The meeting was called to order at 7:30. The clerk certified that the notice had been posted at the Black Earth branch of the Cross Plains State Bank, at John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, Harris 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 and Larry Ziemer; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz . Supervisor Don McKay was absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Steve Cowan, seconded by Larry Ziemer and approved with the changes that Item (12), discussion of the proposed RTA sales tax referendum, was moved to follow Item (9), and the Treasurer’s Report was moved to after Item (16).
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
A letter was received from Bob Brunette, Race Director for the Mad City Velo Bike Club, expressing his group’s appreciation for the ability to use Town of Vermont roads for their annual Blue Mounds Classic event. Supervisors noted that their event is always well run and generates no citizen complaints.
The Bombay Bicycle Club will be holding their annual fall ride starting at Tyrol Basin. Because of the minimal use of Town roads and the fact that the start and finish are at a site zoned for recreational activity, no Recreation Permit application has been requested by the Town.
On Wednesday County Executive Kathleen Falk will be holding a meeting with a number of representatives of communities regarding the recently held Centurion bicycling event.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Barbara Grenlie moved approval of the minutes of the July 12th meeting, Steve Cowan seconded, and the minutes were approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
As noted in the Clerk’s Report for the last 2 months, and now this month, we have spent the money for culverts and permits for installing culverts, but so far we have not been able to accomplish any of that work since we are still waiting for the permits to arrive. The tractor continues to require significant repairs, a topic that will be discussed both by the Road Committee and during consideration of the 2011 budget. Two issues of Vermont’s Voice have been published this year, using about 60% of the money budgeted for printing and postage.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for July, 2010, paid by checks numbered 2099 through 2122 and ACH transfers 13 and 14 for health insurance and income continuation insurance. Check 2105 is our second and final levy payment to the Mt. Horeb Fire District, check 2122 is our annual payment of the Black Earth Joint Fire District share of the 2% fire dues payment received from the State. Checks other than those discussed in the clerk’s report are for normal supplies, repairs and maintenance and for regular monthly bills.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer to approve payment of bills for July, 2010. The motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING DRIVEWAY CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR JAMES AND TANYA THUESEN AT 4141 RYAN ROAD
The Planning Commission recommended approval of a permit for a 250 foot extension to an existing driveway, contingent on obtaining an erosion control permit from Dane County due to the proximity of a stream. Mark Sherven moved that the Board approve the driveway permit with the same contingency, Steve Cowan seconded and the permit was approved.
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED RTA SALES TAX REFERENDUM
While the Town of Vermont is currently outside the geographic area covered by the Dane County Regional Transit Authority, there is concern that any future RTA sales tax increase will impact Town residents because of the many commercial areas that do fall within the RTA area. Additionally, the RTA boundaries may expand in the future based on population growth patterns, potentially leading to the inclusion within the RTA of areas not originally entitled to vote on an advisory referendum regarding the sales tax increase.
This has led to the suggestion that the town boards of towns likely to be partially or wholly excluded from an RTA advisory referendum, if formulated at the Dane County level, should vote to include a referendum question on their November 2nd general election ballots. Eileen Bruskewitz, District 25 County Supervisor from the Westport/ Waunakee area and Jim Pulvermacher, a Supervisor from the Town of Springfield, were present to provide their viewpoints concerning this question. Among the concerns is that the RTA is overly committed to commuter rail versus other transportation options, that the 0.5% sales tax currently authorized will not be adequate and other tax increases will be sought in the future if the focus of the RTA’s activity is commuter rail, and that rural areas are and will remain underrepresented in RTA governance.
The deadline for making a decision regarding placement of an advisory referendum question on the Town’s fall general election ballot is September 21, allowing for the subject to be discussed at the September Board meeting.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING MODIFICATIONS TO DRIVEWAY ORDINANCE
The Planning Commission has presented a final version of an amended driveway ordinance to the Board. With one clarifying addition, Barbara Grenlie moved that the amended ordinance be approved for a public hearing. Larry Ziemer seconded the motion and it was approved. It was agreed that a public hearing would be held at 7:00 immediately prior to the September Board meeting.
DISCUSSION OF IMPACT OF PRE-1985 CSM’S ON POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AND POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN
Investigation by Dane County indicates that there are 32 CSM’s within the Town that predate the 1985 assignment of Potential Development Rights. The Planning Commission has recommended that each of these CSM’s be accepted as a separate ownership parcel for the purpose of calculating Potential Development Rights. In order to accept and implement this recommendation, the Board will need to approve an amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, after public hearing. Steve Cowan moved that a public hearing be held at the earliest opportunity on the Comprehensive Plan changes recommended by the Planning Commission. Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF SAMPLE SPRING WEIGHT LIMIT ORDINANCE
Since further information on this topic is expected from the Dane County Towns Association, Larry Ziemer moved that consideration of spring weight limits be postponed until a later meeting. Steve Cowan seconded and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF CENTURION BICYCLE RACE
Because of the stormy weather, 611 riders participated out of the approximately 1,100 registered. Observers at the Highway 78 / County Road JJ intersection indicated that the longest traffic delay was approximately 4 minutes. Another meeting will be held on Wednesday at the Dane County Executive’s office concerning bicycle events. Mark Sherven noted that, ideally, race event organizers and participants would police themselves as far as participant conduct, but that appears not to be adequate.
BEGIN DELIBERATIONS ON 2011 BUDGET
The Town tractor is beginning to require an increasing number of repairs. There is currently $10,000 in the reserve fund for its replacement and consideration should be given to increasing that amount in the 2011 budget. Approximately 6.76 miles of chip sealing is anticipated for 2011. Information received from contractors and local towns indicates a likely 2011 cost of $16,000 / mile at a 20 ft. width. Based on that cost, approximately $95,000 will be budgeted for chip sealing in 2011. A further road maintenance cost yet to be evaluated is the recontouring of some roads through wedging. We have yet to receive word from the Black Earth Joint Fire District concerning the purchase of a new squad vehicle, which will be part of our budget.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
There have recently been issues regarding obstruction of Town and County roads and rights-of-way within the Town.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Deposits for the month of July were our quarterly Transportation Aid payment of $20,313.67, $2,882.08 in Fire Dues, our shared revenue payment of $1,924.44, $811.35 in MFL Aids in Lieu of Taxes, $525 for a driveway permit and driveway permit renewal, $150 for a building permit, $88.54 in delinquent MFL payments, a $66.07 Coop dividend payment, $50 in recreation permits, $24 for exempt computer aid and $43.00 in interest.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR SEPTEMBER MEETING
The possible RTA referendum, the 2011 budget and the garage addition will be on the September agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Steve Cowan and seconded by Barbara Grenlie that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:10.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk