TOWN OF VERMONT BOARD MEETING

August 13, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 7:30. 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, Mark Sherven; Supervisors, Barbara Grenlie, Steve Cowan, Don McKay and Bill Hanson; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A motion to approve the agenda was made by Barbara Grenlie, seconded by Don McKay and approved

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE

A Joint meeting of the Dane County Towns Association and the Dane County Cities and Villages Association was held to listen to presentations regarding the proposed Dane County Regional Transportation Authority. A main feature of the $260 million plan is a rail line from Middleton to Sun Prairie through central Madison. It is expected that half of the funding would be from federal grants, but funding the local portion would require imposition of a one half percent additional county sales tax. The chairman characterized the plan’s reception by the audience as lukewarm at best. Though there are provisions in the plan for the return of a portion of the money to local governments as road aids, there is a concern that jurisdictions outside of Madison would not receive fair returns on their funding contributions.

CITIZEN INPUT

There was no citizen input.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Don McKay moved approval of the minutes of the July 9th meeting, Bill Hanson seconded, and the minutes were approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT

CLERK’S REPORT

The first check in this month’s series is prepayment of our propane contract, which was discussed at the last meeting. The amount of the check, when added to our credit from last season, is $4,000. The seal coating bill of $98,458 was paid this month. The DSL service to the Town Hall is operational and the web site has been moved to TDS.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Approval is sought for payment of bills for July, 2007 paid by checks numbered 11520 through 11551.

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

REPORT FROM DIRECTOR OF NORTHWEST DANE SENIOR SERVICES

Dee Suchomel has returned as Executive Director of Northwest Dane Senior Services, Inc. The previous Executive Director had been terminated amid accusations of financial improprieties, and Ms. Suchomel came before the Board to provide assurances that steps were being taken to rectify the situation, prevent its reoccurrence and that service to Town of Vermont seniors had not been adversely impacted.

CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING TWO REZONE PETITIONS, HOMESITES AND DRIVEWAY PERMITS FROM KINZIE, LARSON, HOLBERT AND ALLEN AT STATE HIGHWAY 78

Two petitions were submitted.

Regarding Lot 1, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning, home site and driveway permits contingent on receiving documentation of application for an erosion control permit and the specification of a delayed effective date for the rezoning, making it dependent on the recording with Dane County of a shared driveway easement and driveway maintenance agreement. The need for a shared driveway easement and driveway maintenance agreement would also be noted on the Driveway Permit and checked at the time of final driveway inspection. Don McKay moved that the Planning Commission recommendations be approved and Bill Hanson seconded the motion. Concern was expressed that a Shoreland Erosion Control Permit might be required because of the proximity of surface water, but it was decided that Dane County would adequately enforce such a need if their review determined it to be necessary. Signatures were also missing from the copy of the erosion control permit application submitted to the Board, but a signed receipt from Dane County provided adequate proof that the application had been submitted. The motion was approved with Don McKay, Mark Sherven and Bill Hanson voting yes, Steve Cowan voting no and Barbara Grenlie abstaining.

Regarding Lot 3, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning, home site and driveway permits with the same conditions as specified for Lot 1. Additionally, a deed restriction is required on Lot 3 specifying that there only be one residence on the lot. The objective is to insure that the existing farmhouse will no longer be used as a residence after the time a new home on the lot is occupied, though it may be used for other purposes.

Don Mckay moved approval of the recommendation and Bill Hanson seconded. The motion was approved with Don McKay, Mark Sherven, Steve Cowan and Bill Hanson voting yes and Barbara Grenlie abstaining. Supervisor Cowan indicated that further information provided during the discussion of Lot 3 had satisfied his reservations about the approval of both lots.

BEGIN DELIBERATIONS ON 2008 BUDGET

The road portion of the budget generally requires the most consideration because it represents the largest portion of our expenditures over which the Town has control. All conclusions from this first meeting should be considered preliminary.

Several new areas will require consideration in 2008, among them invasive species control in the right-of-way. A combination of pulling and spot chemical control in both the spring and fall is likely to be considered. The chairman recommended budgeting $1,000 for 2008.

There will also be a need in the near future for replacement of the smaller town truck. A preliminary plan would be to arrange for delivery of a new truck in August or September of 2008. It is expected that the existing truck would be sold as presently equipped in order to offer the most attractive sale package, though the recently acquired box-type sand/salt spreader would be retained. Payments on the larger truck, which have been approximately $31,000 per year, will be completed at the end of 2007.

In the longer term, consideration may be given to selling the grader and filling its functions with a blade on the tractor and, when required, a rented or leased skid-steer loader. This would free up storage space and remove the risk of catastrophic mechanical failure of the relatively older grader.

Also in 2008 there will be expenses associated with creation of the town property register and painting of the Town Hall roof will need to be painted and trees trimmed or removed that are a danger to buildings.

2008 seal coating is now planned for 13.82 miles. Even if prices remain constant, the increased number of miles will result in an increase of over $20,000 above what was spent in 2007. The list of roads to be seal coated in 2008 will be updated to reflect current road conditions and it is expected that total mileage for 2008 will be reduced, though initially the budget was set at $119,000. The gravel and patch category was reduced slightly to $15,000. Consideration will be given to abandoning those roads which serve only one property owner.

The Chairman recommended increasing the budgets for the extra labor and equipment rental categories to $3,000 each. Other category expenditures were provisionally left the same.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

The District One EMS District Board held a public hearing on the proposed new building. The bidding process is being repeated, with some design modifications to reduce cost, though the building is expected to remain in the same location. The garage roof replacement is being started.

DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR SEPTEMBER MEETING

It is expected that there will be a presentation by Community Deputy for Dane County Sheriff, Josalyn Longley. We will also have continued deliberations on the 2008 budget and schedule further budget meetings.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:06.

Marc Robertson, Town Clerk