INFORMATIONAL/QUESTION AND
ANSWER MEETING
FOR TOWN OF
AFFECTED BY TORNADO – APRIL 25, 2011
Town of
Removing of brush was questioned. The Highway Department will be picking up brush April 26th. Site will then be closed. Brush and clean wood can be taken to the landfill at no charge. Other items are being accepted at a reduced fee of $5.00 until May 1st. This will be revaluated at that time. The DNR does not allow any burning of brush at this time and when the time comes that it is allowed a permit will have to be obtained.
Contact Kevin Kleinschmidt at the Forestry Department for tree and stump removable as this is the property owner’s responsibility to dispose of. 715-539-1034. Leave a message.
To contact Brian Sladek of the Emergency Government call 715-536-6228 and also leave a message.
When road limits are lifted Peterson will be able to dispose of concrete from basements. Landfill will be accepting at a reduced rate until May 18th and then they will review and may extend. Concrete cannot contain insulation or any reinforcement bars. Landfill is open daily from 7:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. and the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 8:00 A.M. to Noon.
County permits are still needed to rebuild or make repairs, however fee has been waived until October. Zoning should be called regarding septic systems as state requirements, rules and regulations must be followed.
Also call Zoning ahead of time if you intend to use a trailer or camper on your property.
In regard to tax bills – Property will remain to be assessed at the January 2, 2011 assessment as the Department of Revenue cannot make any concessions. January 2, 2012 will be the changing of assessment amounts. Contact your representatives in this regard. Bill stated he has Tom Tiffany working on it.
Response to the Lost and Found collection site may have to be discontinued as items are not forthcoming. Residents could use the Town website or the Merrill radio station swap shop telling what items they are missing and just give a phone number. It was also suggested that possibly the fire station could be used as a drop off center.
The Merrill Fire Department will be providing new mailboxes and installation, free of charge to anyone who has lost theirs. Call Stacy at 715-539-8395 before May 6th if you want to take advantage of this generous offer. If you are missing fire numbers the Board should be contacted or a message left at the Town Hall, 715-536-4383.
Town will be filing for State Emergency Assistance. Art Lersch of the Extension Office reported a Public Hearing will be held in the Council Chambers April 26h at 6:00 P.M. that would be beneficial to the uninsured and underinsured. The State Department of Commerce has available loans at 0% interest. He also reported 76% of the homes were insured. 22 homes were totally destroyed by the tornado, 22 with maximum damage, 13 with minor damage, and 7 with very minor damage.
It was suggested blacktopping of the Community Center parking lot should possibly placed on hold. Money for this project has already been budgeted and cost will not be decreasing.
Question arose as to where the monies collected are going? The Merrill Chamber is trying to find out what needs are not being met for use of some of the funds. It would also be useful to know who is in need of what. They are presenting working on a list of needs. The Chamber could also be called regarding a way to haul brush to the landfill. Donations of bottled water, garbage bags, cleaning supplies, etc. have been dropped off at River Valley Bank and the items can be picked up at the bank. These are for use by everyone affected.
Mark Wallace of St. John’s Church was in charge of coordinating the volunteers and stated priorities were met by the end of the first week, with the help of the DNR. There are still persons wanting to be of help, but need to know where to go so if you have a need, call Ron Kautz at 715-218-0103 or Mark at 715-218-7501. The volunteer effort will go on until volunteers quit coming.
PCA of Tomahawk will be chipping the brush at the
Meeting concluded at 7:45 P.M.