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, Larry Ziemer 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 Larry Ziemer and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
The Chairman noted that the announcement of the site for the 2016 Summer Olympics will be made on October 2nd.
A letter was received from the Dane County Executive in response to a letter in support of the Northwest Dane Senior Services Case Management program from the Vermont Town Board.
The salt shed addition is near completion.
Dane County will be requesting funding from individual municipalities to fund a new interoperable radio system starting in 2012. The share for the Town of Vermont is currently estimated to be just over $2,000 annually. This will presumably be in addition to the radios themselves, which will have to be purchased by individual municipalities and agencies.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input, but since Jan Cowan was present, she provided the report on the 2009 Town picnic that was scheduled later in the agenda.
Appreciation was expressed to the Town for funding $1,000 of the picnic and to the McKays for providing Tyrol Basin as a location. 155 people registered, compared to 117 in 2008, and $338 in donations was collected on behalf of future picnics.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Don McKay moved approval of the minutes of the August 10th meeting, Steve Cowan seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Deposits for the month of August were $126,243.39. The largest share was $121,931.91 for the August Property Tax Settlement. $2,942.61 was received for the 2% Fire Dues, $650 for Site Visits and Driveway Permits, $640 for building permits, $40 for dog licenses and $38.87 in interest. The total available in all accounts is $183,128.27.
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
Work continues on the sand / salt shed addition and on the 2010 budget.
New this month is the requirement that we pay health insurance to the Wisconsin ETF system through an ACH transfer, which is number “1” near the bottom of the list of checks.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Steve Cowan to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for August, 2009 and paid by checks numbered 1670 through 1698. Other than relatively minor repair and supply expenses, all bills are routine monthly expenses
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to approve payment of bills for August and the motion was approved.
UPDATE FROM DANE COUNTY COMMUNITY DEPUTY
The quarterly report on Sheriff’s Department calls within the Town was presented. There appeared to be no significant patterns or trends within the report. Because of concern about Chronic Wasting Disease, The WIDNR is now collecting all deer killed on Town of Vermont roads.
REPORT ON 2009 PICNIC
This agenda item was covered during citizen input.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL MEASURES
Japanese hedge parsley is a newly recognized invasive species in the Town of Vermont. While it appears to have been present in the area for years, it seems to have recently become more pervasive. The Town’s primary interest is in controlling it within the right-of-way so that mowing does not spread it.
Since the $2,000 budgeted for invasive species control for 2009 was largely used during spring efforts to control garlic mustard, Barbara Grenlie moved that $1,000 be moved within the Public Works budget for fall control of both garlic mustard and Japanese hedge parsley. Steve Cowan seconded the motion and it was approved. As part of consideration of the 2010 budget, Mark Sherven suggested that overall Weed and Nuisance Control funding be increased to $3,000.
CONSIDERATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 16, 2009-2010 AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE DANE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, REGARDING PRESERVATION OF TOPOGRAPHY NEAR PROPERTY LINES
The Dane County Towns Association has recommended approval of this Ordinance Amendment. Board members expressed reservations that the narrow purpose of the ordinance as amended might be broadened at the County level to accomplish objectives not anticipated by its authors. Mark Sherven moved to approve the ordinance amendment with the reservation to be noted on the Town Board Action Report that “OA #16 is approved with the understanding that it will apply only within the specified 5 ft. boundary area”. Larry Ziemer seconded the motion and it was approved with 4 Board members voting to approve and Don McKay voting no.
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED DANE COUNTY ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS 2 AND 9
Nothing further has been received from Dane County on these Ordinance Amendments, though the Subdivision Ordinance in question does not require town approval in order for amendments to be adopted.
The requirement within OA 2 that a CSM be required for the sale of any sized parcel unless the land is undevelopable will increase costs and increase county oversight and control over those divisions. Barbara Grenlie suggested that Board write a letter to District 30 Supervisor Pat Downing indicating the Board’s view that this ordinance amendment as well as OA9 be dropped from further consideration.
CONTINUED DELIBERATIONS ON 2010 BUDGET AND SCHEDULE FURTHER BUDGET MEETINGS
A preliminary decision was made to keep projected attorney fees at $5,000. Refinishing the floor in the Town Hall has been budgeted for 2010.
The Town Patrolman’s salary is by contract tied to the Dane County Highway Department wage scale, which may call for a wage decrease in 2010. Sentiment was expressed that the Town Patrolman’s wage rate should not be decreased regardless of County action.
Money is also being budgeted for replacement of the door openers in the Town garage. No chip sealing will be scheduled for 2010, with the money instead devoted to replacement of the box culvert on Bergum Road. As noted earlier, $3,000 will be budgeted in 2010 for Weed and Nuisance Control.
While the Property Register / Density Research is nearing completion, it is possible that sufficient work remains that the 2010 budget should be at $4,000. $800 is being budgeted for a laptop for the use of the Planning Commission.
In the area of capital expenditures, $4,000 is being budgeted for the purchase of a used bale chopper for mulching road shoulders after maintenance. New categories are being added to the reserve fund for the eventual replacement of road maintenance equipment.
It is possible that the Black Earth Joint Fire District will purchase a new squad truck in 2011 and 2012, so it is considered prudent to be sure that sufficient money is held in the reserve funds for Town needs in case that expenditure is required.
DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE SPRING WEIGHT LIMITS ON ROADS
Nothing further has been received on this subject.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Fire District budgets have been or are now being finalized. The Road Committee reported concerns about the quality of some of the 2008 chip sealing work, which will be discussed with the contractor. The last 2009 mowing is nearly half done.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR OCTOBER MEETING
The Town insurance agent will be present, and the public budget hearing date for the 2010 budget will be set. Winter weight limits will remain on the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Barbara Grenlie that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:17.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk