The meeting was called to order at 7:31. 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, 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, Bill Hanson and Don McKay; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Barbara Grenlie, seconded by Steve Cowan and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
Weather radios will again be available from Dane County Emergency Management for sale to citizens at a discounted price. Unsold radios can be returned to Dane County. Barbara Grenlie moved that 20 radios be ordered, Bill Hanson seconded and the motion was approved. Wisconsin Height softball is seeking sponsors. The Mad City Velo Club has submitted a recreation permit application and fee, together with supporting insurance and Dane County paperwork, for their July 19th event.
CITIZEN INPUT
John Brixie, a resident of the Town of Blue Mounds and candidate for Dane County Supervisor from District 30, discussed the issues that he considers important to the future direction of the County Board.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Don McKay moved approval of the minutes of the February 11th meeting, Steve Cowan seconded, and the minutes were approved.
Deposits for the month of February were $276,081.27. The largest share was $273,687.84, which was 2008 tax collections paid at the end of January but not deposited until February. $322.65 was received for personal property taxes, $464.00 was for dog licenses, $375 for assessment searches and $1,231.78 for interest. 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 early February checks to the State, Dane County and the school districts needed to be in their hands shortly after the last Board meeting, and so were discussed at the last meeting.
For 2008 we budgeted $4,350 for Town Patrolman overtime, and have already used $3,666 of that. $3,000 was budgeted for extra highway labor, and we have spent $4,116 including overtime that was not budgeted. We have already used more than half of our $12,500 diesel fuel budget. We have been billed for and paid $3,505 for emergency sand and salt, and have yet to be billed for one load of sand and two loads of salt. Our total budget for the year is $18,000, all of which will probably be required to fill the sheds in the fall. It is expected that there will be a significant carryover of funds from 2007 into 2008, possibly about $60,000, which will help meet the extra expenses incurred this winter.
A motion was made by Bill Hanson and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for February, 2008 and paid by checks numbered 11781 through 11825. A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to approve payment of bills for February and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF GARLIC MUSTARD CONTROL PLAN FOR TOWN RIGHT OF WAY
Jim Elleson from Quercus Land Stewardship Services made a presentation on the steps the Town might take to control the spread of garlic mustard. While some invasive species can be controlled by mowing, garlic mustard can be spread by mowing equipment and so should be controlled by pulling or spraying. A potential issue is that Dane County now has a policy of not spraying on County right of way; county roads have the potential for being the greatest avenue for the spread of invasive species. The degree to which that policy applies to actions by private landowners and the Town remains uncertain. Barbara Grenlie moved that an additional $1,800 be added to the $1,000 currently in the 2008 budget for invasive species control along roads in the Town of Vermont. Bill Hanson seconded the motion and it was approved.
Jim supplied the Town with a poster advising citizens on how to recognize garlic mustard and on how best to report locations where it has been observed.
Barbara Grenlie moved that the town Chairman be authorized to send a letter to the Dane County Highway Department concerning invasive species control along County roads within the Town should he determine that such a letter would be appropriate. Bill Hanson seconded the motion and it was approved.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF LETTER REGARDING RECENT DANE COUNTY BOARD REZONING PETITION DENIALS
The clerk presented a revised letter which built upon earlier drafting work by Jane Hanson and Barbara Grenlie. Board members suggested several changes. Barbara Grenlie moved that the letter be sent to individual County Board members, Steve Cowan seconded, and a copy of the revised letter was to be prepared for Town Supervisors’ signatures. Copies of the letter are also to be sent to new County Supervisors taking office after the April 1st election.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF LETTER SEEKING CLARIFICATION OF ISSUES SURROUNDING POSSIBLE TOWN REIMBURSEMENT TO THE VILLAGE OF MAZOMANIE FOR DEDUCTION OF MEDICAL CARE TRANSPORTATION SUPPLEMENT PAYMENTS FROM REVENUE SHARING PAYMENTS
Based on information received regarding District One EMS accounting, Treasurer Sarah Danz recommended that the Town write a reimbursement check to District One EMS, rather than reimbursing another municipality directly. Steve Cowan, Town representative to the District One EMS Board, will take a check to the next Board meeting where he will receive assurance that the amount of the check will be applied as intended. Bill Hanson moved that the reimbursement check be written to District One EMS and Barbara Grenlie seconded. The motion was approved unanimously, with the provision that the purpose of the check be noted in its memo area.
UPDATE ON PATROLMAN POSITION
There were 12 applications for the Patrolman position. These were scored by Barbara Bird, a citizen volunteer with considerable experience in personnel matters, in a manner such that the identity of each applicant remained unknown. They were then ranked by score. The citizen committee met immediately prior to the Board meeting and voted unanimously to recommend to the Board that the opening be offered to the highest ranked applicant. Mark Sherven moved that the Board accept that recommendation and offer the position to Jack Schulenberg. Barbara Grenlie seconded the motion. After reviewing the process by which applications were judged, a vote was called for and the motion was approved unanimously.
CONSIDERATION OF DISTRICT ONE EMS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
A request for the next payment for the new building will be arriving soon, due April 15th. The floor has been poured and the interior walls will be started later in the week. Pictures of the exterior walls were put on display. It appears that the original building estimate approved by participating municipalities included no furnishings, an issue that has yet to be addressed. Suggestions were offered regarding the availability of used furnishings from municipal surplus sources.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Several volunteers were recognized at a recent District One banquet for their recent actions in saving lives as well as for length of service with the District. Work on the comprehensive plan is continuing, with a recent emphasis on making the format more compatible with State guidelines in order to facilitate final approval.
The road committee reported that sand and salt supplies were completely exhausted by the first week in February, the first time that has happened in approximately 10 years. Recent equipment repair costs have not been exceptional compared to previous months. It was affirmed that Town residents can obtain sand / salt mix from the Town garage for use on their own driveways.
The Mt. Horeb Fire Department continues to face staffing issues, and is currently advertising for a full time emergency vehicle mechanic who will also be qualified as an EMT and fire fighter.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR APRIL MEETING
The future of Vermont’s Voice may be discussed. By the April meeting it may be possible to have an idea how many miles of seal coating will be done this year.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Steve Cowan and seconded by Bill Hanson that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:11.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk