Historical Society

Taylor County Historical Society March Board Meeting Thursday, March 19, 2026 Meeting called to order by Sara Nuernberger at 9:30 a.m. Present: Julie Janke, Kurt Staab, Donna Doriot, Shirley Pleus, John Johnson, Marvel Lemke, Sara Nuernberger, and Mary Schultz. The agenda was approved with a motion by Marvel Lemke, seconded by Shirley Pleus. Motion carried. The minutes of the November board meeting were approved as distributed with a motion by John Johnson, seconded by Julie Janke. Motion carried. The treasurer’s report was read and approved with a motion by Marvel Lemke, seconded by Julie Janke. Motion carried. Correspondence. The museum received an e -mail from an individual interested in an internship this summer. This would be on a volunteer basis. Also received an e -mail from Pat Burg, director of the Merrill Historical Society and Museum, concerning Roundtable Regional Meetings. Planning for America’s 250 th anniversary is being discussed. Sara plans on attending the next meeting, which will be April 7th. President’s Report. An ad for the museum will be put in the Taylor County tourism book again. Curator’s Report. Thanks to Shirley Pleus and Donna Doriot who cleaned the museum after the recent remodeling. Old Business. A motion to hire Kurt Staab as the project manager for the log cabin repairs was made by Julie Janke, seconded by Marvel Lemke. Motion carried. Kurt will be paid as an employee at $30 per hour, plus rental for the use of his power tools. Kurt estimated the job will take approximately two months. Rotted logs will be replaced, the old chinking will be removed, the cabin will be stained so all logs look the same, and new chinking will be put in. Kurt also wants to put ventilation underneath the cabin to help preserve the logs. He will furnish a supply list of materials needed. Sara will find volunteers to help. Masks and safety glasses will be needed. Kurt will come to the membership meeting to be held on Saturday, April 18th. A new sign is needed for the museum entrance. Sara will also get a quote for painting the jail and schoolhouse steps. New Business. The museum should have a couple of handicapped parking spaces. Sara will check on into this. It was decided to renew the $25 annual Historic St. Ann’s membership. Volunteers are needed for Maplefest on April 25th and the Youth Expo on May 15th. A motion to adjourn was made by Marvel Lemke, seconded by Shirley Pleus. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Respectfully Submitted by Mary Schultz, Secretary Taylor County Historical Society General Membership Meeting Saturday, January 17, 2026 Meeting called to order by President Sara Nuernberger at 11:05 a.m. Present: Donna Doriot, Chuck Doriot, John Johnson, Ron Shiffler, Gordon Thielke, Julie Janke, Shirley Werner, Marvel Lemke, Shirley Pleus, Pat Pleus, Diane Albrecht, Bruce Albrecht, Arlene Strama, Julie Prihoda, Chuck Prihoda, Louise Paul, Sara Nuernberger, and Mary Schultz. The agenda was approved with a motion by Arlene Strama, seconded by Pat Pleus. Motion carried. The minutes of the September 18, 2025, membership meeting were approved as distributed with a motion by Donna Doriot, seconded by Marvel Lemke. Motion carried. The treasurer’s report was read and approved with a motion by Arlene Strama, seconded by Chuck Prihoda. Motion carried. President’s Report: We will have a table again at Maplefest which will be held April 25, 2026. The Wisconsin History Tours will be presenting programs at Merrill and Wausau if anyone is interested in attending. Curator’s Report: We are continuing to scan and catalog Bob Rusch’s files on the history of Rib Lake and Taylor County. Old Business: Kurt Staab will do the repairs on the log cabin in the spring. He will come to one of our meetings to explain what he plans on doing. Sara will check on putting Kurt on as an employee and he will be paid hourly. New Business: The office remodeling is progressing and is due to be finished by the end of January or the middle of February. A motion was made by John Johnson, seconded by Louise Paul, to purchase what is needed for the office. Sara will be purchasing metal storage units and chair mats, as well as other items. New signage will also be needed. The jail and schoolhouse steps need to be stained and painted. Sara will get an estimate. The audit of the treasurer’s books for 2025 will be done by Sara and Mary. The 2025 payroll report was reviewed. The county will be giving the museum a $13,000 grant for 2026. The 2026 budget was reviewed and approved with a motion by Marvel Lemke, seconded by Chuck Doriot. Motion carried. Elections: Nominations were submitted as follows, with terms expiring January 2028. President, Sara Nuernberger Payroll Administrator, Amanda Jense, E.A. Director, Louise Paul Director, Julie Janke Director, Shirley Pleus Director, Diane Albrecht Sara made a call three times for any additional nominations. Hearing none, John Johnson made a motion to cast a unanimous ballot for nominations as presented, seconded by Chuck Prihoda. Motion carried. Discussion: Chuck Prihoda reported on the Tombstone Pizza Historical Marker. Discussion followed on possible sites where the marker should be placed. Meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted by Mary Schultz