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Minocqua Town Board Hears Water Concerns

Wikimedia Commons Royalbroil

Minocqua will spend upwards of $13,000 on professional services to find a solution to high water flooding a neighborhood on Minocqua’s west side. It was one of two water-related issues confronting the board Tuesday, June 19th. The other was a request by a couple on Lake Tomahawk to put slow, no wake buoys in front of their dock.

The more pressing issue was the retention pond overflow from Morgan Oaks Apartments and Morgan Oaks Condominiums flooding Morgan Oaks Drive. Persistent rains in recent weeks coupled with a high water table have resulted in ongoing street flooding. “Even old timers say they never seen as high water tables,” said Director of Public Works Mark Pertile. The board approved Pertile’s request to hire MSA Professional Services to do a storm water study of sewers in that vicinity, including drainage patterns. Pertile estimates the engineering firm’s fees will range from $8,500 to $13,000. The public works director is hoping that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will allow the town to connect its storm water sewer system into the state’s sewers under Highway 70 West.

The cost of extending a town storm water line 200 to 300 feet is expected to be several thousand dollars. “There is no guarantee of (DOT) approval,” Pertile cautioned about the proposed connection. Supervisor Billy Fried, while approving the town picking up the tab for the study, nonetheless signaled that the Morgan Oaks owners would be expected to share the cost of any sewer line installation, as it benefits their retention pond. Pertile also said his budget is getting tight with an expected $60,000 (some of it may be reimbursable from the county) for the spring storm cleanup. Also, there is about $15,000 in work looming for water-caused issues on Curtis Lake Drive, he added.

In the second issue, the board approved a request from J.D. and Ann Dell to place two waterway markers 100 feet from their docks on Lake Tomahawk, where it necks down to the thoroughfare leading to Minocqua Lake. The couple told the board that there is a safety issue with numerous boats, including personal watercraft, coming at high speed through the channel and some closer than state law allows. Waves caused by the larger boats are also washing over their shoreline’s riprap. State law requires boaters to be 100 feet from shorelines and docks, unless they are traveling what’s called slow, no wake. Personal watercraft operators have to be 200 feet from shore, or 100 feet from docks and rafts, unless traveling slow, no wake. The markers had been approved some years ago by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), but have not been in place for the past few years. Similar markers had been placed in the past off Lakeside Landing on the opposite shore.

The new owner was at the meeting, and expressed interest in having them placed off his restaurant also. Town Chairman Mark Hartzheim noted sufficient distance would still exist between the two sets of markers for boats to revel on plane through the area. Supervisor John Thompson cast the only “no” vote, voicing concerns that the approval would open the doors to other applicants. But Hartzheim said the Lake Tomahawk situation is unique on the chain because of the high boat traffic and limited visibility of boaters going north past the Dells’ property, and that the board would unlikely approve similar requests. Supervisor Bill Stengl had opposed the request initially, but changed his mind after hearing the arguments for it. Police Chief Dave Jaeger said his boat patrol officer isn’t recommending the markers be placed, as they are unneeded. The application now goes to the DNR, which has informally told the Dells that it would likely be approved there.

The board also approved municipal rules regulating a managed deer hunt (archery and for antlerless deer only) on the Island during the state’s upcoming archery season. The managed hunt area encompasses the east side of the Island, from Rueben Town to Huber Lane. Homeowners successfully lobbied the board to petition the DNR to allow the hunt because numerous deer have been devastating trees and plants. Those interested in participating will have to contact the town clerk’s office for an application and a municipal deer hunt tag. No hunting will be allowed on Oct. 31, due to trick or treating. Hunting on private land (other than applicant’s) and municipal property requires prior approval. Applicants will have to follow all state hunting regulations. The board approved Tom Church as the replacement for Supervisor Sue Heil, who is stepping down from the town’s planning commission. Brian Fricke was the only other applicant for the position. Board members said both were equally qualified and would do a good job, and decided to make the choice by drawing a name from a hat.

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