The future town hall building construction for the Town of Thorp is back on track! After rejecting all bids initially and following the resignation of former Chairman Jerry Jacks, the Town of Thorp Board awarded Horst Construction of Withee with the lowest bid of $556,834.00 as the contractor for the new town hall building at the July 9th meeting. Henry Barry of Ratsch Engineering read the sealed bids at the board of supervisors meeting on June 24th where eight bids were submitted. The next two lowest bids came from Pebble Creek Construction in Sheldon at $619,500 and Straightline Construction in Owen at $681,516.
Chairman Louis Andruszkiewicz informed the Board that he would not sign the new Thorp Area Fire District Ordinance that was sent to be adopted by the Town of Thorp. “I don’t think I’m going to sign it. I think I’m going to write on it what I think. How the hell do we know what any of their charges are on there?” said Andruszkiewicz. “They’re doing whatever they want to do already.”
The concern of Andruszkiewicz and the rest of the board was the lack of listed billing prices and the ambiguity in Section 3 of the ordinance that stated, “The Thorp Area Fire District Board of Directors may make rules or regulations and from time to time may amend, revoke or add rules and regulations, not consistent with this Section, as they may deem necessary or expedient in respect to billing for these mitigation rates or the collection thereof.”
“The old ordinance said they couldn’t charge more than $500 per fire,” Clerk Arlene Kodl reminded the board of the former 1995 ordinance as the Board wondered where the prices were listed on the current ordinance to be charged per fire service call. “I think they should let you know when they’re doing it. If they’re changing something, right?” commented Clerk Kodl.
“The Board of Directors should let the townships know what they’re plans are for the rates before,” agreed Supervisor Bob Kodl. “They’re playing with our money.”
“We should know what they are charging,” commented Supervisor Andy Slowiak.
“We should know what the hell is going on. We’re paying for fire department,” said Andruszkiewicz. He went on to praise the excellence of the Thorp Area Fire Department. “They are a great fire department. I’ve got nothing against them. They’re probably the best in the State of Wisconsin probably.” Still he questioned, “Where is this money all coming and where is it going to?”
“I’m gonna talk to them,” Andruszkiewicz said when he declined to sign the ordinance. He added, “I have nothing against the fire department at all. I think they are an excellent fire department.”
The Board agreed that they need further information and there should be specific prices listed so the township will know what will be charged for each service.

Appointments
Bob Lawcewicz has been appointed as the new relief driver for the Town of Thorp. Andruszkiewicz said, “We need somebody especially mainly in wintertime.”
Todd Wundrow, Desilyn Tyznik, and Barb Rice have been reappointed to the Plan Commission for the Town of Thorp.
Mike Barna took the official oath of the Town of Thorp and was sworn in as the assessor by Clerk Arlene Kodl.