MINUTES

TOWN OF VERMONT BOARD MEETING

September 11, 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: Chairman, Steven Cowan; Supervisors, Don McKay, Bill Hanson, Barbara Grenlie and Mark Sherven; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Steve Cowan at 8:02.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A motion to approve the agenda was made by Mark Sherven, seconded by Bill Hanson and approved.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE

Ordinance Amendment Number 10, amending Chapter 11 of the Dane County Code of Ordinances, regulating nonconforming lots in the shoreland zone, was provided to the Board for informational purposes.

CITIZEN INPUT

Earl Brandt reported on the picnic. Despite the rainy weather, more than 100 people attended and over $200 in donations was collected. This money has been set aside in an account for the support of future picnics. It was suggested that the money be turned over to the Town government, but the Board felt that having it remain segregated is preferable. Appreciation was expressed for the hard work of Barbara Bird and the rest of the picnic committee, John Bird for donating the mailing promoting the picnic, the McKays for managing the day at Tyrol Basin and providing the chairlift rides, the Hansons for providing the horse carriage rides, and Michael Dix and Michael’s Frozen Custard for providing dessert. The picnic also provided an occasion for new residents to be introduced as well as several people who have moved away from the Town to return and visit.

The Board expressed their appreciation for Earl Brandt’s work in organizing the picnic committee.

Several suggestions were made concerning disposition of the donated money, including purchase of items to improve future picnics and possibly funding live entertainment. In addition to donations, the possibility of raising money by selling tee shirts or other items specific to the Town or the event was discussed.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Bill Hanson moved approval of the minutes, Mark Sherven seconded, and the minutes were approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Deposits for the month of August were $89,418.31. Treasurer and clerk reconciliation showed that accounts were in balance, with the sum of all Town accounts showing $59,698.62. The largest deposit was the Dane County Property Tax Settlement at $86,288.03. A motion was made by Bill Hanson and seconded by Barbara Grenlie to accept the Treasurer’s report, and the motion was approved.

CLERK’S REPORT

The August balance sheet showed total liabilities & equity at the end of the month of $59,698.62. Major expenditures for the month were payment for the paving of Pleasant Valley road ($82,560.48), gravel for the shouldering of Pleasant Valley Road ($6,874.71) and seal coating of Bell Road and Kelliher Road ($20,664.85). A motion was made by Don McKay and seconded by Barbara Grenlie to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Approval is sought for payment of bills for August, 2006 paid by checks numbered 11086 through 11122. Note that the first of these, check 11086, is a refund of the Recreation Permit deposit by the Atkins Bicycle Racing club and was approved at the last meeting.

Motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to approve payment of bills for August and the motion was approved.

CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 9, AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE DANE COUNTY CODE OF ORDANCES, PROVIDING FOR BIODIESEL MANUFACTURING IN THE AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS ZONING DISTRICT

Concern was expressed that biodiesel manufacturing is more closely related to manufacturing than agricultural business. While Board members spoke in support of biodiesel manufacturing in general, little information had been provided to the Board concerning the actual impact of the ordinance, in particular a further proposed amendment related to manure processing.

Arguments in favor of approval included the fact that any business taking advantage of this amendment would both need to be in an A-B zone and require a Conditional Use Permit. However, the uncertainty of how the manure processing amendment would apply caused some confusion. It was finally determined that not enough information was available to justify approval of the ordinance amendment. Bill Hanson moved that the ordinance amendment be disapproved with the notation that not enough information is available to justify approval. Don McKay seconded the motion, and the Board voted unanimously to disapprove Ordinance Amendment 9. Barbara Grenlie requested that a letter be sent to the county requesting more information concerning the impact of the manure processing amendment to Ordinance Amendment Number 9.

CONTINUED DELIBERATIONS ON 2007 BUDGET AND SCHEDULE FURTHER BUDGET MEETINGS

Don McKay indicated that the Mt, Horeb Fire District is proposing an approximately $78,000 budget increase, driven largely by the hiring of full time fire fighters to cover the daytime shift. The increase would be greater if the equipment budget was not being temporarily reduced.

Appreciation was expressed for the hard work of the volunteers of both the Mount Horeb Fire District and the Black Earth Joint Fire District in both fund raising and obtaining grants, which helps keep the tax burden substantially below what would otherwise be the case.

The Road Committee suggested that the contract labor budget category be increased to allow for additional tree trimming. This had been done in the past, has not been done recently, and may be the cause of an increasing number of fallen trees that must be removed from the roads on a emergency basis. It was suggested that a category be added to the 5 year road maintenance plan to accommodate this trimming activity.

The condition of the box culvert on Bergum Road will need to be studied as future budgets are considered. Graveling, which was deferred in 2006, should be scheduled for 2007.

It was suggested that a category be added for comprehensive planning expenses for the planning commission. Additionally a labor category should be added for additional labor for both comprehensive planning and the revision of land records.

It will also be necessary to add budget categories for holding tank deposits as well as post-retirement health insurance for the patrolman based on accumulated unused sick time.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Don McKay indicated that bylaw changes for the Mt. Horeb Fire District have been proposed that would eliminate the need for unanimous consent of all municipalities in the District for passage of the budget, reducing it to 6 of 8 municipalities. Mark Sherven moved and Steve Cowan seconded that the Board instruct Don McKay, as Town of Vermont representative to the Mt. Horeb Fire District Board, to vote in favor of the bylaw change. The motion was approved. It was felt that no other items in the bylaw changes were sufficiently significant to require separate consideration by the Town Board.

DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR OCTOBER MEETING

It was noted that there will be a special meeting with the organizers of past bicycle events in the Town, prior to the October Board meeting, to discuss those events and the conduct of future events.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Bill Hanson and seconded by Don McKay that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:16.

Marc Robertson, Town Clerk