(Press Release) As Waushara County works to recover from the severe storms of September 2, 2011, many residents are in the process of assessing damage, cleaning their property of downed trees and limbs, working with insurance companies on claims, and making plans to repair or rebuild their homes and outbuildings.

The Waushara County Land Conservation and Zoning Office would like to take this opportunity to remind residents to be extremely cautious when clearing debris from your property. Severe injuries can occur from falling debris or snapping of trees when pressure changes occur while cutting through the trunk or branches. There are numerous tree removal companies in the area that can be of assistance as well. For large areas of woods that are damaged, a consultation with a forester may be in order. They can best advise you on how to clear damaged timber from your property and what the best options are for sale or disposal.

We realize many of the trees damaged or destroyed were along our county’s beautiful shorelines. Keep in mind that State and County regulations provide protections for a natural vegetative buffer along all shorelines. These protections are meant to slow water runoff and nutrient transfer into the waterway, help maintain the natural scenic beauty of our waterways, and greatly enhance the water quality of our lakes and streams.

If you have storm damaged or destroyed woody vegetation along your waterfront property, please have it removed carefully, while disturbing the ground as little as possible, and then replace the vegetation that had to be removed with other suitable species of trees and/or shrubs. It is what the law requires, and will go a long ways in helping your shoreline and waterbody recover from the latest round of severe weather. If you have any questions about these regulations or would like assistance with suitable species of trees or shrubs to plant, please contact the Waushara County Land Conservation and Zoning Office at (920) 787-0453.

When it comes to repairing or rebuilding structures on your property, please be wary of contractors who knock at your door. As with any person that works for you, they should be registered with the State of Wisconsin, and show their state registration card. You should always obtain a written contract which includes a start and completion date, warranty information, and who will be responsible for obtaining permits. Then, make sure all permits and erosion control measures are in place before construction begins. For a list of contractors that commonly work in the area and are familiar with the permitting and inspection process, please look on the Waushara County website at www.co.waushara.wi.us or contact our office at (920) 787-0453 and we can mail our contractor list to you.

Structures damaged or destroyed in the storm that will be repaired or replaced may fall under special statutory exemptions contained in Wisconsin Statutes 59.69. This rule allows for non-conforming structures to be repaired or rebuilt to the same size, location, and use that they had immediately before the damage or destruction occurred, provided the damage or destruction is the result of natural causes such as violent winds. A nonconforming structure is one that does not meet the setback requirements of the Waushara County Code such as side lot, road or water setbacks. A non-conforming use is one which is not normally permitted in the zone that the structure is located in. Our office would be happy to verify your structure qualifies for such an exemption should it be necessary. Please feel free to contact us via phone or email at lcdzoning.courthouse@co.waushara.wi.us to set up an appointment for verification and re-building of any non-conforming structure.

Keep in mind, the aforementioned statutory exemption does not exempt landowners from obtaining required permits. A land use permit is required from the Waushara County Zoning Office if construction will exceed $1000 in value OR the construction area is 100 square feet or more. If you have any questions on the permit process, or if a permit is needed for your project, feel free to contact the Zoning Office at 920-787-0453. You may also come into the office on the second floor of the courthouse to apply in person. It is a good idea to bring pictures with you so we can better understand your project and properly assist you in the rebuilding process. If necessary, our staff would be happy to meet you on your property to answer questions and go over all your options. Just call to arrange a meeting time.

Finally, any repairs or replacements of dwellings or public buildings that include structural components such as decks, porches, foundations, and roofs; or repairs and/or upgrades to electrical, heating or plumbing systems are also required to obtain permits from the building inspector. These permits include inspections at various stages of construction to insure all work done is in accordance with state building codes. If you have any questions regarding uniform dwelling code or commercial permits, please contact John Siebert, the local building inspector, at (920) 787-6510 or stop by on the third floor of the courthouse during office hours, which are weekdays from 8--10:30 a.m.

We are once again truly thankful that no one was hurt during the latest batch of storms and wish everyone the best as they deal with the difficult task of rebuilding and replanting.