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Residents ask Okauchee Lake district to publicize canine Blastomycosis cases; board agrees to post resources
Summary
A resident reported multiple local dog deaths from Blastomycosis and requested the district publicize prevention guidance; the board agreed to add Blastomycosis K9 Awareness and lake-level reports to the OLMD website and clarified local pesticide buffer rules.
During public comment at the Nov. 11 Okauchee Lake Management District meeting, resident Sandy Weiss reported a local outbreak of canine Blastomycosis that she said has killed five dogs and left at least three ill. Weiss urged the district to raise community awareness by posting information to local Facebook pages, alerting veterinarians and shelters, and adding resources to the OLMD website.
Commissioner Brian Sichi confirmed he would provide the district website designer with materials about Blastomycosis K9 awareness and with guidance on fertilizer rules within 20 feet of shore. The minutes record that Dee Schriver will send lake-level reports to the website designer Linda Goehre for posting.
Resident Keith Granum asked whether spraying for mice is permitted; Commissioner Sichi replied that, according to town-of-Merton guidance cited at the meeting, pest-control spraying is allowed only beyond 20 feet from the shoreline.
The board also noted the barge is used for community and private fireworks and added a dedicated discussion of barge use to the next meeting agenda. No formal board action was taken on public-health outreach at this meeting beyond agreeing to post materials and accept submitted information for the website.
What happens next: Commissioners and staff will supply website content (lake-level reports, fertilizer guidance and Blastomycosis awareness materials) and bring barge-use policy to a future meeting for formal discussion if policy changes are proposed.
