Town Board Meeting May 12, 2011

Chair Ray Knapp convened the Regular Town Board meeting on Thursday May 12, 2011, at 7:11 pm., immediately following the Board of Review meeting, as noticed.  Supervisors Jan Cuccia, Sue Warren, and Jason Kjos were present.  Brian Schwab was absent.

 

The following people signed the attendance sheet:  Jill Berke and Louie Filkins.

 

R. Knapp invited those present to join in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

APPROVE MINUTES - Minutes of the April 14, 2011 Town Board meeting had been distributed to the board.  J. Cuccia moved to approve the Town Board meeting minutes of April 14, 2011, seconded by J. Kjos.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

CITIZEN INPUT – Jill Berke suggested ornamental grasses along the Recycling Center to make it more visually appealing.

 

PARK BOARD REPORT – The April and May Park Board report and April Park Board minutes were distributed to the board.  Jill Berke summarized the recent Park Site tour taken by the Park Board, park rangers and Gary Parent.  The town road crew will re-stripe the parking spaces at the boat launch.  The Park Board also approved the park ranger uniforms.  Pembles Access isn’t open yet, due to high water.  The plan is to open it Memorial Day week-end if the water isn’t too high.     

 

PLAN COMMISSION REPORT – Minutes of the Plan Commission meeting had been distributed to the board.  J. Cuccia summarized that the Plan Commission heard 3 riverway applications.  One will be heard by the Town Board tonight.  The Plan Commission also had a discussion regarding town demographics.  The Plan Commission will not meet in June because there are no new applications.

 

PARK RANGER, HUMANE OFFICER & SHERIFF REPORTS – Copies of the Park Ranger report and Humane Officer report were distributed to and reviewed by the board.  The board had a question about citation P331707 referred to in the humane officer’s report.  S. Provos will follow-up with K. Pelnar.

 

RIVERWAY REVIEW FOR CONSTRUCTION OF AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE IN A CONFORMING AREA – STEVE AND TAMRAH O’NEIL, 288 BRUGLER CT. – Rob Jones, Cedar Corp., explained that the application was submitted to build an accessory structure (garage) in a conforming area.  During the concept review, the Plan Commission concluded that they could recommend permitting the garage to be constructed prior to the home if the applicant provided sufficient information to show that there was adequate room on the lot to later construct a house and private on-site wastewater treatment system without the need of a riverway variance.  Cedar Corp. has reviewed a revised site plan identifying conforming areas for the garage, house, driveway and septic system.  The applicant has also provided a soil boring report evaluating the site soils, which Cedar Corp. has also reviewed. The Plan Commission recommended approving the application with the following four contingencies:

1.       Only a single driveway is allowed that will service the accessory structure and future home.

2.       Any septic system that is installed shall be sized to serve both the accessory building and the future home.

3.       The structure will have a brown roof with earth toned red siding pursuant to the Morton color chart.

4.       The applicant must apply for and receive all required St. Croix County permits.

 

S. Warren asked if any screening as suggested by a letter from the neighbor was considered.  R. Jones stated that the Town Riverway Ordinance doesn’t require any side lot screening and therefore the town does not have the authority to require it. 

 

Louie Filkins, Ogden Engineering, distributed copies of the site & erosion control plan to the board.  He gave a brief summary of the project and answered questions from the board.  R. Knapp asked if the septic would be put in this summer.  L. Filkins explained the septic would be installed when the bathroom was constructed in the garage. 

 

J. Cuccia moved that we approve a riverway permit for Steve and Tamrah O’Neil at 288 Brugler Court, to build a 75’ by 30’ accessory structure in the riverway district subject to the following stipulations:  that there will be only a single driveway allowed that will service both the existing accessory structure and future home. Any septic system that is installed will be sized to serve both the accessory building and any future home. That the structure will have a brown roof with earth toned red siding pursuant to the Morton color chart and that the applicant must apply for and receive all required St. Croix County permits.  And further that this motion has taken based on the following considerations:  That there aren’t any issues with the preservation of the view and use of the river, the maintenance of safe and healthful conditions, particularly future septic systems, the prevention and control of water pollution, the location of the site in respect to floodways, flood plains, slope preservation zones and blufflines, the erosion potential of the site, the impact on terrestrial and aquatic habitat, the location of the site in respect to existing or future roads, the adequacy of proposed future wastewater treatment and the compatibility with adjacent land uses.  Seconded by S. Warren.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER MAILBOX DAMAGE PROCESS/PROCEDURE – R. Knapp summarized the current process when a resident calls regarding a mailbox that may have been hit by the snowplow.  The road crew goes out and looks to see if the mailbox was hit and damaged by the snowplow or by the snow from the plow.  If it is determined that the plow actually hit the mailbox, the road crew either fixes it or pays the resident between $40 and $60 for repairs.  There are some mailboxes within the town that cost over $400.  R. Knapp isn’t comfortable with the current practice and would like to see it more clearly defined as a town policy.  After discussing the matter, the general consensus was that if the road crew can determine if the plow hit a mailbox, the town will give the owner $50 or offer to repair it in in-kind services up to $50.  R. Knapp will write-up a policy and give it to the road crew. 

 

UTILITY PERMITS: The following permits were submitted by Cedar Corp.:

U11-003     St. Croix Elect.           Underground elect svc-654 Glover Rd               $100

U11-004     St. Croix Gas             Underground gas svc-365 Ruthie Ln                 $100

 

J. Cuccia moved to approve utility permit U11-003 to St. Croix Electric for the installation of underground electric service to 654 Glover Road and utility permit U11-004 to St. Croix Gas for the installation of underground gas service to 365 Ruthie Lane, seconded by S. Warren.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

BUILDING PERMITS:  The following permits were submitted by the building inspector and reviewed by the Town Board.

PERMIT #

APPLICANT

ADDRESS

PROJECT

11-111

Tom Kigin

201 Glenmont Rd

Addition

11-112

Ray Lorenz

255 Plainview Dr

Alteration/deck

11-113

Ann Pierce

535 Chinnock Ln

Electrical

11-114

John Bergman

306 Townsvalley Rd

New home

11-115

Craig Swanson

342 Soo Line Rd

Storage shed

11-116

Tom Dress

528 Gilbert Rd

Alteration

11-117

Brian Schwab

531 Gilbert Rd

Alteration

11-118

Scott Lindall

216 Glenmont Rd

Alteration

11-119

Douglas Johnson

693 Buttercup Ct

Deck repair

11-121

City of River Falls

681 CTH MM

Raze

11-122

Dwight Nelson

18 Glendale Dr

Storage shed

 

DRIVEWAY PERMITS – None.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER RECYCLING CENTER VARIANCE – In B. Schwab’s absence, R. Knapp reported that the county had approved the town’s variance application with a few conditions and a $1,100 deposit. R. Knapp reviewed the variance conditions.  B. Schwab is working with the county on a plan to that will satisfy the variance requirements.  A final plan and the bids for completing that plan will be on the town board agenda next month.  J. Cuccia moved that we as the Town of Troy accept the variance that we requested from St. Croix County and their decisions and findings dated March 28, 2011, seconded by J. Kjos.  Motion passed, all in favor. 

 

BOARD OF REVIEW – ALTERNATE MEMBERS -

R. Knapp moved to adopt the following resolution:

 

Town of Troy

Resolution 11-03

Board of Review Alternate Members

 

BE IT RESOLVED,

That the alternate members of the 2011 Board of Review shall be:

 

Art Feyereisen and Joe Duerre

 

That both non-Town officer members and alternate members of the 2011 Board of Review shall be entitled to a per diem payment of $45.00 for each meeting or continued meeting of the 2011 Board of Review actually attended.

 

Seconded by J. Cuccia.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER DESIGNATED FUND BALANCES – Copies of current fund balance designations were distributed to the board.  After discussing the current designations, R. Knapp moved to move $60,000 from the public safety designation into capital road improvements, $1,513 from farmland into capital road improvements and an additional $50,000 from undesignated into capital road improvements for 2011, seconded by J. Kjos.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

CLERK/TREASURER REPORT – Copies of the cash reconciliation, legal and engineering fee summary and budget summary were distributed to the board. 

 

BILLS: Checks numbered 023274 - 023319 –and the Elan bill were presented in the amount of $37,166.64.  J. Kjos moved to approve bills for May, starting with check # 023274 thru 023319 in the amount of $37,039.63 including the Elan bill for $127.11, for a total of $37,166.64, seconded by S. Warren.  Motion passed, all in favor. 

 

CORRESPONDENCE –

Board members had previously been given copies of the county supervisor redistricting plan.

 

J. Kjos and J. Berke are planning on attending St. Croix County’s long range park planning meeting to be held on May 24th.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS –

S. Warren distributed copies of meeting summaries for the River Falls Rural Fire Association and the Hudson EMS Commission meetings she attended.  The fire inspection process will be placed on the July Town Board agenda and S. Warren will work with Cedar Corp. to determine if the town’s driveway ordinance is in compliance with the NFPA fire lane code.

 

J. Cuccia has redrafted the Emergency Management Operation Plan and it will be put on the July Town Board agenda.

 

S. Warren and J. Cuccia gave a brief summary of the recent WTA meeting they attended.

 

R. Knapp and the town attorney met with the county to discuss whether or not the town could withdraw from county zoning.  The county asked the town to suggest what the steps might be or what the process would look like if a town in St. Croix County,  wanted to withdraw from county zoning. 

 

 

J. Kjos moved to adjourn, seconded by J. Cuccia.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.

 

These minutes were taken at a meeting

of the Troy Town Board held on the

12th day of May, 2011.

 

 

 

__________________________________

Sharon Provos, Clerk/Treasurer

 

 

__________________________________

Ray Knapp, Town Chairman