In 1879 Mr. VanDyke and Mr. Hagerman, financiers, purchased a three-fourths interest, arranged for railroad extension because of the good work done in this mining region by Mr. N.P. Hulst and called the mine in Florence in honor of Mrs. Florence Hulst, his wife. This name was first applied to the iron mine, then to the town and county. The following is an account of the letter sent to Mrs. Florence Hulst on December 15, 1879 by Mr. J.J. Hagerman President of the Menominee Mining company:
Mrs. Hulst -- The time is come when we must give a name to the new town in Wisconsin at the end of the Railroad now building, and to the new mine in the vicinity, now called the Eagle, but which name we do not wish to keep, as there is already an Eagle P.O. in Wisconsin. The Company owns all the land around the lake, where the town will be located. It will be a lively town. We shall put an anti-whiskey clause in all deeds and we expect it will be as much noted for its temperance and morality as for its -- well, anything the future may develop. We all wish to call the new town and the mine FLORENCE, in honor of the first white woman who had courage enough to settle (for a while) in that rugged country. I mean the first white woman known to us.
Will you permit your name to be used?
Thus the town and mine had been given a name, a very prim and proper name!
Because of the mine people rushed into the region and by 1880 Mr. Fisher laid out the townsite, putting a number of lots upon the market. He said he would put the lots in at government prices selling the ordinary lots from $100.00 while the corners sold for $150.00.
In sixty days Mr. Fisher had sold $60,000 worth of realty. The population at this time was 50 people. In a short time a blast furnace was put up as was a foundry, five coal kilns, a large sawmill and a cheese factory.
The Town of Florence Office is located at 749 Central Avenue. It is in the corner of the Community Center building. The mailing address for the Town of Florence is P.O. Box 247; Florence, WI 54121.
Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Click on Shelly's name or Jessica's name to e-mail them.
This page was last updated: March 4, 2021
Town of Florence, Wisconsin
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Did you know that you can check to see if your absentee ballot was recorded as returned? Did you know that you can also check your election participation -- whether or not you voted in an election?
In Wisconsin, you can do both of those things and more.
What can you do on the MyVote website?
- You can check your voter registration status (to see if you are registered)
- You can register to vote (or reregister to vote if you moved or changed your name)
- You can request an absentee ballot
- You can track your absentee ballot as well -- meaning you can see when your request was submitted, when your ballot was mailed to you, and when it is received back in our office
You can also see your past election participation (the elections you have voted in), see your elected officials, find your polling place information, see a sample ballot and more.
All you need to be able to access the MyVote website is your name and your date of birth.
Plowing snow across town roads is prohibited. It creates a dangerous situation for traffic and safety hazards for all those who travel that road. As the property owner, you are responsible for the plowing being done on your property—even if you are paying someone else to remove the snow for you.
Wisconsin Statute 346.94(5) states that no person may place or cause to be
placed upon a highway any substance that is or may be injurious to any vehicle.
A pile of snow certainly fits this description. Wisconsin Statute 346.95(3) says that the penalty is $50 for each offense. Citations will be issued, and no warnings will be given.
Other plowing regulations:
You are not permitted to pile snow or block the sidewalks or fire hydrants.
Parking on town roads and streets shall be prohibited so that plowing can be done quickly and with safety. The parking ban is in effect between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Vehicles in violation will be towed away and tickets will be issued.
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS - REMITTANCE INSTRUCTIONS
There are no installment payments on Personal Property Taxes except for buildings on leased lands only, which would be accepted under the two payment plan. Any Personal Property payments made after January 31 should go directly to the Town of Florence. Interest is charged at 1% per month or fraction, beginning February 1 until paid.
Shelly VanPembrook, Treasurer
P.O. Box 247
Florence, WI 54121
To insure getting proper credit, all checks should include the parcel number(s) of the properties they are to cover.
REAL ESTATE TAX BILLS - REMITTANCE INSTRUCTIONS
For full payment and second installment payments, please make check or money order payable to the Florence County and mail to:
Donna Liebergen, County Treasurer
P.O. Box 410
Florence, WI 54121
To insure getting proper credit, all checks should include the parcel number(s) of the properties they are to cover. The second installment is payable to the Florence County Treasurer at the Florence County Courthouse by July 31.
April 6, 2021 Spring Election Important Dates
March 3, 2021 - absentee ballots were mailed to voters with a request on file for the Spring Election; ballots will be mailed within 24 hours of receiving a written request
March 23, 2021 - first day for in-person absentee voting for the April Election; to vote in-person please call 715-528-3595 and setup a day/time to vote
March 29, 2021 - public test of electronic voting equipment to be used in the April 6, 2021 Election
April 1, 2021 - last day (in most cases) to request an absentee ballot be mailed to you for the April 6, 2021 Election
April 2, 2021 - last day to vote in-person absentee for the April Election & last day to register to vote (prior to election day) in the Clerk's Office
April 6, 2021 - Election Day
1. Absentee ballots are issued and mailed once the Town of Florence Office receives a request in writing and a photo ID is on file. Each absentee ballot mailing includes: instructions, one of each type of ballot (each ballot is initialed by the clerk), and a stamped and addressed certificate envelope for the voter to securely return their ballot in. The ballots are folded so that when they are returned, the election inspectors can see that the clerk initialed the ballot, but cannot see how the voter marked his/her ballot.
