By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
After several months of review and scrutiny, Town of Waterford officials have set in motion a plan to revise an ordinance pertaining to pier construction.
After a thorough vetting from members of the Plan Commission, the Town Board on Jan. 11 minted the ordinance, which calls for implementing a $150 permit fee to construct a pier. If town officials decide against issuing a permit, half of the amount – $75 – will be reimbursed to the applicant.
As with any accessory structure to a main dwelling, the town has historically required property owners obtain a permit to construct a pier. Piers also are subject to safety and structural inspection.
But the cost and manpower involved in this process has been extensive by town officials, which sparked the discussion of how much a permit fee should cost.
In addition to paying the permit fee, property owners given the green light to construct a pier will be required to provide documentation — including photographs — to ensure the necessary safety mechanisms have been put in place.
Enforcing the ordinance has been a topic of concern that has cropped up throughout the extensive conversation. During a November discussion, Town Supervisor Jan Alvey said police and other town officials would need to review complaints as they funnel in.
“If we don’t enforce the laws, what good is it going to do?” Alvey said at the time.
The town’s pier ordinance in its entirety spans 12 pages and includes provisions on where such structures can be placed, how long they can be and the types of building materials that can be used.
The ordinance applies to riparian owners living along Tichigan Lake and the Fox River.
In other business Jan. 11, the Town Board:
- Heard a report on the results of the Tichigan Lake Lions Club’s fishing jamboree in early January. A total of $4,900 was raised from the event, which was in its 12th year.
- Tabled a request to grant a conditional-use permit to the owners of Parkview Sand and Gravel. A representative from the company was not present at the town’s Plan Commission or Town Board meetings in January.
Town Chairman Tom Hincz said a number of outstanding issues, stemming from a review in August, continue to permeate around the property, including setbacks around the quarry and shielding mechanisms for abutting property owners.
- Granted a conditional-use permit to the owners of Payne and Dolan and Super Mix. The two entities annually seek a permit for extractive operations in the town.
- Discussed the cost of road salt this winter, which has been on the rise from prior years. Town officials peg the current amount at about $63 per ton. With gas prices down, however, the Town Board was not concerned about the rising salt prices.
• Discussed a collaborative effort with the county to install a bike path along portions of Highway 164, near Washington School.
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