MINUTES
TOWN OF VERMONT BOARD MEETING
May 8, 2006
Call to order and certification of notice posting. The clerk certified that the notice had been posted at the Black Earth State Bank, at John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, Amcore Bank in Mt. Horeb, on the town web site www.townofvermont.com, and on the front door of the town hall. It was also published in the News Sickle-Arrow and the Mt. Horeb Mail.
Present: Supervisors, Barbara Grenlie, Bill Hanson, Don McKay and Mark Sherven; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz. Chairman Steve Cowan was absent. The meeting was called to order by Mark Sherven.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Bill Hanson, seconded by Barbara Grenlie and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
The Chairman’s report was made by Mark Sherven. Note was made of the upcoming annual meeting of the Dane County Towns Association. Don McKay was welcomed as a new board member. A state grant of $750 has been received from the state for warning signs related to bicycle events on Town Roads.
Chairman Steve Cowan has met with the organizers of the June 17th Horribly Hilly Hundreds event, which is expected to draw 1000 bicycles. They are refusing to comply with the Town of Vermont ordinance regarding these events, and do not plan to hire off-duty Sheriffs Deputies for traffic direction during the event. Tickets for traffic law violations will be issued to bicycle riders who are observed and can be identified, but the complainant will need to appear in court. Bill Hanson noted that any fines which result from enforcement will not benefit the Town. Barbara Grenlie indicated her belief that County ordinances require local approval of events of this type, but more research is required.
Mark Sherven had requested that the clerk draft a letter to the Dane County Sheriff requesting additional traffic enforcement on Town roads during this event. The letter was presented to the Board and signed by all Board members.
INTRODUCTION OF DANE COUNTY BOARD DISTRICT 30 SUPERVISOR PAT DOWNING
Discussion of the Horribly Hilly Hundreds Bicycle event continued. Supervisor Downing noted that he has been appointed to the Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Land Conservation Committee. He has also been appointed to the County Executive’s Environment Council.
There was discussion of the possible opportunities that may be provided by Transfer of Development Rights, since it will provide another tool that local government can use in land use planning, without mandating its use. Board members posed a variety of questions about the proposed TDR ordinance and the specifics of its operation, and indicated that further questions to county government representatives would be forthcoming. Among the concerns is how the transfer of rights from a town would impact its tax base and whether TDR record keeping at the county level would be adequate.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Barbara Grenlie moved approval of the minutes, Bill Hanson seconded, and the minutes were approved, with Don McKay abstaining.
Deposits for the month of April were $21,556.49. We received our $18,498.97 quarterly Wisconsin DOT transportation aid payment. We also received $1,925 for driveway and building permits and the $350 Recreation Permit fee and deposit from the Atkins bicycle race. Interest totaled $457.82. Treasurer and clerk reconciliation showed that accounts were in balance, with the sum of all Town accounts showing $160,467.37.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson to accept the Treasurer’s report, and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
The March balance sheet showed total liabilities & equity at the end of the month of $160,467.37. The only check of note was $2,190 for rental of the brush mower, which was anticipated and budgeted. All other checks written were for routine monthly expenses.
Don McKay moved to accept the clerk’s report, Barbara Grenlie seconded, and the report was accepted.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for April, 2006 paid by checks numbered 10937 through 10962
Motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson to approve payment of bills for April and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF DISCONTINUATION OF LOCAL SERVICE BY WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management Company has determined that they can no longer economically provide service to citizens in the Town of Vermont. About 100 Town residents historically have subscribed to a waste pickup service, with an unknown number being Waste Management subscribers. Our recent survey of Town residents indicates satisfaction with the present system, with a majority not supporting a tax-based pickup service for all residents.
Mark Sherven has determined that two waste pickup businesses are presently taking on new customers in this area, Green Valley and Tim’s Trucking based in Prairie du Sac. There is also the continuing option of the Mazomanie Transfer Site.
CONSIDERATION OF RECREATION PERMIT BY BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB FOR SEPTEMBER 2nd RIGHT STUFF CENTURY EVENT
Jack Graham, a town resident, appeared as a club member and indicated that the organizers had not expected to be on the May agenda, and so were not in a position to appear.
Barbara Grenlie moved that the agenda item be tabled until the June meeting and Bill Hanson seconded. The motion was approved, with Don McKay abstaining.
APPROVAL OF 2006-2007 APPLICATIONS FROM TYROL BASIN FOR ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSE, CIGARETTE LICENSE AND OPERATOR LICENSES
The license applications and fees have been received by the clerk. Barbara Grenlie moved approval of all licenses, Bill Hanson seconded and the motion was approved, with Don McKay abstaining.
DISCUSSION OF OUTCOME OF APRIL 4th REFERENDUM QUESTION
Citizens had petitioned to have a question regarding the war in Iraq placed on the April 4, 2006 election ballot. At the board meeting, a draft letter was presented by the organizers of that referendum petition aimed at informing elected officials of the results of the referendum.
Bill Hanson moved that the letter should be sent to the suggested officials, plus the President of the United States and Patrick Downing (for distribution to the County Board), signed by the clerk for the Town Board. Barbara Grenlie seconded the motion for purposes of discussion.
After further discussion, Barbara Grenlie proposed an amendment to the motion that the letter be sent with the signature of the Town Chairman. The amendment was accepted by Bill Hanson. The motion was approved unanimously.
DISCUSSION OF CONSOLIDATION OF TOWN WEB SITES
There was discussion that there might be a problem with including information of an unofficial nature on the official site. It was decided to leave the sites as separate for the time being.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Seal coating bids for Bell Road and Kelliher Road have been received from three firms. B. R. Amon & Sons bid $20,664.85, Fahrner Asphalt Sealers bid $22,284.00 and Scott Construction bid $24,212.60. The Road Committee recommended that the Board accept the low bid, from B. R. Amon and Sons. Bill Hanson moved that the recommendation be accepted, Don McKay seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The bids are within the amount budgeted for 2006 seal coating.
Pleasant Valley overlay bids are expected soon. The Bohn Road guardrail project has been completed; Don McKay suggested that "before" and "after" pictures of the project might be a useful addition to the annual meeting.
Don McKay reported that the Mt. Horeb Fire and EMS volunteers are active in pursuing fund raising and grant funding for their activities, which has a major impact on reducing property taxes in the Town. Summer employment opportunities are still being sought for the cadet program.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR JUNE MEETING
There should be further discussion of the upcoming bicycle events, as well as possible discussion of the Pleasant Valley Road overlay bid.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Don McKay and seconded by Barbara Grenlie that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:59.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk