October 2025 Minutes
Town of Bayview
October 14, 2025
Meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. by Chair Don Jenicek.
Roll Call: Chair Don Jenicek, present; Supervisor Mike Garnich, present; Supervisor Bill Bodin, present; Clerk Kim Suske, present; Treasurer Kelly Warren, present.
Others in attendance: Mike Yonan, Bob Cuty, Nicole Cuty, Kurt Dicke, Chris Pilot.
Approval of Town Board Meeting Minutes from 09/09/2025: Motion made by Bill Bodin to approve as written; seconded by Mike Garnich. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report by Kelly Warren: Checking $70,581.44; Equipment $5791.43; Room Tax $12,183.29; Contingency Fund $ 24,607.70; and Tax Levy Savings $45,008.29.
Citizen’s Concerns and Comments:
Kurt Dicke spoke on behalf of the Freedom Valley Road Association. They would like to get a private road—Sweet Fern Lane (formerly Maddie Lane)—out of their control and into the Town’s control. The road was put in by the developer and all the neighbors pitch in for snow removal and maintenance. Lengthy discussion was held—the road is not up to specifications for a Town road and it would be difficult for the Town to care for unless we build it up to Town specs which would be very cost prohibitive—widening and ditching. The Town does not currently receive any state highway aids for the road. If the landowners would like to pitch in and go through the process of building the road up to Town specs we could adopt it as a Town road and maintain it. They would need to be aware of setbacks for any existing buildings if they go this route.
Adopt-a-Road signage for Houghton Falls Road for litter clean up by Bouchard family—Discussion and possible action: Discussion was held. Motion made by Mike Garnich that we approve the Bouchard family to clean up Houghton Falls Road (HFR) and adopt the sign format that’s already in use on Big Rock Road and place a sign at the east end of HFR on the left side of the road on the back of an existing sign; seconded by Bill Bodin. Motion carried. Mike Yonan will make the sign.
Bench at Houghton Falls Nature Preserve—Discussion and possible action: Discussion was held regarding placement of the bench towards the railroad grade by the bridge, NOT on the Cuty property, and if there is another request to place a bench it would be placed at the entrance. Motion made by Don Jenicek to allow the bench to be placed on the edge of the railroad grade next to the bridge; seconded by Mike Garnich. Motion carried. The Town road crew will set the bench in place after the family delivers the bench to them. Clerk to notify Nina. Bench will be placed this fall or in the spring.
Town Hall paint and repairs—Discussion and possible action: Comment was made that Culligan was contacted in the past regarding the water at the Town Hall but they never got back to us. Tabled until next month.
Room Tax Ordinance update—Discussion and possible action: Motion made by Don Jenicek to adopt Town of Bayview Ordinance 01-01 Accommodations Tax Revised 10/14/2025; seconded by Mike Garnich. Motion carried. Clerk will post and publish.
Houghton Falls Nature Preserve (HFNP) updates: No updates from the courts. Two days of work were done by the Bayfield Area Trails Group moving the trail away from the ravine edge by about 20 feet, moved boardwalks, added railings, put brush over old trial to keep people off. We have leftover gravel for HFNP next year.
Internet and cameras at HFNP parking lot—Discussion and possible action: We’ll need 150 feet of wire (Cadotte), conduit, and pipes or poles to put cameras on. Motion made by Bill Bodin to approve the camera system for HFNP; seconded by Mike Garnich. Motion carried.
Business of the Quarter—Discussion and possible action: Tabled until January.
Extend the current City of Washburn Fire/EMS contract for one year—Discussion and possible action: Motion made by Mike Garnich to extend the Fire/EMS contract at current rates less the approximately $10,000 for capital equipment (which is all paid); seconded by Bill Bodin. Motion carried.
Roads Report: We’re almost ready for winter. The International is all put back together. Both plows are ready. Been grading. Got salt sand. Need 5 yards of cold patch to fill pot holes.
Begin discussions regarding 2026 budget: Discussed levy and worked on budget. Discussed whether we should take out a loan to put new siding on the Town Hall. Clerk will look into putting the cost of the new fire truck on the levy as we have a contract that says we are obligated to pay. Clerk will prebuy propane from Zifko’s.
Board Comments: Don Jenicek attended the variance hearing for Lance and Lisa Alm and they were granted their variance. County wants us to donate $3500 toward building an animal control center but the Town is not interested in contributing to this given our financial situation. Clerk notified the Board that Bremer Bank is changing to Old National Bank and will have a new routing number etc. and our online accounts (Quickbooks/IRS/WI DOR/WRS etc.) will be affected. Clerk has not dealt with something like this before. Clerk notified Treasurer that this will affect any direct deposits.
Correspondence: Clerk shared correspondence from Bayfield County Planning and Zoning Department—Land Use Permit Applications from Beret and Conor Casey; Pam Hockemeyer; Kurt and Beth Heikkila; David and Lucille Terry; and Richard and Jean Ronning. Shared correspondence from Pat Anderson of Spectrum—Charter is expanding a fiber-to-home network via “aerial and underground” and will start construction yet this fall and activate sometime in 2026. Clerk made sure Board was aware of Bayfield County’s Zoning Code Rewrite Project Town Survey which she forwarded to them.
Payment of Bills: Motion made by Bill Bodin to approve payment of Town bills from September 10, 2025 to October 14, 2025 in the amount of $61,636.50; seconded by Mike Garnich. Motion carried.
Next Town of Bayview Regular Board meeting is set for November 11, 2025, at 6 p.m.
Moton to adjourn was made by Don Jenicek; seconded by Mike Garnich. Meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
Submitted by Approved 11/11/2025
Kim Suske, Clerk
Vol. 17 page 12