TOWN OF VERMONT BOARD MEETING

September 10, 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 Mark Sherven, with the change that Item 10, the report on the 2007 Town picnic, be moved to Item 3. The motion was seconded by Barbara Grenlie and approved.

REPORT ON 2007 TOWN PICNIC

Earl Brandt presented a written report on the picnic. Donations totaling $422 were collected, together with $30 from the sale of three Town of Vermont History CD’s. Donations, net of expenses, are being collected in a dedicated fund for conducting future events.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE

The garage roof, damaged by hail, has been replaced, paid in full by our insurance company.

The Wisconsin Towns Association is presenting fall workshops for local government officials.

FEMA has approved assistance for private individuals suffering flood damage from the heavy August rains.

CITIZEN INPUT

There was no citizen input.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Bill Hanson moved approval of the minutes of the August 13^th meeting, Steve Cowan seconded, and the minutes were approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT

CLERK’S REPORT

The first two checks for this month, sent out early, were for diesel fuel and the final payment for the new garage roof. We have received our reimbursement from the insurance company for the garage roof. We suffered some damage from the August rains, which I expect will be discussed in the road committee report. At this point disaster relief money is not available to municipalities. Private individuals needing assistance can check the web site for further information.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Approval is sought for payment of bills for August, 2007 paid by checks numbered 11552 through 11578.

A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson to approve payment of bills for August and the motion was approved.

PRESENTATION BY COMMUNITY DEPUTY FOR DANE COUNTY SHERIFF, JOSALYN LONGLEY

Deputy Longley presented statistics for recent Sheriff’s Department calls in the Town. She also provided materials for a new program named ICE, In Case of Emergency, which provides a systematic way for citizens to record and carry essential personal information so that it is available to first responders in case of emergency. She also mentioned that residents expecting to be away from home can request extra patrol attention to their residences during their absence. Supervisor Hanson requested additional information concerning recent automobile accidents in and near the Town, as well as what would be required in order to have the Sheriff’s Department enforce Town ordinances.

CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING LOT 2 REZONE PETITION FROM KINZIE, LARSON, HOLBERT AND ALLEN AT 4558 STATE HIGHWAY 78

This rezone petition was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission at its April meeting, but Board action on that recommendation was inadvertently omitted from subsequent Board meeting agendas.

Don McKay moved approval of the petition to rezone Lot 2 from A-1EX to RH-2, with the existing home using a potential development right. This action is part of County Zoning Petition 9685, two other components of which were approved at the August Board meeting. Steve Cowan seconded the motion and the motion was unanimously approved, with Barbara Grenlie abstaining.

CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION REGARDING PROPOSED DANE COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

Don McKay moved that the Vermont Town Board go on record as opposing the creation of the Dane County Regional Transportation Authority and that the Board adopt the model resolution offered by the Dane County Towns Association. Bill Hanson seconded the motion. Barbara Grenlie proposed additional language that would suggest an express bus trial program rather than a commitment to a rail program having high fixed costs with an unknown usage rate. Additional concerns were raised concerning the cost of the proposed system that would be borne by rural residents, with little benefit accruing to them, and the fact that some of the existing congestion could be alleviated by staggered work schedules. It was decided that in the interest of time the model resolution itself should remain unaltered but that a letter addressing specific Town concerns should be drafted to accompany the resolution.

Steve Cowan spoke in support of the proposed Regional Transportation Authority, feeling that commuter rail is a preferable alternative to busses or highway expansion, though with a concern that rural residents will not be adequately represented when RTA decisions are made.

The resolution in opposition to establishment of the Regional Transportation Authority passed with the Chairman and 3 Supervisors in favor of the resolution and Supervisor Cowan opposed.

CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS REGARDING PENDING COUNTY ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS

Dane County Ordinance Amendment 16, 07-08 proposes to adopt the Dane County Comprehensive Plan.

Barbara Grenlie moved that a resolution in opposition to amendment 16 and urging the County to respect town comprehensive plans be approved by the board. Don McKay seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Dane County Ordinance Amendment 17, 07-08 proposes to increase the scope of review of land divisions by Dane County from 35 acres to 160 acres.

Barbara Grenlie moved that a resolution in opposition to amendment 17 be approved by the board. Don McKay seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

CONTINUED DELIBERATIONS ON 2008 BUDGET AND SCHEDULE FURTHER BUDGET MEETINGS

No money has yet been expended of the $3,000 in the 2007 budget for development of the Town of Vermont property register. However, it is expected that bills remain to be submitted for 2007. It was determined that an additional $2,000 should be included in the 2008 budget.

Don McKay proposed a 3 percent raise for the Planning Commission secretary. The motion passed unanimously. The Planning Commission per diem will remain the same for 2008. Mileage and expenses for the Planning Commission have remained below projections for 2007, so that category was reduced to $500 for 2008. While the $1,000 allocated to comprehensive planning has yet to be drawn on in 2007, it is expected that significant expenses will accrue as the comprehensive plan is completed in 2008, so that category was retained at $1,000.

The Town picnic was not included in the 2007 budget because of uncertainty as to whether it would be annual or biannual. It was decided to include it at $1,000 for 2008.

The Mt. Horeb Fire/EMS District budget is expected to increase by 19.8 percent for 2008.

Two road segments were cut from the 2008 seal coating plan, resulting in a projected saving of approximately $3,000. However, two additional cul de sacs have been constructed and dedicated to the Town in 2007, which will require double seal coating in 2008. For that reason it was decided that the seal coating budget should remain at the previously determined $119,000.

It was provisionally decided to pay for the new District One EMS building in the 2008 budget. This will allow for the possibility that new equipment expenditures for the Black Earth Joint Fire District/ District One EMS, not expected in 2008, may occur in subsequent years.

$3,000 has been added for repainting the roof of the Town Hall in 2008.

It was decided to leave Weed and Nuisance Control, for the control of invasive species, at $1,000 for 2008 and let experience dictate the expenditure in future years. The possibility of grants for this activity should be explored.

It is expected that the smaller Town truck will need to be replaced in late 2008. Provisionally the debt service category was left at $0 until other expenditure categories and the expected income can be refined, but it remains possible that money should be set aside in the 2008 budget for truck replacement.

Beginning with the 2008 budget, we will begin to set aside money for Town Patrolman retirement health insurance expenditures. The category has been funded for 2008 at $10,000 and it is expected to remain at that level for two more years.

It was decided to hold a special board meeting at 6:00 on September 24, prior to the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting, to discuss the budget further. It is hoped that by then further information will be available concerning any levy limit provisions in the State budget.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

EMS personnel have recommended that house numbers be placed at intersections on shared driveways in order to better direct emergency vehicles. At the time signs were first installed, sufficient signs were purchased for such intersections. However, residences constructed in later years may not have such signs and owners should be notified of the need.

Road and roadside damage from the August storms has largely been repaired, with the major expenditure being patrolman overtime.

DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR OCTOBER MEETING

It is expected that further information will be available concerning the new District One EMS building. We will also have continued deliberations on the 2008 budget.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Steve Cowan and seconded by Barb Grenlie that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:29.