Ojibwe leaders threaten to shut down four roads if fees remain unpaid by the town
They say the Town of Lac du Flambeau hasn’t paid the necessary fees to keep the roads open since last September. If the town doesn’t cough up the cash by Thursday, the roads will be shut down.
Tribal President John Johnson, Sr. expressed his frustration, saying the town has been dodging real talks. He pointed out that their mixed messages about payments show a lack of good faith.
This whole mess started back in January 2023 when the tribe blocked off the roads, cutting off access for many non-tribal residents. Johnson claims those roads were built without proper permission ages ago, and the leases for non-tribal use have long expired.
In March, the town agreed to make monthly payments to keep the roads open while they worked on a more permanent solution. But in December, the tribe proposed a new fee structure based on the market value of homes along the roads, plus a hefty bill for past damages.
There was some talk about possibly returning state land to the tribe to settle things, but then the town chairman said they couldn’t meet anymore due to legal issues. Now, tribal officials are urging affected homeowners to reach out to the town with their concerns.
