There is a lot of concern with absentee voting today for a lot of different reasons.  Please be assured that we are doing whatever we can to make the process work seamlessly.  On election day, we have taken lots of steps to safeguard everyone.  We have all poll-workers behind sneeze shields, all pollworkers are masked, gloves are available for the pollworkers, all pens are sanitized between voters, hand sanitizer is available for both pollworkers and voters, and pollworkers sanitize all surfaces between voters.  If you come in to vote and see anything that concerns you, please bring it to our attention.  Anyone who has requested an absentee is welcome to physically bring their voted ballot back in to the Town Office when I am here instead of mailing it in. 

"In-person" absentee voting - where you come in to my office and ask to vote absentee that day - is only available from October 20th to October 30th.  I am not allowed to do in-person before October 20th.  If you would like to do this and are unable to come in to cast a ballot in the afternoons, please give me a call and we can make other arrangements.  

Also, I will have absentee applications out for those who are interested in voting absentee for the two spring elections in 2021 (February and April).  These will include our local elections (town board and Clerk/Treasurer).  Paper copies of those absentee requests will be available on election day or from my office prior to that.  You can also go on-line and request absentee ballots for next year, but will probably need to wait until after the November election.  You can request either one or both of those elections for next year.  You can also go to https://myvote.wi.gov/ and request an absentee ballot from there.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have.  You are welcome to call the office at (715) 542-4531 or my cell phone at (715) 892-7049. 

           At the Town Board meeting held on Tuesday, August 18th, Kevin Rasmussen was appointed to fill the term of Vern Wiggenhauser.  He will then have the option to run for the position in the Spring Election for Town Officials.  Thank you to the other folks who expressed an interest in this position!  Welcome back to the Town Board Kevin!

Public Service Bulletin:
I understand all the conflict about absentee voting and the concerns that folks have.  Right now, I have approximately 200 absentee requests out of just over 400 voters in the Town of Plum Lake.  Because of COVID, when anyone requested absentee ballots earlier this year, I encouraged them to request absentees for the rest of the year because no one knew what was going to be happening.
I had almost 50 absentee ballots for this last election that were not returned.  That's around $60 that the town could have saved.  I absolutely don't mind sending out the absentee ballots, but I would really appreciate it if folks would let me know ahead of time that they plan on coming in to vote that day instead.  I have had several folks tell me already that they want to come in to vote in November and not to send out their absentee ballot.  I will be getting and sending out the absentees for the November election in late September so it would be awesome if I could hear from folks soon if they won't need that absentee ballot!  Send an email or call the office please! 
On the other hand, if you want to vote absentee and have not yet requested that ballot, please let me know and I can get you set up!
Just an FYI - the Town of Plum Lake was, as usual, the best turnout for the August Primary out of all the towns in Vilas County!  We were at 47% and the closest town behind us was at 39%!!!  Plum Lake ROCKS!!

            https://www.vilascountywi.gov/Elections/08-11-20%20turnout.pdf

At the Annual Meeting held tonight, May 26th, the electors in attendance (51 of them), approved replacing three buildings:

                The Town Garage, the Sand/Salt Shed and the Rec. Building/Community Center

The Town Board's next step will be to consult with Blue Design Group to find out how to start the building process. 

A meeting has tentatively been set for Thursday, May 28th, at 4:00. 

(At this time, the Town Board will also meet to Adjourn the Board of Review to a later date.)

Thanks to all who attended the Annual Meeting and participated in this process.

  Shall the Town of Plum Lake adopt the following resolution?

  "Resolved, that "We the People" of the Town of Plum Lake, seek to obtain guidance on two issues that affect our elections and

  our democratic institutions.  The two issues we wish to get public input on are regarding corporate personhood rights and

  the influence of unlimited political contributions and spending.  We are asking the electors of the Town of Plum Lake if they

  support the passage of an amendment to the United States Constitution stating:

  1.  Only human beings are endowed with constitutional rights - not corporations, unions, non-profits or other artificial

       entities, and

  2.  Money is not speech, and therefore limiting political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting speech."

   ELECTION RESULTS AS OF APRIL 13, 2020 ARE (for April 7th Election):

       YES:  189 votes            NO:  41 votes

           Many of you may have heard that Governor Evers suspended the election until June 9th.

           At this time, under direction of the Wisconsin Elections Coomission, we are continuing to plan

           for the election to be held tomorrow, April 7th.  I am truly sorry for any confusion as I assure you

           that I am also confused!  I will check one last time before I leave for the day (around 6:30 pm) to see if

           there are any updates.  Otherwise, I will be here between 6 - 6:30 am and will check again then.

           As of right now - plan on the polls being open!

To protect our town employees, until further notice, the recycle station in Star Lake is closed.  There is no dumpster there in the winter - - No trash, recyclable or not - - may be dropped off at that site.  The Sayner site will be open on Saturdays as usual.  There will be no attendant on duty, and there will be no charge.  The town board asks that everyone refrain from abusing this change in program during these extraordinary times.  Remember also, that the Vilas County landfill is open during its normal hours.  They do not change by the bag, but rather a small, set charge for your trash drop-offs.

Thank you for your cooperation.

         I will be out of the office for the Wisconsin Towns Association District Meeting

                            and Training on Friday, January 24, 2020.