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Townsend updates emergency services, lake-management and summer events; fire department to add new engine
Summary
Townsend electors received reports on ambulance and fire responses, lake-district decisions to skip herbicide treatment in 2024, festival plans and a $500 donation to the fire department; the fire department said a new engine should be delivered by July and the old ladder truck will be repurposed.
Electors at Townsend’s April 16, 2024 annual meeting heard a series of service and community updates ranging from emergency‑medical calls to lake‑management decisions and summer festival planning.
Lakewood/Townsend Community Ambulance Service representative Steve Harkema reported 242 calls in 2023, down about 5% from 2022; 60 of those were no‑transport calls. Harkema said recruitment remains a challenge as current staff age, and that a building addition will be completed this summer paid for by donations and fundraising; a new chassis is expected in 2025.
Townsend Fire Department Chief Dawn Herlache said the department has 18 members and responded to 40 calls in 2023, an increase of roughly 30% from 2022. The department is coordinating with the Nicolet Fire District, Wabeno, the DNR and the Forestry Service on mutual‑aid and risk‑reduction work. Two hydrants will be added this year (Sunset Bay Lane and North Surprise Lake Lane); the department will sell ladder truck 2911 and convert the old engine into a rescue truck to make room for a new engine expected by July.
Several lake and waterbody groups reported management plans and operational choices: the Townsend Flowage Protection District (John Zimdars) and Inland Lakes Protection & Rehabilitation District #1 (John Mitchell) said there will be no herbicide treatments in 2024; the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and the DNR will perform a point‑to‑point survey of aquatic plants in the flowage. Mary Lake’s P&R district said it is awaiting action on a citizen resolution to reduce panfish limits and is coordinating with Native Range ecologists on a beaver problem.
Community and recreation updates included festival plans from the Townsend Festival Committee (T‑ball, kickball, July 4 parade and fireworks), a report that the Red Arrow Snowmobile/ATV Club has about 425 members and trail plans, and a library expansion in the final stages with a dedication scheduled for July 27, 2024. Red Arrow representatives Rick VanAsten and Mike Malueg presented a $500 donation to the Townsend Fire Department during the meeting.
The meeting also included routine operational questions about road‑repair bidding and recycling stickers; DeMoulin noted that using the Townsend pit reduced trucking costs and contributed to lower asphalt bids, and Oconto County Supervisor Dave Christensen said County T remains on a 20‑year plan.
What happens next: the fire department will proceed to sell ladder truck 2911, accept the new engine when delivered and continue recruitment and risk‑reduction work; lake districts will proceed with surveys and non‑chemical management in 2024.
