Town Board Meeting November 8, 2007

Chairperson Ray Knapp convened the Regular Town Board Meeting on Thursday, November 8, 2007, at 7:00, p.m.  Dan Pearson, Jan Cuccia, and Fritz Anding were present.  Gloria Wahrenbrock was absent.

 

The following people signed the attendance sheet:  Janie & Steve Peterson, Jill Berke, Michael Colloton, Paul Cooper, Gary Sumner, Renee & Tom Patnode, Brian Dealy, Gary Parent, Charlie Macdonell, Gary Donath, Cyril Cernohous, Holly Mitchell, Jeff Rixman and John Kruh.  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 October 11, 2007 Town Board meeting had been distributed to the Board.  Jan Cuccia to moved to approve the minutes for the October 11th Town Board meeting, seconded by Dan Pearson.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

PARK BOARD REPORT – Copies of the Park Board meeting minutes had been distributed to the board.  Jill Berke gave a brief summary of the Park Board meeting.  She also noted that the Park Board would like to place boulders to prevent illegal access to Pembles Access by snowmobilers.  Fritz Anding had safety concerns regarding the visibility of the boulders.  R. Knapp asked that the town road crew place a caution sign in front of the boulders for the 2007 winter season.

 

PLAN COMMISSION REPORT – Copies of the Plan Commission minutes had been distributed to the board.  R. Knapp encouraged the board members to read the minutes concerning agenda item #4 Public hearing/permit in the Riverway to construct a home and related conditionally permitted activities – Terry & Peggy Kingston, 292 Brugler Court.  There was an extensive discussion on this at the Plan Commission meeting.  This item was ultimately tabled by the Plan Commission until next month.  R. Knapp also mentioned that Gwen Kuchevar, town attorney would be drafting a letter regarding set back determinations for lots created prior to the town’s subdivision ordinance. 

 

CITIZEN INPUT – Resident Jill Berke asked the town to request that the utility company remove the graffiti on their metal box located at the bottom of the hill on Carlson Lane.

 

CONSTABLE & SHERIFF REPORTS – Copies of the Constable Report were distributed to the board.  R. Knapp noted that our county sheriff contact was in training this month and we did not get a sheriff’s department report.

 

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH – JANINE & STEVE PETERSON, PLAINVIEW/DELANDER TO SKYLINE/GLENMONT – Janie Peterson requested permission to post neighborhood watch signs at Plainview Drive and Delander Drive and at Skyline Drive and Glenmont Road.  They have met with the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department and this would be the next step in forming a neighborhood watch program.  Resident Brian Dealy was also present and supported erecting the signs.  J. Cuccia moved to allow the posting of neighborhood watch signs in the Skyline Drive/Delander Drive neighborhood, seconded by D.Pearson.  Motion passed all in favor.  R. Knapp directed the road crew to work with the homeowners.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER ROAD ACCEPTANCE – PEACEABLE HILL ROAD, TROY OVERLOOK – Renee Patnode recapped the Plan Commission recommendation for accepting Peaceable Hill Road.  She also referred back to the Town Board’s meeting of November 2006 where they approved reducing the Letter of Credit (LOC) requirement from 25% to 15% or $30,000 whichever is higher.  She realized that her Developer’s Agreement was signed prior to that board decision, but cited several examples where the board had made allowances for other developers.  R. Knapp asked Rob Jones, Cedar Corp. if a 15% LOC would adequately protect the town.  R. Jones verified that the road is ready to be accepted and that a 15% LOC would be sufficient to protect the town.  D. Pearson moved to accept Peaceable Hill Road which is part of Troy Overlook and to retain a 15% Letter of Credit for one year, seconded by J. Cuccia.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

PERMIT IN RIVERWAY TO CONSTRUCT A HOME AND RELATED CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED ACTIVITIES – TERRY & PEGGY KINGSTON, 292 BRUGLER COURT – D. Pearson moved to table this item until December, seconded by F. Anding.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER EROSION CONTROL AT BOAT LAUNCH – R. Knapp explained that he had met with Charlie Macdonell, Rob Jones and Bob Setzer to evaluate erosion at the boat launch and the Setzer property.  They discussed a plan of action and C. Macdonell with be meeting with the DNR to see if a Chapter 30 permit is required.  The estimated cost would be $2,500 or less.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER AMBULANCE SERVICE – Copies of EMS summaries from both River Falls Area Ambulance Service and St. Croix EMS were distributed to the board.  According to the summaries, both services are offering 24/7 paramedic coverage and residents are receiving the highest level of care during 100% of call runs. 

