Eagle River city council bids farewell to mayor Jeffery Hyslop
The city of Eagle River’s common council bid farewell to Jeffrey Hyslop during its organizational meeting on Tuesday, April 15. The emotional sendoff was highlighted with the presentation of a plaque and an official resolution.
St. Germain receives long-awaited federal funds
St. Germain town officials and residents of received good news during a town board meeting on Monday, April 14, pertaining to long-awaited grant money from the federal government. The town’s high-capacity fire department well failed and was deactivated in the summer of 2022.
Enhanced wake ordinance fails in St. Germain
Mortag: ‘We haven’t thought of everything’
With several area towns either adopting or in the process of consideration of some type of enhanced wake ordinance in recent years, the St. Germain town board last week voted during its April 14 meeting by a narrow margin to reject an ordinance which would regulate the use of enhanced-wake boats on lakes within the municipality.
St. Germain enhanced wake ordinance adrift
Kuschel: ‘That is very disheartening’
The future of an enhanced wake ordinance for the town of St. Germain remains uncertain. For the last several months, the St. Germain lakes committee and its ad-hoc subcommittee worked to prepare a draft ordinance to regulate the use of boats which create enhanced wakes on waterways within the town.
St. Germain town board laments federal grant process
Officials in St. Germain discussed — and bemoaned — the municipality’s involvement with a federal grant program during a March 27 meeting of the town board. The town’s high-capacity fire department well failed and was deactivated in the summer of 2022.
Eagle River city council OKs $160,000 for police department
The Eagle River common council voted unanimously last week to approve $160,000 in spending on equipment for the city’s police department. Police chief Christine Dobbs made the request to the council for authorization to purchase body-camera systems and vehicles.
Enhanced wake ordinance vote delayed in St. Germain
A vote by the St. Germain town board on an ordinance to regulate the use of wake boats on town lakes has been put on hold. The town board tabled a vote on the proposed ordinance at the end of a lengthy discussion during its March 10 meeting.
Three people file as write-in candidates in St. Germain
Prior to last week, one town board seat was set to be vacant after the April 1 election
Voters in the town of St. Germain will now have three candidates to choose from for one of two town supervisor seats up for election on April 1. Until very recently, St. Germain was facing a potentially problematic shortage of office-seekers; the town board will undergo a major turnover on April 1 as town chairman Tom Christensen, town supervisors Jim Swenson and Kalisa Mortag, town clerk June Vogel and town treasurer Jeanna Vogel have all decided not to seek re-election.
Eagle River city council OKs trail improvements
Upgrades for downtown bike trail, pedestrian and snowmobile crossings
The Eagle River common council approved during its meeting last week support for a plan to upgrade a downtown highway crossing for pedestrians, bicyclists, and snowmobilers. The crossing spans U.S. Highway 45 near the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce at Bridge Street and leads into Riverview Park.
Eagle River to implement traffic class
Completion of the course would, in some cases, take care of a ticket
The Eagle River police department will send people who violate traffic laws to class instead of issue tickets. The city’s common council last week approved implementation of a new program which, in certain circumstances, will allow traffic-law violators an alternative to being ticketed and fined through the court system.
St. Germain roads go out for bids
The St. Germain town board last week sent out for bid work to repair or replace five problematic roads in the town. The discussions were the latest step in a years-long debate about how to prioritize the glut of failing infrastructure in St. Germain.
St. Germain fills deputy clerk vacancy amid candidate shortage
The town of St. Germain is still facing a shortage of candidates for local offices heading into the upcoming April 1 election. However, one critical vacancy has been filled, according to town clerk June Vogel, who announced the hiring of a new recruit during a town board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Speed studies stir debate in St. Germain
The St. Germain town board debated the merits of speed-studies for town roads during its Feb. 26 meeting in an attempt to increase traffic enforcement, which many residents feel is lackluster.
St. Germain enhanced wake committee forwards draft ordinance to lakes committee
St. Germain’s enhanced-wake committee last week approved proposed changes to the town’s boating ordinance and forwarded the draft to the town’s lakes committee for its consideration.
Eagle River city council OKs apartment complex CUP application
Council also approves land sale
The Eagle River city council last week followed the recommendation of its planning commission and approved the issuance of a conditional use permit (CUP) allowing for the expansion of an apartment complex already under construction.
Eagle River city council denies request for new ATV route
Proposed route would be tied in to State Highway 70
The Eagle River city council last week denied a request from the Landover ATV/UTV Club for an ordinance change that would have allowed establishment of a new ATV (all terrain vehicle) and UTV (utility task vehicle) route from Forest Street to the west city limits on Wisconsin State Highway 70.
