Tuesday (1/20/26) – 6:00pm-7:25pm
At Campfire Bar & Grille
Present: Margaret and Creighton Litt (Crane Lake Coffee), Valerie Strzyz (Pickerel Point), Alan and Amy Quig (Maplewood Golf Course), Rae and Grant Zelazoski (First Weber Realty), Julie and Andrew D. Bartelt (Pearson Smokehouse), Skot and Rachel McConnell (Wolf River Property Management), Joe Martin (Bigfoot Firewood), Steve De Bruin (Dutch Touch Electric), Suzy Forman (Salon North), Kelly and Jenna Siebers (Northwoods Inn), Mary and Roger Rabiego (RA Rabiego Photography), Brandon Quig (Quig Enterprises), Keith and Lori Hanson (Campfire)
Guests: Natasha Winkler (Freelance Pro)
Meeting called to order at 5:58pm by Rae Zelazoski
Secretaries Report – Margaret
Previous meeting minutes were reviewed. Motion to approve by Rae, seconded by Keith. Motion passed.
Confirmed that all are receiving emails as communication.
Treasurer’s Report – Val
Account Balances are as follows:
Regular Checking = $5589.11
Gift Certificate = $3828.54
Community Account = $219.23
Savings = $498.16
Expenses and Deposits explained.
Motion to approve Treasurer’s Report by Margaret, seconded by Keith. Motion passed.
Website
Natasha Winkler, a website developer with Freelance Pro LLC introduced her business. She builds and maintains websites/social media.
Natasha demonstrated some of the features to be incorporated into the website design:
- Business Directory-each member can update their own member card, logo, information, pictures, etc.
- Calendar-Website will have a calendar page and upcoming events, also in a list format. There was discussion of a banner to display most current events.
- Each member will make and maintain their own business information.
- Events should not be daily specials, but rather special events.
- $1000.00 cost to set up, ½ at start and ½ at end.
- $150 to set up all users.
- The website will be paid for by PPBA dues.
Brandon would like to table the discussion and be given the opportunity to finish developing the current website.
Website Committee will meet in 2 weeks to see both website designs and give the membership a recommendation.
There will be a meeting of membership on Feb 16 at Pickerel Point 5pm just to vote on website plan adoption and approve costs.
Motion to meet in committee in 2 weeks, then have a general membership meeting to approve the website plan on 2/16 made by Keith, seconded by Skot. Motion passed.
Arrow (Directional) Signs Progress
An inventory of arrow signs was completed this fall. New signs were ordered and placed on roads in December. In the spring, another inventory will be completed to continue the process of correcting all signs. This will be an item on the agenda for the April meeting.
Skot volunteered to provide landscaping upkeep for the area around the road signs.
Snowmobile Trail Signs
4 signs on Pickerel and Crane Lakes were approved at the June meeting at a cost of $120. The signs were to be placed by the Tombstone Pickerel Snow Club. Signs have been completed but at a cost of $240. The PPBA officers approved to spend. A motion to approve this expense was made by Amy, seconded by Rae. Motion passed. or 4 signs but TPSC ordered 6.
4 members of the PPBA were not included in these signs. The cost to add these members to the signs is $90. There was discussion of including Walleye and their membership will be confirmed. A motion to approve the new signs and $90 cost was made by Skot, seconded by Keith. Motion passed.
New Business
2026 Pickerel Family Fest Next Committee
The Pickerel Family Fest will be held at the Driving Range of Maplewood Golf Course on Sunday July 19, 2026. This is opportunity to showcase the businesses and organizations in Pickerel and bring the community together. The next planning meeting will take place Monday January 26 at the EMS building 6pm. More information about the Family Fest will be emailed to PPBA members.
Membership Dues Paid Update
Membership dues were collected from several members and most have been paid.
Langlade County Visitors Guide
Margaret has been in contact with the Antigo Chamber of Commerce over the last 2 months to provide correct information for the Langlade County Visitor’s Guide 2026. We are still waiting for the final proof of the PPBA page and that will be emailed to all members when it is received. The guides should be printed sometime in February. They will be distributed when they arrive.
2026 PPBA Poster
Margaret has been in contact with Clermont Printing in Antigo to produce the 2026 PPBA poster. An email will be sent requesting any changes to member information and then sent to Clermont. We are hoping to order the posters next week. The posters will be finished and distributed by mid February.
Discuss and Finalize Next Business Meeting Date and Location
A motion to set the mext PPBA Meeting on 4/21/26- at Maplewood 6pm was made by Keith, seconded by Skot. Motion passed.
Other Comments
Keith and Lori would like to have a 100 square fundraiser with an item for the PPBA and just ask to be reimbursed for the cost of the item.
Motion to adjourn was made by Keith, seconded by Steve. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:25pm.