During a recent government meeting, community member Nancy Schrier voiced strong support for a proposed ordinance regulating transient rental homes (TRHs) in the area. Schrier, a resident since 2015, highlighted her personal experiences with noise disturbances, unattended campfires, and trespassing issues stemming from a TRH built next to her property three years ago.

She noted that the number of TRHs has surged from 123 in 2017 to nearly 600 today, emphasizing the urgent need for action to address the complaints of residents living adjacent to these rentals. Schrier argued that the current situation has transformed residential neighborhoods into commercial zones, which is not conducive to community living.

In her remarks, she pointed out that a significant portion of TRH owners—58%—do not reside in the county or even Wisconsin, suggesting a disconnect between the owners and the local community. She expressed concern that renters often behave differently when the property owner is not present, exacerbating issues for nearby residents.

Schrier acknowledged the concerns raised by the Health and Human Services (HHS) committee regarding potential overreach of the ordinance and its impact on tourism. However, she stressed that the ordinance is essential for protecting the residential integrity of the county and safeguarding natural resources, including groundwater and surface water quality.

Revisions to the ordinance have been made, including occupancy limits based on septic system capacity, which Schrier believes will mitigate the risk of overtaxing these systems. She concluded by asserting that the proposed regulations would not burden the majority of responsible TRH operators, but rather serve to protect the interests of the community as a whole.