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, John Smith and Larry Ziemer; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz. Supervisor Barbara Grenlie participated in the meeting by telephone.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Don McKay, seconded by Larry Ziemer and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
The subject of wind turbine siting regulations was a topic at a recent Wisconsin Towns Association meeting. It appears that turbines over 100 megawatts in size will be governed exclusively by the State, whereas smaller units will be potentially also be subject to local regulation.
Large livestock siting regulations were also discussed at the meeting; it was suggested that municipalities wait for the State to take the lead on those regulations. The Towns Association is seeking a $150 per mile increase in State Transportation Aid to local governments, as well as to have reversed a recently enacted reduction in the threshold at which prevailing wage rules impact local construction projects.
Board of review training will be needed by at least one Board member prior to Board of Review. Barbara Grenlie and John Smith volunteered for training this year.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Barbara Grenlie moved approval of the minutes of the January 10th meeting, Larry Ziemer seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of January were $918,497 .22. $897,494.75 was 2011 property taxes paid in 2011, $20,937.13 was our first 2011 State Transportation Aid payment and the remainder was $65.34 in interest.
Concern was expressed that at tax collection time the Town’s deposits may exceed the $250,000 FDIC insurance limit for a single depositor at a single bank. How to address this concern will be investigated.
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by John Smith to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
The spring primary is tomorrow, February 15th. Starting at this time next year we will begin to be in need of people interested in being poll workers, so encourage anyone that you think might be interested to contact me.
Our insurance agent, Harold Gerrits, is retiring on February 15th and we will in the future be served by Frederick Derocher, who will soon be contacting us to introduce himself.
A number of checks for January may require explanation. Check 2325 is for the recent WTA meeting attended by Board members, checks 2326 through 2329 are tax settlement checks that we were required to send out early, and check 2330 was for diesel fuel and was the last check sent out early. Check 2335 is for the annual inspection by Dane County of our 2 bridges. Check 2341 is our annual contribution to Northwest Dane Senior Services while checks 2342 and 2343 are the Town’s annual contributions to the local watershed improvement organizations. Checks 2349 through 2352 pay State and County government and school districts a share of the money received from the State for Payment in Lieu of Taxes; the Town retained $361.77 of that money. Check 2359 for $13,160.63 to the State Bank of Cross Plains pays the principal and this month’s interest through February 18th on the loan for the Black Earth Joint Fire District Squad and check 2360 for $41,047.90 to the fire district pays the remainder of our share of that vehicle.
A motion was made by John Smith and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
January checks 2320 through 2324 were discussed at the January meeting. Approval is sought at this meeting for payment of further bills for January, 2011, paid by checks numbered 2225 through 2365, ACH transfers 1 and 2 for health insurance and income continuation insurance, and February check 2366. 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 Larry Ziemer and seconded by Barbara Grenlie to approve payment of bills for January, 2011. The motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF DANE COUNTY MODIFICATIONS TO CUP #2154 FROM MDW INVESTMENTS LLC AND VERIZON WIRELESS FOR A COMMUNICATIONS TOWER AT 4268 STATE HIGHWAY 78
Last month’s approval is being returned to the Town for reapproval by Dane County with minor revisions. No substantive differences from the CUP application passed by the Town in January were observed.
Larry Ziemer moved approval of the CUP, Barbara Grenlie seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF TOWN TRACTOR TRADE-IN PROGRAM OR EXTENDED WARRANTY OPTION
A new tractor with loader is being purchased from Sloan Implement by the Town, with delivery to occur in mid-February. Chairman Mark Sherven recommended that the Town enter into a verbal agreement with Sloan Implement to annually trade for a new tractor and loader having identical specifications for an annual fee of $4,500. Details of the offer are outlined in a letter, but not in a binding contract. It was decided that the lack of a contract would not be an issue, since the Town, as owner of the tractor and loader, would not be left worse off.
Barbara Grenlie moved approval of the verbal agreement, John Smith seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS DISCUSSED AT JANUARY PUBLIC HEARING
Barbara Grenlie moved approval of the comprehensive plan amendments, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF FUTURE ROAD DISCONTINUANCES
Two roads have been added by the Planning Commission to the list to be considered for possible future discontinuance and will be the subject of discussion at the next Planning Commission meeting.
DISCUSSION OF PROCEDURE FOR BLANKET REZONING OF SUBSTANDARD PARCELS
Discussion of the blanket rezoning of substandard parcels must include the possibility of removing significant land within the Town from Exclusive Agricultural Zoning. It appears that relatively few farms within the Town are benefitting from a tax credit available to farms within an Exclusive Agricultural Zone, and those benefits are not as great as they once were. Dane County is currently compiling a list of parcels currently receiving that credit. It is expected that due to the adoption of use value assessment for agricultural land, there will not be a major impact on property values by a change in their zoning.
Dane County appears to be under a mandate from the State to correct the zoning of any inappropriately zoned parcels by the end of 2012, which suggests that the County will be willing to facilitate Town efforts in that regard. However, the amount of effort required may be substantial.
There appear to be 2 mechanisms for opting out of Exclusive Agricultural Zoning, both of which must be approved by the County. The first involves having the Town apply to change our zoning and choosing another zoning classification for our land now zoned Exclusive Agricultural. We would then choose whether to adopt County zoning, take responsibility for our own zoning matters, or join with neighboring towns to exercise zoning authority.
The other mechanism is to change our comprehensive plan to specifically identify our “working land”, perhaps keeping that land in agricultural zoning while allowing the rezoning of other land not considered suitable for agriculture.
On top of these options is a bill being circulated in the State Senate (LRB-1135-2) which would repeal the recently adopted farmland conversion fee. Such repeal would remove much of the incentive for Towns and their residents to address this entire zoning issue. If that bill passes, the County will be required to change its comprehensive plan to reflect that change. At that time it might be advantageous for the Town to change its comprehensive plan in a manner which specifically identifies “working land” to be preserved.
DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE SPRING WEIGHT LIMITS ON ROADS
There has been no timely action by the Dane County Towns Association to produce a model ordinance to be considered by Dane County towns. With it now being too late for effective action in the spring of 2011, it has been decided to proceed in consultation with a small number of neighboring towns to draft a model ordinance for presentation to the Dane County Towns Association for potential county-wide adoption by individual towns.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
There have been many compliments on the work of Jack Schulenberg, our Town Patrolman and Dave Haugen, second plow driver for their work during the recent snow storm. There has been no interest in the grader at the asking price of $24,500, so it was decided to reduce the advertised price to $19,500 or best offer, but with the stipulation that any offer may be refused. Two prices have been obtained for a grapple loader bucket for the new loader and it is expected that the subject will be acted on at the March meeting. The Mt. Horeb Fire District has hired a new interim Fire Chief for a minimum 6 month period, with the search for a full time Chief to start soon. District One EMS has purchased a new ambulance. The ambulance equipment will be transferred to the new vehicle and the old ambulance will be sold.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR MARCH MEETING
Purchase of a grapple bucket for the new tractor and the subject of the blanket rezoning process will be discussed and possibly acted on, and there will be discussion and possible action on any offers obtained for the grader.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Barbara Grenlie that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:57.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk