The meeting was called to order at 7:15. 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 Bill Hanson and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
Damage to the guardrail on Bohn road caused by last month’s accident has been estimated at $5,000, but it appears that the responsible party has been identified so that reimbursement may be forthcoming.
Mark Sherven and Jack Schulenberg attended the annual road maintenance program in Barneveld conducted by the University of Wisconsin
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CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Don McKay moved approval of the minutes of the October 13th meeting, Barbara Grenlie seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Deposits for the month of October were $41,466.59. The largest amount was our quarterly State Transportation Aid payment of $19,330.17. $11,152 was received from the sale of the 1999 Ford Truck. $9,481.86 was received from the withdrawal of land from the MFL program, $540.00 for building permits, $351.38 from the return of a portion of the amount levied on District One EMS residents for construction of the new building, $184.80 from the sale of scrap metal, $107.83 as reimbursement for road cleanup costs after the Horribly Hilly 100, $107 as reimbursement from the Town of Mazomanie for repair expenses on the shared road broom and $211.55 in interest. A motion was made by Steve Cowan and seconded by Bill Hanson to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
The November election went off smoothly. We had 572 voters out of approximately 635 who either were already registered or registered on election day. This 90 percent turnout is actually even higher because we know that some people on our poll list have actually moved but remain on our list because they have not reregistered elsewhere.
The new Ford truck was delivered from D & D Services, with a bill of $18,357 paid in the October bills. We also received Dane County’s bill for road salt of $9,270.56. This is also the month that we are required to share out Managed Forest Land withdrawal taxes with Dane County, which amounts to $12,752.64.
We also had the last contractor bill come in for road and culvert repairs, some of which were storm related and some of which would have been normally expected. We have been awarded just under $30,000 from FEMA and the State of Wisconsin for storm related repairs. All other bills were routine end-of-quarter bills.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for October, 2008 and paid by checks numbered 1235 through 1273. Check 1235 was discussed at the October meeting.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to approve payment of bills for October and the motion was approved.
PRESENTATION BY TOWN INSURANCE AGENT AND CONSIDERATION OF FUTURE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Our insurance agent confirmed that there would be no coverage for the damaged Bohn Road guardrail. He also noted that there is no flood damage coverage for Town buildings, a subject which has come up frequently this year with respect to other municipalities.
The Town renewal date is January 1st, and it is expected that rates will remain approximately the same, other than for the greater coverage required for the 2008 Ford truck. Coverage levels for Town buildings were discussed in detail, and are expected to be considered at the December board meeting; current coverage is not likely to be adequate to replace the Town Hall with a comparable building. An appraisal of the Town Hall would assist in evaluating necessary insurance coverage and will be sought. The possibility of reducing the liability insurance premium by adding a deductable will also be investigated.
REVIEW OF PLANNING COMMISSION PROGRESS ON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Revision of the maps to be associated with the comprehensive plan continues. Discussion of zoning parcels which predate 1985 also continues.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TO 2008 BUDGET
The Town has received $11,152 from the sale of the 1999 Ford truck. It was proposed that $11,152 be added to the 2008 Public Works budget. Barbara Grenlie moved that the resolution be approved, Bill Hanson seconded and the resolution was approved unanimously.
APPROVAL OF 2009 BUDGET
This regular November Board meeting was preceded by the annual Budget Hearing and the Special Town Meeting which approved the 2008 levy, payable in 2009, and approved exceeding $5,000 per mile for road expenditures. Bill Hanson moved that the 2009 budget be approved, Barbara Grenlie seconded and the budget was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE AMENDMENT #21, 2008-09 TO CHAPTER 10 OF THE DANE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES
Bill Hanson moved that the ordinance amendment be approved, Steve Cowan seconded and the ordinance amendment was approved unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Mt. Horeb Fire Department is in the process of hiring 2 new Firefighter/EMS’s.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR DECEMBER MEETING
It is expected that there will be further discussion of insurance coverage of Town buildings as well as further discussion of the comprehensive plan.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:03.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk