Town Board Meeting February 12, 2009

Vice Chairperson Dan Pearson convened the Regular Town Board meeting on Thursday, February 12, 2009, at 7:00pm. Jan Cuccia, Gloria Wahrenbrock and Brian Schwab were present. Ray Knapp was absent.

The following people signed the attendance sheet: Gary Parent, Mel Hermansen, Jill Berke and Charlie Macdonell. Others were present who did not sign in.

D. Pearson invited those present to join in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

APPROVE MINUTES - Minutes of the January 15, 2009 Town Board meeting had been distributed to the board. J. Cuccia recommended adding the word “proposed” in front of new closing time to the third sentence under agenda item Park Board Report. Mel Hermansen clarified that he will be going to court on behalf of the town on March 4^th, not March 3^rd as reflected in the January Board minutes. Gloria Wahrenbrock moved to approve the minutes as corrected, seconded by J. Cuccia. Motion passed, all in favor.

CITIZEN INPUT – None.

PARK BOARD REPORT – Copies of the January Park Board minutes and Park Board Report had been distributed to the board. Jill Berke reviewed the Park Board report. She stated that Cedar Corp., has been invited to an upcoming Park Board meeting to help develop a plan for identifying additional funding sources for the North Glover Road project. Ball teams from both River Falls and Hudson have requested use of the ball fields for the upcoming season. A formal agreement with the ball organizations is pending the finalization of the new Statement of Understanding and Agreement. An eagle scout has expressed interest in creating and installing trail markers in Glover Park. J. Berke also asked the board to consider adopting the proposed new closing time for Pembles Access. This will be put on the March Town Board agenda.

PLAN COMMISSION REPORT – Copies of the Plan Commission minutes had been distributed to the board. J. Cuccia summarized the Plan Commission meeting stating that besides making a recommendation to the Town Board on the YMCA riverway application, the Plan Commission reviewed two additional riverway applications that will be considered by the Board of Appeals in March. The Plan Commission also reviewed the Comprehensive Plan. Their suggested changes will be reviewed by the Town Board tonight.

DISCUSS & CONSIDER 2007 AUDIT REPORT AND SEGREGATION OF DUTIES – Steve Tracy, LarsonAllen, was present to address the segregation of duties comment in the Management Letter from LarsonAllen regarding the 2007 audit. He stated that this type of auditor comment is not unusual for towns, villages and cities. It is made to make the board aware of the fact that they are responsible for town oversight, which he feels the Troy Town Board is doing a good job of. Examples of our practices, which he complimented the board on, include duplicate signatures on checks, reviewing and approving checks, bank reconciliations and budget review. He stated that there weren’t any red flags raised during the town audit. If there had been, they would have been noted in the Management Letter.

CONSTABLE & SHERIFF REPORTS – Copies of the Constable report, the Sheriff’s report and the Animal Control report were distributed to the board. Constable Mel Hermansen reported that it was another quiet month. He also commented that the trails in Glover Park seem to be getting a lot of use.

The board reviewed the Sheriff’s report and the Animal Control report. As asked by the board last month, R. Knapp contacted the Sheriff’s Department to review the town boundaries.

RIVERWAY APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION IN A CONFORMING AREA – YMCA, 532 CTH F – Rob Jones, Cedar Corp., reviewed the application stating that it is for a horse stall building, approximately 96 feet in length, in a conforming area. The July 31, 2008 survey indicates that the bluffline setback will be 62 feet at a minimum. The structure setback may be reduced to not less than 40 feet from the bluffline if the structure is visually inconspicuous and utilizes earth-toned materials. The applicant states that existing topography will carry runoff away from the river and into a pasture where it will infiltrate. Cedar feels that language could be added to the site plan documents clarifying how this would be accomplished. J. Cuccia asked if language had been added to the site plan since the Plan Commission meeting. R. Jones stated that it had not, but it could be a condition in the Town Board motion. The Town Board reviewed the Plan Commission recommendation. 
 

J. Cuccia moved for approval for a riverway building permit for the YMCA Camp at 532 CTH F, for construction of a horse stall, approximately 96 feet in length contingent on that they modify their site plan to clearly state that run-off from the impervious surfaces will be directed away from river to the east or northeast and that the construction erosion control meet the DNR technical standards. This is based on that the preservation of the view of the river is preserved, there maintenance of safe and healthful conditions, there is prevention control of water pollution, that the location of the site is acceptable in respect to floodways, flood plains, slope preservation zones and blufflines, that the erosion control has been addressed, that there is no impact on terrestrial and aquatic habitat, that the location of the site in respect to existing or future roads is acceptable , that there is adequate wastewater treatment and compatibility with adjacent land uses. Motion was seconded by B. Schwab. Motion passed, all in favor.

UTILITY PERMITS: None

DISCUSS & CONSIDER TOWER ROAD RECONSTRUCTION OPTIONS – R. Jones distributed a map of the 2009 Road Project options. He explained that based on estimates, if all three options were done, the town would probably be about $14,000 over budget depending on the bids. He reviewed all three options in detail and asked the board to prioritize them. The “west option” of Tower Road consists of 325’ of pavement at the intersection of Gilbert Road and Tower Road. This option would be done for pavement and driving consistency purposes, meaning there would be new pavement on either side of it, so repaving this option would make a smoother driving surface. The “east option” is similar in nature because it also would be joining two areas of newer pavement. It would be 1155 feet of blacktop from the Trillium Lane intersection on Tower Road to just east of Deerwood Drive. Two feet of pavement and a three foot shoulder would also be added to each side of the road making the road about 4 feet wider. The third option is on Townsvalley Road. The “north option” would be to extend the 2009 Townsvalley Road project an additional 600 feet, pass the Chinnock Lane intersection. This would help improve the vertical curve of the Townsvalley Road/Chinnock Lane intersection. If not completed at this time, it would be completed in 2011, when Townsvalley Road from Chinnock Lane to East Cove Road is scheduled to be done. If the areas identified in the east and west options of Tower Road aren’t done this year, there aren’t any road projects currently proposed they could be easily added to. The board prioritized the options as follows: #1- west option, #2- east option and #3- north option. Once the final designs are done, Cedar will do a more detailed cost estimate. That estimate will determine which options the town can afford to do. If the bids come in lower than expected, the town could look at adding additional options later in the year.

R. Jones asked the board for dates for an informational road project meeting for town resident input. The board decided on Tuesday March 3^rd at 6:30pm with Tuesday March 10^th as a back-up date. R. Jones explained that the road design needs to be completed about 2 weeks before the bid opening. Construction would start on the projects approximately 2 weeks after the bids are awarded.

REVIEW & REVISE SECTIONS OF DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN –Copies of the changes recommended by the Plan Commission were distributed to the board. J. Cuccia reviewed the changes with the rest of the board. The board considered the readiness of the Draft Comprehensive Plan to move forward. J. Cuccia moved to accept the revisions from the Town Board tonight and go ahead moving the Comprehensive Plan dated 2008 – 2028 to public hearing, seconded by G. Wahrenbrock. Friendly amendment: change “2008 – 2028” to “2009 – 2029”. Amended 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
08-181	Robert Vince	114 Black Bass Rd	Repair
08-195	Ted Passe	280 St. Andrews Drive	Alteration
08-198	Daniel Heschke	322 Birkdale Ct	Alteration
08-101	Amos Pederson	403 Red Brick Rd	Alteration/Repair

DRIVEWAY PERMITS – None

AMEND 2008 BUDGET – Copies of the 2008 Budget to Actual financial statements and the Designated Fund Balance for 2008 were distributed to the board. S. Provos stated that the budget did not have to be amended. All major expenditure categories came in under budget for 2008. She reviewed the designated fund balance with the board. They decided to leave the designations as is until they have audited financial statements.

CLERK/TREASURER REPORT – Copies of the cash reconciliation, impact fee summary and budget summary were distributed to the board. S. Provos reminded the board that there is an election on Tuesday February 17^th.

BILLS: Checks numbered 020582 - 020638 and the Elan bill were presented in the amount of $5,209,755.02. J. Cuccia requested that a check for the WTA workshop in Eau Claire on March 6^th also be approved. J. Cuccia moved to approve checks numbered 020582 – 020638, including the Elan bill of $591.72 and including a check to the WTA for $140.00 for a total of $5,209,895.02, seconded by G. Wahrenbrock. Motion passed, all in favor.

CORRESPONDENCE –

J. Cuccia received an email dated February 10^th from the WTA, requesting that Town Board members contact their state representatives and senators asking them to co-sponsor LRB 1391/1 relating to extraterritorial plat approval on basis of land’s use. J. Cuccia noted that she had contacted Senator Harsdorf and Representative Rhoades on the matter.

J. Cuccia attended a town hall meeting held by Ron Kind and encouraged him to support reinstating a General Revenue Sharing program.

R. Jones followed up on a letter received by R. Knapp from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation regarding the Federal Stimulus Local Project Solicitation. He determined that the town was not eligible for the funding.

R. Knapp is meeting with St. Croix County and the Wisconsin DNR at the town hall on February 25^th. To discuss vegetation removal by utility companies. J. Cuccia also agreed to attend the meeting.

D. Pearson encouraged board members to attend a Working Land Initiative workshop in New Richmond on March 11^th from 9:00 – 3:00 at WITC.

COMMITTEE REPORTS –

J. Cuccia and R. Knapp attended the Intergovernmental meeting where sustainable community principles were discussed. They reviewed models that have worked in other communities. A resolution regarding sustainability will be added to the March Town Board agenda.

J. Cuccia gave a brief update on the next town newsletter. She will email out a draft to the board for their review. The newsletter should be mailed out to residents in early March.

R. Knapp and G. Wahrenbrock attended the Troy Burne Homeowners Association meeting. River Falls Rural Fire Association gave a presentation at the meeting and explained that they are interested in drilling a town well to help reduce insurance costs for town residents.

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

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

These minutes were taken at a meeting

of the Troy Town Board held on the

12th day of February, 2009.

________________________

Sharon Provos, Clerk/Treasurer