Annual Meeting — Minutes

Town of Lincoln Annual Meeting April 21, 2026 Chairman Bill Hassey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance. Present: Hassey, Supervisors Dick Stoegbauer, Ken Fox, Bruce Richter, and Kim Simac, Clerk/Treasurer Shelly Sauvola, and Town Attorney Steve Lucareli. 45 additional interested persons were in attendance (43 Residents and 2 Non- Residents). The Open Meeting Statement and Verification Media Notice given by Chairman Hassey. The Annual Meeting Agenda was approved on a motion by Bill Marshall, seconded by Roger Williams; the motion carried. The 2025 Annual Meeting minutes were approved on a motion by Roger Williams, seconded by Pat Fox; the motion carried. Chairman Hassey reported that the brush site on Elm Drive that is shared with the City of Eagle River has been closed due to abuse by residents and some contractors. Chairman Bill Hassey introduced the new Town of Lincoln Assessor, Beth Polocek. Hassey presented a plaque to Clerk/Treasurer Shelly Sauvola, in appreciation of 20 years of dedicated service to the Town. Laurie Stoegbauer, Member of the Board of Trustees for the library, was present to give a 2025 year-in-review of the Walter E. Olson Memorial Library. Dan Kramer and Pat Weber, Vilas County Board Supervisors, were present and were introduced by Chairman Hassey. Deputy Fire Chief Steve Burr was present on behalf of the Joint Municipal Fire Department to give a report. Rob Hom of the Eagle River Union Airport gave an annual update. Town Supervisor, Ken Fox, gave a brief update on the Landfill Venture Group, and Supervisor Kim Simac gave an update on the Ambulance Commission. Supervisor Fox reported on the roadwork plan for 2026 and announced that the town received another grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The Town Road Improvement Supplemental (TRIS) was awarded for Sundstein Road (part 2 section). The estimated cost of the project is expected to be $700,000, and the town would be eligible for reimbursement on the project for up to 69.72%. Chairman Hassey announced the annual Committee appointments for 2026-2027. MAIN DEPOSITORY, INCREDIBLE BANK, TOWN ATTORNEY, STEVE LUCARELI, AIRPORT COMMISSION, GARY MUELLER & ROGER SHADICK, LIBRARY BOARD, LAURIE STOEGBAUER & BARB LEVEILLE LANDFILL VENTURE GROUP, KEN FOX- TOWN BOARD FIRE COMMISSION, BRUCE RICHTER - TOWN BOARD, AMBULANCE COMMISSION, KIM SIMAC - TOWN BOARD, RECYCLING AGENT, KEN FOX- TOWN BOARD, PLANNING COMMISSION, KEN FOX, CHAIRMAN- TOWN BOARD (3 YEAR TERM), STEVE BURR (1 YEAR TERM), NAN ANDREWS (2 YEAR TERM), DAN KRAMER (3 YEAR TERM), JOHN MORS (2 YEAR TERM), KURT HARTWIG (3 YEAR TERM) AND CHARITY BOLDEBUCK (1 YEAR TERM), SHERRY SCHMIDT, (SECRETARY) EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT LIASON, KIM SIMAC - TOWN BOARD, ROOM TAX COMMISSION, RONALD VAN DUSEN, PARKS & RECREATION, BRUCE RICHTER-TOWNBOARD, AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES, BILL LOCHTE, COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN, JIM RANDALL, FIRE CHIEF. Hassey reported that the town board would formally approve Plan Commission Members at a Special Meeting on Monday, April 27th The 2025 year-end budget report was presented, and the Annual Financial Report from KerberRose for 2025 was available. A question-and-answer session was held. The town board answered various questions. Nan Andrews asked if there was anything residents could do to help with the problem that levy limits on municipalities pose, and the costs of everything going up considerably. Chairman Hassey suggested that everyone contact their legislators and ask them to support the approval of municipalities exceeding levy limits for mandated services (i.e., Fire Protection, Ambulance, Library). Chairman Hassey thanked Ludwig's Seasonal Service for the great job they did with town road maintenance over the winter, as it was a very challenging year for the weather. Chairman Hassey called for any Public Comments. Town resident Joe Schwartz raised his hand and introduced himself. Schwartz stated he was in favor of a bike trail and had listened to many different proposals/discussions on the Great River Trail for years. Schwartz felt that the town board had encouraged the creation of the bike trail between St. Germain and Eagle River and had always been very clear and consistent regarding their concerns/conditions. A motion was made by Schwartz — I move that all further discussion of the River Trail be postponed until its proponents have demonstrated that the necessary pre-conditions (i.e., route, DOT approval, safety, easement procurement, all aspects of funding, management, liability protection, and the absence of any financial obligation to the Town of Lincoln) have been addressed to the satisfaction of the Town of Lincoln Board. The motion was seconded by Dan Kramer. Discussion followed. Attorney Lucareli suggested that Schwartz make an addition to his motion. Schwartz amended his motion to - I move that all further discussion of the River Trail at any Town of Lincoln meeting be postponed until its proponents have demonstrated that the necessary pre-conditions (i.e., route, DOT approval, safety, easement procurement, all aspects of funding, management, liability protection, and the absence of any financial obligation to the Town of Lincoln) have been addressed to the satisfaction of the Town of Lincoln Board. The amendment to Schwartz's motion was seconded by Dan Kramer. The motion was called for a vote. Chairman Hassey reminded everyone that only Town of Lincoln residents were allowed to vote. A hand count vote was conducted by row; the vote count was totaled (board members included), 30 residents were in favor of the motion, and 9 were opposed to the motion; 4 abstained, and the motion passed. Town resident Dottie Reeder spoke about the detrimental effects of Data Center Development in Wisconsin. Reeder informed everybody present on the action needed at the local community level and beyond. Reeder agreed to reach out to the town board with more information on the matter. The meeting was adjourned at 7:29 p.m. on a motion by Kevin Ludwig, seconded by Dave Warfel; the motion carried. Shelly D. auvola, Clerk/ Treasurer