UPDATED Town of Doty Statement on the COVID-19 Virus (REV. 5/6/2020)
The town of Doty will continue to operate per County, State and National direction it receives. The Governor has enacted a “stay-at-home” order until May 26th. However, this may continue longer per the CDC. Town government must comply with many limitations to continue to operate (some of which conflict with each other). The items in this notice are accurate and current as of posting (Wednesday, May 6th, 2020.) The state has also issued an easier to read version of the safer at home notice. It can be found at https://evers.wi.gov/Documents/COVID19/English_SaferatHomeFAQ.pdf. Oconto County also issued a travel advisory requesting people NOT travel to their second or seasonal homes. That advisory is on the Oconto county website here: https://www.co.oconto.wi.us/news_and_announcements/?i=603ca5f72af0. The status of events and services is starting to change, please check with the applicable authorities for the most up to date status. {Added some return to normal dates in Recycling, Roads and Recreation}.
Recycle center – The attendant shack is for the attendant only. He is able to assist with unloading of heavy items. Please avoid using the area for ‘social gatherings.’ If there is a line to use an open dumpster or the scrap metal pile, please wait in your vehicle until you can dispose of your materials. No more than 10 people are allowed outside of their vehicles (including the attendant) at any time. The receipt of large items, electronics, tires and other pay items are temporarily suspended. Please hold those items at your residence until May 27th. Exceptions will be made for safety or sanitary reasons (ie. water damages a mattress). Please contact a town supervisor prior to bringing in one of these items. Waste oil collection is also temporarily suspended until the secondary containment is de-watered and the roof repaired. Snow melt due to roof damage in the storm has filled this to the brim and there is no room for overflow oil. This should be corrected soon. Summer hours will start Memorial Day weekend (May 23rd). The dump will also be open Memorial Day from 1 pm to 4 pm. Please remember to have your Doty dump sticker on your windshield.
Town Hall / Town Clerk/treasurer – People needing services should either call or use the ‘contact us’ feature on the town website to conduct town business. We know that not everybody has internet or may have business that must be conducted in person due to documents or signatures so the clerk/treasurer will be available on Tuesdays (10am – 2pm) by appointment ONLY – call first. Business will only be conducted at the hallway sliding window or doorway. The clerk will also be working from home and will conduct business via phone and internet on Fridays (no access to office). Saturday hours are suspended. Starting in June, the clerks hours will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm and by appointment. Other actions will be seen around the hall to promote cleanliness and social distancing. All non-governmental use of town hall (ie. Weddings and other gatherings) are cancelled until June 1st. The Boulder Lake Association Meeting is affected by this. Currently We do not have a rescheduled date for their meeting. Governmental use is restricted to the 50-person limit – actually about 25 due to the size of the hall and 6 foot spacing.
Fire / EMS – operating as normal. No station tours through June 1st. The DNR has suspended ALL burning permits in the state. Campfires for cooking and warming is currently allowed, but are discouraged. As the spring continues and the ground thaws out, an EMERGENCY BURNING RESTRICTION may be enacted by the DNR for portions of Oconto County (this is due to last year’s storm and not the virus). The EBR would BAN ALL outdoor burning including smoking, campfires and severely limit use of grills. When this happens, the Fire Dept tab will be updated as well. Commercial building fire inspections are on hold. We will respond to all 911 calls. When calling dispatch, expect to be asked about any fever or respiratory conditions.
Town Board – Town board meetings will continue as scheduled. The ANNUAL meeting has been postponed to July 14th, after the regular board meeting. Depending on governmental restrictions, it may be moved if required. Due to the safer at home rules, the assessor will not be able to inspect property for storm damages until after the order is lifted. You will probably see the assessor or receive a note from him starting in June. He estimates he has 1-2 months of work to do all inspections. This means the full BOR will not occur until late summer. More information about the open book and BOR will be posted once dates are firmed up.
Recreation – The county closed COUNTY maintained campgrounds. The forest service also closed their campgrounds and dispersed campsites. ATV trails are opening on May 8th. Please be careful in storm damaged areas and maintain social distancing. Conditions may change, so check with the respective entities website, facebook or clerk for current status. The Mountain Fire Tower is also closed.
Roads – Road maintenance will continue (snow plowing, fallen tree removal, sign repair). Vital road work by the town is occuring using social distancing as conditions allow. Please do NOT place piles of brush in the right of way. The town will NOT collect these items and may require you to remove the brush from the right of way. The Riverview brush site is opening May 9th and is available to Doty residents. The town WILL have curb-side chipping for PORTIONS of the town in September. Mailings will be sent to applicable addresses with instructions and timing.later this summer.
The above actions are designed to allow essential town operations while minimizing person to person contact between the public and town employees for everybody’s benefit. The town made it through the wind storm of 2019 and we will make it through the “virus storm” of 2020. Take care of yourselves and look in at your neighbors to ensure they are safe as well.
Doty Town Board