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, 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. It was faxed to Amcore Bank in Mt. Horeb for posting but was not posted as of the day of the meeting.
Present: Chairman, Mark Sherven; Supervisors, Barbara Grenlie, Steve Cowan and Bill Hanson; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz. Supervisor Don McKay was absent.
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
The Town of Vermont area is under consideration for several bicycle-related events as part of the 2016 summer Olympics, should Chicago be chosen as the host city. A decision will not be made as to which city will host the Olympics until October of 2009.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Steve Cowan moved approval of the minutes of the December 8th meeting, Barbara Grenlie seconded, and the minutes were approved with the correction that new radios were purchased by District One EMS and not the Black Earth Joint Fire District.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Deposits for the month of December were $718,313.68. $715,777.46 was received in property tax payments, much of which was paid out to the County, State and school districts. An additional $1,283.49 was categorized as property tax overpayments, which were refunded to the parties making the overpayments. $1,080 was received for building permits, $21.24 in delinquent 2008 MFL taxes and $151.49 in interest. A preliminary estimate is that there will be about a $2,000 carryover from 2008 beyond what has already been allocated to the 2009 budget. 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
Nomination papers have been received for one candidate for each of the five Town offices up for election in the spring. Larry Ziemer will be running for Supervisor seat 1 being vacated by Bill Hanson. While no primary will be required for Town offices, there will be a February 17th primary for school district and several state-wide offices.
A motion was made by Bill Hanson 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 December, 2008 and paid by checks numbered 1312 through 1364. Check 1312 was sent out early as a reimbursement to the treasurer for personal funds used – the amount is offset by November checks 1286 and 1295, which have been voided. Check 1313 was payment for 2009 Town insurance, which was due by the first of the year. Check 1314 was for diesel fuel and was written early in order to secure a discount. Checks 1327 through 1333 are for property tax overpayments in 2008 for taxes due in 2009. Except for some relatively minor highway equipment repair and maintenance bills, all other bills were routine monthly and quarterly bills.
Checks 1365 through 1375 are January 2009 checks. Check 1365 is for diesel fuel received in 2009 and check 1366 is our 2009 payment to Northwest Dane Senior Services, due by January 31st. Check 1367 is our first 2009 payment to the Mt. Horeb Fire District, also due before the next Board meeting. Checks 1368 through 1371 are for property tax overpayments in 2009 for taxes due in 2009. Checks 1372 through 1375 are property tax settlements to the State, County and school districts.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson to approve payment of bills for December and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION OF PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION FROM MDW INVESTMENTS LLC AND VERIZON WIRELESS FOR A COMMUNICATIONS TOWER AT 4268 STATE HIGHWAY 78
The Plan Commission approved the cell tower site contingent upon receiving further photo simulations of the appearance of the completed tower. These have been received and all Planning Commission questions have been answered, with this site being preferred to a previously considered site. Barbara Grenlie moved that the CUP be approved with the condition that Verizon Wireless provide space on the tower for the mounting of emergency services communication equipment at no cost. Bill Hanson seconded the motion and the motion was approved. It was suggested that representatives to local EMS and fire districts bring this new tower to the attention of their respective governing boards.
CONSIDERATION OF PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING DRIVEWAY CLEARANCE VARIANCE FOR GREG REES
A variance is being requested from the Town requirement that new driveways have a 25 foot vertical clearance for the passage of emergency equipment. The road committee believes that in this case there is adequate clearance, and that excessive environmental and esthetic damage would result from the trimming and removal of trees required to gain further clearance. It was emphasized that this variance is not final approval of the driveway, only a variance concerning the height requirement. This variance is to be subject to a continuing review of the adequacy of this driveway’s clearance. Barbara Grenlie moved that the variance be granted, Mark Sherven seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE AMENDMENT #33, 2008-09 TO CHAPTER 10 OF THE DANE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES
The Dane County Towns Association recommended approval of this ordinance amendment, which clarifies height restrictions imposed on buildings. Mark Sherven moved that the ordinance amendment be approved, Bill Hanson seconded and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF AMENDED CONTRACT GOVERNING DISTRICT ONE EMS
A draft of a revised contract has been submitted for discussion by participating municipalities, and is not at this point being submitted for formal approval. Among the comments made at the Town of Vermont Board meeting is that perhaps the rules governing the calling of District One EMS Board meetings might need to be tightened to require greater public notice than is required in the draft. Other potential issues might involve the combining of the offices of secretary and treasurer, though the requirement for an audit should alleviate concern. It might also be good to have a process for adjusting district boundaries over time, since changing transportation conditions have produced changes in response times that may not be reflected in the current boundaries.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED DRAFT OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND POSSIBLE SETTING OF DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The purpose of the agenda item is to have the Board approve the most recent draft of the comprehensive plan for review and comment by citizens at a public hearing. Comments have been received from the Dane County Zoning Department regarding the draft comprehensive plan and a number of the comments were incorporated. It has been made clear in the draft that the calculation of development rights will follow the Town practice of including land lying under roads in the total acreage of land owned rather than the County practice of excluding that land. Barbara Grenlie moved that the Board approve the December 22, 2008 Planning Commission draft for the purpose of holding a public hearing, Mark Sherven seconded and the motion was approved. A date of March 4th, 2009 was chosen for the date of the public hearing.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Black Earth Joint Fire District has received a FEMA grant for new radios. The Mt. Horeb Fire District has filled two full-time firefighter/EMT positions.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR FEBRUARY MEETING
The District One EMS contract will be discussed further, along with more specific discussion of how the comprehensive plan hearing will be conducted.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Steve Cowan that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:32.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk