Minocqua board adopts unlawful-assembly ordinance amendment and approves routine operations at Feb. 17 meeting

At its Feb. 17 meeting the Minocqua Board of Supervisors adopted an amendment to Ordinance Sec. 41-29 to add a description of unlawful assembly and to prohibit use of traffic medians and placement of signage or structures related to assemblies. Chairman Mark Hartzheim presented the amendment, and the board dispensed with the reading and adopted the ordinance (motion by Brian Fricke, seconded by Lance Krolczyk).

Director of Public Works Mark Pertile requested authorization to dispose of plow truck No. 4, which he said is more than 25 years old and is taking up space; the board approved disposal (motion by Fricke, seconded by Petersen). Pertile also said the town will keep a second older truck as a backup and plans to begin the procurement process for a new truck to be delivered in fall 2027, with budget figures to be prepared for 2027 budget consideration.

In public comment, Tom Wipperfurth and Jerry Wesner requested that Old Highway 70 be reopened for snowmobile travel to avoid a hazardous crossing at Highway 70 West after a recent fatal vehicle-vs-snowmobile crash near the Krist gas station. The board discussed routing the trail via the Bullhead Lake crossing, noted concerns about swamp conditions and a groomer falling through, and suggested the snowmobile club consider using mats or culverts and coordinate with Public Works on any crossing.

Chairman Hartzheim presented a first reading of an amendment to Article IV to prohibit the use of a Class B fermented malt beverage license in association with gaming devices and to outline issuance requirements; he said existing Class B license holders with machines would be grandfathered. The board dispensed with the reading and will take the amendment up for a second reading at a future meeting.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn (Fricke/Petersen); the board adjourned at 6:55 p.m.