Town Board minutes 1.12.26.DRAFT

DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT Town of Winchester 7228 CTH W Winchester, WI 54557 winchesterwi.com DRAFT Meeting Minutes Regular Town Board Meeting Monday, January 12, 2026 Chairman Discianno called the meeƟng to order at 6:00 pm on Monday January 12, 2026. Chairman Discianno, Supervisor Newton, Supervisor Silvis, Clerk Newton and Treasurer Grimmer aƩended at Town Hall. There were fiŌeen other in-person aƩendees and seven aƩendees on Zoom including a Lakeland Times reporter. The pledge of allegiance was recited. Supervisor Newton made a moƟon to approve the agenda. Supervisor Silvis seconded the moƟon, and the moƟon passed 3-0 in a voice vote. Supervisor Silvis had correcƟons for the 12/8/2025 minutes including the sign indicated as damaged was a speed limit sign, not a road sign and making a note that the waste disposal contract with Republic Services was signed in 2022 as well as formaƫng errors with italics. Chairman Discianno made a moƟon to approve the minutes for the 12/8/2025 regular meeƟng aŌer the changes discussed were made. Supervisor Newton seconded the moƟon and the moƟon passed 3-0 in a voice vote. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Grimmer shared the treasurer’s report and reported the balance in Town checking accounts as $1,068,412. Mr. Grimmer reported that the January property tax seƩlement to county and three school districts for a total of 697,190 was due on January 15th. Mr. Grimmer reported that COH at the end of 2024 was around 40,000 and this year was around 220,000 including grants for ambulance, library, fire department, etc. Chairman Discianno made a moƟon to approve the Treasurer’s report as given. Supervisor Silvis seconded the moƟon and the moƟon passed 3-0 in a voice vote. Clerk’s Report: Clerk Newton reported that she had filed the Statement of Taxes with WI Dept of Revenue and was working on compleƟng the mill rate worksheet for the WI DNR. Chairman and Supervisors’ reports: Chairman Discianno reported that the Town Crew has been out plowing and sanding and noted that they have done a great job of clearing the roads during recent thaw temperatures. Chairman Discianno indicated that the Crew would be working on using the front-end loader to push snow banks back for increased visibility. Chairman Discianno DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT Town of Winchester reported that the new truck box/hoist had be completed and was expected to be delivered/installed later this week. Chairman Discianno said that he has contact informaƟon for Lyle Schwartz with Northern Clearing, the company handling tree clearing along Hwy W, if any property owners have quesƟons for them. Chairman Discianno reported speaking with Dennis Ruess in Boulder JuncƟon about the possibility of sharing the cost of renƟng a wood chipper for storm damage clean up in Spring. Chairman Discianno explained that he contacted the Presque Isle Town Constable but had not heard back. Chairman Discianno said he would like to be replaced as the Town Lakes CommiƩee liaison and Supervisor Silvis stated that he would aƩend the January 28th WTLC meeƟng. Supervisor Newton reported that he aƩended NEMSD meeƟngs. Supervisor Silvis reported that he aƩended the NEMSD meeƟng. Supervisor Silvis explained that WinMan is seeing an increased number of visitors and that they are on track for opening of their new faciliƟes in Spring. Vilas County District Supervisor’s report: District Supervisor Logan reported that Vilas County Zoning is concerned about bills the state assembly and senate to allowing non-dwelling units to be converted to living units which could double housing density on lake frontage properƟes. Correspondence: Treasurer Grimmer reported that he was contacted about the tax bill increase for 2025 and District Supervisor Logan indicated that he was also contacted about the tax bill increase. Chairman Discianno reported receiving calls about plowing concerns and that he explains the order in which plowing is completed. Supervisor Silvis suggested that the leƩer sent with the tax bill next year could include plowing informaƟon/concerns. Public Comment: Carol asked about the legality of parking on Town roads and Chairman Discianno explained that there should not be anyone parking on Town roads due to plowing. Carol reported a locaƟon where a vehicle had been parked on the road and Chairman Discianno asked to be noƟfied if she observes the vehicle parked in the road again. Carol asked if there is a regulaƟon that covers parking on Town roads and suggested that one be developed if none existed. Galen asked about the clean-up of trees that were ‘topped’ during the iniƟal clean-up from the Thanksgiving Storm. Chairman Discianno explained that he was not sure how the future clean-up will be handled but that he is expecƟng to have to wait unƟl significant snow melt to be able to get everything cleaned up. Old Business: 1. Road/lane name changes: Clerk Newton reported that she was contacted by Kyle Larson at Vilas County Mapping aŌer he received a request for a name change of DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT Town of Winchester Agony Point Rd in Winchester and indicated that the Board had received a follow-up email from the person requesƟng the change. There were a few people in aƩendance who wanted to speak about the current name of Agony Point Rd and Chairman Discianno asked Assistant Librarian and local historian Blaze Burton to share his informaƟon first. Mr. Burton explained that maps from the early 1900’s show the peninsula named as Agony Point and the name came from the surveyor working at the Ɵme finding it an agonizing area to survey. Mr. Burton described the road name as unique, recognizable, and long-standing emphasizing the safety of tow trucks and emergency vehicles being familiar with the name Agony Point Rd. Sulo added that every person living on the road must agree with the change and that subsequent re-addressing would be a financial challenge. Another aƩendee with property on Agony Point Rd spoke about unforeseen consequences to property owners having to update their property and contact informaƟon. Bill, a Zoom aƩendee, agreed that the name Agony Point road is historically significant and a change would create a hassle for property owners. Supervisor Newton suggests that a name change for Agony Point road is not considered and the Board move along in the agenda. 2. Winchester ATV/UTV ordinance: Chairman Discianno recalled that the Planning Commission had worked on the ordinance for close to a year and that the issue of creaƟng an ordinance had gone back and forth for years prior. Chairman Discianno reported that the December public hearing on the ordinance was well aƩended. Supervisor Newton spoke about the Ɵme and effort put in by the Planning Commission and described it as a great example of people with different opinions working together. Supervisor Newton made a moƟon to adopt the Winchester ATV/UTV ordinance with an effecƟve date aŌer all Town roads have signage installed. Chairman Discianno seconded the moƟon and the moƟon passed 2-0 in a voice vote with Supervisor Silvis abstaining. 3. Rent increase for Northwoods EMS District: Chairman Discianno explained that he was looking to increase the monthly rent for the NEMSD to cover increased uƟlity bill costs incurred from having the building staffed 24/7. Chairman Discianno reported that he had reviewed the monthly costs and increase over the previous year and recommends an increase of $250 per month. Supervisor Newton and Supervisor Silvis agree that it is a reasonable increase and decide that Chairman Discianno will emailing NEMSD representaƟve Steve Herzberg with his suggesƟon for an increase and have Mr. Herzberg bring it to the NEMSD Board. 4. Turtle Lake Dam inspecƟon report: Chairman Discianno reported that the Town Crew were able to do some of the recommended dam repairs and that Rutsela ConstrucƟon was hired to do internal crack repair and a wing wall rebuild in 2024. Chairman Discianno explained that the WI DNR is requesƟng addiƟonal DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT Town of Winchester improvements including vegetaƟon removal and a hole in the parking area as well as documentaƟon of repairs completed and an emergency acƟon plan. Chairman Discianno asked that this be handled by Supervisors Newton and/or Silvis and Supervisor Newton indicated that he would work on fulfilling the WI DNR requests and Supervisor Silvis indicated that he would help as well. 5. Wisconsin Disaster Fund for storms on November 26-28 th: Chairman Discianno explained that an iniƟal engagement for disaster relief was filed and said the applicaƟon due in January would need to show labor and equipment costs associated with the clean-up. Supervisor Silvis indicated that he would take the lead on compleƟng and submiƫng the applicaƟon for relief. 6. MeeƟng room improvements: Chairman Discianno explained that improvements to the Town Hall meeƟng room were budgeted for and reported that he has two calls in for painƟng esƟmates. Chairman Discianno explained that Country Charm had given him a proposal for carpet replacement last year and indicated that he would try to get an updated proposal. An aƩendee asked about the need for new paint and pointed out that ‘there aren’t holes in the carpet.’ Chairman Discianno explained that the meeƟng room should be kept up and briefly described several areas of damage. Sulo asked about installing carpet Ɵles and Chairman Discianno agreed, noƟng the benefit of being able to replace Ɵles as needed. 7. Update named signers on Town bank accounts to include Deputy Clerk : Supervisor Newton made a moƟon to name the signers on Associated Bank Accounts ending in 4819 and 7267 as Adeline Huybrecht, John Grimmer, Joe Discianno, Erin Newton, and Geri Sell. Supervisor Silvis seconded the moƟon and the moƟon passed 3-0 in a voice vote. Future agenda items: Dam inspecƟon report, meeƟng room improvements were suggested for the next regular meeƟng agenda. Chairman Discianno indicated addiƟonal items for a future agenda could be emailed to him. Approval of Vouchers: Disbursements were reviewed and Chairman Discianno made a moƟon to approve disbursements 12/1/25 EFT120 to Starlink through check 12/31/25 EFT123125mb to Xcel Energy. Supervisor Newton seconded the moƟon and the moƟon passed 3-0 in a voice vote. The meeƟng was adjourned at 7:01 pm on January 12th, 2026. Erin Newton, Town Clerk for Winchester DRAFT minutes submiƩed 2/6/2026