Town of Washburn Annual Meeting

April 15, 2025

At 7:00 PM the Annual Town Meeting was called to order by out-going Chair Sandy Raspotnik.  Chair acknowledged and thanked attendees (26).

First order of business was to approve minutes from last year’s meeting.  Kim Bro made a motion to approve minutes and Alex Prediger seconded.  Motion was approved by all ayes.

Second order of business was to introduce the new board.  This was performed by incoming Chair Scottie Sandstrom.

Third order of business was for the Board to give highlights of previous years’ projects and potential future projects.

1. Scottie Sandstrom discussed the successful completion of the Wannebo Rd project. Two miles of road were pulverized and repaved from Ondossagon Rd to Chequamegon Heights.  This was a BIL Grant where the federal government paid 80% and the Town paid 20%.  The project came in on budget.
2. An additional road project from Pajala Rd, west to Forest Road 251, past the entrance to Long Lake where the old pavement was ended. This was repaved and new gravel laid west of the new pavement.  This project was paid 100% by a grant secured by Sandy Raspotnik through the Forest Service.
3. In the fall of 2023, the Town secured a $55,000 grant through the Elred (?) program through the state. This was/is a shared cost with Barksdale Rd.  This pavement project will be on Engoe Rd From Bjork Rd east, for a length of approximately 7/10 of a mile.  The project is currently out for bids.  Submitted bids will be opened at the May 13, 2025 Town Meeting.  Project is expected to be completed by the end of summer, 2025.
4. A large culvert project is planned for north of County Road C on Church Corner Rd, 4 Corner Creek. The Town road crew has reported that this culvert has not been draining properly for awhile now.  The Town received a 50% grant through the county.  Work on this project is expected to begin early summer, 2025.
5. Broadband is now available through Norvado and Bayfield Wireless. Bayfield Wireless has been completed as regards the Town of Washburn. They have indicated that there will be additional infrastructure improvements.  Bayfield Wireless provides complimentary wireless service for the Town Hall and the Town garage.  Norvado continues to build their infrastructure to cover the eastern portion of our township.  This work is slated to occur in the spring of 2025 into the fall of 2025.

Supervisor Jim Park gave an update on the solar plan for the town.  The project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2025.  They will begin to place solar panels in the field next to the town garage with battery storage and an electric vehicle (EV) charging station.  The town will be required to pay a certain percentage up front.  However, the tax credit would then reimburse the town for the cost of the project, resulting in a zero ($0) cost to the town.  This project is being considered a ‘demonstration’ project, and studies will be performed in our community and other communities to determine how it works.  The charging stations will be available for resident use.  Costs associated with any individual charge will be the resident’s responsibility.  The cost and manner of payment will be determined later, but it’s believed that a credit card would be the payment option.

Kim Bro thanked all the volunteers from last year for their input into the town plan.  He posted some sheets on the chalkboard for things that would be helpful to our town.  Some of these items are listed below but are not limited in their scope. He asked anyone that’s interested in volunteering their time sign the corresponding sheet.

1. Brochure for historic sites with maps – Trisha Miller volunteered to take on the creation of the brochure.
2. Make country roads safe and helpful for pedestrians and bicyclists, with improved signage, speed limit controls, signs regarding bike lanes, etc
3. Work to make our town a certified Dark Sky Town. Getting information out to the community about how lights can affect the night sky and what they can do to achieve our goal.
4. Promoting local farms. Get information about local producers out to the community via the website.

Sandy Raspotnik discussed the closed landfill on South Maple Hill.  The town is in the process of ‘capping’ it.  The responsibility for this project is shared with the City, the Town of Bayview.  This is being done with dirt/soil received from the paving of Hwy 13 in Washburn.  The new soil is being placed over the current clay cap which is beginning to sink.  The new soil still needs to be smoothed out.

Chair Scottie Sandstrom discussed the debt appearing under Accounts Payable on the Balance Sheet.  The truck loan and the Maple Hill loan do not show the actual balances currently due.  Maple Hill balance is actually $70,246.64 and will be paid in full this fall.  The Bremer loan for the truck has payments of $30,514.31 and will be paid off by 2028.  The reporting appearance is because of the way it is currently being reported in QuickBooks.  These two items will reviewed and corrected by Clerk Fran Rechcygl by the next meeting.

Steve Bade recommended that the Annual Meeting minutes be issued in “draft” form and posted.  He also stated his concern with the speed of vehicular traffic using the short cut from C (Church Corner) to Ashland.  Vehicles regularly travel at excessive speeds.  There is currently no posted speed signage on Church Corner or Wannebo Rd. Currently, unposted roads are 55mph.  He would like to see the speed limit changed to 45mph on Church Corner Rd, Wannebo Rd, and Ondossagon Rd to the Barksdale line at Engoe.  The county representative said they have a new traffic counter.  It’s use was offered to the town at no cost.  Sandy felt this matter was something that should be discussed by the new board.

Steve Bade made a motion for the safety and liability of the township that speeds are defined as 45mph from Cnty C (Church Corner Rd), Wannebo Rd, and Ondossagon Rd to the Barksdale line (Engoe Rd).  Seconded by Kathleen Russell.  Motion passed with 26 Ayes and 0 Nays.

Chair set next annual meeting on April 21, 2026 at 7:00PM

Mike Harvey made a motion to adjourn.  Kim Bro seconded.

Meeting adjourned at 8:07PM

 

Those Present:

Sandy Raspotnik                 Scottie Sandstrom              Jim Park

Matt Tetzner                        Seth Vasser                          Lynn Adams

Christina Eliason                 Lance Twombly                   Fran Rechcygl

Bob Short                             Terri Short                            Kim Bro

Becky Brown                        Cheryl Sandstrom               Mike Harvey

Steve Bade                           Bob Adams                           Jake Benson

Phil Freeman                        Terri Bade                             Trisha Miller

Nick Hays                              Ron Rechel                           Brenda Rechel

Alex Prediger                       Kathleen Russell                  Wendy Stein

John Eliason