REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING

TOWN OF WASCOTT

Tuesday, March 7, 2006 Wascott Town Hall

(Notice posted 3 places in the town.)

CALL TO ORDER: The Town Board Meeting was called to order by Town Chairman Bernard Bergman at 7:00 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Town Chairman Bergman led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL: Town Chairman Bernard Bergman, Town Supervisors Steve Balcsik and Chuck McCann, and Town

Clerk/Treasurer Val Bremanis present. Other attendance 23 per register.

AGENDA: McCann/Balcsik motion to approve the agenda, amending it to move the Guest on the Agenda immediately after

Old Business; carried.

MINUTES: McCann/Balcsik motion to approve the minutes of the February 7, 2006 Regular Town Board Meeting and the

February 20, 2006 Special Town Board Meeting; carried. Approval of the minutes of the March 6, 2005 Joint

Town Board Meeting with the Town of Gordon will be up for approval at the next meeting, after the Town Board

has had an opportunity to review them.

TREASURER'S REPORT: McCann/Balcsik motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented, subject to audit; carried.

Beginning balance for the month was $ 1,892,199.93 and the ending balance was $ 637,261.31.

OPEN TO THE FLOOR – PUBLIC COMMENTS

Steve Trainor stated that the Town Board should evaluate work planned for the town, so that town taxes don’t need to be

raised.

Ted Welch commented that town roads are being taken care of better than in the past.

Andy Bremanis handed out comparisons of county financial information, showing that Douglas County operating levy

and debt levy were much higher compared to other neighboring counties.

TOWN CHAIRMAN/SUPERVISOR COMMENTS

Bergman is on the state-wide TRIP-D committee and also attended Superior Days. Bergman and McCann attended the

WTA annual district meeting in Cumberland.

ORGANIZATION REPORTS:

Town Roads: Balcsik stated that lots of snowplowing has been required. The new small truck has been delivered.

Fire Department: James Forbes stated that there were no fires in Wascott last month.

Constable: Howard Copeland stated that it has been pretty quiet.

Gordon-Wascott EMS: Bergman reported (for Dottie Fries) that there was one call last month. There was discussion

about the new building at the joint meeting with Gordon last night, with another meeting scheduled next Monday.

Transfer Station: McCann stated that there was a decision made at the joint meeting to no longer accept contractor

dumping. This is effective starting next week and will be in force for 90 days, at which time the policy will be reviewed.

Cemetery: Balcsik stated that the next meeting will be April 18.

Plan Commission: Steve Trainor reported that the group is working on road issues and specs. Next meeting is March 9.

Building Committee: Marv Thompson stated that the committee discussed clean-up work on Town Hall projects, such

as painting of the Town Hall, new window coverings, a new bulletin board, and a new outside pavilion. Coons Electric

is working on a quote for a PA system. There is some interest in the property across from the Town Hall. The next big

project will be the Town Garage. The committee has invited John Lawler to attend their meeting to discuss requirements.

Val Bremanis mentioned that the Community Church property has finally been recorded at the Register of Deeds and is

now officially town property.

County Board: No report.

OLD BUSINESS:

CONTRACT Bergman recommended Charles McDermott, Ken Mills, and Janice St. John as the members of the

NEG COMM contract negotiation committee. Balcsik/McCann motion to approve this recommendation; carried.

The Town Board will schedule a meeting with this committee.

PLAN COMM The Plan Commission has forwarded a memo, recommending that the Town Board set up design

RECOMMEND standards for minor roads. Balcsik/McCann motion to table this item until after the next Plan Commission

meeting; carried.

PARL PROC Bergman shared the ordinance recently passed in Barnes, addressing Town Board Meeting procedures

ORDINANCE and use of parliamentary procedure. McCann/Balcsik motion to table this item until the May Town Board

Meeting; carried.

HIRING OF McCann has contacted three companies that appear to have similar rates. He would like to obtain more

ATTORNEY letters of interest. Bergman/Balcsik motion to table this item until the May Town Board Meeting; carried.

REVALUATION 3 bids have been received to do a town revaluation: Edward O’Meara ($ 29,000), John Pearson ($ 39,000),

BIDS and Associated Appraisal Consultants (option one: $ 29,600 and option two: $ 72,900). A fourth bidder,

Charlotte Johnson, has removed herself from consideration. Taking Andy Bermanis’s comments and

findings into account, McCann/Balcsik motion to accept the option one bid from Associated Appraisal

Consultants; carried.

GUESTS ON THE AGENDA: Roger Wilson, candidate for Douglas County Board in the April election, introduced himself

and spoke about his background, which includes currently serving on the Board of Adjustment. He stated

his belief in the importance of maintaining the identity of the north woods and believes that there should be

more county support for District 28, especially involving county roads. Chuck McCann brought up issues

regarding support for the Wascott Comprehensive Town Plan as it relates to decisions at the county level.

Ted Welch brought up issues regarding shooting ranges, ATV trails, and Wild River designation.

NEW BUSINESS:

ZONING 1) Application by Robert Peters for an appeal to Section V, Subsection B., 7, of the Douglas County

Subdivision Ordinance to create three lots exceeding the length to width ratio, and from the Douglas County

Zoning Schedule – Dimensional Requirement, to create one lot within the 200 foot minimum width required

for a Class 3 lake.

Balcsik/McCann motion to concur with the recommendation of the Wascott Plan Commission to approve

this application, since the length to width ratio has been allowed in the past, and the proposed frontage of 175

feet on lot two is not an issue, since the average width of lot two is about 200 feet; motion carried.

2) Application by Becky Olsen (fka Cook, Salomaki), from the January 11, 2006 hearing for a Petition for

Amendment to the Douglas County Zoning Ordinance from the F-1: Forestry zoning district to the

A-1: Agriculture zoning district (proposed use: agriculture)

3) Application by Rae Jean Elliott, from the January 11, 2006 hearing for a Petition for Amendment to the

Douglas County Zoning Ordinance from the F-1: Forestry zoning district to the A-1: Agriculture zoning

district (proposed use: agriculture)

McCann/Balcsik motion to concur with the recommendation of the Wascott Plan Commission to approve

both of the above zoning change applications, in that they are in line with the Wascott Comprehensive Plan

future land use map, which designates that area of Wascott for agricultural use; motion carried.

BOARD OF ADJ Application by Theodore & Nancy Welch for a variance to construct a garage within the side lotline setback

requirement.

McCann/Balcsik motion to accept the decision of the Board of Adjustment on this variance application; carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Gordon-Wascott EMS: Monthly financial report.

PAY BILLS: The Board approved all bills submitted for payment (checks #16211 through # 16280.

ADJOURNMENT: Balcsik/McCann motion to adjourn at 8:37 P.M.; carried.

Respectfully submitted,

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Val Bremanis – Town Clerk/Treasurer