Lake Tomahawk town board looks to regulate mosquito spraying

The town of Lake Tomahawk could very well have in its near future an ordinance that will regulate chemicals used in mosquito control.

“I don’t know how you all feel about it but it’s pretty much an unregulated industry and I don’t necessarily like what they’re doing with some of the chemicals that they’re using,” town chairman George DeMet said at the start of a discussion regarding the issue at the town board’s Aug. 14 meeting.

Town supervisor Lenore Lopez said she’d found reading material about the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in the chemicals. 

“Yes, I saw that as well,” DeMet said. 

“That would be a big concern, too,” Lopez said. 

“I think at the very least ... we should require these companies to be licensed and tell us what they’re doing,” DeMet said.

“And maybe the chemicals that they’re using,” Lopez said. 

“Absolutely,” DeMet agreed. “Everything that they plan on using. We already have an ordinance that does not allow for the spraying of herbicides under the power lines and anywhere else in the town. I see this as a natural progression to look into this particular chemical application. The whole thing bothers me too much.”

The matter will remain on town board meeting agendas for the forseeable future. 

Lark Road CUP follow-up

In a follow-up to recent approval by the Oneida County board’s planning and development committee of a conditional use permit (CUP) application for construction of a large home on Lark Road, the town board heard from Bruce Forsberg regarding concerns about items focused primarily on construction equipment parking and storage during the course of construction as well as the parking of vehicles owned by employees of the contractor and any sub-contractors.

He’d approached the town board at its March 13 meeting indicating his opposition for various reasons to the structure, referred to as a “lodge” by Forsberg and other neighbors. 

The town board recommended denial of a CUP application which was eventually approved by the Oneida County board’s planning and development committee. 

The property the home is to be built on is owned by Michael and Nicole Gerdin, who also have a home nearby.

After hearing the concerns from Forsberg at last week’s town board meeting, DeMet assured him he would make it known there is a town ordinance prohibiting the parking of vehicles on town roads for more than two hours at a time, an ordinance enforceable by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. 

While complaints regarding suspected parking violations should be reported to the sheriff’s office, DeMet suggested if there were suspected violations of the CUP itself, people should first notify Karl Jennrich, Oneida County’s director of planning and zoning. 

Other matters

The town board also at its Aug. 14 meeting:

• Approved a bid of $24,998 from Pitlik and Wick to pave a short portion of Owl Road.

• Conducted a very brief meeting of the electors following the regular meeting in which people voted to demolish the old outhouse at Town Bay Park now that a new restroom facility has been built.

DeMet said Kelk Land Improvement of Woodruff will demolish  the old outhouse for $5,700. 

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].