MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact Don Ystad, 14 Mile Creek Watershed Committee Chair, 262-894-9423 or dystad@gmail.com

 COMMITMENT TO FERTILIZER ORDINANCE

LOCAL AREA PERFERRED APPLICATORS

Rome, WI (March 22, 2019) – The Town of Rome is committed to improving the water quality of the lakes and streams within our boundaries.  As part of this commitment the Town, in conjunction with the 14 Mile Joint Watershed Committee, launched a Preferred Fertilizer Applicator Recognition Program.  Licensed Professional Fertilizer Applicators who provide services in the Town of Rome were asked to join the effort by committing to adhere to the Town’s Fertilizer Ordinance.  Below is a list of preferred applicators, who have pledged to follow best practices for lake quality and signed the commitment to the fertilizer ordinance.

Preferred Fertilizer Applicators:

·         NatureScape

·         Paul’s Lawn Care

·         Rapid Quality Lawn & Landscaping

·         Schalows Nursery

·         Spring-Green Lawn Care

·         Stay Green Sprinkler Systems

If you’ll be using a fertilizer service during the 2019 season, please consider using one these applicators.  If your lawn care provider is not listed, please ask them to sign the commitment.  Any additional companies who sign the commitment will be periodically added to the Preferred Applicator list, which will be kept on the Town of Rome’s web site.  Additionally, if you prefer to apply your own lawn fertilizer, we would strongly encourage you to review the fertilizer ordinance and use the Preferred Applicator methods.    

To review the Fertilizer Ordinance in it’s entirely, please visit https://www.romewi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/9-CHAPTER-09-OFFENSES-AND-NUISANCES.pdf, and scroll to section 9.09.  

Disclaimer – The Town of Rome makes information available on its website and in media releases to enhance public knowledge and to provide a better understanding of the Town and its government.  This release is not advertising for any of the above-listed businesses, and the Town of Rome does not guarantee the work of the companies.  All information contained herein is supplied “as is” and the Town of Rome disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, related to said information, including but not limited to, accuracy, the completeness or suitability of said information, and any implied warranties of any provider or information contained in this release for any particular purpose.

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14 Mile Joint Watershed Committee is a public led advisory committee that was reconfirmed by the Tri-Lakes Management District at its 2017 Annual Meeting.  It is made up of private citizens representing Lakes Camelot, Sherwood, Arrowhead and Petenwell, as well as citizens at large, representatives of the Town of Rome, Wisconsin DNR, and Adams County Land Conservation.  The objective of the committee is to improve water quality in our Town’s lakes and streams, realizing that there are a number of contributing factors including, but not limited to upstream agriculture, shoreline erosion, fertilizer application, septic systems and water flow.

The committee seeks to build upon various groups to partner in its endeavor to improve water quality and the health of the lakes and streams in the 14 Mile Watershed.  Groups identified to lead this effort include the following: Lake Sherwood Property Owners Association, Lake Camelot Property Owners Association, Lake Arrowhead Property Owners Association, Petenwell and Castle Rock Stewards, Town of Rome and Adams County.

Synopsis of the Town of Rome Fertilizer Ordinance    

· Only use lawn fertilizers with 0% phosphorus or other compound containing phosphorus, such as phosphate.  · Only use lawn fertilizers labeled as containing less than 20% slow release nitrogen.  · Don’t apply lawn fertilizer when the ground is frozen.  · Be careful not to apply fertilizer to impervious surfaces including parking lots, roadways, and sidewalks.  · Buffer zones of 35 feet are required by state law for lakes, streams, wetland and ponds and fertilizer should not be applied to the buffer zones.  · Lawn clippings cannot be discharged into any drainage ditch, lake, stream or creek.

Remember these Best Practices in Fertilizing your Lawn     

· Soil tests should be done every three years to support fertilizer applications.  · Lake friendly slow release granular fertilizer should be used; quick release granular or liquid fertilizer should not be used.  · Nitrogen applications should be limited to 1 pound and 8 ounces per 1,000 square feet per application.  · Applications of lime will assist plants to take up more nutrients.  · Limit fertilizer applications to three times per year unless soil samples call for additional applications.  · If clippings are not bagged, two annual applications should be considered.  · If lake water is used for irrigation, two annual applications should be considered.  · Fertilizer should not be applied within 24 hours of forecasted significant rainfall.  Irrigation systems should not be operated within 24 hours of a fertilizer application except for a lite application to introduce the fertilizer to the ground surface.  

The Town of Rome is currently accepting applications for three citizen appointments and two alternate citizen positions to the Board of Appeals.  Residency in the Town the Rome is required and applicants must be at least 18 years of age.  Duties of the board are located in Town Ordinance and Wisconsin State Statutes, which are included below.  The appointment would be for a three-year term, expiring in May 2021, and are eligible for a per diem.  

Anyone interested in applying should contact Town Administrator Jami Gebert at gebert@romewi.com or by phone at 715-325-8025 for a Committee Application.  Applicants should attach a resume to the application form.

(1)  BOARD OF APPEALS: 

(a)  Appointment: A Board of Appeals is hereby created pursuant to sec. 62.23(7) (e) Wis. Stats.  The Board of Appeals shall be organized as required under Sec. 62.23 (7) (e) of the Wis. Stats.

(b)  Powers: The Board of Appeals shall have the duties, powers and authority delegated to such bodies in sec. 62.23 (7) (e) Wis. Stats. and in the Town Code.

(c)  Records: The Zoning Administrator shall draft and maintain records of all actions of the Board of Appeals as approved by the secretary of the body.

Wisconsin State Statutes 62.23 (7) (e):

 (e) Board of appeals. 

1.     The council which enacts zoning regulations pursuant to this section shall by ordinance provide for the appointment of a board of appeals, and shall provide in such regulations that said board of appeals may, in appropriate cases and subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards, make special exceptions to the terms of the ordinance in harmony with its general purpose and intent and in accordance with general or specific rules therein contained. Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude the granting of special exceptions by the city plan commission or the common council in accordance with the zoning regulations adopted pursuant to this section which were in effect on July 7, 1973 or adopted after that date.

 2.     The board of appeals shall consist of 5 members appointed by the mayor subject to confirmation of the common council for terms of 3 years, except that of those first appointed one shall serve for one year, 2 for 2 years and 2 for 3 years. The members of the board shall serve at such compensation to be fixed by ordinance, and shall be removable by the mayor for cause upon written charges and after public hearing. The mayor shall designate one of the members as chairperson. The board may employ a secretary and other employees. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms of members whose terms become vacant. The mayor shall appoint, for staggered terms of 3 years, 2 alternate members of such board, in addition to the 5 members above provided for. Annually, the mayor shall designate one of the alternate members as 1st alternate and the other as 2nd alternate. The 1st alternate shall act, with full power, only when a member of the board refuses to vote because of interest or when a member is absent. The 2nd alternate shall so act only when the 1st alternate so refuses or is absent or when more than one member of the board so refuses or is absent. The above provisions, with regard to removal and the filling of vacancies, shall apply to such alternates.

3.     The board shall adopt rules in accordance with the provisions of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section. Meetings of the board shall be held at the call of the chairperson and at such other times as the board may determine. The chairperson, or in the chairperson’s absence, the acting chairperson, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All meetings of the board shall be open to the public. The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the board and shall be a public record.