Town Board Meeting October 9, 2008

Chairperson Ray Knapp convened the Regular Town Board meeting on Thursday, October 9, 2008, at 7:00, pm.  Gloria Wahrenbrock, Dan Pearson and Brian Schwab were present.  Jan Cuccia was absent.

 

The following people signed the attendance sheet:  Daniel Greenwald, Jr., Mel Hermansen, Rick Banes, Gary Parent, Jill Berke and Charlie Macdonell.  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 September 11, 2008 Town Board meeting had been distributed to the board. D. Pearson moved to approve the minutes as printed, seconded by Gloria Wahrenbrock.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

CITIZEN INPUT –Resident Daniel Greenwald, who has a handicapped sticker for his car, didn’t realize that he still had to pay the daily fee at the boat launch if he parked in the handicapped parking space.  He received two parking tickets and wants the town to rescind them.  A letter received from D. Greenwald was distributed to the board.  R. Knapp will follow-up with the constables and D. Greenwald.

 

Resident John Salmon expressed a variety of concerns about fencing and disruptions to his farming operation some four years ago when East Cove Road was rebuilt.  The town has replaced and moved parts of his fence, but he wants more action on the part that remains in the right-of-way.  J. Salmon would like to be reimbursed for his expenses for feeding his livestock during construction.  Mr. Salmon criticized Chairman Knapp’s performance in dealing with the issues at the Salmon property and questioned the chairman’s honesty.  D. Pearson will work with J. Salmon to see if there is more that needs to be done.

 

PARK BOARD REPORT – Copies of the September Park Board minutes and Park Board Report were distributed to the board.  Jill Berke reviewed the report with the board.  There has been some interest in the park board vacancy and a candidate is being considered.  Pembles Access is closed for the season.  There are several projects underway at Glover Park, including the construction of a new baseball field and shingle replacement on the pavilion and bathrooms.  J. Berke also asked that the road crew work with Constable, Mel Hermansen on removing downed trees on the trails in Glover Park. 

 

PLAN COMMISSION REPORT – Copies of the Plan Commission minutes had been distributed to the board.  D. Pearson summarized the Plan Commission meeting for the board.  Most of the issues covered at the Plan Commission meeting are on the town board agenda tonight.

 

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 explained that scheduling coverage hours for park patrol during the summer holiday weekends has been worked out. 

 

R. Knapp asked the board to review the animal control report and let him know if they have any concerns. 

 

G. Wahrenbrock asked if the sheriff’s department could patrol some of the subdivisions in Troy during the evening hours.  R. Knapp asked the other board members if they were ok with the sheriff’s department doing less traffic management and more safety patrolling.  Board consensus was yes.  R. Knapp will follow-up with the sheriff.

 

ST. CROIX COUNTY SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR CEMETERY EXPANSION – GERMAN SETTLEMENT CEMETERY ASSOC, COUNTY RD U – Rob Jones, Cedar Corp., reviewed the plan commission recommendations including moving the driveway access to the south and keeping the expansion area similar in appearance and setback to the current cemetery.  Neighbor Rick Banes stated that he supports the cemetery plan, but would like to see the cemetery maintain consistency within the expansion area.  He is concerned with the setback and doesn’t want the gravestones closer to the road.  D. Pearson moved to recommend to the County Board of Adjustments, the approval of the German Settlement Cemetery application acknowledging that the existing driveway will be abandoned and a new driveway will be located farther to the south and that the cemetery will be maintained similar to the way it is now with the grassy areas in front for parking and the similar setback from the road for the gravesites, seconded by Brian Schwab.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER COMPREHENSIVE ZONING CODE COMMITTEE (CZCC) MEMBERSHIP –  Charlie Macdonell explained that two of the CZCC members have other time commitments that have prevented them from regularly attending meetings for the past year.  This makes it difficult to meet the quorum requirement at meetings.  He is requesting that the board accept the resignation of the two committee members and reduce the number of committee members from 9 to 7.  R. Knapp moved to accept the resignations of Roger Humphrey and Mark Mitchell from the Comprehensive Zoning Code Committee for business reasons and officially reduce the size of this appointed committee from nine to seven members, seconded by D. Pearson.  Motion passed, all in favor. 

 

CODE BOOK PROJECT UPDATE (Roads and Roadway Ordinance and the Utilities Ordinance) – R. Knapp moved to table item #7 until next month, seconded by G. Wahrenbrock.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

2009 ROAD CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND COST ESTIMATES – R. Knapp received a County Aid Bridge Petition form from St. Croix County Highway Department for the replacement of an old concrete and stone masonry box culvert that needs to be replaced on Glenmont Road.  The county would like to do the work next spring and would only bill the town for half of the costs.  Gary Parent, road crew, summarized the project.  It would involve putting a new culvert inside the old one.  They wouldn’t be disturbing the embankment on the west side which drains into the river. The cost to the town would be approximately $10,000.  R. Knapp asked if the county would be obtaining the riverway permits necessary for the project.  G. Parent will contact the county highway department to confirm that.  R. Knapp moved to submit to the County Board of Supervisors of St. Croix County a bridge petition to repair and rebuild a bridge at Section 26, Town 28N, Range 20W, on Glenmont Road approximately .97 miles north of Glen Circle in the amount of $20,000 of which the town’s portion would be $10,000.  Motion was seconded by D. Pearson.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

Copies of a Road Improvement Budget Worksheet packet were distributed to the board.  Rob Jones reviewed the information in the packet.  At issue, is how wide to rebuild North Glover Road.  In order to add a bike lane to the shoulder, the road would be 30’ wide at a cost of $643, 470 plus engineering costs.  At 22’ wide, the cost would be $510,530.  After discussion, the board decided to postpone the North Glover Road project.  Due to budget constraints, the town cannot afford the more expensive 30 foot option at this time.  Putting the project off for a year or two, gives the town and local bike trail groups the chance to try and raise additional funds for the project, making it more affordable for the town.  The general board consensus is to move the Glover Road project to 2011 and move the road projects scheduled for 2010 forward to 2009.  R. Knapp asked R. Jones to validate that the estimates for the projects formerly scheduled for 2010 are accurate and to bring them to the board meeting next month for board consideration.

 

REVIEW 2009 PRELIMINARY BUDGET – The board reviewed the 2009 proposed budget, making several changes.  Most of the changes were related to roads and the earlier discussions about the 2009 road construction plans.  S. Provos will make the changes and email the revised budget to the board. 

 

REVIEW SCHEDULE FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADOPTION – R. Knapp reviewed the schedule recommended by Cedar Corp. for the town’s Comprehensive Plan.  R. Knapp will meet with Josh from Cedar Corp next week to create a final draft.  The schedule calls for the town board to review the plan at its November meeting.  A public hearing and adoption by the town board would be scheduled for December.

 

REVIEW OF DRAFT AMENDMENT FOR LOWER RIVERWAY ZONING ORDINANCE, DECISION ON READINESS FOR FORMAL AMENDMENT –C. Macdonell reviewed the ordinance’s history, the more significant amendments and the reasons for the proposed amendments.  The DNR ahs written a letter stating that they will approve the town’s ordinance with the suggested amendments.  Public hearings on the ordinance amendments are scheduled for 6:30pm on November 6th and November 13th. .  The board will also consider adopting the amended ordinance at its meeting on November 13, 2008.

 

UTILITY PERMITS:  None.

 

BUILDING PERMITS:  The following permits were submitted by the Building Inspector and reviewed by the town board.

PERMIT #

APPLICANT

ADDRESS

PROJECT

08-169

Dean Albert

296 State Rd 35

Storage shed

08-170

Dave Dolney

255 Saddle Ridge Ln

Addition

08-171

Paul Gertenbach

438 Stag’s Leap Ln

Addition/ Alteration

08-172

Brian Schwab

531 Gilbert Rd

Alteration

08-173

Lyle Elenkiwich

287 Day Farm Rd

Storage shed

08-174

Jim Swan

177 Glenmont Rd

Non-building structure

 

 

 

 

 

DRIVEWAY PERMITS – None.

 

DISCUSS & CONSIDER ROAD CREW PERFORMANCE/CONTRACT REVIEW PROCESS – Board consensus was to follow the same process used in prior years.  R. Knapp and D. Pearson will meet with the road crew sometime in the next month and then bring a proposal back to the board.

 

COUNTY TAX COLLECTION AGREEMENT – Copies of the agreement were distributed to the board.  The price of $.75/parcel remains unchanged from last year.  G. Wahrenbrock moved to approve the Tax Collection Agreement as submitted by the treasurer of St. Croix County, seconded by D. Pearson.  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 informed the board that several people have expressed interest in the Plan Commission Secretary position.  She also stated that the office is gearing up for the upcoming election and absentee ballots are now available.

 

BILLS: Checks numbered 020309-20357 and the Elan bill were presented in the amount of $64,037.98.  G. Wahrenbrock moved to approve as listed starting with check numbered 020309 through 20357 including the Elan bill of $122.00, for a total of $64,037.98, seconded by B. Schwab.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS – G. Wahrenbrock summarized the Rural Fire Association presentation to the River Falls City Council.  They presented their fire service plan, covering the next 20 to 50 years.  Because of the lower than expected projected growth for the area, the council decided they are not ready to make any decisions right away.

 

R. Knapp received maps from the DOT regarding Highway 35.  He asked the board to review them and let him know if there are any concerns.  He will pass the information along to the DOT early next week. 

 

CORRESPONDENCE –

R. Knapp stated that the town is working with St. Croix Electric to resolve the cutting done in the riverway.  St. Croix Electric will be submitting an after the fact permit application for Plan Commission review in November.

 

The board is encouraged to attend a St. Croix River workshop to be held at the Phipps on October 29th from 5:45 to 9:00.

 

Joe Merchak has filed suit against the town for the return of building permit fees.

 

St. Croix County has sent a letter to 312 W. Grove Road regarding the operation of an unlicensed Bed and Breakfast.

 

 

G. Wahrenbrock moved to adjourn, seconded by R. Knapp.  Motion passed, all in favor.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m.

 

These minutes were taken at a meeting

of the Troy Town Board held on the

9th day of October, 2008.

 

________________________

Sharon Provos, Clerk/Treasurer