Town of Bayview

May 13, 2025

Meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. by Supervisor Bill Bodin.

Roll Call:  Chair Don Jenicek, present via phone; Supervisor Bill Bodin, present; Supervisor Mike Garnich, present; Clerk Kim Suske, present; Treasurer Kelly Warren, present.

Others in attendance:  Terry Peterson, Susan Peterson, Guy Folsom , Stephanie Klenk, Paul Johnson, and Mike Yonan.

Approval of Town Board Meeting Minutes from 04/15/2025:  Motion made by Mike Garnich to approve with minor wording correction; seconded by Bill Bodin.  Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report by Kelly Warren:  Checking $119,300.28; Equipment $6402.12; Room Tax $9542.48; Contingency Fund $ 24,537.98; and Tax Levy Savings $94,819.25.

Citizen’s Concerns and Comments: 

The Bayview History Committee, represented today by Paul Johnson, would like to install a railroad switch and a boardwalk just south of the depot.  They can write a grant for money to do this.  This will go on next month’s agenda as an action item.

Terry Peterson brought up the issue of the fence line on the family’s property.  He said that as long as the Town asks permission to come onto the family’s property, the family will not put up a fence.  He is asking for open communication with the Town and prior notice if some work needs to be done, such as work to control erosion, etc.  He stated that he would appreciate it if, when the Town tries to contact them, they make several attempts to verbally connect if necessary as Terry travels quite a bit.

Short-term rental/room tax discussion regarding taxing bed and breakfast establishments and approval process for permits:  Clerk Kim Suske informed the Board that she and Treasurer Kelly Warren met with Desi Niewinski from Bayfield County and we now have a complete listing of short-term rental units in our Town.  Bed and Breakfast establishments are not considered short-term rental units but fall under other regulations at the state and county level and it was asked if owners of bed and breakfasts will need to follow the Town’s ordinance for short-term rentals and it was agreed that they would need to do the same application, pay the same fees, pay the same room tax, and submit quarterly tax reports to the Town.  It was also asked if applicants need to come before the Board for approval and, given that we cannot say no if the County has approved them, it was decided that they no longer need to come before the Board for final approval.  Kelly had a phone call from a new rental owner, with the owner saying he refused to file quarterly room tax reports with the Town; Bill Bodin will follow up with that owner.

Proposal to redesignate Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as Apostle Islands National Park—Discussion and possible action:  The overwhelming majority (12 out of 13) people at the annual meeting last month expressed their opposition to the redesignation.  Mary Doughtery, Bayfield County Board Supervisor, would like the Town of Bayview to oppose the redesignation.  Supervisor Mike Garnich expressed his concern about the Town park and Town roads being negatively impacted but that we would not receive any revenue from the park.  He would like there to be a guarantee of revenue sharing with any impacted Towns if the lakeshore is redesignated as a park and he cannot support it if that is not part of the plan.

Norvado Fiber Optic Update on implementation of services in summer 2025:  Guy Folsom was here on behalf of Norvado, which is a subsidiary of Chequamegon Communications and has served the area since 1960.  WI has been offering broadband grants for high-speed internet for underserved areas and Norvado has grant money that can be used to extend high-speed internet to a lot of the Town.  They want to put a hub on Town property near Bayview Park Road.  It will not be powered so there will be no electricity.  It will just be a splitter cabinet—the fiber comes in and interconnects at the cabinet and then goes out to approximately 80 homes.  There will be a June 2 preconstruction meeting at The Club in Washburn; work will be completed by Deer Season.  Homes along the routes could expect internet service by mid-December if they sign on.  Norvado can do the work under an existing utility permit to put cables in the Town right of way; they do not need an easement. With the work being done without an easement, the Town could ask for the cables to be removed at any time in the future.

Houghton Falls Nature Preserve:  No updates from the courts.

Roads Report:  Calcium chloride will be delivered on Thursday.  Peacy E and W, Komborski S, Washington, and Burlager have been reclaimed.  Put gravel on Johnson-Leino.  Butch has been grading for logging trucks.  Need to grade Smiths Fire Lane, Friendly Valley, Forest Roads 256 and 103, and Lost Lake.  We inherited City of Washburn’s old dump truck—no title or insurance yet.  This will be used to spread water.  Phone company will be taking poles down on Bodin Road so Dan Maki can start work there.

Board Comments:  Mike Garnich wants the water at the Town hall evaluated to see if it can be treated or if we need a new well.  Mike Yonan and Don Jenicek will start work on this.  Bill Bodin commented that it is nice to see people cleaning up and working on houses in the Town and mentioned the one at the corner of STH 13 and Maki Road and what a good job they are doing.

Correspondence:  None.

Payment of Bills:  Motion made by Bill Bodin to approve payment of Town bills from April 16, 2025 to May 13, 2025 in the amount of $115,464.53 which included our first of twenty annual payments to the City of Washburn for the new fire truck; seconded by Mike Garnich.  Motion carried.

Next Town of Bayview Regular Board meeting is set for June 10, 2025, at 6 p.m.  A reminder that Dumpster Day is May 17 from 8–4 and Board of Review is set for June 5, 6–8 p.m. 

Moton to adjourn was made by Bill Bodin; seconded by Mike Garnich.  Meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

 

Submitted by                                                                                                     Approved 06/10/2025

Kim Suske, Clerk

Vol. 17 page 7