Town Board Meeting June 11, 2009

Chairperson Ray Knapp convened the Regular Town Board meeting on Thursday June 11, 2009 at 7:00pm.  Jan Cuccia and Gloria WahrenBrock were present.  Brian Schwab and Dan Pearson were absent.

 

The following people signed the attendance sheet:  Jill Berke, John Salmon, Mel Hermansen, Buzz Marzolf and Erik Haslund.  Others were present who did not sign in.

 

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

 

APPROVE MINUTES - Minutes of the May 14, 2009 Town Board meeting had been distributed to the board.  The following corrections were made to the minutes:  The date in the first line was changed from April 9 to May 14.  The last line of the 2nd paragraph under Constable and Sheriff Reports was changed to read, “It means that if a person picks up an animal in the town and is willing to take the animal directly to the Humane Association, K. Pelnar informs the Humane Association that it’s ok to accept the animal.”  G. WahrenBrock moved to approve the minutes with the two corrections as suggested, seconded by J. Cuccia.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

CITIZEN INPUT –Resident John Salmon stated that he really wants the cattle pass matter settled.  He has not received a reply to the letter from his attorney that he presented to the board last month.  R. Knapp commented that the Town Board, at J. Salmon’s request, visited the site during its annual road tour and directed the town road crew to make some minor adjustments.  R. Knapp will follow-up with the town road crew to determine if the adjustments have been completed.  The town has addressed the fencing issues several times and believes that it has shared with J. Salmon that it has fulfilled its obligation.

 

Resident Buzz Marzolf stated that Western Wisconsin AARP was holding an informational dinner meeting about health care.  If anyone is interested in attending, they can contact him for more information.

 

Resident Erik Haslund asked the board to waive the citation he received at the boat launch on May 16th.  He deposited money for an annual permit at the launch on May 14th.  When he used the launch again on the 16th, he thought his license number would be in the “system” and therefore didn’t put anything on his windshield indicating that he had paid for and was waiting for his annual permit.  R. Knapp will discuss the citation with the constables/park ranger and get back to E. Haslund.

 

PARK BOARD REPORT – Copies of the MayPark Board minutes and Park Board Report had been distributed to the board.  Jill Berke reviewed the Park Board activities for the board.  She stated a water tank has been purchased to water the new trees at Glover, a “prefab” shed is being installed at Glover, the water pump at Glover has been repaired, several Eagle Scout projects are being considered by the Park Board, the town has received a grant to plant an ornamental border of bushes along the fence line at the entrance to Glover, the Park Board is continuing its efforts to work through the issues raised during the playground equipment inspection, the Park Board is in the process of going out for bids on new playground equipment and the new “no alcohol” signs installed at Pembles Access have disappeared.  The Park Board is also asking that the county sheriff increase its patrol at Pembles Access after closing time.  J. Cuccia asked if the Park Board needed Town Board approval for the purchase of new playground equipment since it is a capital expenditure rather than an operating expense.  R. Knapp stated that if it was part of the park capital budget previously approved by the Town Board, then no further approval by the Town Board is required.  J. Berke stated that she will keep the Town Board apprised through-out the bidding process. 

 

PLAN COMMISSION REPORT – Copies of the Plan Commission minutes had been distributed to the board.  J. Cuccia summarized that the Plan Commission had reviewed the proposed St. Croix Electric (SCEC) Letter of Understanding and had recommended approval.  The Plan Commission also discussed landscaping standards and questions posed by the Comprehensive Zoning Committee (CZC).

 

CONSTABLE & SHERIFF REPORTS – Copies of the Constable report and the Animal Control report were distributed to the board.  Mel Hermansen commented that he thought the joint patrol utilized during Memorial Day weekend worked out well.  There are indications that alcohol is being consumed at Pembles and M. Hermansen believes that the sheriff’s department should patrol Pembles Access more in the evening hours after it closes.  .  R. Knapp stated that the constables and park ranger should contact the sheriff’s department if they are confronted with unruly behavior at Pembles.  The Town Board agreed to redirect more of the sheriff’s hours to park patrolling and reduce the number of hours spent doing traffic control. 

 

The board reviewed the Animal Control report and the sheriff’s report.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING FOR VEGETATION REMOVAL IN LOWER ST. CROIX RIVERWAY DISTRICT FOR ST. CROIX ELECTRIC (SCEC) – R. Knapp summarized the letter.   If approved, the letter would be considered a riverway permit, good for three years.  This letter is consistent with the county’s letter of understanding.  If any changes occur in federal or state law that effect vegetation removal for maintaining power line access then modifications to the permit/letter would have to be worked out collaboratively between SCEC and the town.  R. Knapp explained that the DNR has gone on record stating that the federal standards for vegetative cutting to maintain power line access, take precedence over the restrictions of vegetative cutting in NR118.  The Plan Commission has recommended approving the letter of understanding.  J. Cuccia moved to approve the proposed letter of understanding for vegetation removal in the Lower St. Croix Riverway District for St. Croix Electric and to authorize the Town Chair to sign it and get it enacted, seconded by G. WahrenBrock.  Motion passed, all in favor. 

 

R. Knapp reminded the board that a citation had been issued to SCEC in October for $2,500 for failure to obtain a riverway permit to remove vegetation.  R. Knapp moved to rescind citation #331711 for St. Croix Electric for the amount of $2,500 for failure to obtain a riverway permit to remove vegetation, seconded by J. Cuccia.  Motion passed, all in favor. 

