Town of Whitewater

John’s Disposal provides the following services:

• Garbage and recycling on a weekly basis.
• Electronic pick up is allowed one time per month up to 12 times per year. An appointment must be made with John’s directly.  This counts as a bulk pick up for the month.
• Bulk pick up is allowed once per month up to 12x per year – you must call John’s to arrange for this service.

You may select bulk or electronics, but not both, in one month.

All homes in the Town are serviced by John’s Disposal. Refuse and recycling are picked up weekly. The pick up for bulk or electronics is the only time items do not have to be placed in one of John’s containers. The Whitewater Town solid waste ordinance (click here to read the solid waste ordinance) states that no items should be put out more than 24 hours prior to pick up and no later than 6:00am on the day of pick up.

When a new house is is ready for occupancy, contact the Clerk at 262-473-4639 so refuse & recycling can be started and John’s Disposal can deliver the totes you will need for pick up. Complaints or questions regarding pick up should be made to John’s Disposal at 262-473-4700.

Garbage and Recycling Collection Schedule

Click here for a Recycling Flyer listing all recyclable materials.

TV’s and electronics are collected in the bulk collections. Contact John’s (262-473-4700) to schedule your monthly bulk pick up.

The following items are banned from landfills and incinerators in Wisconsin and should be recycled:
- Televisions
- Computers (desktop, laptop, netbook and tablet computers)
- Desktop printers (including those that scan, fax and/or copy)
- Computer monitors
- Other computer accessories (including mice, keyboards and speakers)
- DVD players, VCRs and DVRs
- Fax machines
- Cell phones

NO NEEDLES SHOULD BE PUT WITH GARBAGE OR RECYCLING. There are containers made for needle disposal, check with your doctor or hospital.

Weeds:
• If the weeds are invasive species, then they should be bagged, labeled and put in the garbage. This allows the John's driver to know why it's being brought to the landfill and ensures they won't for any reason bring these to a composting site.
• If the weeds are non-invasive, then they should be composted in a compost-site. Residents are also allowed to dump yard waste (including non-invasive weeds) at the John's facility on 107 Hwy U.

There is NO dumping of any material at the Town Hall.

Helpful links and publications:
Burning Information
Recycling Information
E-cycle collector list
Burning garbage
Recycling plastic & film
Wisconsin Recycles

Background information on why it is important to e-cycle:
E-waste is one of the fastest growing parts of municipal solid waste worldwide. People have more electronic devices than they did in the past and they are replacing them at an ever-faster rate. Electronics contain valuable reusable materials, including plastics, metals and glass. Recycling or reusing these materials lessens environmental impacts and economic costs by reducing the need for virgin materials in new products.

Electronics also contain harmful materials, including lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, other heavy metals and chemical flame retardants. When improperly disposed of, these chemicals can pollute our soil and water and impact human health.

Improperly handled e-waste also poses health risks to workers in the United States and in developing countries. Many old electronics are recycled into new electronics. To see what happens when electronics are recycled, watch the video “What Happens When I E-Cycle” at dnr.wi.gov, search “ecycle.”

Fireworks: You must obtain a permit from the Town to use fireworks. Please call the Town Hall at 262-473-4639.

Building Permits: State Law requires a building permit to ensure all State Codes are followed. Additional information is available under the "Building Permits" tab.

Operator License Bartender License: State Law requires all bartender's to complete an application, pay a $25 fee, and be approved by the Whitewater Town Board. Click here to download the blank application and instructions.

Mailbox Damage Reimbursement Request: The Town of Whitewater will consider claims for mailboxes damaged when struck by Town equipment performing snow plowing in the right-of-way. The Town will consider reimbursement up to $75 towards the costs to repair or replace mailboxes and/or posts that have been directly hit by Town equipment (not snow or ice being pushed against the mailbox), which were in good condition, and which were installed and maintained in conformance with U.S.P.S. specifications for minimum height and setback.

The Town will not pay claims for mailboxes or posts damaged along Town streets when the Town has determined that:
1. The mailbox and/or post were improperly installed or maintained or were not in good condition;
2. The mailbox was not of a standard design or not placed in conformance with U.S.P.S. specifications even though it might have been damaged by Town equipment;
3. The weight of plowed snow or ice resulted in the damage to the mailbox and/or support structure; or
4. The Town representative determines that a force other than Town equipment caused the damage.
5. Newspaper boxes will not be repaired, replaced, or reinstalled by the Town.
To read the full mailbox damage policy, click here.
To download the claim form, click here.

Local government No-Fee Application for IoH and Ag CMV: An operator is required to apply for a no-fee permit from the maintaining authority of the road on which the IoH/Ag CMV is being operated on. The applications can be downloaded by clicking the links below. Additional information can be found at: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/business/ag/permits.htm
No Fee Permit Application for Implements of Husbandry (IoH) – Local Government (MV2582)
No Fee Permit Application for Agricultural Commercial Vehicles (Ag CMV) – Local Government (MV2583)

Building Inspector / Building Permits: Building Permits are a requirement of the State of Wisconsin, Walworth County and Town of Whitewater.  Building Permits for all structures including new homes, storage, commercial, and agricultural use, including any new construction, extensive remodeling, electrical, plumbing, heating & air, pools, decks and additions. A penalty will be imposed for starting any type of construction without first obtaining a permit.

All permits are issued by appointment only.  For an appointment with the building inspector, please call Building Inspections Services: 608-921-1891. Jon Mesler.  jon.mesler@gmail.com

Commercial Building Inspections are handled by the State of Wisconsin, DSPS-Division of Industry Services.  Find the State Building Inspector contact information at https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/Contacts.aspx.

Assessor:  If you wish to speak to or make an appointment with the town assessor, please call Municipal Group; Ryan Kernosky, 715-204-4563

The Town of Whitewater is under Walworth County zoning restrictions. Property owners contemplating zoning change, conditional use or variance changes, should first contact the Walworth County Land Management office (262-741-4972) to determine the type of change needed, then contact the Town of Whitewater Clerk/Treasurer Jorja Boiley (262-473-46390) or Email: clerk.treaas@townofwhitewaterwi.gov to get on the agenda for the next Town Board Meeting. Contact Jorja at least one week prior to the next Town Board meeting, which is usually the second Wednesday of the month, to get on the agenda.

Notice of Open Book and Board of Review

Pursuant to Sec. 70.45 of Wis. Statutes the assessment roll of the year 2024 assessment will be open for examination at a date and time to be determined as of 12-27-2023. The Open Book event is held at the Whitewater Town Hall, W8590 Willis Ray Road. Instructional material about the assessment and board of review procedures will be available at that time for information on how to file an objection and the board of review procedures under Wisconsin Law.

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Review for the Town of Whitewater, Walworth County, Wisconsin, shall meet at a time to be determined at a later date effective 12-27-2023. at the Whitewater Town Hall, W8590 Willis Ray Road.

Please be advised of the following requirements to appear before the board of review and procedural requirements if appearing before the board:

1. No person will be allowed to appear before the board of review, to testify to the board by telephone, or to contest the amount of any assessment of real or personal property if the person has refused a reasonable written request by certified mail of the assessor to enter onto property to conduct an exterior view of such property being assessed.
2. After the first meeting of the board of review and before the board's final adjournment, no person who is scheduled to appear before the board of review may contact or provide information to a member of the board about the person's objection, except at a session of the board. Open book shall occur no less than 7 days prior to the board of review.
3. The board of review may not hear an objection to the amount or valuation of property unless, at least 48 hours before the board's first scheduled meeting, the objector provides to the board's clerk written or oral notice of an intent to file an objection, except that upon a showing of good cause and the submission of a written objection, the board shall waive that requirement during the first 2 hours of the board's first scheduled meeting, and the board may waive that requirement up to the end of the 5th day of the session or up to the end of the final day of the session if the session is less than 5 days with proof of extraordinary circumstances for failure to meet the 48-hour notice requirement and failure to appear before the board of review during the first 2 hours of the first scheduled meeting.
4. Objections to the amount or valuation of property shall first be made in writing and filed with the clerk of the board of review within the first 2 hours of the board's first scheduled meeting, except that, upon evidence of extraordinary circumstances, the board may waive that requirement up to the end of the 5th day of the session or up to the end of the final day of the session if the session is less than 5 days. The board may require objections to the amount or valuation of property to be submitted on forms approved by the Department of Revenue, and the board shall require that any forms include stated valuations of the property in question. Persons who own land and improvements to that land may object to the aggregate valuation of that land and improvements to that land, but no person who owns land and improvements to that land may object only to the valuation of that land or only to the valuation of improvements to that land. No person may be allowed in any action or proceedings to question the amount or valuation of property unless the written objection has been filed and that person in good faith presented evidence to the board in support of the objections and made full disclosure before the board, under oath, of all of that person's property liable to assessment in the district and the value of that property. The requirement that objections be in writing may be waived by express action of the board.
5. When appearing before the board of review, the objecting person shall specify in writing the person's estimate of the value of the land and of the improvements that are the subject of the person's objection and specify the information that the person used to arrive at that estimate.
6. No person may appear before the board of review, testify to the board by telephone, or object to a valuation if that valuation was made by the assessor or the objector using the income method of valuation, unless no later than 7 days before the first meeting of the board of review the person supplies the assessor with all the information about income and expenses, as specified in the assessor's manual under s. 73.03 (2a), Wis. stats., that the assessor requests. The Town of Whitewater has an ordinance for the confidentiality of information about income and expenses that is provided to the assessor under this paragraph that provides exceptions for persons using information in the discharge of duties imposed by law or the duties of their officer or by order of a court. The information that is provided under this paragraph, unless a court determines before the first meeting of the board of review that it is inaccurate, is not subject to the right of inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1), Wis. Stats.
7. The board shall hear upon oath, by telephone, all ill or disabled persons who present to the board a letter from a physician, surgeon, or osteopath that confirms their illness or disability. No other persons may testify by telephone unless the Board, in its discretion, has determined to grant a property owner’s or their representative’s request to testify under oath by telephone or written statement.
8. No person may appear before the board of review, testify to the board by telephone, or contest the amount of any assessment unless, at least 48 hours before the first meeting of the board, or at least 48 hours before the objection is heard if the objection is allowed under s.70.47 (3) (a), Wis. stats., that person provides to the clerk of the board of review notice as to whether the person will ask for the removal of a member of the board of review and, if so, which member, and provides a reasonable estimate of the length of time the hearing will take.

Jorja Boiley, Town Clerk/Treasurer

Click here to view the Property Assessment Appeal Guide

Click here to view the Guide for Property Owners

Click here to view the Real Property Objection Form 

Click here to view the Personal Property Objection Form

Request for Waiver of Board of Review Hearing Form

Request to Testify by Telephone or Submit a Sworn Written Statement at the Board of Review Form

The Town of Whitewater is under Walworth County zoning restrictions. Property owners contemplating zoning change, conditional use or variance changes, should first contact the Walworth County Land Management office (262-741-4972) to determine the type of change needed, then contact the Town of Whitewater Clerk/Treasurer Jorja Boiley (262-473-4639) or Email: clerk.treas@townofwhitewaterwi.gov to get on the agenda for the next Town Board Meeting. Contact Jorja at least one week prior to the next Town Board meeting, which is usually the second Wednesday of the month, to get on the agenda.

The Town of Whitewater has adopted the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (with additions and exclusions) for all one- and two-family dwellings constructed after June 1, 1998. For more information on the building permit and inspection process, click the "Building Permits" tab under "Services."

Commercial Building Inspections are handled by the State of Wisconsin, DSPS-Division of Industry Services, Contact State Building Inspector Steve Gothard.

Phone: 608-235-0568.

Branch Chipping Service:

Branch chipping 2024: May 6, June 3, July 1, August 5, September 3, October 7.

Branch Chipping is done by appointment only. Chipping begins the first Monday of May, June, July, August, September and October and usually takes several days to complete.  Please call the Town Hall at 262-473-4639 and leave your name, address and phone number to be added to the list.  The appointment should be made no later than the Thursday before the first Monday of the month. Calls taken after Thursday will be done the following month.

If you'd like a truck load of the rough chippings, please leave a message at the town hall and they will be delivered the next time they're available.

To be eligible for branch chipping, please comply with the following:
o Call 262.473.4639 by the Thursday before the first Monday of the month. 
o Have branch ends placed toward the road in ONE orderly stack, 3 feet high by 5 feet wide by your fire number. Maximum branch diameter of 6”.
o No roots, leaves or yard debris. (OK to have greens and leaves on branches)
o Branches for pick up need to be placed next to your fire number. Do not place branches across the road in the ditch.
o No building materials
o Twigs and small branches should be placed in a tote or small container that the crew will then dump the contents into the chipper. The crew will leave the tote/container for you to re-use. Please do not use a John's Disposal container for this purpose.
o Please do not use bags of any kind

Road Maintenance: Town of Whitewater provides snowplowing, sanding, mowing, and maintenance for all town roads. The schedule for snow plowing is determined by road usage. The town has 53 miles of road to plow, so please be patient. Please respect the road right-of-way by not using it for dumping of refuse, leaves, branches, or trash. When plowing your driveway, do not push the snow across the road onto Town right-of-way. During normal business hours, please report any dangerous road conditions by calling the Town Hall (262.473.4639).

After hours or on weekends, please contact Carl Ahrens, Public Works Superintendent:  920-723-0458 or supervisor Bob Strand: 262-391-3421