Fath, Garbowicz answer enhanced wake ordinance questions
Enforcement a concern for St. Germain enhanced wake ordinance committee
St. Germain’s enhanced-wake committee conducted a question-and-answer session with Vilas County Sheriff Joe Fath during its Feb. 5 meeting. The group also discussed legal advice from town attorney Steve Garbowicz on the matter of regulating the use of enhanced-wake boats on town lakes.
St. Germain has shortage of town supervisor, clerk and treasurer candidates
Deadline for filing as a write-in is March 28
There’s a shortage of candidates for the St. Germain town board in this April’s election, and it was a topic of discussion at a meeting of the town board on Jan. 23. The town is facing a major turnover in leadership this spring as town chairman Tom Christensen, supervisors Jim Swenson and Kalisa Mortag, town clerk June Vogel and treasurer Jeanna Vogel have all decided not to seek re-election.
Eagle River common council pushes for public land sale
Burkett: ‘Absolutely zero conflict here’
The Eagle River common council voted last week to support the sale of Vilas County-owned Riverside Park for residential development and also discussed the potential sale of a city-owned parcel of land for the same purpose.
Eagle River planning commission backs sale of Riverside Park
The Eagle River planning commission voted last week to endorse the sale of Riverside Park by Vilas County for residential development. The 4-1 vote followed a hearing at the Jan. 9 meeting during which no input was offered from the general public.
St. Germain enhanced-wake committee has its initial meeting
Niggemeier: ‘Compromises are going to be made on both sides’
St. Germain’s enhanced-wake committee met for the first time last week. The ad-hoc body is tasked by the town board with the single goal of preparing and presenting a draft ordinance for the town board’s consideration regarding the regulation of enhanced-wake boats on town lakes.
Eagle River city council puts city attorney in the middle of golf course dispute
McPartlin: ‘I’m not getting anywhere with this’
The Eagle River Common Council has taken action to refer calls and/or correspondence from residents on Aquila Court regarding their concerns about maintenance of the city’s golf course to city attorney Steve Garbowicz.
Eagle River approves budget for 2025
The City of Eagle River common council during a meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10, approved its budget for fiscal year 2025. “So just in a nutshell, our full budget is 2.98-ish million dollars,” city administrator Robin Ginner said to the council.
Five St. Germain officeholders opt out of reelection bids
The town of St. Germain will undergo a significant turnover in leadership following the April elections of 2025, as a majority (five of seven) of the town’s elected officeholders will not be running for additional terms.
St. Germain re-routes downtown snowmobile trail spur
During a meeting of the St. Germain town board on Thursday, Nov. 22, supervisors voted unanimously to re-route a spur of the Bo-Boen Snowmobile Club’s trail in the downtown area.
St. Germain schedules public hearing for chapter one zoning amendments
The town board of St. Germain has set a time and date for a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to the town’s chapter one zoning ordinance. The hearing will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17 in room four of the St. Germain Community Center, which is to be followed by a regularly-scheduled town board meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Eagle River mulls changes to room-tax intake
The Eagle River Common Council reached a consensus during its Nov. 12 meeting to initiate conversations with the neighboring towns of Lincoln and Washington regarding raising the room-tax rate.
St. Germain town board votes to raise room tax
The town of St. Germain will see an increase in its room tax as of Jan. 1, 2026. Following months of public discussion and a public hearing, the town board voted during a Nov. 11 meeting to nearly double the town’s room-tax rate from 4.5 percent to 8 percent.
St. Germain votes narrowly to break ground on disc-golf course
During a meeting of the St. Germain town board on Thursday, Oct. 24, supervisors voted — by a margin of three-to-two — for work to proceed in turning a town-owned parcel of land into a public disc-golf course.
City of Eagle River room tax share causes controversy
Burkett: ‘There’s going to be a war’
During the Oct. 28 meeting of the Eagle River common council, the group spent hours tweaking the city’s budget. When the allocation of room-tax revenues was discussed, council member Jerry Burkett expressed his extreme dissatisfaction with the situation and went so far as to declare a state of “war” between the city and the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce.
St. Germain hears public input on proposed room-tax increase
The St. Germain town board held a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 28, to take feedback regarding a proposed increase in the town’s room-tax rate.
St. Germain town board to receive, review draft wakeboat ordinance
During a meeting of the St. Germain town board on Thursday, Oct. 24, those in attendance received an update on the status of a proposed ordinance to control enhanced boat-wakes on town lakes.