2. The voter receives and votes the ballot and encloses it in the certificate envelope provided with the ballot. This envelope must be signed and dated by the voter. A witness must also sign and write their address the envelope—by signing the witness states that they saw the voter sign the envelope and mark their ballot (not what they marked, but witnessing the voter was marking his/her own ballot).
3. The ballot gets returned to the Town of Florence. You can drop the ballot in the mail (there is postage on the envelope). If you use the mail, please note that it can take approximately 5-7 days for it to be returned to us. Voters can also drop off their absentee ballots at the Town of Florence Office during office hours or use the secure drop off box next to the Town Office door.
4. Once received by the Town of Florence Office, the ballot is recorded as returned and the sealed envelope is placed in a secured absentee ballot box. If you vote in-person by absentee, the ballot is placed in a signed certificate envelope and locked up in the box with the rest of the absentee ballots.
5. That box is delivered by the Clerk to the polls on Election Day.
6. Two election inspectors verify the certificate envelope: that it is still sealed and hasn’t been tampered with, that the voter signed and dated the envelope and that a witness signed and put their address on the envelope. Then a voter number is issued to that voter, and the absentee ballot envelope is opened.
7. When the envelope is opened, the inspectors make sure there is only one ballot of each type (official, town, school, etc) enclosed, and that the clerk has initialed the ballot. Once those two items are verified, the ballot is then placed directly in the ballot box. The inspectors do not see how a voter marked their ballot due to how the ballot is folded in the envelope.
8. The ballot boxes are opened after 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. The election workers verify there are the same number of ballots as there are voters. Then the ballots are counted by four people.
9. After the ballots are all tallied, they get sealed in a ballot bag. Then the results are called into the County Clerk’s Office.
The easiest way to request an absentee ballot is to go online to www.myvote.wi.gov.
Voters can also request a ballot by sending something in writing either by email, fax or mail to their municipal clerk. Town of Florence Voters can contact the Town of Florence Office by sending a request to:
fax: 715-528-3591; mail: P.O. Box 247; Florence, WI 54121
In order to receive a ballot, the voter needs to have a request on file that states:
Voter’s name & registered voting address
Where the Voter wants the ballot mailed to, if it’s a PO Box that needs to be indicated (absentee ballots do not forward in the mail)
What elections the voter wants to receive the ballot for—i.e. this election, all elections in 2020, etc.
Photo ID: If the voter has voted by mail as an absentee in the past, the ID may already be on file. Otherwise a copy of the photo ID must be included with the absentee request.
Absentee By-Mail Deadlines:
April 1 at 5 p.m. - To request an absentee ballot by-mail for regular and overseas voters.
April 2 at 5 p.m. - To request an absentee ballot by-mail for indefinitely confined voters and military voters (not on active duty).
In Wisconsin, early voting is absentee voting in the Clerk's Office. Any registered voter can request to vote an In-Person Absentee Ballot.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are requesting that all voters make an appointment to vote an in-person absentee ballot. By scheduling appointments, we will be limiting the number of people in the office at any given time.
In-Person Absentee Dates:
March 23 - First day to vote absentee in your Clerk's Office
April 2 - Last day to vote absentee in the Clerk's Office at 5 p.m.
Appointments can be made during the following dates and times:
Tuesday, March 23 through Friday, March 26 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day
Monday, March 29 through Wednesday, March 31 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day
Thursday, April 1 & Friday, April 2 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day
You will need to bring an acceptable photo ID to show in order to receive a ballot.
will go into effect as soon as weight limit signs are posted.
(the date will be published right here as soon as it is decided)
The Town of Florence enforces a ten ton weight limit on its sealcoat roads during the spring thaw to decrease pavement damage.
During this period if you live on or off one of the below roads you are required to bring your garbage & recycling to the designated road. We ask for your cooperation and patience during this period.
Please drop off garbage in the morning of garbage/recycling service dates and enclose your garbage within a garbage can with lid.
If you see that garbage is strewn about at your drop off location, please pick it up.
Weight restrictions are posted in the local Mining News and on our website at www.townofflorencewisconsin.com
If a road is restricted you will notice Weight Restricted Road Signs posted on the road.
If you have any questions please call the Town of Florence office at 715-528-3595.
PLEASE NOTE: If you reside on a town road or a private road that is off a restricted road listed, bring your recycling and garbage to the designated road:
Road Name --> Bring Garbage/Recycling To
Brule Landing Road --> Chapin/Brule Dam Int
Cecelia Dr --> Old Hwy 69
Frog Lane --> Lake Ellwood Rd
Hansen Rd --> W. Lake Ellwood Rd
Menominee River Rd --> Lake Ellwood Rd
Mud Lake Rd --> Chapin St
Popple Rd --> STH 70
Regina Dr --> US Hwy 2
Romitti Rd --> Midwest Gravel Pit
(portion that is designated with Weight Restricted Signs)
Spring Lake Rd --> Lake Ellwood Rd
Town Road AA --> Lake Ellwood Rd
Town Road BB --> Lake Ellwood Rd
Town Road C --> Chapin/Brule Dam Int
Town Road D --> Chapin/Brule Dam Int
Town Road H --> US Hwy 2
Town Road HH --> N Blome Helgren Rd
Town Road L --> Montgomery Lake Rd
Town Road M --> Montgomery Lake Rd
Town Road N* --> Montgomery Lake Rd
* A special note for Town Road N: only recycling to this location; residents of Town Road N will be receiving a letter with instructions on what to do with there garbage.