 

ADOPT AMENDMENT TO THE IMPACT FEE ORDINANCE REVISION – R. Knapp reviewed some of the changes to the ordinance with the board.  The town attorney has tried to simplify the ordinance and make it easier to read.  The changes were motivated by the changes in the state law.  J .Cuccia moved to adopt the revisions to Chapter 70, Impact Fees, as presented before us dated April 14, 2009 effective immediately, seconded by G. Wahrenbrock.  Friendly amendment: “effective as soon as legally possible”.  Amended motion passed, all in favor.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER ROAD CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN SCHEDULE UPDATE – Rob Jones, Cedar Corp., distributed an updated map showing the road improvements from 2007-2012.  After reviewing the map, the board asked that Cedar Corp., also update the town’s Transportation Plan.  This will be put on the August Town Board agenda. 

 

R. Jones distributed three different diagrams of the Cove Road intersection.  The first shows the intersection as it is now, the second and third show possible realignment of the intersection.  R. Jones walked the board through each of the realignments.  This item will be placed on the July Town Board agenda for discussion and copies will be sent to the three adjacent landowners, inviting them to the meeting. 

 

UTILITY PERMITS:  None

 

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

PERMIT #

APPLICANT

ADDRESS

PROJECT

09-120

YMCA

532 CTH F

Commercial

09-121

Delbert Dodge

170A Delander Dr

Storage Shed

09-122

John Eral

418 Jordyn Ln

Alteration/Porch

09-123

Colin Sultan

479 Omaha Rd

New Home

09-124

Mark Lienemann

513 Trillium Ln

Deck

09-125

David Sebesta

475 West Omaha Rd

Addition

09-126

Bob Supers

535 Orchard Dr

Alteration

 

 

 

 

 

DRIVEWAY PERMITS – The following permit was submitted by the building inspector and reviewed by the Town Board.

PERMIT #

APPLICANT

ADDRESS

09-104

Colin Sultan

479 Omaha Rd

 

 

 

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER COMMITTEE FOR TOWN NOMINATION PROCESS (CAUCUS VS NOMINATION PAPERS) – J. Cuccia distributed a summary of the two different processes.  Only about 25% of Wisconsin towns still use the caucus method.  During the April Annual Meeting, residents seemed to support switching to a nomination paper process.  After some discussion, board members were in favor of putting this to the voters as a referendum question on the April ballot.  J. Cuccia and S. Provos will work as a committee of two to determine what needs to be done to get it on the ballot and then will bring it back to the Town Board. 

 

DISCUSS ACTION PLAN FOR BROADBAND INITATIVE – R. Knapp gave a brief summary of discussions with Baldwin Telecom regarding the federal stimulus money available for broadband.  The operations manager at Baldwin Telecom felt that the town was a strong candidate for the funds because of the background work the town has already done in trying to pursue this infrastructure, the current lack of available service within the town and the cost of the project.  This will be placed on a future Town Board agenda as more information becomes available on the federal funding application process.

 

APPROVE LIQUOR & OPERATORS LICENSES – The following licenses were submitted for approval:

 

Class B liquor and Class B Beer license:

Kilkarney Hills Golf Course

163 Radio Road

River Falls, WI

Class B liquor, Class B Beer & Tobacco license:

Troy Burne Golf Club

295 Lindsay Road

Hudson, WI

 

Operator Licenses:

Benson, Terry

Funk, Tammy

Funk, Travis

Huftel, Noelle

Kelly, Kristi

Klund, Alyssa

Skidmore, Jenna

 

J. Cuccia moved to approve a Class B liquor and Class B beer license for Kilkarney Hills Golf Course at 163 Radio Road and a Class B liquor, Class B beer and tobacco license for Troy Burne Golf Club at 295 Lindsay Road, seconded by G. WahrenBrock.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

G. WahrenBrock moved to approve operator licenses for Terry Benson, Tammy Funk, Travis Funk, Noelle Huftel, Kristi Kelly, Alyssa Klund and Jenna Skidmore, seconded by J. Cuccia.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

CLERK/TREASURER REPORT – Copies of the cash reconciliation, impact fee summary and budget summary were distributed to the board.  S. Provos briefly reviewed several expenditure categories that were at or near budget. 

 

BILLS: Checks numbered 021845 – 021918 and the Elan bill were presented in the amount of $58,868.18.  G. WahrenBrock moved to approve payment of checks 021845 – 021918 in the amount of $56,787.36 and to include the Elan check for $2,080.82, for a total of $58,868.18, seconded by J. Cuccia.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

CORRESPONDENCE –

In response to an email sent by the town clerk, J. Cuccia asked whether the town recycling center was collecting tires year round.  R. Knapp stated that per a request by the recycling center employees, tires can only be dropped off in the spring and winter.

 

There is a conservation easement celebration at the Paul and Sherril Schottler farm on June 24th. 

 

J. Cuccia will be attending View from the River – A Guided Tour of the St. Croix Valley’s Land & Water Resources workshop on June 17th. 

 

Cedar Corp. has contacted the town regarding the engineering fees for the town’s Comprehensive Plan.  This will be put on next month’s agenda.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS –

 

J. Cuccia asked the board to start thinking about articles for the upcoming fall newsletter.

 

 

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

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

 

These minutes were taken at a meeting

of the Troy Town Board held on the

11th day of June, 2009.

 

________________________

Sharon Provos, Clerk/Treasurer