Notes from the Grove

Welcome to the Notes from the Grove, providing Liberty Grove residents and visitors tid bits of information about goings on in town government.

• Dan Fedderly gave a presentation to the Town Board and interested parties on what is involved in designating roads as Rustic Roads. Residents on Isle View, Skaugum, and Northern Door Roads have petitioned the town to name those roads as Rustic Roads. Fedderly is on the Rustic Roads Board, a professional engineer, and a registered land surveyor. He walked the roads with representatives of the property owners and town officials. In his presentation he indicated he felt the roads would qualify for designation.

• To qualify for the Rustic Road program, a road

– should have outstanding natural features along its borders such as rugged terrain, native vegetation, native wildlife, or include open areas with agricultural vistas which singly or in combination uniquely set this road apart from other roads.

– should be a lightly traveled local access road, one which serves the adjacent property owners and those wishing to travel by auto, bicycle, or hiking for purposes of recreational enjoyment of its rustic features.

– should be one not scheduled nor anticipated for major improvements which would change its rustic characteristics.

– should have, preferably, a minimum length of two miles and, where feasible, should provide a completed closure or loop, or connect to major highways at both ends of the route.

• A Rustic Road may be dirt, gravel, or paved road. It may be one-way or two-way. It may also have bicycle or hiking paths adjacent to or incorporated in the roadway area.

• The maximum speed limit on a Rustic Road has been established by law at 45 mph. The local governing authority may establish a speed limit as low as 30 mph.

• Additional information on Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads is available online. The Town Board has indicated it is in favor of the Rustic Roads Program but several issues need to be resolved. Isle View Road is currently in a deteriorating condition. The town is working with the residents to address the needed improvements on the road but with the least impact on the area.

• The town has received a report from Miller engineers and scientists on the plantings at the Ellison Bay Community Beach. The Door County Soil and Water Conservation Department indicated concerns over some of the plantings after their inspection of the area. The Board and Parks and Properties Committee will review the report.

• A reminder that Committees are in the process of budget planning for 2011. Their meetings dates and times are posted on the town website. The final hearing on the budget is scheduled for Monday, November 15. It will begin at 6 pm in the Town Hall.

To contact John Lowry regarding the Town of Liberty Grove or information found within this column, email [email protected] or call the Town of Liberty Grove at 920.854.2934.