Town of Bayview

January 13, 2026

Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Don Jenicek.

Roll Call:  Chair Don Jenicek, present; Supervisor Mike Garnich; present, Clerk Kim Suske, present; Treasurer Kelly Warren, present; Supervisor Bill Bodin, absent and unable to call in.

Others in attendance:  Butch Warren, Kathleen Russell, Mike Bunch, John Carlson.

Approval of Town Board Meeting Minutes from December 2, 2025:  Motion made by Don Jenicek to approve as presented; seconded by Mike Garnich.  Motion carried.

Approval of December 2, 2025, Meeting Minutes for—Public Budget Hearing, Special Town Meeting of the Electors, and Town of Bayview Special Meeting to Adopt the 2026 Budget:  Motion made by Don Jenicek to approve as presented; seconded by Mike Garnich.  Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report by Kelly Warren:  Checking $127,448.67; Equipment $8792.16; Room Tax $12,832.65; Contingency Fund $ 34,638.30; and Tax Levy Savings $334,265.39.

Citizen’s Concerns and Comments:  Kathleen Russell from the Bayfield Area Trails Group gave a short presentation on potential trial concepts being considered in the Town of Bayview and surrounding areas including a trail from the City of Washburn to Gary Road.  Also she talked about a trial from Gary Road to Houghton Falls Nature Preserve but this is not consistent with the current preservation plan of only one access point into the park.  There is also work to establish a bike route on unpaved roads and trails to connect the City of Washburn with Bayfield, at least to Mt. Ashwabay (the “Inland Connector”). + provided maps and there will be public open houses in late February.

Mike Bunch is the Town’s representative with the Bayfield Area Trails Group and he brought up that there is a really good trail that runs parallel to Smith’s Fire Lane that is underutilized but since that is on County land it was suggested he talk to Sara Hudson at the County.

Town Hall paint/siding and repairs and water—Discussion and possible action:  Discussion was held regarding the problems with the hall’s water.  Commercial Water Analysis Results indicate high manganese and hardness (calcium carbonate) and very high total dissolved solids. This explains the corrosion on pipes and fixtures.  Current boiler is 25-26 years old and still working but the pipes to the boiler are in bad shape and the hot water heater has not been working for some time now.  We would either need water filtering/softening systems for both buildings or a new pipe running between buildings connecting the water supply so that one system would suffice.  If there is no way to adequately filter/soften the water, then a new well would need to be drilled.  Cady Plumbing is helping with this.

Also discussed potentially putting out for bids for new siding for the building.

Overall, the building is expensive to heat (approximately 1500 gallons of propane per year) and is bigger than what we need.  The kitchen is not really usable.  The work that was done to keep moisture out of the basement has helped although we still need drywall and painting work done down there.  Someday when the boiler is replaced we should incorporate an on-demand hot water heater.

Houghton Falls Nature Preserve (HFNP) updates:

The final decision from the appeals court was shared and discussion was held as to what this means for the Town.  The Town cannot place fencing within the boundaries of the easements.  The Town can place signs within the easement as long as they do not obstruct the use of the easement.  The decision in its entirety will be posted on the Town website.

Roads Report:  Crew has been scraping and sanding.  We’re getting down on sand and can’t find salt to purchase, but probably have enough to get us through the winter.

Board Comments:  Discussion was held as to whose turn it is to sign up for Board of Review training.

Clerk was asked why she didn’t pay the Fire/EMS bill; Clerk responded that the bill is not due until March of 2026 and should not have been paid in 2025 as 2025 was what was paid in 2025.  Clerk was next asked why she never sent contract back to City of Washburn extending our Fire/EMS contract for one more year.  Clerk responded that she never got a contract to sign.  Clerk produced a copy of the March 2026 Fire/EMS bill and Don Jenicek signed this bill and Clerk will deliver to Tammy at City of Washburn along with a copy of the meeting minutes from 10/14/2025 indicating that the Town intends to extend our Fire/EMS contract with the City of Washburn for one more year at current rate.

Correspondence:  

Letter received from Tommy Adams, Stewardship Specialist with Landmark Conservancy letting us know that no changes were noted at HFNP during the annual monitoring visit which took place in September.  He also mentions that he is aware of our plan to install an internet line and security cameras and that if they will be located outside of the parking lot that we should let him know.

Clerk shared correspondence from Bayfield County Planning and Zoning Department:  Ross Lightner was granted a Special Use B permit to construct and operate a second mini-storage building in A-1, Tax ID 37489; Douglas Berg was issued a Land Use permit for shoreland grading, Tax ID 6735; Michael and Lorraine Garnich were issued a Land Use permit for construction of a shed, Tax ID 6578.

Payment of Bills:  Motion made by Mike Garnich to approve payment of Town bills from December 3, 2025 to January 13, 2026 in the amount of $344,702.92; seconded by Don Jenicek.  Motion carried.   This amount includes levy payments to the Washburn School District, Bayfield County, and Northwood Technical College.

Next Town of Bayview Regular Board meeting is set for February 10, 2026, at 6 p.m.

Moton to adjourn was made by Mike Garnich and seconded by Don Jenicek.  Meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m.

 

 

 

Submitted by                                                                                                     Approved  02-10-2026

Kim Suske, Clerk

Vol. 17 page 19