 

Michael Colloton, president of Troy Burne Homeowners Association, stated that their neighborhood was debating whether to request they be served by St. Croix EMS rather than River Falls Ambulance Service.  The Homeowners Association had invited St. Croix EMS to their meeting and planned to do the same for River Falls.  R. Knapp stated that the 2008 contract for River Falls Ambulance had been approved and signed last month, so any requests by the homeowners association would not affect their service in 2008.  However, he encouraged feedback from Troy BUrne in early 2008, in they had input for 2009 contracts.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER TOWN APPLICATION DEADLINES – S. Provos recapped a meeting with she and R. Knapp had with R. Jones and Bryon Motszko of Cedar Corp.  They reviewed the town’s application process trying to determine how to make it less confusing while still meeting publication and notification deadlines.  They came up with the following process:

 

1.  All applications (including Riverway Permit Concept Review Applications, but excluding Riverway Permit Applications) must be received by Town Clerk, Attorney and Engineer by the 1st of the month to be considered for the following month's agenda.

2.  All Riverway Permit applications must be received by the Town Clerk, Attorney and Engineer by the 21st of the month.  They will not be heard at the next Plan Commission meeting, but at the subsequent one. 

3.  Changing date of the staff meeting to the Tuesday in between the PC and TB meetings. 

D. Pearson moved to support the application process as printed effective January 1, 2008, seconded by F.Anding.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

UTILITY PERMITS:  None.  Cedar Corp. is trying to track down Comcast to have them apply for a permit for the tubing they are installing within the town.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER PLAN COMMISSION MEMBER STIPEND – R. Knapp explained that the Plan Commission members were currently paid $20/meeting.  As a comparison, he noted that Park Board members are paid $30/meeting.  He recommended increasing the Plan Commission stipend to $30/meeting.  J. Cuccia move that the Plan Commission stipend be increased to $30/meeting effective January 2008, seconded by F. Anding.  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

07-186

Kent Bahner

259 Cove Lane

Deck

07-188

Tim Nyberg

561/5 County Rd M

HVAC

07-189

Matt Metzler

321 Gandy Dance Circle

New Home

07-190

Joylynn Audereith

252 St. Anne’s Parkway

Pool

07-191

Bruce Hamilton

403 Jighway 35 Lot 13

Foundation

07-192

Cindy Hepfler

331 West Grove Rd

Repair

07-193

Ray Huberty

684 County Rd MM

Addition

07-194

Dan Knutson

525 Trillium Ln

Storage shed

07-195

Greg Gerard

387 Cedar Court

Deck

07-196

Kevin Kuechie

390 Mitchell Rd

Alteration

07-198

Dick Meunich

336 South Cove Rd

Deck repair

07-199

Phil Cernohous

480 Virgil Rd

Renewal

 

DRIVEWAY PERMITS – The following permits were submitted by the Building Inspector and reviewed by the town board.

07-121

Matt Metzler

321 Gandy Dance Circle

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER COUNTY TAX COLLECTION AGREEMENT – Copies of the Tax Collection Agreement for 2007-2008 from the county had been distributed to the board.  J. Cuccia moved to accept the tax collection agreement between the Town of Troy and St. Croix County for 2008, seconded by F. Anding.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

REVIEW & RECOMMEND TOWN BOARD SUPERVISOR WAGES – R. Knapp explained that the electorate would have to approve an increase in wages for the town board supervisors.  For supervisors elected in April 2007, the current approved wage is $4,200.  R. Knapp moved to recommend to the town electorate that the wages for town board supervisors be raised to $4,500, seconded by J. Cuccia.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

2008 PROPOSED BUDGET REVIEW – R. Jones distributed copies of the road costs for 2007 & 2008.  He felt that the town would incur approximately $525,000 in road costs for 2007.  The amount budgeted was $491,100.  Increasing the budget to cover the costs will have to be voted on by the electorate at the November Town Meeting.  Some of the 2007 costs will be deferred until 2008 raising the 2008 road capital improvement plan to $699;256.  S. Provos will make these and other minor changes discussed to the budget before the budget public hearing.  The board also reviewed current designated/undesignated fund balance.

 

INSURANCE CONTRACT REVIEW – The board reviewed the 2008 insurance estimate.  They want to review insurance coverage in August in the future.  S. Provos will check on the current insurance deductible. 

 

CODE BOOK PROJECT UPDATE – Board members had received copies of the ordinance revisions prior to the meeting.  Mark Mitchell reviewed the following ordinances with the board. 

1. Park Board

2. Burning Outdoors.

Next month, the board will review the following ordinances:  Officials & Employees and Record Retention.

 

RF COOPERATIVE BOUNDARY VISION STATEMENT – Copies of the vision statement had been distributed to the board.  R. Knapp and D. Pearson have met twice with the City of River Falls committee formed to work on cooperative boundary agreements.  The board reviewed the preliminary vision statement that has been drafted as a result of these meetings.  The board discussed cooperative boundary agreement issues at length.  R. Knapp requested board approval for him and D. Pearson to continue to work with this committee.  J. Cuccia expressed concern that this was not an appropriate time to move forward with discussions.  R. Knapp moved that the Town Board support ongoing informal discussions with the City of River Fall’s negotiation committee to see if they can develop a common vision for a cooperative boundary agreement, seconded by F. Anding.  Motion passed 3 -1.  (J. Cuccia opposed).

 

CLERK/TREASURER REPORT – Copies of the cash reconciliation, budget summary and impact fees collected were distributed to the Board.  S. Provos stated that other area municipalities are publishing their agendas only in the government meeting section of the Hudson Star Observer(HSO) at no charge rather than in both the legal notice section and the government meeting section.  The River Falls Journal (RFJ) doesn’t have this section.  The board agreed to publish the agendas in the HSO in the government meetings section and in the legal notice section of the RFJ.

 

BILLS: Checks numbered 020561 – 020639 and the Elan bill were presented in the amount of $403,272.56.  J. Cuccia moved to approve checks 020561 – 020639, the Elan bill of $139.86 and a check to F&K Trucking and Excavating for $127,601.95 for a total of $530,874.51, seconded by F. Anding.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS – R. Knapp reported that at the Intergovernmental meeting he learned that both the Town of Hudson and St. Croix County have a lot of road projects planned for next year.  He would like Cedar Corp. to put together a road project schedule for Troy with a projected timeline for getting the bids in early for the 2008 construction period. 

 

CORRESPONDENCE –

R. Knapp reviewed the following correspondence with the board”

 

The Hudson School District has information on their website regarding the redistricting due to the new elementary school.  Any inquiries regarding the redistricting should be directed there.

 

Gwen Kuchevar has recently sent several letters to landowners with possible riverway ordinance infractions.

 

The lawyer for the developer of the Countrywood Subdivision sent a letter in response to the letter sent by Jay & Sheila Thompson’s attorney regarding flooding issues.  The response stated that the builder is at fault for constructing a home in a ponding area clearly marked on the plat.

 

Bob Rolle has created a comparison of the Town of Troy and St. Croix County Riverway Ordinances.

 

Gary & Sue Sumner would like to donate a painting done by Mae Sumner.  This will be on the agenda next month. 

 

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

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.

 

These minutes were taken at a meeting

of the Troy Town Board held on the

8th day of November, 2007.

 

 

__________________________________

Sharon Provos, Clerk/Treasurer

 

 

__________________________________

Ray Knapp, Town Chairman