Eagle River city council holds heated discussion over future of vacant downtown land
Burkett: ‘Take care of the fairgrounds, or we’ll find somebody else who will’
The city of Eagle River Common Council, during a meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 16, discussed the potential sale of a piece of land within the city limits which is owned by Vilas County. At times, the conversation became heated.
St. Germain plans for return, celebration of Chief statue in spring
During a St. Germain town board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 26, town board chairman Tom Christensen announced the restoration of a local landmark has been completed and he discussed the return of the monument with his fellow supervisors.
St. Germain proposes room tax increase
Public input sought at hearing
The town board of St. Germain voted unanimously during its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 26 to advance a proposed plan to raise its room tax. To that end, the board will host a public hearing later this month.
St. Germain covers all bases for upcoming electors meeting
The town board of St. Germain spent several hours during its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 19 setting the stage for an electors’ vote next month which will determine the amount and structure of the town’s property-tax levy for 2025.
St. Germain’s logging ordinance: two steps forward, one back
The town board of St. Germain voted during a meeting on Monday, Sept. 9 to reject proposed changes to the town’s logging ordinance and send the document back to the zoning committee for further review.
St. Germain enters contract with Oneida Ambulance
The town board of St. Germain voted unanimously during its meeting on Monday, Sept. 9 to enter into a contract with the Oneida County Ambulance Service for additional emergency medical coverage for the town.
St. Germain reschedules, combines two electors meetings
Now set for October; tax levy, debt service at issue
The St. Germain town board voted during its meeting on Monday, Sept. 9 to cancel two upcoming electors meetings and combine them into one. The new meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. in the St. Germain Community Center.
St. Germain to hold two electors meetings in September
At issue: new structure for Fern Ridge Recreation Area, town’s debt-service levy
The town board of St. Germain decided during its meeting on Monday, Aug. 12, to hold two electors meetings in the month of September. Per state statute, the gatherings will be called “special town meetings”, but each one will put forth a vote on matters which can only be decided by consent or denial from the town’s resident taxpayers.
St. Germain fire department well not yet up-to-speed: more time and money required
The town board of St. Germain learned during a meeting on Thursday, Aug. 1 its long-beleaguered project of replacing the town’s high-capacity fire department well has hit another snag.
Return, unveiling of Chief St. Germain statue delayed
Christensen: ‘Still kind of an open-ended thing’
The statue of Chief St. Germain, a decades-old landmark on a corner of State Highways 70 and 155 in St. Germain — will take longer and be more expensive than originally thought.
Vilas Circuit Court upholds Baltus clear-cutting citation issued by St. Germain
Vilas County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Overbey ruled on Thursday, July 11 a citation for clear-cutting of trees issued by the town of St. Germain shall be enforced and its forfeiture paid by the Baltus Family Trust within 30 days.
St. Germain to spend ARPA money on overlooked small projects
The St. Germain town board voted during a meeting on Monday, July 8 to divert from its original plan to demolish and rebuild one of the two pavilions in the town’s community park area. Instead of investing in new infrastructure, supervisors decided to catch up on numerous smaller projects, one of which the fire chief described as “Long overdue.”
St. Germain changes date for public hearing
Multiple zoning topics at issue
The St. Germain town board during its regular meeting on Monday, July 8, rescheduled a public hearing which was originally slated for Aug. 12. The hearing will instead take place on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. in the town’s community center.
St. Germain board approves disc golf course — with conditions
After mulling the idea for several weeks, the St. Germain town board voted during its meeting on Thursday, June 27 to allow the use of a parcel of town-owned property for the development of a disc golf course — as long as certain conditions are met.
St. Germain to hold public hearing in August
Regarding multiple zoning topics
St. Germain town supervisor (and town zoning committee chairman) Brian Cooper spoke with The Lakeland Times on Sunday, June 30, to discuss several topics which will be the subjects of a public hearing next month.
Christensen offers partial solution to St. Germain road-funding dilemma
Over the course of the last few months, the St. Germain town board has spent hours in public discussions regarding the condition of the town’s roads.
St. Germain town board hears pitch for disc golf course
Debates whether to sell property in question
The St. Germain town board heard a request during its regular meeting on June 10 to lend a portion of town-owned land for use as a public disc-golf course. During the discussion, town chairman Tom Christensen said the land in question may possibly be put up for sale, so the board held a special meeting on Monday, June 17 to clarify the issue.
St. Germain seeks elector approval to demolish downtown pavilion
Vote to be cast on Tuesday, July 9
The town board of St. Germain voted during its meeting on Monday, June 10 to ask permission from electors to demolish the downtown pavilion. That electors meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. in the St. Germain Community Center. Beyond demolition, plans for the space the pavilion now occupies are largely to be determined.
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