Lake Holcombe Town Board - Sanitary District has a handle on the future

Jeff Anders agreed to be on the Lake Holcombe Sanitary Board, to fill a vacancy, and was appointed Jan. 11, by the Lake Holcombe Town Board. Anders and the other two members will start with what needs to be accomplished first, then move forward in overarching goals for the sanitary district. Photo by Joy Dain

By Ginna Young

Since there’s been a complete turnover on the Lake Holcombe Sanitary Board, the town board stepped in to make decisions until sanitary members are found. Luckily for the town board, they have had three people step up to the plate.

During the regular town board meeting Jan. 11, Jeff Anders and Deidra Wichtendahl were appointed to the sanitary board, while Tracey Larson agreed to stay on to get the new regime going.

“It will be, I’m sure, not an easy task to get things done,” said town board chairman Brian Guthman.

Guthman reported that they met with the DNR about the notices of non-compliance, identifying four areas that need to be taken care of within a short period: standard operation of spring runoff; calibration of pH testing; implementing discharge monitoring; and a maintenance recording program.

Also discussed, was an increase in the user charge, but it was agreed that needs to be determined by the sanitary board.

The town board also discussed the Haas-Gulich gravel pit, who are working with the DNR to make a pond. The pit is in process of making sure the impact to wetlands is not an issue.

Town board supervisor Doug Olson mentioned that he would like to see if the gravel pit owners will be willing to go ahead with what they promised to do when the pit was started, which is blacktop or surfacing of their driveway. Now would be an advantageous time to do so, as the town is redoing that roadway.

“A gravel pit is a good thing to have here, it’s been advantageous from a cost standpoint,” said Olson.