REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING

TOWN OF WASCOTT

Tuesday, October 3, 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 7:05 P.M.

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

and Town Clerk/Treasurer Val Bremanis present. Additional attendance 14 per register.

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

AGENDA: Balcsik/McCann motion to approve the agenda as presented; motion carried.

MINUTES: Balcsik/McCann motion to approve the minutes of the September 5, 2006 Regular Town Board Meeting, and

the October 2, 2006 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 $ 710,702.93 and the ending balance was $ 641,468.93.

OPEN TO THE FLOOR – PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Charles McDermott reported that he has shut off the well at the ball park and cemetery.

Andy Bremanis stated that, according to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance newsletter, northwest Wisconsin properties have been

appreciating at 18% compared with the rest of Wisconsin at 9%.

Jo Neubauer spoke regarding the variance application on the agenda tonight, stating that they would like to put in a handicap ramp

for a relative, and that the ramp would not be any closer to the lake than the existing cabin.

Chuck McCann thanked Charles and Patty McDermott for their work installing the Venetian blinds in the main hall. They look

really nice, and the work is much appreciated.

TOWN CHAIRMAN/SUPERVISOR COMMENTS

Bergman brought information from the WTA District Meeting that the rescue squad will still operate through 2007, that the

county has $ 421,000 in bridge aid, that there will be a Forestry workshop in Cable on October 27, and that the county plans to

work on County Road T next year, doing grinding, widening and shouldering from Highway 53 to Pogo’s.

ORGANIZATION REPORTS:

Town Roads: Balcsik stated that the crew is working on grading and widening roads. Paving should be done this month, and we

are looking for a part-time plower.

Fire Department: No report.

Constable: Howard Copeland reported a quiet month.

Gordon-Wascott EMS: Bremanis (reporting for Dottie Fries) 6 calls in Wascott, 2 in Gordon and 1 in Solon Springs.

Transfer Station: McCann stated that we have received two applications for part-time relief help at the Transfer Station.

Cemetery: Balcsik stated the group did not meet last month but will meet in October. We need to put a notice in the Northwood

Shopper about having graves cleaned by November 1.

Plan Commission: Patty McDermott stated that Zoning Administrator Steve Rannenberg attended the last meeting to answer

questions from the committee. It was a very helpful session. Rannenberg had many positive comments regarding how well

organized Wascott is compared with other towns in the county. Next meeting is on October 26.

Building Committee: Charles McDermott stated that JEO has put out bids for budget figures for the planned new town garage.

County Board: George Graven stated that Douglas County is trying to get moving on a county Comprehensive Plan.

OLD BUSINESS:

COLD STORAGE Charles McDermott, on behalf of the Building Committee, met with two contractors regarding moving or getting

BUILDING rid of the cold storage building to make room for the new town garage: 1) Woodhull Movers will charge $ 6000

to move the building to a new site, or take the building at no charge if we want to get rid of it; 2) Pooler

Construction will charge $ 5500 to move the building to a new site (they are not interested in taking the

building). Balcsik/McCann motion to table any decision until we know the plans for the new garage; motion

carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

PIPELINE McCann/Balcsik motion for Bergman to review the Enbridge pipeline construction plans, and if they agree with

PERMIT what was stated at last month’s meeting, to give approval for Bergman to sign the Enbridge Pipeline Road

Crossing Permit and Resolution; motion carried.

ELECTION Bremanis stated that the current election worker pay of $ 6.50/hour, $ 7.50 for chief election inspector, has been

PAY in effect since 2001, with no increase since that time. With all the additional new election laws and new

equipment, the workers merit an increase in pay. Other towns in the county are already paying their election

workers more and several towns are also considering pay increases this year. Balcsik/McCann motion for $ 1.00

per hour increase in pay for the election workers, effective with the September 2006 election; motion carried.

PART-TIME McCann brought up the idea of hiring someone for small projects, not highway work, things like work around

HELP the Town hall, road pick-up, etc. The problem is finding someone willing and available to work when needed.

The Town Board will take a look at the two who applied for Transfer Station work, to see if they would be

available to do other kinds of work as well.

ATTORNEY Bergman would like to take a look at a couple of attorneys and perhaps meet with them with the idea of retaining

one for town services. He is especially interested in one that has done work for Solon Springs and Superior.

ZONING 1) Application by Pollock Lake, LLC (sellers), Harv Janda & Kim Heidtke (buyers) for a conditional-use permit

for an accessory building.

McCann/Balcsik motion to approve the building plans, but stating that a driveway permit is required for this lot

and all others in that area before construction begins; motion carried. A letter will also be sent to the developers

informing them of the town driveway ordinance.

2) Application by Richard & Theresa Maas for a conditional-use permit to construct a commercial building to

be used as a bar.

Balcsik/McCann motion to approve the application, provided that it meets all state and county requirements;

motion carried.

BOARD OF Application by Neubauer Cabin Trust for replacement of steps and stoop with new steps and handicap ramp

ADJ built in the form of a small deck, within the minimum setback of the OHWM of Whitefish Lake.

Jo Neubauer answered Town Board questions regarding the placement of the proposed ramp, stating that it

would be along the side of the house, and not on the lake side. McCann/Balcsik motion that the Town Board has

no objection to the application, provided that the ramp does not project past the lakeside edge of the house, and

that the ramp meets state specifications for handicap ramps; motion carried.

OPER LIC Balcsik/McCann motion to approve a new Operator License application for Deborah Fringer, who has a current

Operator License in the Town of Gordon; motion carried.

GUESTS ON THE AGENDA:

Sharon Claire Downes presented information on Eurasian milfoil prevention on Bond Lake. Information presented stated that the milfoil has been moving north from the southern part of the state, and has reached Nancy Lake, Minong Flowage, and Cranberry Lake. It can grow 6 inches or more per day, primarily spread by boats and motors, and is difficult or impossible to eradicate once it is established. From July to September (with a 4-week interruption in August), volunteers were stationed at Bond Lake boat landings on weekends to educate boaters. The count was 221 during that time period. The Bond Lake Association would like the Town Board to approve a grant proposal for further Bond Lake monitoring. The Town Board would need to sign a 50/50 matching grant, with the funds being covered by the Bond Lake Association, with no cost to the town. The grant proposal is in the process of being written with a deadline of January 2007 for the summer of 2007, and August 2007 for the summer of 2008. The Town Board indicated support in this effort, encouraging the Bond Lake Association to proceed with writing the grant proposal. Suggestions were made for the Bond Lake Association to contact the chairman of the Minong Flowage Lake Association for more information regarding milfoil containment efforts, and also to contact the Whitefish Lake Association, which has worked with Town Board support and involvement in obtaining a number of lake monitoring and lake study grants.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Gordon-Wascott EMS: Monthly financial report.

PAY BILLS: The Board approved all bills submitted for payment (checks #16682 through # 16686, and #16694 through

#16752, and # 16759).

ADJOURNMENT: McCann/Balcsik motion to adjourn 8:26 P.M.; carried.

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________

Val Bremanis – Town Clerk/Treasurer