Minutes

Regular Board Meeting Monday, December 8, 2025 Townsend Town Hall 6:00 p.m. Chairperson Monica Zeller called the meeting to order at 6pm Roll call: Chairperson Monica Zeller, Supervisor Chuck DeMoulin, Supervisor Willie Evans, Treasurer Beth Hartman, Clerk Linda Ziegler. 10 citizens Verification of proper agenda notice: Ziegler posted the agenda on December 2, 2025 at Townsend Post Office, Townsend Town Hall, Laona State Bank, Townsend Branch, and www.townsendwisconsin.org. Evans made the motion to approve the agenda. 2 nd by DeMoulin- M/A Motion made by DeMoulin to accept the minutes from November 11, 2025. 2nd by Evans – M/A Treasures report – Hartman gave a P&L budget performance report. We received the balance of the shared revenue and the 3rd quarter rental fees were paid. The town purchased new tires for the grader and one of the trucks, but we did receive the refund of the double payment made to PNC lease. Motion by Evans to approve the report and pay all the bills, 2 nd by DeMoulin– M/A Ambulance Report – Report on file. Steve Harkema said there were just 12 calls in November. The new ambulance should arrive mid-2026. The plans for the new addition are at the state waiting for approval. Fire Department report – Report on file. Chief Dawn Herlache said there were 4 calls since the last meeting bringing them to 49 calls in 2025. This is the most in the past 10- 15 years. The increase is due to the auto response to Lakewood calls. The new reporting system (NERIS) is up and running and the battery-operated extrication equipment is in. Friends of Townsend Fire. President Wanda Laste said Gary Birr is the new board member. FOTF is exited to have helped with the new extradition equipment. They have also secured a grant from the Potawatomi for an ice rescue suit. Members are gearing up for the spring cash raffle. They are updating the volunteer board. Anyone with information regarding past fire department volunteers should check for accuracy on the websites. Lakes Country Library – Kathleen Marsh said they are working on updated the By- laws. Hoffman has the snow removal contract. They are test-running a new circulation system: Nicolet Federated Library System. The Bartel’s charity golf tourney donated $1000.00. January speaker series will be Amy Donaldson, Changes to Healthcare and February, Joelen Derfus, Senior Emergency bags. NOCCO – Report on file. 37 incidents in November Permits/Licenses: N/A Business: 1. Planning & Zoning/ Parcel #042-323206431L & 042-323206331K; Land Division/Rezone -Maass: Planning & Zoning Chairperson Dan DeMoulin explained that Michael owns lot 2 along with his brother. There is a shed on the north part of lot 2, just off the property so the land division needs to include lot 1, which is owned by their father. Lot 1 has a strip labeled Parcel A that has a recording error that will be corrected by deed adjustment. However, Parcel A then needs to be rezoned from RR to Forest(F) to comply with County zoning. The original lot (2.51 ac.) is zoned Rural Residential (RR) and by splitting into two lots (1.242ac and 1.230ac.), they will need to be rezoned to Residential Single Family(R-1). The land division proposal meets local ordinance standards. The proposal agrees with the Town Vision Statement as found in the Town Comprehensive Plan. The proposal agrees with the Town Goals, Objectives and Development Strategies found in the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. The Committee is recommending approving the division. The proposed use of the parcel if the rezone is approved will be R-1. The need for the proposed use is because of the property division. There is no potential for the proposed use to create conflict with exiting uses in the area. There are adequate public facilities to serve the proposed land use. The burdens on the local government for providing services for this proposal are reasonable. The proposal agrees with the Town Vision Statement as found in the Town Comprehensive Plan. The proposed agrees with the Town Goals, Objectives and Developments Strategies as found in the Town Comprehensive Plan. The Committee is recommending approving the rezone. Oconto County Standard is that when the town roads are not a 3-rod road, and property is being divided, the property owners dedicate the additional frontage to bring the road to 33 ft from the center line. N. Wapota Drive is 50 ft wide. The Maass’s have asked that the 8-foot dedication be waived. D. DeMoulin said the committee is suggesting denying this waiver. Placement of pre-existing dwelling –Dan DeMoulin said Dennis Hotchkiss is asking the town to approve the placement of a 53-year-old, 12x60 mobile home on his lot on Meadow Parkway and Mockingbird Ln. The committee is suggesting to deny this, based on current ordinance Chuck DeMoulin made the motion to accept the land division and rezone, 2 nd by Evans – M/A. Zeller made the motion to deny the waiver of the 8 Ft. Road dedication, 2nd by Evans – M/A. Zeller made the motion to deny the placement of the trailer on the Hotchkiss property, 2nd by Evans – M/A 2. 2026-2028 election workers: Ziegler presented a list of thirteen citizens to work the elections for 2026-2028: t. Linssen, T. Heyrman, L. Duca, A. Szyszkiewicz, R. Kroll, S. Wagner, J. Fellows, V. Beyer, W. Laste, B VanOss, P. VanOss, R. Wittman, S. Christianson. Zeller made the motion to appoint all 13 citizens, 2 nd by Evans – M/A 3. Fire Department Collaboration – Chief Dawn Herlache said 5 town’s (Mountain, Lakewood, Riverview, Doty, Townsend) are discussing merging into a single unified department. There are grants available to share resources. Dacon Franzen, D. DeMoulin, Zeller and Herlache had a zoom meeting with the other towns have been meeting to discuss the process. The priority is to provide the communities with the highest level of service and protection. The town chairs will be meeting next week to continue the discussion. 4. American Red Cross Facility Agreement. – the Red Cross has asked the town to be a shelter location if the need arises. If agreed, the Red Cross would provide people, food, cots, counselors, ect and cover any damage to the building that may have occurred. Zeller said the town will sign the agreement, along with the Pet addendum. 5. NOAH’s Ark off No. Oconto County Animal Help – This service will capture, neuter/spade, or adopt out cats in the area and provide shelter to those feral cats. 6. Future agenda item – N/A Public Comment – Herlache asked about getting an IT person to help with some of our basic questions. Suggestions are Steve VanEperen, the school IT instructor or Dan Childers. Marsh thanked the board for their efficiency and how well they work together for the town. Correspondence: n/a Announcements: Red Cross Blood Drive December 15, 11-40m Evans motioned to adjourn at 6:50pm 2 nd by DeMoulin – M/A Minutes Approved January 13, 2026 Linda Ziegler, Clerk