The Town of Algoma is a very popular municipality in which to live. With a population of nearly 7,300 residents, the Town is conveniently located just west of the City of Oshkosh, east of the City of Omro, and within 30 minutes of the Fox Cities and City of Fond du Lac. The low property taxes combined with high levels of municipal services has created the ideal environment for a good quality of life. The Town enjoys all of the nearby amenities but not the big city hustle and bustle. Algoma is in the Oshkosh Area School District except for a few residents in the far NW corner of the Town. Those residents are in the Omro School District. Oakwood Elementary School is part of the Oshkosh is located at the intersection of N. Oakwood Road and Omro Road.
Neighborhoods in Algoma
Over the past several years, Algoma has seen the development of several new neighborhoods, including Belle Haven Estates, Olde Apple Acres, Butte des Morts Meadows, and Lakevista Estates. They offer a variety of housing options that fit most everyone’s wants and needs. All the homes in the Town of Algoma are beautifully crafted and often sit on large lots with plenty of room for children and pets. There are parcels located throughout the Town that are available and suitable for retail, commercial, or service type businesses. Algoma has room to grow without compromising its easy going, leisurely feel.
Algoma Town Government
Algoma’s Town Hall is located at the intersection of N. Oakwood Road and Witzel Avenue. The Town is governed by an elected body comprised of four supervisors and a town chair. There is a seven-member appointed Planning Commission that oversees all land use proposals within the Town. In addition, there are two appointed committees: Economic Development and Parks. As topics arise in these two areas, these committees address them and make recommendations to the Town Board for their approval. The Town has three full-time and five part-time employees. The full-time employees are the Administrator, Clerk, and Administrative Assistant. Part-time staff consist of the Fire Chief, Treasurer, Building Inspector, Road and Drainage Coordinator, and Building and Grounds. The Algoma Fire Department is a volunteer department providing fire and first responder services to Town residents.
Amenities
Town residents and visitors can enjoy three town parks and a public boat landing. Jones Park is the newest addition to the town’s park system. It has walking paths, playground equipment, workout stations, sledding hill, pavilion, basketball court, tennis/pickleball court, and plenty of space for soccer and football games. The courts and pavilion are available on a first come first serve basis. Final landscaping and plantings were completed in 2020. Kewaunee Park is located in the NE Corner of the Town on Kewaunee Avenue. There are several pieces of playground equipment available for children of all ages. In addition, the town maintains plenty of open grass to be used for all types of games and sports. Town Hall Park had new playground equipment installed in the Fall of 2019. Fresh landscaping and more amenities were added in 2020. The only public access town residents and visitors have to Lake Butte des Morts is through the public landing at the north end of Oakwood Road. There is no public parking near or at the landing, so please be mindful of the residents living in that area.
Winnebago County and City of Oshkosh Services to Town Residents
Since Algoma is an unincorporated community, the Town contracts with the Winnebago County Highway Department for snow plowing and general maintenance of the Town’s roads, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office for police coverage, and the City of Oshkosh for Ambulance Service. Algoma contracts with private contractors as needed for snowplowing of the municipal properties, mowing and maintenance of the parks, and specific ditch and road maintenance projects. Town staff conduct a complete road and ditch inventory annually to assess the need for maintenance or reconstruction. Some areas are in need of shoulder work, paving, or ditching, while others need more investment. For example, the Omro Road Reconstruction project underway in 2021 is a road project that has taken considerable planning over the past two years. It is important to invest in the planning and engineering work to ensure, when finished, the roadway is safe and meets the long-term needs of all residents.
Contacts for Services
Municipal Water and Sewer Services are provided by the Algoma Sanitary District, which is a separate organization from the Town of Algoma. There are some homes that are still on individual wells but many have been connected to the municipal system. All homes within the urban area of Algoma are on municipal sanitary sewer. Please contact them for transfer of service when moving in to the Town of Algoma.
Garbage, recycling, and yard waste are provided by Waste Management through a contract with the Town of Algoma. Fees for garbage, recycling, and yard waste are collected as part of each property owner’s annual property tax bill. As a result, the account stays with the property and the new homeowner does not need to transfer the solid waste account to their name(s). Small, medium, and large garbage and recycling totes can be purchased from the Town of Algoma for a cost based on size of container. Yard waste is collected annually April through November and picked-up when scheduled for pick-up for recycling. A garbage collection calendar is provided on the Town’s website. Paper yard waste bags can be purchased from area home improvement stores, such as Lowe’s, Menard’s, Fleet Farm, and even Costco.
Wisconsin Public Service provides gas and electric services for Town residents. To ask a WPS customer service agent about starting services, please contact their website for more information.
There are several companies that provide internet, phone, and television services to Town residents. If there is a specific provider you wish to utilize, please contact them directly for services, costs, and availability. A good source to find out what internet and cable services are available in the Algoma area, please visit www.cabletv.com.
Please take a moment to review the website, and if you have any specific questions on living in the Town of Algoma, feel free to contact the staff. We look forward to serving you now and into the future!
