MONTHLY TOWN BOARD MINUTES
2025 August 12
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August Town Board Minutes

7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Barksdale Town Hall
29025 East Ondossagon Rd., Ashland, WI  54806

Present: 
John Nyara, Chairman • Chris Bretting, Supervisor • Jayson Nohl, Supervisor • Susan Sanders, Treasurer • Stephanie Yon, Clerk

Absent:  None

Other’s Present:
Dave Lucius, Dale Johnston, Mike Bark, Coleen Bark, Joshua Huray (Rural Mutual Insurance Agent, till 7:24), Thomas Parr, Al Kirschbaum, Tom Sandy, Jamie Klema, Miles Klema, Denise Bosak, Lena Stecker (till 7:24), Chris Hemphill (till 7:24)

Call To Order:  
Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm  by John Nyara, Chairman. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Verification of Posting and Publishing: 
J. Nyara confirmed the Agenda was posted and published.

Approval of Previous Month’s Minutes:
C. Bretting made a motion to dispense with reading the July 8th, 2025 Meeting Minutes, seconded by J. Nohl. Motion carried. Copies of the minutes were provided at the meeting for attendees. 

OLD BUSINESS

1.  Comprehensive Plan update:
   Nothing to report at this time. Next quarterly meeting scheduled for September 8th @ 6pm.  

2.  Cozy Corner Road (full road) update:
   Everything has been completed so far, Washburn will be coming up early September for striping. Some spots and humps still need to be reviewed and worked on in near future. 

3.  Ondossagon Road update and possible action:
   Still in arbitration. J. Nyara stated no other updates at this time.  

NEW BUSINESS:

1.  Public input: 
   1) Thomas Parr submitted to Board a problem with leakage, high levels of salt from old pipes from Ondossagon School running onto the land of his property. Private testing done by Mr. Parr, but not official testing. Asking for a possibility of building a salt shed, or disconnecting /filling/blocking the pipe. J. Nyara asked Dale Johnston to use equipment to find the pipe and come up with a solution.
   2) Denise Bosak, Wedal/Bjork Rd, still a couple issues with ditch and water levels getting a little high. She will meet with Dave for a better solution before winter. Also was happy that the shoulders weren’t mowed as often for wildlife habitat.
   3) Lena Stecker wanted to submit an application for transient merchant permit, but was not put on the agenda for this month. Business name is Apostle Islands Fishing Tours LLC. Ms. Stecker did not submit a check, but handed the Board a file folder with paperwork. Submission will be put on Agenda for next month. 

2.  Rural Mutual Insurance Agent Joshua Horay, Hayward Office, Bonding Discussion:     
   Clerk position per year cost of $62.00, Treasurer position per year cost of $175.00. Not mandated by state but suggested. WTA recommended. Liability for all Board Supervisors/Chair are already covered in the policy for up to $2 million.  Coverage would start immediately after payment. C. Bretting made a motion to approve the coverage for bonding, seconded by J. Nohl. Motion carried.

3.  Composting Bin to be placed on Town Property:
   Big Lake Organic give homeowners a bin to fill with composting items. Homeowners then deposit these items into a dumpster; the company then collects. Big Lake Organics would like to put a 4X4 bin (or dumpster), which is locked (members must punch in a code), and animals can’t get in. Board asked for more information or a representative to come to talk about it. Will put on next month’s agenda for consideration. 

4.  Chris Prysok Transient Merchant Permit submission:
   C. Bretting discussed the entire application and paperwork submitted by Chris Prysok of Paddle Ride Adventures, but no Workman’s Compensation paperwork was submitted with the application. This paperwork is not complete as required. C. Bretting made a motion to deny the application for the issuance of a Transient Merchant’s Permit to Chris Prysok on account of an incomplete submittal. Mr. Prysok can re-submit the missing paperwork after the fact, for review at the next monthly meeting. Denial was seconded by J. Nohl.  Motion for the issuance of a Transient Merchant Permit to Chris Prysok of Paddle Ride Adventures was denied by the Board. Clerk will send back his payment check with a letter of denial.

5. New Signage for Bono Creek Landing Area:  
   J. Nohl has been working with Copy That for a new signage for the Ramp and the Dock, total of 12 signs for No parking/blocking, angle parking (with trailers and without),  No overnight parking for any vehicles or trailers. Signage has been approved; T- posts are ordered per Dave.  

6.  “Special Meeting” Policy, discussion and possible Action:
   It costs the town members a fee every time a “Special Meeting” is needed for anything out-of-ordinary that comes up during the month. A possible Fee Schedule needs to be looked into, and a discussion had next month for implementation of a Resolution for fee payment. C. Bretting will contact WTA with questions.  

7.  Fee Schedule for Violations, discussion and possible Action:  
   Town’s Attorney recommends a Fee Schedule for fines of violations that are continuing at Bono Creek. More discussion is to be had, still working with the Attorney for enforcement. Work in progress – Put on next month’s Agenda.

8. Town Picnic:
   Postcards completed and handed out to members attending. September 6th, feel free to bring a dish to share.  Sue stated it’s on the website and sign will be hung out front.  

9.  Striping Roadway on Engoe Rd:
   Dave stated he has not heard anything yet as to when it will be completed, but it’s ready to go with pinpointed marks.  

10. Road Foreman Report:
    Dave stated the ditching has been completed on Kabasa Road and Bjork Road. Culvert is in place/completed on Range Road; Clerk needs to submit paperwork to SAM system for reimbursement in January. Also, more maintenance needs to be done on the mower.    J. Nyara suggested pricing out a new mower head, also pricing out a salt shed /shipping container. Last $4500.00 grant money spent on rock for FR 237. Trusty Trucking bill when received can be submitted for payment from Forestry Service.

11. Clerk’s Report:
    Bayfield County Planning & Zoning Department sent out a Facts/Myths questionnaire “Why does Zoning Matter” for planning and zoning brochure for review. 

12. Chairman’s Report:
    J. Nyara received a letter from the Town of Keystone as they are asking for a letter of support in asking for a grant to reconstruct pavements on FR 236 in their township. Board advised writing a letter supporting them. Our section of 236 could use crack-sealing; reviewing. 

13. Treasurer’s Report:
    S. Sanders gave an overview of the town’s finances. Currently, $144,128.76 in checking & savings combined. Upcoming revenue, tax settlement, due to us by August 20th. Loan at Northern State due October 1st, of $80,000.00 S. Sanders has been slowly moving funds into new Northern State Bank checking & savings accounts, but it will take a few months to have everything completely moved over from Bremer.  

14. Next Meeting(s): 
    The next Monthly Town Meeting will be held Tuesday, September 9th, 2025, @ 7:00pm.    
    The next quarterly Comprehensive Plan Commission Meeting will be held September 8th, @ 6pm 

15. Monthly Bills:
    C. Bretting made a motion to accept and approve the monthly bills presented, seconded by J. Nohl. Motion carried.

16. Closed Sesstion:
    J. Nohl made a motion to close out Closed Session @ 9:15 pm, seconded by C. Bretting. Motion carried.

17. Adjournment:
    There being no further business meeting to conduct, J. Nohl made a motion and seconded by C. Bretting to adjourn the meeting at 9:16 pm.

Respectfully submitted, by Stephanie Yon, Barksdale Township Clerk.