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, Don McKay, Barbara Grenlie, Steve Cowan and Larry Ziemer; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Steve Cowan, seconded by Larry Ziemer and approved with the change that Item (9), update from Dane County Community Deputy, be moved to follow Item (2).
UPDATE FROM DANE COUNTY COMMUNITY DEPUTY
The Community Deputy presented a listing of Dane County Sheriff’s Department calls for service in the Town since April. She indicated that there were no unusual patterns to the calls, with fall bringing the usual number of car-deer accidents.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
It is expected Jeff Underwood will be submitting a petition for the discontinuance of Skog Kledd Road. Signs have been ordered from Dew Signs for Peculiar and Elvers Corners. On December 7th there will be a conference in the Dane County Executive’s office concerning bicycle events. Two bids have been received for refinishing the floors in the Town Hall. On December 14th there will be a number of seminars for Town Boards and Planning Commissions and members of both are encouraged to attend. Also upcoming are WISLINE classes on a number of issues. The first one will concern wind turbine siting rules. Materials will be ordered for those unable to attend.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Barbara Grenlie moved approval of the minutes of the October 11th meeting, Larry Ziemer seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of October were $20,377.31. $20,313.69 was our final General State Transportation Aid payment for the year and the remainder was $63.62 in interest.
A motion was made by Don McKay and seconded by Barbara Grenlie to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
Two maintenance contracts, checks 2204 and 2218 were paid this month, one for the vote tabulating machine and one for the alarm system. Check 2207 is for the stone chips that are mixed with the road salt, trucking of the salt to the pit and trucking of the mixture to the town garage. The bill for the salt hasn’t arrived yet. Check 2212 is for new tires for the Ford truck and 2217 is largely for replacement of a corroded oil pan on the large truck. Checks 2237 and 2238 on the second page are November checks written for Vermont’s Voice 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 October, 2010, paid by checks numbered 2202 through 2237 and ACH transfers 19 and 20 for health insurance and income continuation insurance. Also included in the list is November check 2238 for printing of Vermont’s Voice. 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 Steve Cowan to approve payment of bills for October, 2010. The motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION OF PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING HOMESITE AND DRIVEWAY FOR JOHNSON / MCMURRAY AT 3523 COUNTY ROAD JG
Barbara Grenlie moved that the homesite and driveway be approved, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
APPROVAL OF 2011 BUDGET
Don McKay moved that the 2011 Town of Vermont budget be approved as represented by the major category summary. Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF 2010 BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS REQUIRED
No amendments were required.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF A PUBLIC HEARING
The Planning Commission has presented the Board with suggested modifications to section 10.1 Density, of the Comprehensive Plan. Subsequent to the Planning Commission meeting, Board and Planning Commission member Barbara Grenlie developed a further revision and simplification of the wording of 10.1(8). Barbara Grenlie moved that these suggested revisions be approved for the purpose of a January public hearing, Don McKay seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 16, 2010-2011 AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE DANE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, REGARDING DEFINITIONS OF AGRICULTURAL USES AND
REVISIONS TO THE A-4 SMALL LOT AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
Barbara Grenlie moved that the zoning ordinance amendment be approved, Don McKay seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PROCEDURE FOR BLANKET REZONING OF SUBSTANDARD PARCELS
The Planning Commission recommended that consideration of this process continue. At present the fees which would have been attached to zoning conversions under this “cleanup” process have been waived at the Dane County level, and there is concern that the fee waiver may not continue indefinitely. On the other hand there is a concern that properties may find their assessments increased because of a rezoning even without a change in the use of the property. Barbara Grenlie moved that the blanket rezoning process continue and Larry Ziemer seconded for the purpose of discussion. Larry Ziemer suggested that contact be made with all affected landowners in order to determine their preferences prior to further movement on this issue. There was general agreement with this position, together with concern that there may not now be an accurate estimate of the number of parcels which will be affected under various rezoning options and the workload which will result from the process. The motion and second were withdrawn and the subject will continue to be addressed at future meetings after further contact with Dane County in order to clarify the options.
DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE SPRING WEIGHT LIMITS ON ROADS
No further information is available concerning the draft model spring weight limit ordinance.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
An equipment replacement schedule was presented for the Black Earth Joint Fire District. Since the Fire District has chosen not to create a reserve fund for equipment replacement, this schedule could be used by municipalities to create their own fund for that purpose.
The Road Committee reported that the salt shed is full and the trucks are being readied for winter. Bids have been received for a new tractor. The grader should be advertised for sale in the WI Towns Association newsletter, with $24,500 suggested as an asking price. Two culverts along Bakken-Stenli Road have been damaged by utility installation. Letters will be sent to TDS and Alliant Energy asking for written assurance that the damage will be repaired in the spring.
At a recent Dane County Towns Association meeting, discussion continued concerning the rebuilding of the Dane County Emergency Radio system, as well as wind turbine siting and a newly proposed annual fee for CUP’s.
Mt. Horeb Fire and EMS is in the middle of employee evaluations. Because of the recent expansion of the District, a new agreement will need to be signed by the Town Chairman and Clerk. Don McKay moved and Larry Ziemer seconded that the Chairman and Clerk sign the revised District Agreement and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR DECEMBER MEETING
Discussion of the blanket rezoning process will continue, as well as discussion of the conference at the Dane County Executive’s office concerning bicycle events.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Don McKay that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:47.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk