Vilas Traffic Safety Commission hears pitch for River Trail
During its meeting on Thursday, May 30, the Vilas County Board’s Traffic Safety Commission heard a request to lend its blessing — from a safety standpoint — to the proposed River Trail.
St. Germain zoning appointment sparks controversy
The town board of St. Germain voted on Tuesday, May 21 to appoint Kory Droes to the town’s zoning committee, despite the method of his appointment being questioned for its legitimacy.
St. Germain lakes committee considers wake-boat ordinance
During a meeting of the St. Germain lakes committee on Thursday, May 16, committee member Bob Schell presented a draft ordinance to the body for its consideration.
St. Germain board takes public input on proposed logging ordinance
Audience members energized, equally divided
The town board of St. Germain held a public hearing on Tuesday, May 7 to take input on the subject of proposed zoning amendments pertaining to logging within the town.
Outdated ad sparks questions about zoning, dog-ordinance violations in St. Germain
An outdated internet advertisement triggered a discussion in St. Germain last week as to whether or not a family of dog-breeders violated an agreement it reached with the town in January, 2022.
St. Germain to spend remaining ARPA funds on pavilion replacement
Will seek elector approval for project in near future
During its April 8 meeting the St. Germain town board voted 3-1 with one abstention to spend a windfall of leftover funds from the pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on replacement of one of the town’s pavilions.
St. Germain: 74 town roads need total replacement
Board plans to ask electors for levy increase imminently
Over the course of the last few months, the town board of St. Germain has spent hours in public discussions regarding the condition of the town’s roads. Supervisors have come to a consensus the scope of the problems is so significant they must ask permission from the town’s electors to raise the tax levy.
St. Germain seeks public input on logging ordinance
Hearing scheduled for May 7
The St. Germain Town Board has named Tuesday, May 7, as the date for a public hearing and discussion regarding newly drafted amendments to the town’s zoning ordinance, specifically pertaining to logging.
St. Germain to spend remaining ARPA funds on pavilion replacement
Will seek elector approval for project in near future
The St. Germain town board during an April 8 meeting voted three-to-one with one abstention to spend a windfall of leftover funds from the pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on replacement of one of the town’s pavilions.
Vilas Circuit Court enforces St. Germain citation for clear-cutting
Default judgment as Baltus Family is no-show in court
Vilas County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Overbey ruled on Wednesday, March 27 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. The ruling was made by default, as no one appeared in court to speak on behalf of the defendant(s).

Whispers of the Past: A History of the Chippewa Flowage by John Dettloff
A deep-dive into a fast-disappearing history
Northern Wisconsin has its own Atlantis; a place of legendary natural beauty with an astounding wealth of valuable resources. It was an isolated place where only the most intrepid outsiders would come, making their hundreds-mile journeys by boat, then dozens more by foot.
Baltus family to challenge clear-cutting citation from St. Germain
During the March 12 meeting of the St. Germain Town Board, town chairman Tom Christensen announced that a citation the town sent to a local landowner for clear-cutting of trees in violation of its zoning ordinance will be challenged in Vilas County Circuit Court on March 27.

St. Germain to fund statue restoration
Donations welcome
The St. Germain town board voted — though not unanimously — during a meeting on March 12 to fund the restoration of a local landmark, the statue of Chief St. Germain.
St. Germain pulls the plug on proposed lighting ordinance
The St. Germain town board voted unanimously on March 12 to indefinitely table all discussion of a proposed outdoor-lighting ordinance, following an extended period of public input on the subject.
Despite obstacles, River Trail Commission hopes to ‘Get pavement as soon as we can’
Members of the River Trail Commission (RTC) during a Feb. 29 meeting resolved to begin laying pavement for the group’s namesake project as soon as possible, perhaps as early as in 2025.
St. Germain to spend ARPA surplus on building repairs
The St. Germain town board, during a Feb. 22 meeting, voted unanimously to spend the town’s windfall of leftover funds from the pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on repairs to municipal buildings.
Response to potential St. Germain lighting ordinance delays action
Supervisors in St. Germain planned to have board-level discussions and possibly take action on Monday, Feb. 12 regarding a potential outdoor-lighting ordinance for the town, but a greater-than-anticipated amount of public input turned the meeting into a half-hour listening session.
St. Germain opens select ATV trails
In attempt to salvage winter tourism
The St. Germain town board unanimously voted during a meeting on Monday, Feb. 12 to open select ATV/UTV trails in an attempt to mitigate damage done to the northwoods tourism economy by one of the warmest, driest winters in living memory.
St. Germain town board removes Cooper from zoning committee
During a meeting on Jan. 25, the St. Germain town board voted to relieve supervisor Brian Cooper of his duties as a member of the town’s zoning committee.
River Trail project faces new obstacle in Eagle River
Supporters and proponents of the River Trail went into a Jan. 9 meeting of the Eagle River city council with renewed sense of hope for bringing the proposed — and beleaguered — project one step closer to becoming a reality.
St. Germain town board votes to issue citation for clear-cutting of trees
Conversation between supervisors becomes heated
During a meeting of the St. Germain Town Board on Monday, Jan. 8, supervisors voted unanimously — despite a heated exchange of words — to issue a zoning violation citation to Peter Baltus.
St. Germain seeks public input for potential outdoor-lighting ordinance
The St. Germain town board will weigh the pros and cons of potentially adopting an outdoor-lighting ordinance at its first meeting in February, and is actively seeking the input of its citizens during the process.
St. Germain town board quashes septic field rumors
Christensen: Matter ‘is over for the present time’
Rumors of a septic field citizens feared would be established in the town of St. Germain can now be, according to town chairman Tom Christensen and town supervisor Ted Ritter at a Dec. 28 town board meeting, officially dismissed.
St. Germain accepts bid to replace fire department well
During a meeting of the St. Germain town board on Wednesday, Dec. 13, supervisors officially committed to having a new high-capacity well installed at the town’s fire department. That bid acceptance followed a rejection of two bids in October and more than a year of setbacks and delays to the project.
Three Lakes supervisor receives death threat
Stemming from septic-field rumors circulated in St. Germain, online
For the second time in a month, the Town Board of St. Germain spent approximately an hour in open discussion about a rumored septic field.
Cancelled fiber-optic project leaves St. Germain with surplus of ARPA cash
During a town board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 30, St. Germain supervisors learned the town has a surplus of $138,000 to spend as the result of redundant grants proffered by the state and federal governments.
St. Germain electors vote to raise tax levy
On Wednesday, November 15, St. Germain residents voted — by a margin of 61-to-51 — in favor of a significant raise in their tax levy for the second consecutive year.
St. Germain board discusses rumored septic waste field
The Town Board of St. Germain met on Monday, November 13, and the first topic of discussion/action on its agenda was “Discuss rumored septic waste disposal field”.
River Trail project gets new lease on life
Eagle River council members reverse position; issues still to be resolved with Towns of Lincoln, Cloverland
During a meeting of the River Trail Commission on Monday, November 6, members and those in attendance learned there may be renewed hope for the proposed — and beleaguered — trail project after a string of setbacks threatened to radically change it or potentially end it altogether.
St. Germain rejects bids for new fire dept. well
Process goes back to the drawing board
After a spate of setbacks, complications, and delays caused St. Germain to go without its high-capacity well at the town’s fire department for more than a year, the board of supervisors voted unanimously at a meeting on Oct. 24 to reject two bids to replace the well. Two days later, the board voted unanimously to send the project out for re-bids.
St. Germain electors to vote on second consecutive tax levy increase
For the second year in a row, St. Germain electors will decide whether to accept or reject a major tax-levy increase recommended unanimously by the town’s board of supervisors.
St. Germain Fire Dept. well: one step forward, two steps back (again)
Replacing the defunct high-capacity well at St. Germain’s fire department has turned into a year-long bugaboo for the town. The project has been fraught with delays, setbacks, and complications.
St. Germain chairman responds to anonymous letter
Federal government the cause of delays
During a town board meeting on Thursday, September 28, Chairman Tom Christensen replied to several questions which were raised by an anonymous letter-writer regarding St. Germain’s finances and practices.
St. Germain fire department well still inoperative, a year later
Federal government the cause of delays
During a town board meeting on Monday, Sept. 11, officials in St. Germain learned they must once again “hurry up and wait” to replace the long-defunct high-capacity well at the town’s fire department.
St. Germain board discusses financing options for new fire truck
The Town of St. Germain will soon receive a brand-new, custom-built fire truck, and the town board must now finalize plans on how to pay for it. Supervisors spent much of their meeting on Thursday, Aug. 24 discussing financing options.
Northland Pines Elementary School in St. Germain seeks cash for fireworks damage to roof
During a town board meeting on Monday, Aug. 14, supervisors in St. Germain voted unanimously to reject a request from Northland Pines Elementary School - St. Germain for cash compensation. School officials claim the town’s July 4 fireworks display damaged the building’s roof.
St. Germain board likely to ask electors for tax increase
During a town board meeting on July 27, supervisors in St. Germain discussed the agenda for the town’s electors’ meeting this November. In all likelihood, the board will ask resident voters for their permission to raise the property-tax levy once again.
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