The city of Oconto Falls will consult with a forester to manage the wooded area at River Island Golf Course and at four other city-owned parcels.
Speaking at the City Council meeting Aug. 11, City Attorney Larry Jeske recommended working with a forester.
“To preserve the health of the forest, there has to be a selective cutting,” he said.
Cutting trees also was viewed as a way to cash in on strong timber prices.
City Administrator Vicki Roberts recommended the logging occur now, “when it’s worth something.”
“I agree. It needs to be managed,” said Kelvin Johnson, a member of the River Island board of directors. “There’s some big timber that’s going to die off if we don’t cut it. That should come out of there.”
In June, Johnson spoke to the City Council about developing a second nine holes at River Island within the next few years. The extra nine holes were part of the original plan for the golf course, which was established using land given to the city by the Wisconsin Michigan Power Company in 1940. The land was deeded with the restriction it be used only for recreational purposes. In 1960, the city gave the property, through a quit claim deed, to the River Island group, which is a nonprofit organization, to be used as a public golf course.
River Island is a nine-hole golf course located on 64 acres, with the option of 18 holes if golfers use the alternative tee boxes and complete the course a second time.
Johnson said the golf course can save money by having the timber cut, not just for forest management, but also to accommodate a second nine holes.
“Why not mark the fairways out and cut all that at once?” he said.
According to Johnson, most of the seven board members are in favor of adding nine holes, but the 100-plus stockholders have yet to be consulted. The organization holds one annual meeting a year, in the spring.
Alderman Kevin Rusch said the Department of Natural Resources is willing to help the city develop a forestry plan.
“If the golf course portion of this doesn’t fly, I still think the city should do some maintenance,” he said.
Because the land for the golf course was deeded to the city by the Wisconsin Michigan Power Company, Jeske said the city should inform the power company, as it presently exists, of the city’s plans for timber cutting. The power company should also be told how the city will use the timber sale revenue, which wasn’t specified by the council, Jeske said.
Jeske recommended the city also selectively cut trees on the four parcels the city owns to the west of the golf course.
