What is the Winnebago Waterways Committee?
In 2017, representatives from Calumet County, Fond du Lac County and Winnebago County signed an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement to formalize the counties’ commitment to work together to support and promote beautification, restoration, promotion and general upkeep of the Winnebago Waterways. This includes Lake Winnebago and the associated pool lakes of Poygan, Butte des Morts and Winneconne as well as the watershed tributaries within a five-county area including Calumet, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, Waushara and Winnebago Counties. In 2023, Waushara County joined the Winnebago Waterways Committee when they signed on to the Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement.
The Winnebago Waterways Committee was created under the agreement to oversee and administer the agreement including the funds designated by each county to advance an annual workplan. Each County is represented by people who hold the following county positions (or their eligible designee):
- County Executive or County Administrator
- Chair of the County Board
- Chair of the County Board’s Land and Water Conservation Committee
2023 Committee Members
Top left to right: (Waushara County) Mark Piechowski, Melissa Pingel, John Jarvis; (Winnebago County) Chuck Farrey, Jon Doemel, Tom Egan. Bottom left to right: (Fond du Lac County) Dale Theel, Sam Kaufman, Steve Abel; (Calumet County) Mike Hofberger, Alice Connors, Todd Romenesko
Winnebago Waterways Committee
Current Members (as of January 2023):
Committee Chair: Jon Doemel – Winnebago County Executive
Committee Vice Chair: Sam Kaufman – Fond du Lac County Executive
Committee Secretary: Danielle Santry – Calumet County Designee
Committee Treasurer: Erin Gerred – Fond du Lac County Designee
Todd Romenesko – Calumet County Administrator
Alice Connors – Calumet County Board Chair
Mike Hofberger – Calumet Land and Water Conservation Committee Chair
Steve Abel – Fond du Lac County Board Chair
Dale Theel – Fond du Lac County Land Conservation Committee Chair
Tom Egan – Winnebago County Board Chair
Chuck Farrey – Winnebago County Land Conservation Committee Chair
Melissa Pingel – Waushara County Administrator
John Jarvis – Waushara County Board Chair
Mark Piechowski – Waushara County Land Water and Education Committee Chair
Original Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement: CLICK HERE
Amended Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement: CLICK HERE
Past Members:
Al Buechel – Fond du Lac County
Martin Farrell – Fond du Lac County
Shiloh Ramos – Winnebago County
Mark Harris –Winnebago County
Merlin Gentz – Calumet County
David Albrecht – Winnebago County
Pictured above – Members in 2017
From left to right: Alice Connors, Al Buechel, Dale Theel, Todd Romenesko, Martin F. Farrell, Steven Binder, Mark Harris, Merlin Gentz. Not pictured: Chuck Farrey, David Albrecht
Committee Meetings
| Meeting Date | Agenda | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2023 | Agenda | Minutes |
| November 29, 2022 | Agenda | Minutes – draft |
| July 28, 2022 | Agenda | Minutes – draft |
| October 12, 2021 | Agenda | Minutes – draft |
| July 16, 2021 | Agenda | Minutes – draft |
| January 25, 2021 | Agenda | Minutes – draft |
| July 27, 2020 | Agenda | Minutes |
| February 26, 2020 | Agenda | Minutes – draft |
| October 24, 2019 | Agenda | Minutes |
| August 5, 2019 | Agenda | Minutes |
| January 11, 2019 | Agenda | Minutes |
| September 21, 2018 | Agenda | Minutes |
| August 3, 2018 | Agenda | Minutes |
| January 18, 2018 | Agenda | Minutes |
| October 18, 2017 | Agenda | Minutes |
Winnebago Waterways Committee News
Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative.
Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org