Minutes_RTBM_20260817

Town of Winchester 7228 CTH W, Winchester, WI 54557 winchesterwi.com | 715-686-2123 Town of Winchester — Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: August 17, 2026 REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 17, 2026 • 6:00 PM • Winchester Town Hall Members Present Nicholas Newton (Chairperson), Robert Silvis (Supervisor), Danny Dye (Supervisor), Luke Huybrecht (Clerk), John Grimmer (Treasurer, virtual) Members Absent None 1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance Chairperson Newton called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM. All members present; Treasurer Grimmer attended virtually. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 2. Approval of Agenda Motion: To approve the agenda. Moved: Dye • Seconded: Silvis • Vote: Carried 3-0 3. Approval of July 15 and August 5 Town Board Meeting Minutes and June 8 Board of Review Minutes Motion: To approve the July 15 and August 5 Town Board Meeting minutes and the June 8 Board of Review minutes. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Dye • Vote: Carried 3-0 4. Treasurer’s Report An upcoming payment of approximately $347,000 is expected in the next few weeks. This is the last large influx expected for the year. 5. Clerk’s Report Several updates provided. Clerk Huybrecht thanked the chief inspectors and poll workers for the August 11 Partisan Primary. Reminded the Board of the Board of Review Open Book scheduled for August 31. Provided an update on the SharePoint site for the document portal and introduced the Construction, Zoning and Addressing page on the website. Town of Winchester 7228 CTH W, Winchester, WI 54557 winchesterwi.com | 715-686-2123 Town of Winchester — Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: August 17, 2026 6. Chairman and Supervisors’ Reports Chairperson Newton reported: Crew has been cutting road shoulders and removing trees and branches. A large sinkhole was discovered and repaired on Old O. Gravel has been spread. Significant time spent on lake level issues. Researched gravel purchasing history and found approximately $15,000 in purchased gravel lasts two to three years. Supervisor Dye reported: South Turtle snowmobile access has been mowed and two campers have been reported as parked. North Turtle public access has also been inquired about. Supervisor Silvis reported: Requested additional information from the Fire Department to plan for budget season. Had correspondence relating to Birch Lake gravel heights; the Town Crew has been working to level out the area. WinMan campsites are open and now taking reservations for cabins. 7. Vilas County District 2 Representative’s Report Richard Logan reported: The meal program is still active at North Lakeland School; residents should call or text the site manager, with contact information available on the ADRC website. A moratorium hearing originally scheduled for August regarding a data center and large solar system has been moved to September 23, 2026. The ordinance is written but requires a public hearing to enact. This is action proactive and not reactive. 8. NEMSD Report Jason Joling reported: Acknowledged website issues with minutes; expected them to be live last week and anticipates posting soon. Emphasized the need for clearly visible address and fire number signs for existing residences. Thirty calls month-to-date for August, eleven of which were in Winchester. Overall response time from page to on-site is approximately twelve minutes. NEMSD is not using lights and sirens for safety reasons, which does not impact patient outcome. Transport requirement is consistent with national averages at roughly 60/40. Sixty to seventy percent of responses are receiving paramedic intervention, mostly for pain management. Seeing an increase in trauma responses such as falls and fractures compared to prior years. A question was raised about WinMan calls; Joling clarified likely no more than two calls so far this year, with two last year as well. A comment was raised about the success of the program as viewed from other similar areas and locales. Steve Hertzburg reported: A grant application in the amount of $1.29 million, paid over four years, was submitted today to help with staffing, equipment, and training, with no match or additional cost to the town or patients required. Reemphasized the importance of not using lights and sirens without impacting patient experience. Joling also emphasized the upcoming possibility of in-home community-centric EMS care to provide vital readings and checkups, with no additional cost to the town or patients through the grant. This is not advertised or communicated as home health care. 9. Correspondence Lake level conversations ongoing. An anonymous letter was submitted to the Town regarding the Transfer Station. 10. Public Comments No public comments. Town of Winchester 7228 CTH W, Winchester, WI 54557 winchesterwi.com | 715-686-2123 Town of Winchester — Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: August 17, 2026 11. Budget Season and Meetings The Board has already held a four-hour budget work session. The next budget meeting is scheduled for September 1 at 10:00 AM. The meeting originally scheduled for September 9 has been rescheduled to September 10 at 10:00 AM due to a conflict. 12. Basketball Hoop Letter A thank-you letter has been drafted, signed and mailed by Chairman Newton. 13. Associated Bank Account Signers The Board discussed updating authorized signers on the Associated Bank accounts. Motion: To approve the following as current signers on Associated Bank accounts: Luke Huybrecht, Nicholas Newton, John Grimmer, Robert Silvis, and Danny Dye; and to remove Joseph Discianno, Adeline Huybrecht, Geraldine Sell and any other names not mentioned as signers. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Dye • Vote: Carried 3-0 14. Board Member Signature Facsimile Stamps and Approvals Motion: To approve rubber signature stamps for John Grimmer and Nicholas Newton. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Silvis • Vote: Carried 3-0 15. Credit Cards for Board Members The Town is transitioning from Associated Bank to US Bank. Clerk Huybrecht will work with Treasurer Grimmer to close the Associated Bank credit card by August 24. 16. Town Board QuickBooks Access Read-only access will be provided to all Board members. Clerk Huybrecht will assign read-only access to Board member email addresses by end of week. 17. Cleaning Fee for Rented Facilities Tabled until next meeting. Clerk Huybrecht will survey other towns in the quad. Supervisor Silvis is in favor. The Board discussed a $100 fee point and agreed the refundable deposit should remain the same. Any fee should stipulate what is passed to the cleaning crew and what is retained by the Town. 18. Trees at Town Park Discussed potential issues with removing trees based on DNR regulations and the opportunity for memorial trees. Consideration given for the Planning Commission to decide a long-term plan on species, locations, and related matters. Town of Winchester 7228 CTH W, Winchester, WI 54557 winchesterwi.com | 715-686-2123 Town of Winchester — Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: August 17, 2026 19. Liaison Appointments for Board Members The Board reviewed current liaison assignments. Robert Silvis: Fire Department, WinMan, Winchester Town Lakes Committee. Nicholas Newton: Library, Town Crew, Cemetery Association, Bike Inc. (Dale White), Winchester IT, Landfill Venture Group. Danny Dye: Transfer Station, Town Crew. John Grimmer: Lions Club. Steve Hertzburg: NEMSD. 20. Elections Chairperson Newton thanked Joan Wainio for her email identifying out-of-date information on the website. A comment was raised about the 100-foot electioneering line needing to be measured from the door, not placed on the door. Comments were also made about physical barriers to help direct lines; no action was taken. 21. Strategic Planning Discussed. No action taken. 22. NEMSD and Town Board Open House Joling encouraged any budget questions to be directed to the respective Town’s NEMSD board representative and offered to answer questions about operations. Applauded the effort put forth by the Winchester Fire Department. Hertzburg noted 99% accuracy on the first year’s best-guess budget and that the upcoming budget is less than 1% higher than the previous budget. A suggestion was made for an open house to view the trucks and medical capabilities. Chairperson Newton will connect with Joling to find a date. The Board agreed on an open house format rather than a town hall style meeting. 23. Employee Benefit Guidelines Discussed and tabled. 24. Utility Right-of-Way Permits and Approvals Discussed in relation to Xcel Energy and the website. Comments were made about contacting Vilas County zoning and forestry for reference points and verifying against Supervisor Silvis’s suggestions via email. Clerk Huybrecht will create a form in the interim and have it ready by September 1. The form and process will be initially approved via Board meeting, then revised by the Planning Commission at their following meeting. A draft ordinance will reference the fee schedule, with fees to be assessed, possibly at a later date than the initial approval meeting. 25. Skid Steer for Transfer Station Will be revisited during budget season as funds are not currently allocated. 26. Facility Use Policy 2026-01 — Lions Deposit Waiver Request All in favor. Clerk Huybrecht will refund the current $200 deposit. No further deposits or rental fees will be collected from the Lions Club. The policy will be updated and posted. Town of Winchester 7228 CTH W, Winchester, WI 54557 winchesterwi.com | 715-686-2123 Town of Winchester — Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: August 17, 2026 27. Crack Sealing — Delmore Consulting $25,000 has already been allocated for 2026 crack sealing. Motion: To pay the allocated funds and work with Delmore Consulting on crack sealing. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Dye • Vote: Carried 3-0 Clerk Huybrecht will contact Delmore to begin the project. 28. Policy 2026-07 Road Signs Discussed road sign updates including private road indication stickers, boat launch signs, and crossroad signs. The Board is not moving forward on crossroad signs. Clerk Huybrecht will explore less expensive options for private road indicators and will order brown boat landing signs as decided by the Board. 29. Lake Levels Rock Lake is approximately two feet deep at the launch. The Lakes Committees requested the Town communicate its existing process for when boards are put in or taken out of the dams. No formal record of levels is currently in place. Discussion took place regarding the hot summer weather with little rain and increased correspondence from visitors who may be unfamiliar with the weather and its effects. Chairperson Newton will email the dam operator, Forrest, to request input and an explanation of the lake levels and dam requirements, and invite them to speak at a future meeting. 30. Library Board and Planning Commission Resignations Kay Budnik resigned from the Library Board. Sulo Wainio resigned from the Planning Commission as Chair. Motion: To accept the resignation of Kay Budnik from the Library Board. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Dye • Vote: Carried 3-0 Motion: To accept the resignation of Sulo Wainio from the Planning Commission. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Dye • Vote: Carried 3-0 Supervisor Silvis thanked Sulo Wainio for his years of work on the Planning Commission. Wainio thanked the commission members for their time and work. Chairperson Newton also extended thanks for his dedication to the Town. 31. Appointment of New Library Board Member A letter of interest was received from Sue Stemper. Motion: To appoint Sue Stemper to the Library Board. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Silvis • Vote: Carried 3-0 Chairperson Newton extended thanks to Kay Budnik for her time on the board. 32. Boat Landing Sign Specifications Brown boat landing signs discussed. Town of Winchester 7228 CTH W, Winchester, WI 54557 winchesterwi.com | 715-686-2123 Town of Winchester — Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: August 17, 2026 33. Potential Accommodations Tax Reallocation Chairperson Newton indicated interest in reallocating the accommodations tax after discussion with Presque Isle about accepting the funds. Clerk Huybrecht will reach out to the Presque Isle Chamber to begin the conversation to transition. 34. 2009 Chevy Repairs Discussed a repair list including water pump, radiator, brake sensors, airbag impact sensors, brakes, and rotors. Discussion surrounding upkeep of equipment and a potential change in repair services. Supervisor Dye will reach out to local options and have a deeper conversation with the Crew on Monday. 35. GIVN Representative Appointment The Gogebic, Iron, Vilas Network (GIVN) is a non-profit rural health network focusing on chronic disease management, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, access to primary care, maternity care, dental care, transportation, and veteran services. There is no cost to the towns; the network is solely grant-funded. Motion: To appoint Richard Logan as the Winchester Town representative with the GIVN. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Silvis • Vote: Carried 3-0 Logan confirmed that funding will never come from tax rolls. 36. TextMyGov Communication Service Discussed and tabled for budget meeting. 37. Gravel Purchasing Unable to purchase more gravel this budget season. The Town will continue to scoop gravel as needed from the Little Papoose Lake Road gravel site on a per-pickup basis. 38. Approval of Vouchers Motion: To approve vouchers dated July 15, 2026, check #31978 for $40.48 through checks dated July 31, 2026, for $500.24. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Dye • Vote: Carried 3-0 Adjournment Motion: To adjourn the meeting. Moved: Newton • Seconded: Dye • Vote: Carried 3-0 Meeting adjourned. Luke Huybrecht, Town Clerk Date Submitted: August 18, 2026