Marshfield Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Committee Elect New Leaders, Welcome New Members, and More

Monday, May 18th, 2026 -- 11:01 AM

The Marshfield Parks, Recreation and Forestry Committee elected new leadership, welcomed two new members and reviewed a proposed maple tree tapping policy during its meeting Wednesday evening.

Committee members unanimously elected John White as chair and Chelsea Willes as vice chair for the coming year. White succeeds former chair Ben Steinbach, who said scheduling conflicts led him to step aside after serving in the role.

The committee also introduced new member Chase Gomez. Another newly appointed member, Donna Rozar, was absent and is expected to attend the next meeting. During public reports, Ed Korlesky, local coordinator for the AARP Tax-Aide program in Marshfield, said volunteers completed 664 tax returns during the most recent filing season, ranking the local office fourth in Wisconsin.

Korlesky said the free tax preparation service is open to anyone, not only retirees or AARP members, though volunteers are limited to preparing simpler returns under Internal Revenue Service guidelines.

The committee also reviewed a proposed policy that would regulate maple tree tapping on city-owned property. Justin Casperson described the proposal as a way to balance public interest in small-scale syrup production with protection of public trees and safety concerns.

Under the proposal, residents would apply for permits to tap approved maple trees on terraces and in certain public areas. The policy would establish limits on tree size, number of taps and approved locations while prohibiting activities that could damage trees or interfere with public access.

Officials said the city has informally allowed some terrace tree tapping for years without significant issues but wanted a formal framework after seeing increased interest. Committee members discussed possible permit fees, educational outreach and enforcement.

No formal action was taken Wednesday, with a vote expected at a future meeting. In department reports, officials announced the hiring of Tim Piles of Scranton, Pennsylvania, as the city’s new events and program coordinator.

Parks staff also reported progress on seasonal operations, including sports field preparation, summer hiring, playground inspections and ongoing construction at Griese Park. Zoo staff reported the recent death of Star, a 17-year-old mountain lion, citing old age.

Officials said they are searching for a replacement animal.

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