Welcome to Town of New Hope, Wisconsin

Welcome to the Town of New Hope Website! 

Many of the postings below have active links to websites.  To access that link, left click on the link, then click on the web address that pops up.  And please give us a call if you run into issues (715-677-4784)…Thanks!

For the LATEST Town Updates and Important Information here in New Hope, please CHECK HERE on the Town Website Home Page. It is the best option we have to keep you informed.  We’ll do our best to post relevant news as early as possible. If you have any important information to share, please call the clerk at 715 677 4784.  And please, share this with your neighbors!  Thanks!

QUESTIONS ABOUT DOWNED TREES/BRANCHES  Three storms in a row have wreaked havoc for most of us, with more predicted.  We’ve received a number of inquiries about how to deal with downed trees and branches.  Unfortunately, New Hope has no way to pick up yard waste (including branches and trees), and no ‘drop-off site’ or ability to pick up or receive yard waste.  Here are some options.

FROM THE WISCONSIN DNR:  Recent ice storms have led to downed trees and debris throughout Central Wisconsin including Portage County.  Landowners are in the process of cleaning up their yards and many will choose to burn the debris as a means of disposal.  The Wisconsin DNR asks that you take extra precautions if you choose to burn as Wisconsin is now entering into the most critical portion of their wildland fire season.

• GET A FREE DNR BURN PERMIT, check the conditions BEFORE burning and follow the rules for the day.   Get a DNR burn permit @: https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/burnpermits/
  • Note that in New Hope, a BURN PERMIT is REQUIRED before you burn any yard waste ..Easy to get, Free.
• Check WisBurn for the current fire danger and daily burn restrictions:  https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/wisburn/#/FireDanger  Check after 9am each morning you wish to burn for current/daily burning regulations.
  • Make sure your fire is dead out when done. 
  • Note that the person responsible for the fire is also responsible for all costs and related damages if the fire escapes their control. 
  • If the Iola Fire Department is called, you will be billed.
• Consider alternatives to burning including chipping, mulching, composting etc. or wait until after June 1 to burn. 

 Thank You and…  Remember Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!    

• Reminder:  Yard waste such as leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, and brush six inches in diameter or smaller (which includes Christmas trees) are banned from Wisconsin landfills.  Harter’s may refuse pick-up or issue citations.

THANK YOU to the men and women on the Alliant and WE crews working in nasty weather and difficult situations to restore our electricity!  YOU ARE OUR HEROES!!!

UPCOMING TOWN MEETINGS and IMPORTANT DATES:

• Annual Town Meeting:  Tuesday, April 21, 6:00 pm, North New Hope Church.  Agenda for that meeting can be found in the Agendas/Minutes/Notices tab.
• Regular April Board Meeting:  Tuesday, April 21, 6:30 pm, North New Hope Church.  Agenda for that meeting can be found in the Agendas/Minutes/Notices tab.
• Annual New Hope Road Survey:  Sunday, May 3, 1:00-4:00 pm
• Board of Review and Open Book– TBA

Garbage and Recycling:

• Electronic Recycling Event (Portage Co. Solid Waste):  It’s a screamin’ deal!  For details, click here: Event flyer.
• 2026 Harter’s Trash and Recycling Schedule calendar
• Portage Co Solid Waste Contract and Summary Pages can be found under GARBAGE and RECYCLING tab.

DOG LICENSES:

• All dogs 5 months of age or older require a license,
  • $12.00 for neutered or spayed dogs, $22.00 if not spayed or neutered.
  • Late fee of $5.00 assessed to the owner for each dog not licensed by March 31st of the current year.
  • You must provide proof of rabies vaccination for a license to be issued.
• Send a copy of your dog’s rabies certificate, the appropriate fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
  • New Hope Treasurer Dorene Stolpa, 9499 Hintz Drive, Amherst Junction WI 54407.  Your dog license, tag, and the information sent in will be returned to you in the envelope you provided.  Please e-mail the treasurer for more information at treasurer@tn.newhope.wi.gov
• First offense fines for County Animal control Ordinance violations are $169-$263.50 (this includes failure to license).

ELECTIONS:  Your vote matters, especially in the Spring Election when we choose who will do the work here in Portage County.  The League of Women Voters has some great information about elected positions and additional election material at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/voter-information/learn-more-about-candidates-issues

A strong country begins at the grass roots level, with each of us doing our part: know your elected officials, know who’s on your ballot, get involved, and please, vote.

VOTING ABSENTEE:

• Absentee Voting:  You can vote absentee for any or all elections, and you don’t need a reason. Request an absentee ballot using MyVote.WI (https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/) or the League of Women Voters  (League of Women Voters ),for any or all of the elections in a calendar year, or for all upcoming elections if you are indefinitely confined because of age, physical illness or infirmity.  Your clerk will mail ballots starting 3 weeks prior to local/spring elections (47 days prior to national/fall elections), ending no later than 5 days prior to Election Day.
• Early Voting (In Person):  You can also vote Absentee In-Person (sometimes called Early Voting by calling your municipal clerk for an appointment (715 677-4784).  Starts 14 days prior to an election, ends no later than the Sunday before an election, by appointment only.
• ** All absentee ballots are tracked by the Wisconsin Elections Commission; completed returned envelopes will be opened and counted at the Polls between 7 am and 8 pm on Election Day.
• ** All absentee ballots must be received either by mail or in the clerk’s office no later than 5:00 pm on Election Day to be counted – no exceptions.
• Absentee ballots will be mailed starting 21 days before local (spring) elections and 47 days before national (fall) elections.  You have until 5pm on the Thursday before Election Day to request an absentee ballot for an election. Be aware of return mail time – allow at least 7 business days for the ballot to be returned to your clerk.  Consider Early Voting/Absentee-In-Person (starting 14 days before an election and ending the Saturday before Election Day).  

REGISTRATION or CHANGE OF NAME OR ADDRESS:  If you are not registered or your name or address has changed, you will need to register or update your registration before requesting an absentee ballot.  For instructions on how to do that, please visit http://To request an absentee ballot   You can register to vote (or make changes to your name and/or address) several ways:

• By Mail: Postmarked at least 20 days before Election Day.
• Online: 20 days before Election Day.
• In Person: Until the Friday before Election Day at your municipal clerk’s office – call for an appointment (715 677 4784)
• In Person at the Polls: North New Hope Church, 845 County Road A North, Amherst Junction
  • All voters must provide a Proof of Residence document when registering
  • All voters must provide a Proof of Identity document when voting (note that your driver’s license or real ID on file with your clerk satisfy that requirement).
• If you need help in registering, please call Pat (715 677 4784).

MyVoteWI website has everything you need for any of the upcoming elections in 2026.    https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/

HERE are some additional dates to put on your calendar:

• Spring Election:  Tuesday, April 7, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm, North New Hope Church.  Election held on the first Tuesday in April to elect judicial, educational, and municipal officers, and non-partisan county officers, and to express preferences for the person to be the presidential candidate for each part in presidential election years.  State Statute 5.02(21) 
  • Public Voting Tabulator Test for Spring Election:  Saturday, March 28, 10:00 am, North New Hope Church.
• August Primary: Tuesday, August 11, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm, North New Hope Church.
• General (Fall) Election:  Tuesday, November 3, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm

NEW HOPE REDISTRICTING  Late in 2024, portions of the state (including New Hope) went through redistricting, and then the 2024 fall election happened.  Here is a rundown of your federal, state, and local legislators and their contacts:2025 Local Fed State Legislators in New Hope 

 

• What’s in your garbage?  Wondering what you can recycle and what can be thrown away?  Wondering what the garbage schedule is for 2025?  Here are several documents that should help.  Please call Pat (715) 677-4784 if you have questions.
• NEW HOPE Recycling NEWS

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY….In serving our community, the Board and Staff have prepared and approved an emergency mitigation plan and an Emergency Response Guide for New Hope (also available on the Ordinances/Resolutions section).  Any comments are welcome – please call or email Pat Zellmer, Clerk.

• PC-Local-Emergency-Response-Guide-December-2024 includes emergency contacts (starting on page 6) and procedures in an emergency.  It’s a work in progress, so please let us know how we can improve it – the best tool is only as good as it is useful.
• Town-of-New-Hope-Mitigation-Plan-2024 has information on what to do in specific emergencies, accessed here.  And we are looking for anyone who would volunteer in an emergency.  If that’s you, please call (715-677-4784) or email Pat Zellmer (clerk@tn.newhope.wi.gov) – we’re all grateful.

COMMUNITY ALERTS:

As you know, the Town of New Hope takes pride in its rural nature, but that has some downfalls, including how best to communicate with each other, especially in emergencies.  Here are two ways we’re working toward making this better:

• Sign up for local and county alerts (weather, safety, community).  Click on Portage County Community Alert system., then click on the link that comes up, and follow the simple directions.  It only takes a few minutes, and you can get alerts via cell phone, landline, and/or email.  It’s the closest thing we have to a phone tree, and much more certain… linked with the Portage County Sheriff and Portage County Emergency Management Offices.  You can cancel this at any time, and the information you provide is secure.  Thanks for giving it a try.
• With winter (and COLD weather) at our doorstep, in case of an emergency (especially power outages) click on Portage County Warming Centers to find a place near you.  You can also call (715) 346-1400 (non-emergency) or 911 to reach the Sheriff.