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NOTE: Newsletters for Spring 2009, Fall 2008, Spring 2008, Fall 2007, and Spring 2007 are shown below.

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Comprehensive Plan The Town of Black Wolf along with the Town of Friendship has retained the services of Martenson & Eisele, Inc. to assist in guiding our towns through the comprehensive planning process as we work to get our long range planning in line with the Smart Growth Initiatives for the State of Wisconsin.  We joined with Friendship because our two towns are very similar and we were able to reduce the overall cost of this project.

An informational/kick-off meeting has already been held and a second one is scheduled for March 24^th.  Blue post cards have been sent to all residents to alert you to this process.   If you have not received one or thought it was “junk mail” contact Ellen or Mona in the town office to get the details.  A formal planning committee was formed to help the town in the process.  We expect the process of updating our comprehensive plan to take approximately 12 months.

As an off shoot to our comp plan, the town is continuing to engage the City of Oshkosh in developing a boundary agreement that would established clearly defined city growth area, a specific town area and establish a third area called rural preservation so that our municipalities can move forward without the potential of disagreements arising the would unduly jeopardize developments in various segments of the town.  At a recent meeting between the city and the town, a tentative outline was reached that could help in moving this process forward.  In essence, there would be a city growth area encompassing those properties that are west of the railroad tracks south to Nekimi Ave.  The lands west of Country Club Road to the county line would be designated Rural Preservation areas.  And, finally anything east of the tracks from the city to Nekimi Ave., and east of Country Club south of Nekimi Ave. to the county line would be designated Town Growth Areas.  Of course there are many other details that have to be addressed but before that occurs, the town board believes that this step should be discussed at the Annual Meeting on April 8^th.  Hopefully you all will attend to share your thoughts on this particular item as well as the other issues that will be a part of a broader boundary agreement.

Quiet Zone – Ruekert-Mielke has recently signed on by the town board to assist with establishment of a railroad quiet zone in the town.  This firm has successfully assisted other municipalities in this regard.  There is a significant amount of ground- work that must be done to meet Federal Railroad Administration requirements before determining the amount of work and resources the town needs to put toward this project.  You can expect an update on their progress in approximately two months.

General – After a long and snowy winter, I want to wish everyone a pleasant spring and summer.  And, don’t forget, if you have skills or a desire to help the town be a better place, don’t hesitate to let me or Ellen know what you would like to do to help

It is not uncommon for property owners to plant, mow, or otherwise landscape part of “their” property, which are, in fact, part of the Town of Black Wolf RIGHT-OF-WAY. The Town Board, on advice of legal counsel, reminds property owners of the following:

 The Town has the legal right to control the road right-of-way.

Any improvements, plantings, etc. within the right-of-way are done at the risk of the property owner.

       The Town is not responsible for damage(s) resulting from such activities.     

       Other decorative landscaping items are not permitted in the right-of-way.  They present problems for snowplow drivers.

The winter of 2008 has recorded the most snow for this area in modern history. It did put a strain on our 3 part-time drivers and 2 snowplow trucks. Even before the season started, the town had ordered one replacement truck. This truck was put into service on Jan. 11^th. It has served us well, even though it did already require some upgrading. At one point we used it to back-up the much larger truck which needed servicing. We still have the truck that has been replaced and disposition of this truck will be discussed at the April Annual Meeting. The 3 drivers should receive commendation for the dedication and responsibility they have shown. We wish to increase the crew to 4 for the next season in an attempt to lighten the load. Any experienced individual with interest in the position should apply at the Town Hall. It is possible to get a repeat of this year and we want to be ready. As the season progressed, we received calls about special situations that needed attention. We welcome such calls, as the drivers were available and willing to address most situations.

Our snow plowing policy has been included in fall newsletters in the past.  Part of that policy includes a reminder not to push snow across the road.  This year, I wish to emphasize WI Stat. 346.96(5), which prohibits placing injurious substances on the roadway. This includes pushing snow from your driveway across the road into the ditch. This can cause damage to the snow plow equipment, reduction of road width, obstruction of safe views of the road as well as reduced drainage.  We received numerous complaints of this being done.  When necessary, the Town may request the Sheriff’s Dept. to issue citations.

 As a quick update on the 2 bridge projects (Lone Elm and Koelpin Road), we have received environmental approval and design approval from the state.  Final design will be completed this summer and a bid letting will take place in Dec. 2008.  We expect construction to begin in spring 2009, with completion in that summer.

 The annual April inspection of the road will facilitate summer maintenance and any necessary upgrade plan for the Town of Black Wolf road system.

Lottery Credit:  Make sure you check your tax bills each year to make sure you have received a lottery credit. If you are a new resident to the Town of Black Wolf, you will need to apply for the lottery credit.  The form is available in the Town office, or at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue website (Form LC300 (R.10-04).  For additional information about the lottery credit, call the Town office 688-1404 or the WI Department of Revenue (608) 266-9457 or (608) 266-0772.

 Escrow Payments:  Depending on your mortgage company, there are usually several options when it comes to paying your property tax escrow check.   The two most common methods are:

      1.  The mortgage company sends you the check payable to you and to the Town.  By using this method you will usually receive the check faster, and puts the timing of your payment in your control.  You are also sure that the check has been sent to us.

      2. The mortgage company sends the check directly to the Town.  This method is more direct, but experience has shown that many taxpayers go through major frustrations due to incorrect mailing address, etc.

Whichever method you select, it is recommended that you contact your mortgage company to make sure they have our correct mailing address and other necessary information.

Reminders about tax collection:

·        Business-size, self addressed stamped envelopes should be enclosed with your tax payments and/or dog license payment. PLEASE provide a stamped-self addressed envelope if you want a receipt mailed back to you.

·        One check may be written for all payments (including dog licenses)

·        If you have concerns about your assessment, call Bowmar Appraisal (920)733-5369 or attend the Open Book and/or Board of Review. Watch for these dates to be scheduled.

 Voters have the choice of using either the paper ballot machine or the touch screen machine (with paper tape back-up). Voting hours: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Voters must be registered.  Register during regular business hours or on the day of the election.  To avoid long registration lines on Election Day, please register prior to the election. The following two items are required to register to vote:

1) Elections Board “Voter Registration” Form EB131 (available from Town Hall office or under “Forms” on our website; and

2) Drivers License OR the last four (4) digits of your Social Security No. (Only if you don’t have a driver’s license).                                              

    The Primary Election was held on February 19, 2008.  Turnout was excellent with 810 residents voting, or more than 45% of registered voters.

Upcoming Elections:
April 1, 2008                    Spring Election

September 9, 2008            Fall Partisan Primary

November 4, 2008            General (Presidential)

Occasionally taxpayers are concerned about their assessment when they receive their tax bill.  Once taxes are levied, there is no way to change your assessment.  If you have any concerns about your assessment, you need to meet with Bowmar Appraisals.  Any changes in assessments must occur through this process.  

Bowmar Appraisal is expecting to conduct their annual “Open Book” during late June, 2008.  This is the time to review the Assessment Roll for 2008 and for Town residents to ask questions or express concerns about their assessment.  Watch for notice of the exact date.

 If you object to your assessment after meeting with Bowmar Appraisals, you may meet with the Board of Review (usually held a few weeks after the Open Book --watch for notice of date). You will need to file the Objection Form at least 48 hours prior to the Board of Review, unless the Board of Review chooses to waive this requirement.   Call the office with any questions about the Open Book and/or Board of Review.

The Town of Black Wolf has been mandated by the Department of Natural Resources to work toward reducing pollutants into Lake Winnebago from our stormwater sewer system.  Open ditches make up the entirety of the Town’s stormwater sewer system. The Town was required to obtain an MS4 (Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System) General Discharge Permit from the DNR.  The permit lists steps that are being required by the DNR to reduce pollutants from our MS4.  One of the required steps is public education.  Although most of it is common sense, it still needs to be reiterated:

               Properly dispose of automobile fluids such as waste oil and anti-freeze

               Pick up and dispose of pet waste

               Try to mulch or burn leaves away from a ditch

               Properly manage household hazardous chemicals

Water quality tests will be performed annually to see how we’re doing in limiting pollution in our “storm sewers.”

Please make sure your animals are properly contained in appropriate building structures, pens, and pastures.  Loose animals cause traffic problems, destruction of property and are a threat to others.  The Town’s ordinance allows only two dogs per household, and they must be licensed within six months of initial ownership. 

If you have any complaints or concerns, please call me at home, 688-2445, and leave a complete message. Be sure to include your name and phone number in the event that I would need more information.

This spring the Black Wolf Sanitary District plans to televise the remaining 10% of its sewer mains. This will complete the sewer main televising portion of the district’s five-year clear water abatement program. This spring we will also be televising the 27 house laterals (the sewer line connecting a residence to the sewer main) that we found discharging clear water during last spring’s main line televising.

 After televising 90% of our sewer mains, we have found over 250 gallons per minute of leaks (mostly through house laterals) and corrected more than 222 gallon per minute of these discovered leaks. We have already seen our Oshkosh treatment fees decrease as a result of our efforts.

Your cooperation in identifying and repairing these leaks, and diligence in making sure that your sump pumps are not connected to the sanitary sewer, have enabled the Sanitary District to keep user fees at the same rate for the past 17 years. We are proud to report that our user fees are significantly lower than any other district that we are aware of, and in some cases, half of what other districts charge.

This spring promises a heavy snowmelt and should be a good test for the newly repaired portions of our system.  We would like to thank residents and businesses for their continued patience and cooperation over the final 18 months of our clear water abatement program.

Based on the number of tons of recycled materials, Black Wolf placed third again out of the 15 towns in Winnebago County for 2007. 

   1^st place  – Town of Neenah -       249 tons

   2^nd Place – Town of Clayton -      232 tons

   3^rd Place – Town of Black Wolf - 207 tons

We still have a supply of magnetic calendars showing the days Veolia Waste Management Services picks up paper                                                         and co-mingled recyclables in addition to regular garbage pickup.  Stop in the Town Hall Office and pick one up.                                                                  Call 800 688-4285 to contact Veolia directly.

The Van Dyne Volunteer Fire Department has 13 openings.    Firefighting, fire protection and fire prevention are essential in today’s community which requires time and dedication.  These can only be accomplished by having a full roster of firefighters.   We face the problem of the availability of manpower at all times, but especially during the daytime hours.  With only a few people available to make that initial response, we need to recruit more people.  So, you ask what is all involved to become a member?  Fill out an application and meet with the Chief and Training officer who will inform you of what is expected.  Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, and previous experience is not required. Although our daytime help is short-handed, we will consider all applicants regardless of your schedule.  We offer a retirement plan to all active members.  Please call Chief Doug Seffern (688-2364) or First Assistant Chief Dave Babler (688-2226) for more information.  The Van Dyne Volunteer Fire Department takes great pride in protecting the people in the community and providing fire education to adults and children.  Please consider volunteering some of your time by joining us.

  APRIL...These are the days of Spring supreme, when the sun pours down and gardeners’ scheme.

  And people released from Winter’s break, step out in the sun with hoe and rake.

  Their spirits soar, they heave a sigh, and see great things in their mind’s eye.

  For never in this world has there been such grass as in our dreams is seen,

  And never flowers, even rare, can with those in the mind compare.

  April blossoms with such ease, the world becomes a gardener’s tease.

  Comes May, and weeds, and bugs, and tools...and then we know how April fools!

The last snowfall of the winter  occurs in April...several times.

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                                   NEWSLETTER   Fall   2007   

                               Newsletters are published twice a year, in April and October.                                                                                           PLEASE     Keep the latest publication for reference.               

TOWN HALL - Office Hours:  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m.

Use the drop box located at the front of the building for when the office is closed.

Zoning Administrator Office Hours:   Mondays & Tuesdays: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Building Inspector Office Hours:        Tuesdays 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: All phone calls should be directed to the Town Hall (unless it’s an emergency).        

Messages will be taken and forwarded to the proper individual or department, thus eliminating the

need to contact Town Officials at their homes.  Thanks!

Town Board Meetings: 2^nd Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m.*

Planning/Zoning Committee Meetings: 1^st Tuesday of each month, 6:30 p.m.*

*  Special circumstances sometimes change meeting dates or times.   

Please check the posting boxes located at the Town Hall and at 3 other locations:

Lakeshore Mart, Lakeside Superette, and on Ripple Rd. across from Oshkosh Country Club.   

Posting are updated on a regular basis.

WEB SITE:  Our web site, townofblackwolf.com is updated on a regular basis.

This site contains general information, current news, calendars, newsletters, Town Board and

Planning & Zoning agendas, Board minutes, zoning ordinances, meeting dates, forms, photographs,

and many other items.

v     2008 RECYCLING CALENDAR MAGNET   

The Town will once again provide calendar refrigerator magnets. The 2008 garbage and recycling schedule is

highlighted. Stop in and pick up your magnet during normal business hours. We also have Garbage Collection

Guides and Winnebago County Recycling Guide brochures in the office.  The 2008 garbage and recycling

calendar is included in this newsletter, in the office, and also on the Website (Garbage/Recycling page).

v     “RECYCLE” STICKERS

We are offering “Recycle” stickers for residents who prefer using recycling containers instead of plastic recycling bags.

The stickers can be picked up at the Town Hall and should be affixed to your recycle containers/bins.

This will help our haulers identify the recyclable containers from regular garbage containers.   

Thanks for your efforts in making the Town’s recycling program very successful! _________________________________________________________________________________________

ELECTION NEWS:    Voters now have the choice of using either the Accu-Vote machine (paper ballot)

or the Diebold TSX machine (touch screen with a paper tape back-up).  Everyone is encouraged to vote

and try out the new machine.

            The Spring Election was held on April 3^rd, 2007.   410 residents turned out to vote. 

            Upcoming 2008 Election Dates:  

                              February 19th, 2008     Spring Primary Election –  7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

                              April 1^st,  2008               Spring General Election –  7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

                              September 9th, 2008     Fall Primary Election –      7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

                              November 4^th, 2008       Presidential Election  –      7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

            Voter Registration is required. If you are not registered, Voter Registration forms may be filled out

on the day of an election or at any time during regular business hours at the Town Hall.  Please bring

identification. You will be asked to provide your drivers license number, or the last 4 digits of your social

security number only if you don’t have a driver’s license.   The Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS)

requires new voters to register using the State Elections Board’s Form EB131.  The forms are available at

the Town Hall office and under “Forms” on the Website.

            Absentee Voters must be registered in the Town and need to fill out the Application for Absentee form

before a ballot can be mailed or handed out. This form is available at the office or from the website, “Forms”.

ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING DATE:  The Budget Hearing for 2008 will be held on Monday, November 12^th,

2007 at 6:30 p.m. Copies of the proposed budget will be available at the Town Hall prior to the hearing.

The regular monthly Town Board meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m.

ANNUAL MEETING DATE: The Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 8^th, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.  

This is the time for residents to present and discuss issues they would like the town officers to consider. 

The meeting is open to the public and town residents are invited and encouraged to attend. Comments are welcomed!

CHANGE IN TOWN TREASURER POSITION:  Please join us in a warm welcome for John McDermott

who was recently appointed as Treasurer for the Town.  John will be replacing the current Treasurer,

Scott Altmann, who is leaving to pursue other opportunities in Northern Wisconsin. John will be working

closely with Scott, learning about the Treasurer position to ensure a smooth transition.  

A special “Thank You” to Scott Altmann for his many years of service and commitment to the Town.  

We wish him the best as he starts this new chapter of his life.  Thanks again Scott, you will be missed!

FROM THE CHAIRMAN, Frank Frassetto:                                                                                

Comprehensive Planning – The state of Wisconsin’s “Smart Growth Initiative” requires that municipalities

have in place a comprehensive plan by January 1, 2010 and accordingly we are looking to hire a professional

engineering firm to help guide us through this process.  It is anticipated that this effort will take approximately

8 – 12 months and be completed in 2008.    In order to defray some of the costs associated with this project,

the Town of Friendship has agreed to be a joint participant due to the fact that both our towns are similar. 

This will require working closely with Friendship (as we have done in the past through the Van Dyne Fire

Department) and we look forward to this partnership.  As of this writing, two firms have shown an

interest in lending their services – Omni Associates and Martenson and Eisele. 

Either of them is very capable and would surely do a fine job for our town.   

Please stay tuned to the posting boards around town and log on to our website to keep abreast of the progress

and to find out when public hearings are announced.

Boundary Agreement - The City of Oshkosh and the Town continue to engage in discussions on a potential

boundary agreement.  We’re trying to set up a face to face meeting where we can establish more concrete

parameters within which to frame a broad agreement.  At our last Annual Meeting, the town electors passed

a resolution that identified Fisk Ave. as the southernmost border and bordered on the east by the CNN

railroad for a city growth area and that this agreement would be for 20 years.  This is not what the city has

been indicating as a preference for them to sign off on; obviously we’ve got some issues that could be

contentious.  Nonetheless, the board will continue to promote the values and lifestyle that Black Wolf

residents have come to know and appreciate.            

FROM SUPERVISOR I, Tom Herzing:

Change in Zoning Requirements - On October 2nd, the Black Wolf Planning and Zoning Committee

held a public hearing on a proposal to bring the Town's setback requirements along the lake shore into

conformity with those of Winnebago County.    The Town Board approved the change, based on the

recommendation of Planning & Zoning and the fact that no Town resident spoke against the change.

The old setback was 50 feet from the street right of way and 10 feet from side property lines. Under the

new regulations, properties East of Highway 45 have minimum setbacks of 30 feet from the road right of

way and 10 feet and 7 feet from the side property lines.

Town to Discuss Boundary Agreement with City - At the request of the City of Oshkosh, the Town Board

is beginning discussions toward a possible boundary agreement. Up to this point, the Town has consulted

widely with its Long Range Planning and Planning and Zoning committees and has studied agreements

that have been signed with Oshkosh by the towns of Algoma and Nekimi.

     The Town Board has also sought input from its citizens, most recently at the annual town meeting.

The people of Black Wolf have given strong indications that they want to see the rural character of the 

community preserved and that they want to see reasonable limits set for City growth to the South.

Discussions will most likely last well into next year, and the Town will keep in contact with its residents 

regarding progress.

Town Cleanup:  The Town is considering holding a Town cleanup sometime in 2008. 

Please let us know if this is something you would be interested in. 

FROM SUPERVISOR II, Bob Keller:

Roadwork: This summer the town of Black Wolf saw resurfacing of US Highway 45 (WDOT Project) and

West Decorah Avenue (TBW Project).  Numerous town roads received seal coat surfacing.  County Road

 “R” was also seal coated (Winnebago County Project).

Bridgework: The Town of Black Wolf has two bridge replacement projects that have been approved for

State/County/Town funding. The Bridges are on Koelpin Road and Lone Elm (County Line Road).  They are

currently scheduled for Spring/Summer 2008 bid letting and construction.  At present, the WDOT is

considering the delay of road and bridge projects due to over scheduling and funding issues.  Therefore,

one or both of these projects may be delayed.  The Town of Black Wolf has requested maintenance of the

existing schedule.

Truck Purchase: We have found the need for replacement of our smaller snow plow/maintenance truck.      

The process to purchase the truck was approved in late September.  We expect to have the new truck in late

December for the 2007/2008 winter plowing season.                                       

    SANITARY DISTRICT REPORT:   

This spring we televised an additional 30% of the sanitary districts sewer mains.  This brought the total

mainline televised to 90%.  We also televised 25 house laterals and discovered discharging clear water this

spring.  The homeowners are now in the process of repairing these laterals.  During mainline televising we

discovered 51 more manholes that need to be raised or repaired.  This work is now complete.  We have

already seen a substantial drop in sewage flow as a result of this work.

If you have questions about lawn restoration around a repaired manhole in your yard or know of a manhole

in a road that needs more gravel, please do not hesitate to call our office at 233-2901.

We would like to remind residents and businesses that it is illegal to discharge sump pumps into the

sanitary sewer.  Please check your sump pump to make sure that it is not connected to the sewer.

Once again we would like to thank residents for their continued patience and cooperation.           

     Chuck Linde, Sanitary District

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 This Snow Plow policy is being re-printed as it is important everyone understands how snow plowing is

handled during the winter months.  Supervisor Bob Keller is in charge of the roads in the town. 

Contact  the office to leave a message for Bob if you have a concern.

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Dog License Information:  The Town of Black Wolf will only issue 2 dog licenses per residence as specified

in the Town Ordinances regarding dog licensing. 

Dog Vaccinations:  There still seems to be some confusion as to when you need to send in your rabies vaccination

information. I will attempt to provide some clarification.

You DO NOT need to send along your vaccination information if:   1) You licensed your dog with the town in the

prior year AND 2) Your dog’s rabies vaccination has not expired since the last licensing

You DO need to send along your vaccination information if:    1) Your dog was not previously licensed in the town

OR 2) Your dog’s rabies vaccination expired since the last licensing.  

Please check your vaccination dates before sending in for a license.   

You need to supply proof of spaying or neutering if this was done since the last licensing.

IF IN DOUBT, PLEASE SEND ALONG A COPY OF YOUR VACCINATION INFORMATION

Address changes should be communicated to the Town Treasurer in writing. Please send these change

requests to the Town Hall. The town will then submit these changes to the County.

DO NOT CONTACT THE COUNTY DIRECTLY ON ADDRESS CHANGES.

Name Changes must be made through the Register of Deeds at the County level. The town does not have

the capability of changing your name as it appears on your tax bill. If you have questions regarding this procedure,

please contact the County.

Payments made after January 31:  There are still a number of taxpayers making their 2^nd installment

payments to the town. These 2^nd installment payments must be paid directly to the County. Any payments

received by the town will be returned.

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ANIMAL CONTROL: Chris Martell, Constable   (Home Phone: 688-2445)

             The Town Dog Ordinance states that dogs must be under control at all times. This doesn’t mean that

the dog needs to be on a leash, but if that’s what is needed to keep a dog under control, then do so. With

that in mind, if your dog does get away, call me at home (688-2445) so that I can make a note of it and

call you back if I get a call or find your dog.        

            If you find a dog running loose, DO NOT CAPTURE OR HOLD THE DOG!!!. Don’t let it in your

garage, put it in your kennel, tie it up or let a stray in your house! There have been many instances that a

seemingly friendly dog turns on and harms the person(s) that has captured them. All stray or strange dogs

should be treated with caution and not approached.  

            Also, try not to leave food out for animals. If you feed them, they will return. This applies to dogs and

cats. There are no ordinances regarding cats in the Town. If you have strays in your area and you want them

captured, again, call me at home and I will do what I can to capture them.

            If you trap a cat on your own (without the knowledge of the Town) you will be responsible for

 the disposition of the animal.  

FROM ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, Tom Verstegen    

   Top Five Ways to Help Winnebago County Lakes and Streams   

Test your soil before applying fertilizers containing phosphorus.
Apply phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizer only if a soil test shows it's needed. If it's not needed, be sure to purchase

phosphorus-free fertilizers if you fertilize. Look for 0 as the middle number-all fertilizers show three numbers on the label

(10-0-5, for example). The middle number represents the amount of phosphorus. So, buy zero.

Keep leaves and grass clippings out of the town ditches, compost, and practice other water-friendly lawn care.
Instead of raking your leaves to the ditch, start a compost pile. Leaves make great fertilizer for vegetable and flower gardens.

They can also be tilled right into your garden. Or you could use a mulching mower to chop the leaves into little bits for your turf.

If you do rake, make sure that the leaves stay out of the ditch.

Keep water on site and soil in place (so it stays out of our waters).
Try building rain gardens, installing rain barrels and directing roof gutters and downspouts to grassy areas (pervious areas)

rather than hard surfaces (such as driveways and sidewalks that will deliver stormwater to ditches and eventually our water 

resources). Be sure to mulch or plant any bare soil so that rain and snow don't erode it away.

Reduce motorized vehicle use; maintain vehicles in an environmentally friendly way (don't dump oil in storm drains

or on the street, for example).
Get your oil changed at a service station. If you change your car's oil yourself, take the used oil to a collection site for recycling.

Never let any oil make its way to the storm ditch. Make sure your car doesn't leak antifreeze, brake fluid or windshield wiper fluid.

These leaks and drips could be washed into the storm ditch from the street or your driveway with the next rainstorm.

Make sure you sweep your driveway instead of using the hose to wash debris away. Wash your car on your lawn instead of

your driveway. Or go to a carwash.

Learn more about local waters and join a local watershed or conservation group.
Use our Watershed Locator to find out what watershed you live in. Then go to

Watershed Associations, Friends Groups and Other Natural Resource Groups to locate an active group in your area.

There are many groups in Wisconsin all working to preserve and enhance the natural resources here. Check out their web

sites or get in touch with their contact person to find out how you can get involved. If you don't find one where you live,

consider starting one!

Original article taken and modified from http://www.danewaters.com/private/tips.aspx                 

To access other links included in article, access this website.

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Things you can do to help keep your lakes and streams clean:

(Reprinted and Revised from www.websterlakeassociation.com) 

            If you want to help birds and make sure they have a good fish supply (fish, crustaceans, etc.) from the

Lake Winnebago (lake) environment, spread the word about alternatives to pesticides and fertilizers

(excessive algae growth caused by fertilizers disrupts the natural balance in the lake, causing dangerously

low oxygen levels to occur in the nighttime hours). 

            Start picking up trash around the lake if you notice a lot of trash coming from the storm drain system. 

Rain washes a mix of pollutants off of our streets, parking lots, and neighborhood yards.  Pollutants such as

soil, pet waste, motor oil, antifreeze, grass clippings, pesticides, and fertilizers wash into storm drains or

ditches and eventually into the rivers and lakes without being treated at all.  This is in contrast to the

wastewater system that takes waste from the drains inside your house and goes through a septic treatment

system and/or treatment plant before it enters the lake.  This treated water is in many cases of higher quality

than the water that is in the river already (untreated runoff carrying pollutants from neighborhoods, farms, etc.) 

This polluted runoff kills wildlife and contaminates our waterways. 

Easy ways to reduce pollution: 

     Keep all litter out of storm drains, and bring a trash bag with you on walks near streams and lakes to

pick up trash (don’t forget your gloves!).

       Pick up pet waste. Wrap it tightly in a bag, and throw it in the garbage. Or flush it down the toilet.

       Recycle used motor oil and antifreeze.

      Learn about organic gardening, instead of resorting to pesticides and chemical fertilizers

      Compost your grass clippings.

Take unwanted household chemicals, oil paints, and solvents to a hazardous household waste collection center.

We as humans often restrict consumption of fish that contain harmful pesticides and chemicals, but water

birds don’t have a choice, since their full diet consists of fish and other creatures in our lakes and streams. 

We also have the luxury of drinking treated water from our treatment plants, whereas birds and other wildlife

must drink from the streams and lakes we have contaminated.  The more the public learns about these issues,

the faster we can do something about it and put an end to the needless suffering experienced by wildlife,

while keeping the waters looking amazing! 

Source: Meadow Lake-   http://www.birdcrosstitch.com/environment/MeadowLake.html 

For additional information on storm water pollution and the effect on Winnebago County lakes, rivers and

streams, see: 

ZONING PERMITS:  Zoning Permits are issued by Zoning Administrator, Tom Verstegen.                      

Call the Town Hall Office 688-1404 for zoning information or to set up an appointment with Tom.

He is in the Town Hall Office on Monday & Tuesday evenings, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

 If you have information that could help solve a crime, call the Winnebago County Crime Stoppers at

1-800-621-CASH (you may remain anonymous).  You could receive up to $1000 cash for your information, if it

leads to the solving of a crime.                                                                                                                          

Also, a crime prevention flyer, “The Crime Reporter” is available at the Town Hall. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s

Department prepares these flyers every other month with updated information.                                    

The Sheriff’s office is collecting cell phones to help crime victims. These can be donated at the Oshkosh Seniors

Center, 200 N. Campbell Road, Oshkosh. Call Deputy Steve Herman at 236-7309 for more information.

Consumer Alert Affects Medicare Beneficiaries:
Consumers in Wisconsin have reported receiving telephone calls from people who identify themselves

as Medicare officials.  In this scenario, the caller asks for bank account information stating Medicare

needs this information in order to deposit money directly into the beneficiary's account.  In some cases,

the caller threatens the person by saying if the Medicare beneficiary doesn't disclose accurate bank

account information; the person will risk losing his or her Medicare benefits.

If you receive such a call, please report it to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and

Consumer Protection by contacting the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-422-7128.

Consumer Alert: Don't Dial 9 0 # on your Telephone Scam Originates from local jails and prisons.

Consumers in Wisconsin have reported receiving telephone calls from people who identify themselves

as AT&T or Verizon Service Technicians.  The technician says he is conducting a test on telephone

lines and in order for him to complete this test, the person on the other end of the line must touch 9 zero #

and then hang-up.

Don't fall for this trick.  If you push 9 zero #, you are giving the caller full access to your telephone line. 

Then the caller can place a long distance call and bill those calls to your home telephone number. 

Deputy Steven L. Herman, President Wisconsin Crime Prevention Practitioners Association
Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office
 ________________________________________________________________________________________   

 BUILDING PERMITS: Our Building Inspector, Dave Frank, issues Building Permits.

Dave is available at the Town Hall Office on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. 

You may also call Dave directly at his home (920) 233-1999 for building permit questions or problems.

      PERMITS REQUIRED:

.                 GARBAGE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION: 

   Veolia (formerly Onyx) is responsible for weekly collection of your recyclables and garbage. 

Along with regular garbage, either Paper (newsprint, magazines, cardboard, etc.) or Co-mingled

(tin, aluminum, glass, etc.) recyclables is collected every week. Please refer to the recycling calendar for the

regular collection and holiday pickup dates.     Contact Veolia directly at 800 688-4285 with any questions or

problems.

   Winnebago County is now looking into single stream recycling for the near future. We will keep you informed  

Do you have an old computer, printer, TV or other electronic item and don’t know what to do with it?  

Winnebago County now offers a Recycling option every day!                               

Businesses are required by law to recycle computers.  For households, it’s a choice.  Choose to recycle and prevent

hazardous materials like lead, mercury and other heavy metals from your electronics from entering your landfill. Fees will be

charged.  Here are a few examples: $10 for a TV or monitor, $5 for a laptop, CPU, Printer or VCR, $0 for keyboards,

mice, speakers, cords, cell phones. The Winnebago County Transfer Station is located at 105 W Cty Rd Y, Oshkosh.  

Call: (920)232-1800.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone:  (920) 688-1404          ♦        Fax: (920) 688-1405         ♦         E-mail: tbw@northnet.net   

Website:  townofblackwolf.com      Town Chairman:  Frank Frassetto      Supervisor I:  Tom Herzing     

 Supervisor II:   Bob Keller                  Clerk:  Ellen Chmielewski                       Treasurer: John McDermott     

Constable: Chris Martell                       Deputy Clerk/Office Assistant: Sandy Reukauf              

Zoning Administrator: Tom Verstegen  

*Town Assessor:    Bowmar Appraisal, Inc., John Bodouski, (920) 733-5369         

*Building Inspector:   Dave Frank   (920) 233-1999  

*Contact the Assessor and Building  Inspector directly.                                                       

__________________________________________________________

      NEWSLETTER   Spring   2007   

                                    Newsletters are published twice a year, in April and October.                                                      

PLEASE keep the latest publication for reference. 

Current and past Newsletters are on our website: townofblackwolf.com              

TOWN HALL - Office Hours:  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m.                  

Use the drop box located at the front of the building for when the office is closed.

Zoning Administrator Office Hours:  Mondays & Tuesdays: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Building Inspector Office Hours:  Tuesdays 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: All phone calls should be directed to the Town Hall (unless it’s an emergency). 

  Messages will be taken and forwarded to the proper individual or department,

thus eliminating the need to contact Town Officials at their homes.  Thanks!

Town Board Meetings: 2^nd Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m.* 

Planning/Zoning Committee Meetings: 1^st Tuesday of each month, 6:30 p.m.*

*  Special circumstances sometimes change meeting dates or times.   

Please check the posting boxes located at the Town Hall and at 3 other locations:

Lakeshore Mart, Lakeside Superette, and on Ripple Rd. across from

Oshkosh Country Club.   Posting are updated on a regular basis.

WEB SITE:  Our web site, townofblackwolf.com is updated on a regular basis.

This site contains general information, current news, calendars, newsletters,

Town Board and Planning & Zoning agendas, zoning ordinances, meeting dates,

forms, photographs, and many other items.

ELECTION NEWS:    Voters now have the choice of using either the Accu-Vote machine

(paper ballot) or the Diebold TSX machine (touch screen with a paper tape back-up). 

Everyone is encouraged to vote and try out the new machine.

            The Fall General Election was held on November 7, 2006. 

Turn out was very good with 1287 residents voting, which is more than 68 % of eligible voters. 

            Spring Elections:        February 20, 2007          Spring Primary Election:  149 Residents Voted   

                                                    April 3, 2007                     Spring General Election : 410 Residents Voted

            Voter Registration is required. If you are not registered, Voter Registration forms may be filled

out on the day of an election or at any time during regular business hours at the Town Hall. 

 Please bring identification. You will be asked to

provide your drivers license number or the last 4 digits of your social security number if you don’t

 have a driver’s license.   We are now using the new Statewide Voter Registration system which

 requires new voters to register using the State Elections Board’s Form EB131.  The forms are

available at the Town Hall office and under “Forms” on the Website.

            Absentee Voters must be registered in the Town and need to fill out the Application for

 Absentee form before a ballot can be mailed or handed out. This form is available at the office and

under “Forms” on the web.

ANNUAL MEETING DATE:  The Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

(changed from April 10^th).  The meeting is open to the public and town residents are invited and

encouraged to attend.  This is a time for residents to present and discuss concerns and/or issues

they would like the town officers to consider.   We welcome your comments!

FROM CHAIRMAN, Frank Frassetto:

            So far this year, the Town Board and other town committees have been seeing plenty of

 activity in a number of areas such as long range comprehensive planning, discussion of a

boundary agreement with the City of Oshkosh and the establishment of a railroad quiet zone

in the town.  The goal is to have all the work completed on these efforts by years end so that

we can all enjoy the fruits of our labors well into the future.  To be sure, getting it right will be a

 huge challenge but if we keep our eye on providing a foundation for slow, steady growth and

maintaining the character and integrity of our rural community, then we should be satisfied

with our work so that the Town of Black Wolf will remain a place we proudly call home.

A status report of the above three issues are as follows:

           The framework for the update to our long-range comprehensive plan has already been

 outlined.  We were initially working with the City of bring both the long-term plan and a potential

 boundary agreement together and collectively work toward a solution.  This has proven difficult

and much time has elapsed so we’re now looking at dealing with them separately.  Mapping for

the comprehensive plan still needs to be done as well.  Aside from adding provisions that comply

with Wisconsin’s Smart Growth Initiatives, there isn’t a great deal of difference from our current

 plan under which we’re operating.  In the coming months we’ll be holding public hearings so

watch the posting boards around town. 

            As for a boundary agreement with the City of Oshkosh, this too was delayed mainly by

the fact that the City chose to work with the Town of Nekimi on an agreement first as there were

development issues along the Hwy 41 and State Hwy. 26 corridor.  The City is now seeking to

engage in discussions with the town to address development, city growth areas, town growth

areas and the like.  After a series of letters went back and forth between our two communities,

establishing mutual points of interest and clarifying concerns, we find ourselves faced with a

 decision about whether to go forward or to leave it alone.  Either way, there are problems

with both.  Look to the Annual Meeting on April 17^th for more discussion and decision making.

            Now that the gates have been placed at the Nekimi/Country Club railroad crossing,

establishing a quiet zone comes next.  Two items are important here.  First, the application

to the Federal Railroad Administration needs to be completed.  It’s a fairly complex process

but we do have the support of the Commissioner of Railroad’s office, which is nice. 

The exact timeline for processing is not known.  It is also possible that further work may need

 to be done at our existing crossings to qualify for quiet zone status.  Further updates on our

progress will be provided.  The second issue is that of trains stop-ping and blocking our

intersections.  We’ll be working the Commissioner’s office and with the Town of Friendship

 and other municipalities as appropriate to find an answer to this situation.  Keep in mind

this problem is far broader than just our town; it’s an issue that stretches from Green Bay to

Chicago. Again, town residents will be provided status reports when there is something

noteworthy to share.

 FROM SUPERVISOR I, Tom Herzing

             On the recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Committee, the Town Board has

adopted the following regulation to address concerns about the increasing numbers of

cell towers being requested for construction in Black Wolf: 

            Section 3.27(6)(f)(1) “Towers shall be set back a minimum distance of 1000’

 from any residential dwelling unit, unless all residents within 1000’ agree to it being built

closer to them.”  

FROM SUPERVISOR II, Bob Keller:

            Winter Summary:  The Town of Black Wolf owns and operates two (2) snowplow trucks.

We employ two (2) part time drivers and one (1) back up driver. The equipment and drivers

were heavily stressed during the heavy snowfall we experienced within two consecutive weekends.

 Some of the roads did not get plowed as clear as we all want them to be. Thanks to the extra

 efforts of our drivers, most of the roads were available for cautious winter driving after and

during the height of the storms. As always, we welcome any comments or suggestions

regarding the snow plowing systems and procedures.

            Summer Road Plans:  As spring approaches, efforts turn to drainage issues and road

 maintenance projects. A key project this summer is the resurfacing of US 45 from Lone Elm

 to our northern boundary. This is a project completely handled by the Wisconsin Division of

Transportation (WDOT). After a spring inspection other town roads will be slated for

maintenance efforts. Next year we will see bridge replacements at Lone Elm and Koelpin Road.

             Please drive safely and report any areas of concern at the Town Hall. 

 FROM TREASURER, Scott Altmann:

FROM ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, Tom Verstegen  

            Spring is in the air and with it comes the urge to walk the beautiful roads in Black Wolf. 

Unfortunately, spring also reveals all the litter and carelessly discarded garbage that has

collected over the winter months.  Most people are pretty good about patrolling their own

road frontage and keeping it looking neat and tidy, but being a rural township, there are

some long stretches of “country road” that are left unattended.  I see many people out walking,

carrying discarded cans or bags of garbage. I invite everyone, when out walking or biking,

to try to pick up some of the litter.  Bring a garbage bag along, fill it up and if need be,

leave it and come back later with a car and pick up the bag.  It is a noble service to the

township and to all of nature to take it upon yourself to pick up after the litterbugs that

have no respect for the landscape. The act of picking up litter is also a worthwhile family

activity teaching stewardship of the land. On behalf of all the citizens of the town who

use the roads, a big “THANK YOU”  to those who do care and take an active role in keeping

 Black Wolf looking nice.☺

             ZONING PERMITS:  Zoning Permits are issued by Zoning Administrator, Tom Verstegen.

Call the Town Hall Office 688-1404 for zoning information or to set up an appointment with Tom.

Tom is here on Monday & Tuesday evenings, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

SANITARY DISTRICT REPORT:    

            This spring we plan to televise an additional 20% of the Sanitary District’s sewer mains.

This will bring the televising total to 80%. We will also be televising the 28 house and business

laterals that we found discharging clear water during last springs main line televising.

            After televising the first 60% of our sewer mains we have found over 220 gallons per

minute of leaks (mostly through sewer house laterals) and corrected more than 168 gallons

per minute of these discovered leaks.  As an added benefit, the City of Oshkosh treatment

plant calculated that if we reduce our flow to the City by 25%, the annual treatment fees

savings would total more than $17,000.  In addition to helping us protect residents

from sewer system overloads, your cooperation is helping us to keep your sewer users fees low.

            We would like to remind residents that they can save postage by dropping off

their quarterly users fees at the Sanitary District Office. There is a slot in the east door

 of the Sanitary District Office so you can pay them at any time. The Sanitary District

Office is located east of the Town Hall. We ask that you include the payment stub from your

bill with your deposit.   DO NOT pay bills at the Town Hall. __________________________________________________________________________________

 If you have information that could help solve a crime, call the Winnebago County Crime Stoppers

at 1-800-621-CASH (you may remain anonymous).  You could receive up to $1000 cash for your

 information, if it leads to the solving of a crime.                                                                                                                          

Also, a crime prevention flyer, “The Crime Reporter” is available at the Town Hall. The Winnebago

County Sheriff’s

Department prepares these flyers every other month with updated information.                                    

 The Sheriff’s office is collecting cell phones to help crime victims. These can be donated at the

Oshkosh Seniors Center, 200 N. Campbell Road, Oshkosh. Call Deputy Steve Herman at 236-7309

for more information.

.     GARBAGE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION: 

            Veolia (formerly Onyx Waste Services) is responsible for weekly collection of your recyclables

and garbage.  Along with regular garbage, either Paper (newsprint, magazines, cardboard, etc.)

or Co-mingled (tin, aluminum, glass, etc.) recyclables is collected every week. Please refer to the

recycling calendar for the regular collection and holiday pickup dates.

            Contact Veolia (Onyx Waste Services) directly at 800 688-4285 with any questions or problems,

or if you have a question about a special pick-up.

Do you have an old computer, printer, TV or other electronic item and don’t know

what to do with it?  Winnebago County now offers a Recycling option every day!                               

Businesses are required by law to recycle computers.  For households, it’s a choice. 

Choose to recycle and prevent hazardous materials like lead, mercury and other heavy metals

from your electronics from entering your  landfill. Fees will be charged.  Here are a few examples:

$10 for a TV or monitor, $5 for a laptop, CPU, Printer or VCR, $0 for keyboards, mice, speakers,

cords, cell phones. The Winnebago County Transfer Station is located at 105 W Cty Rd Y, Oshkosh.

Call: (920)232-1800.

SPRING BULB & COMPUTER COLLECTION DAY                                                       

Wednesday, April 18, 2007   7:00 a.m.  –   4:00 p.m.                                                                       

Recycle your fluorescent bulbs, ballasts, computers, computer components, cell phones and other

electronics.   Winnebago County Transfer Station - 105 W County Road Y, Oshkosh    Charges do apply. 

 TOWN BURNING POLICY:  There are no ordinances which prevent burning in the Township;

however, please respect your neighbors and observe good safety practices.  

Be especially careful to burn only during calm periods of the day or early evening.

               TOWN OF BLACK WOLF APPAREL:   

            Back by popular demand!  The Town Hall office is once again offering apparel containing

 the Black Wolf logo.  Currently, this is what will be available: a men’s polo shirt with pocket

($15.07), a women’s polo shirt without a pocket ($15.68), hats ($8.44) and a unisex cardigan

with pockets ($26.11).  There will be a variety of colors to choose from.  If you are interested,

please stop by the Town Hall and take a look at the samples and place your order.

Checks will be made payable to Berlin Trophy.  The town does not make any profit from the sale

of these items.  

    ANIMAL CONTROL: Chris Martell, Constable   (Home Phone: 688-2445)

            Spring is upon us once again and it’s time to send out a few reminders about pets.

The Town Dog Ordinance states that dogs must be under control at all times. This doesn’t

mean that the dog needs to be on a leash, but if that’s what is needed to keep a dog under

control, then do so. With that in mind, if your dog does get away, call me at home (688-2445)

so that I can make a note of it and call you back if I get a call or find your dog. If you find a dog

running loose, DO NOT CAPTURE OR HOLD THE DOG!!!. Don’t let it in your garage,

put it in your kennel, tie it up or let a stray in your house! There have been many instances

 that a seemingly friendly dog turns on and harms the person(s) that has captured them.

All stray or strange dogs should be treated with caution and not approached.

            Also, try not to leave food out for animals. If you feed them, they will return.

This applies to dogs and cats. There are no ordinances regarding cats in the Town. I

f you have strays in your area and you want them captured, again, call me at home and I will

 do what I can to capture them. If you trap a cat on your own (without the knowledge

of the Town) you will be responsible for the disposition of the animal.

            All animals are taken to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society. If you take a dog or

cat to the shelter without prior authorization from the Town, you will be charged $35 per

animal (or $35 for a litter of pups or kittens). If your pet has been captured and taken to

the shelter, there is a fee for picking the pet up. Once an animal has been taken to the

shelter, it must be claimed at the shelter. I cannot access the animal once it has been

surrendered. The Oshkosh Area Humane Society’s hours are: Sunday & Monday:

Closed; Tuesday: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Wednesday: Noon - 6 p.m.; Thursday: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.;

 Friday: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Holidays: Closed.

Wishing all of you a safe and happy spring/summer!

 ________________________________________________________________________________________   

 BUILDING PERMITS: Our Building Inspector, Dave Frank, issues Building Permits.

Dave is available at the Town Hall Office on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. 

You may also call Dave directly at his home (920) 233-1999 for building permit questions or problems.

      PERMITS REQUIRED:

________________________________________________________________________________________