TOWN OF
Tuesday, August
5, 2008
(Notice
posted 3 places in the town.)
CALL TO ORDER:
The Town Board Meeting was called to order by Town Chairman Bernard Bergman at
7:02 P.M.
Val
Bremanis present. Additional attendance 35 per register.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Town Chairman Bernard Bergman led the group in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
AGENDA: McCann/Balcsik motion to approve the agenda,
moving the opening of stockpiling bids before Open to the Floor; motion
carried.
MINUTES: Balcsik/McCann
motion to approve the minutes of the July
1, 2008 Regular Town Board Meeting and the
July 15,
2008 Special Town Board Meeting; motion
carried.
TREASURER'S REPORT: McCann/Balcsik motion to approve the
Treasurer’s Report as presented, subject to audit; carried.
Beginning
balance for the month was $ 828,844.45 and the ending balance was $ 859,405.34.
Bremanis also presented a revised version of the 2007 Annual Financial
Report, showing $ 12,000
additional in highway expenses and a corresponding increase in tax
revenue.
OPEN STOCKPILING BIDS
Ten bids were received: 1) Erickson Excavating of Cumberland at $ 1.68/cy
2) Gjonnes & Sons
Excavating at $ 1.75/cy
3) RJS Construction Group at $ 1.99/cy
4) A & J Excavating at $ 2.60/cy
5) Olson Brothers Contractors of
Brule WI at $ 1.47/cy
6) Cemstone at $ 2.65/cy
7) Thompson’s Sand, Gravel & Excavating at $ 1.62/cy
8) Udeen Trucking at $ 3.44/cy
9)
10) Kauffman & Son at $ 2.22/cy
Balcsik/Bergman motion to accept the Olson Brothers bid at $ 1.47/cy,
providing that backsloping is included in their bid; if this is not the case,
then the Erickson Excavating bid will be accepted instead; motion carried.
OPEN TO THE FLOOR – PUBLIC
COMMENTS:
Patty McDermott noted the Four Seasons Food ‘n’ Fun will take
place August 30. Jon Meteraud installed a garden and Steve Trainor put in a
sprinkler system at the
Steve Trainor stated
that people should be allowed to speak without interruption during the public
comments.
Jan Newsome requested
that all public notices of meetings be e-mailed to her for her web site
Mary Lou Bergman spoke regarding recent letters in papers, stating that all town business
should be discussed here, that some things require public input, such as the
proposed town hall addition; many times the Town Board asks for public input
out of courtesy, even for business that does not require it
Bergman reported that, during the past month, he has been to several Towns Association committee meetings and conferences. mentioning some new requirements, as an example, that roads need to be inspected for invasive species before they can be mowed.
McCann stated that if the public has any questions, to call one of the Town Board members, that they are willing to discuss anything at any time. He went through a list of items ( construction, equipment, etc) that have been bought and paid for the past few years, without taking out loans. He also stated that the Town Board hopes to pass a budget without a tax increase for next year.
ORGANIZATION
REPORTS:
Town Roads: Balcsik stated that the
crew has been mowing and patching.
is
holding up well, and the crew likes the new grader.
Fire Department: Michalek reported 4
medical calls, one mutual-aid to Dairyland, one false alarm, two structure
fires, a
misplaced helicopter, and a
gas leak due to someone stealing copper wiring.
Constable: The Town Board has had complaints about dogs and noise
from a power washer.
Gordon-Wascott
in Wascott, and 1 fire
stand-by in Gordon. An Open House is planned for August 16, 11 – 2.
Transfer Station: McCann stated that there is now water in the
facility, and a new power washer has been purchased.
Cemetery: Balcsik reported that the committee will meet
August 12 at the cemetery. They will also review the rules, and make
changes if needed.
Plan Commission: Patti McDermott stated the next meeting of the
commission is August 28. They are also planning on having a
meeting on August 27 to talk
about the Centennial Committee. Still looking for volunteers to help organize
this.
Parks & Rec Committee: Jan Newsome reported that work is being
done on signage and playground equipment, and that the
committee is waiting for GPS
info from the DNR. The next meeting is tentatively next Monday at 7.
Building Committee: Marv Thompson stated that the committee met
yesterday and got input from the Community Club
regarding the tentative
layout of the kitchen in the proposed town hall addition.
Northwest Trails
Association. She stated that the Zoning Committee is asking for more specifics
when the Plan Commission
recommends denial of a
zoning application.
OLD BUSINESS:
BRIDGES A letter has been received from Jeff Melville, consultant with Kjohnson Engineering, asking the town to sign a
State/Municipal Agreement for a Highway Improvement Project. Balcsik/McCann motion to table this item until
we can get some information about it from Ayres; motion carried.
CONSTABLE Bergman has talked to retired Douglas County Deputy Jim Radtke, who has expressed an interest in the
Constable position. Balcsik is aware of others who have an interest also. Balcsik/ Bergman motion to advertise
for a replacement for the Constable position, requiring town residency and a desirability for law enforcement
experience; motion carried.
ROAD NAMING Douglas County Zoning has recommended that the town give a name to the east-west access easement extending
from
for naming,
the following names have been submitted:
Hollow Road, and
carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
NEW At the last joint meeting
with the Town of
AMBULANCE toward the new ambulance purchase. McCann/Balcsik motion to use $ 5000 from this year’s budget for
Ambulance capital expenses, and fund the remaining $ 13,725 by transferring money from the grader reserve
fund to the
Ambulance capital fund; motion carried.
RES 2003-04 The Town Board discussed updating the Charges for Records and Research. There is a WTA conference next
week that will cover Open Meetings and Open Records. McCann/Balcsik motion to table this item until after
next week’s conference; motion carried.
FIRE PUMPER Tom Michalek has submitted a proposal for a new fire pumper from Custom Fire Apparatus, costing $ 280,000.
Bergman would like to have a state pump inspection and budget this for another year. Balcsik would like to
move quicker on this, because of the long lead time for delivery. McCann/Balcsik motion that the fire chief be
instructed to use his five-person committee to obtain quotes on similar vehicles using the same specifications.
These quotes should be obtained from at least two other manufacturers. He should then bring these quotes to a
Special Town Meeting called by the Town Chairman. This meeting would be held one hour before the regular
September Town Board Meeting, with the express purpose of letting the townspeople evaluate these options and
voting yes or no on the purchase of this fire truck or a similar fire truck. If the vote is yes, the Town Board
should move ahead with negotiations for purchasing the vehicle, not necessarily using the low bid. Motion
carried. McCann also suggested that funding include the reserve funds totaling $ 50,000 from the 2007 and 2008
budgets, $ 25,000 from the Fire Department, $ 100,000 in ATC money, and financing the remainder of the
purchase price in the most efficient and effective way for the town.
ATV ACCESS The Northwest Trails Association has forward a letter, recommending that ATV use be allowed on County
Highways where access would be approximately ˝ mile. Balcsik/McCann motion to send a letter to the
Highway Commissioner and to the County Board Chairman, backing this proposal; motion carried.
GRAVEL Bergman
would like to look into the feasibility of buying gravel from Wozny’s pit to
gravel
other east side projects. Balcsik and the highway crew will take a look and check this out. It will then be on for
discussion at the Special Town Board Meeting on August 14.
ATTORNEY Bergman brought up the need for a Town Attorney. Balcsik/McCann motion to pursue this by talking to a
couple of attorneys; motion carried
ZONING Application by Bradley &
Carolyn Olson to change use from seasonal to year-round.
Balcsik/McCann motion recommending approval; motion carried.
BOARD OF Application by Steven J. Palzkill for an area
variance to allow the construction of a detached garage
ADJ within
the setback requirement of a town road and within the 200-foot visual clearance
triangle at a
town road
intersection.
Bergman looked at this site and did not see a
problem. McCann is concerned about setting a precedent for other
applications by approving this one. Balcsik/Bergman motion to recommend
approval; McCann opposed; motion
carried.
TEMP LIQ LIC Balcsik/McCann
motion to approve the Temporary Liquor License and
Seasons Rec for the Food ‘n’ Fun on August 30; motion carried.
GUESTS ON THE AGENDA: None.
CORRESPONDENCE: Gordon-Wascott
Wascott Volunteer Fire Department Financial Report
PAY BILLS: The Board approved all bills submitted for
payment (checks # 18305 thru # 18381)
ADJOURNMENT: Balcsik/McCann motion to adjourn at 9:08
P.M.; motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________________,
Val
Bremanis – Town Clerk/Treasurer