts DHS Recommended Hazard Index Of Certain PFAS
03-31-2021	Sports	40,000 Acres Of Private Land Will Open To Turkey Hunters
03-31-2021	Sports	Reminder: Wildfire Season Underway
03-31-2021	Perspectives	From My Window
03-31-2021	Perspectives	Country Cousin
03-31-2021	Perspectives	From Our Readers
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Juliana Bolosan
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Marie L. Belongia
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Donald J. Barstow
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Clark G. Casperson
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Warren R. Gamelin
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Richard G. Hass
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Louise E. Hohol
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Robert B. Radzinski
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Wallace J. Reed Jr.
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Arnold A. Spaude
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Mary L. Thibodeau
03-31-2021	Obituaries	Mary A. Woodky
03-24-2021	Front Page
03-24-2021	Front Page	Set New Motions Hearing In McClintock Murder Case
03-24-2021	Front Page	City of Peshtigo To Begin Selling Sesquicentennial Coins, Tickets
03-24-2021	Front Page	County Board To Consider Sex Offenders House
03-24-2021	Front Page	Malke Working With USDA/FDA On PFAS Remediation Grants
03-24-2021	Front Page	Peshtigo May Get Additional $330,000 In Federal Funds
03-24-2021	Community - Coleman	Coleman School Cancels Reunion for Classes 1943-65
03-24-2021	Community - Coleman	Egg Hunt at Equity Mar. 28
03-24-2021	Community - Coleman	Lena Pathfinders To Hold Rummage Sale April 9 & 11
03-24-2021	Community - Coleman	Lena School To Hold Summer School, Prom
03-24-2021	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Woman's Club Hosts "Girls Night Out"
03-24-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Lakeside Bar, Grill Has New Owners
03-24-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Silver Cliff Blood Drive Nets 31 Pints
03-24-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Victoria Mueller Seeks Wausaukee Supervisor 2
03-24-2021	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Lions Flower Sale Underway
03-24-2021	Sports	Area Basketball - Menominee Boys Bag Double Win Week; Maroon Girls Undefeated
03-24-2021	Sports	Fire Danger Expected to Remain High in Wisconsin
03-24-2021	Sports	2021 Deer Season Planning Meetings March 22-April 1
03-24-2021	Sports	PHS Alumni Scholarship Golf Outing July 16th
03-24-2021	Sports	WIAA Alternative Fall Season Culminating Events Planned
03-24-2021	Perspectives	From Our Readers
03-24-2021	Perspectives	From My Window
03-24-2021	Perspectives	Country Cousin
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Manfred Blum
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Carleton P. DeWitt
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Richard J. Gehling
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Jeffrey J. Johnson
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Elaine J. Kulinski
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Glenn C. Lauzer, Jr.
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Edwina Lepianka
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Judith R. Malek
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Irene Martin
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Willard H. Paul
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Terry L. Richardson
03-24-2021	Obituaries	Martin G. Senn