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, Larry Ziemer and Barbara Grenlie; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Kathy Smith.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Barbara Grenlie, seconded by Larry Ziemer and approved with the changes that Items (13), further discussion and possible approval for public hearing of Fire Safety and Enforcement Ordinance and (10), discussion of 2011 Town picnic planning be moved to after Item (8).
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
A letter has been received from the Mad City Velo Bike Club thanking the Town for recent action approving a permit for their July 23rd event. Permit checks and supporting paperwork have been received from all organizers who have so far applied for 2011 permits.
Equity Appraisal has been working on the land portion of revaluation and will begin inspection of homes in early July.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
John Smith moved approval of the minutes of the May 9th meeting, Barbara Grenlie seconded, and the minutes were approved with the correction that a reference to Forshaug Road under the discussion of potential discontinuances was changed to Forshaug Drive.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of May were $639.49. $270.71 was received for Delinquent Personal Property Tax, $204.70 for Payments in Lieu of Taxes, $35 for an assessment search, $27.98 for Delinquent MFL, $25 for a Driveway Permit renewal, $25 for a Recreation Permit, $10 for dog licenses and the remainder was $41.10 in interest.
A motion was made by Don McKay and seconded by Larry Ziemer to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
We have received the first quarterly bill for the 2011 revaluation, which was paid with check 2489. Check 2508 for $2,085 was for spring garlic mustard spraying. Jim Elleson noted that control along the roadsides appears to be working since populations are below what was observed in 2010.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for May, 2011, paid by checks numbered 2480 through 2510 and ACH transfers 9 and 10 for health insurance and income continuation insurance. Check 2480 was discussed at the May meeting. Check 2481 is for diesel fuel and check 2482 is for additional insurance for the new tractor and the leased boom mower tractor and mower. Both were sent out early. 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 John Smith to approve payment of bills for May, 2011. The motion was approved.
FURTHER DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC HEARING OF FIRE SAFETY AND ENFORCEMENT ORDINANCE
Keith Johnson was present as a full time fire fighter/EMT employee of the Mt. Horeb Area Joint Fire Department who is also a fire inspector with the department. The Town of Vermont currently has no Fire Safety and Enforcement Ordinance, however a proposed ordinance giving fire districts greater authority to conduct business property inspections has been drafted by the Town attorney. Mr. Johnson indicated that a penalty provision in such an ordinance would be a useful tool for those few cases where business owners do not, in a timely manner, correct safety violations found during inspections. Mark Sherven recommended that the Planning Commission review the draft ordinance, Barbara Grenlie made a motion to that effect which was seconded by Larry Ziemer and approved.
DISCUSSION OF 2011 TOWN PICNIC PLANNING
Marsha Morley was present as new chair of the picnic committee. She has met with people previously involved in organizing the picnic. Details of the pre-picnic mailing and the allocation of money collected from attendee donations are yet to be determined. One suggestion is to use a portion of the donations for prizes for children’s activities.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS REGARDING DISCONTINUANCE OF SCHAUB ROAD, DAUK ROAD, FOSEID ROAD AND ANDERSON ROAD
John Smith moved and Larry Ziemer seconded that resolutions be adopted calling for public hearings on the discontinuance of each of these roads. The hearings are scheduled for 7:00 on Wednesday, July 27th.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF SUB. 1 TO ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 37, 10-11 AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE DANE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, DEFINING SMALL SCALE ELECTRICAL GENERATING STATIONS AND REQUIRING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR SUCH USES IN THE A-1 EXCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT
This substitute amendment was drafted by Dane County in response to comments received regarding the previous Amendment 37. Larry Ziemer moved that the Substitute Amendment be approved, Don McKay seconded and the Amendment was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 4, 11-12, AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE DANE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, REGARDING ACCESSORY STRUCTURES
Many changes have been proposed to this portion of Chapter 10, some of which were considered ambiguous and in some cases unduly restrictive. Since there was insufficient time for more detailed Planning Commission analysis before a response was required by Dane County, Barbara Grenlie moved that the Amendment be disapproved, Don McKay seconded and the Amendment was disapproved.
APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR 2011 – 2012
No citizen member positions were open for appointment or reappointment for this term. Don McKay has been appointed as one of the Board Representatives and Planning Commission Chair, taking the place of Larry Ziemer who was thanked for serving on the Planning Commission for two years. The other Board Representative will remain Barbara Grenlie and the citizen members will remain Johanna Solms, Jim Elleson, Bruce Ellarson, Eric Haugen and Todd Culliton.
REPORT ON DCTA MEETING
The annual Dane County Towns Association meeting was held on May 11th. The estimated cost of the proposed new County-wide interoperable communications system has gone from 32 million dollars to 15 million dollars due to revisions in the technical specifications. Annual operation and maintenance costs for the system have yet to be determined, but may need to be accounted for in the Town’s 2014 budget. The system will provide coverage for 95 percent of Dane County using 6 existing towers. Increasing the coverage would require the construction of an additional tower at an estimated cost of from 600 thousand to 1.2 million dollars.
Other topics included a future County-wide ordinance covering communication towers, the State-mandated update of the Dane County Farmland Preservation Program, draft spring road weight limit ordinances and the continuing revision process of Chapter 10 of the Dane County Ordinances.
DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE SPRING WEIGHT LIMITS ON ROADS
The draft ordinance is now being reviewed by the Dane County Sheriff’s Department and the State Patrol. After consideration of their comments, the draft will be presented to the Executive Board of the Dane County Towns Association. After Board review It will then be available to individual towns wishing to use it as a basis for their own ordinances.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING SALE OF TOWN GRADER
The Town grader has been for sale on the Wisconsin Surplus web site for approximately one month. The auction ended earlier today, June 13th, with a high bid of $15,000. Acceptance of that bid by the Town is not required. John Smith moved that the bid be accepted, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Town of Perry is currently working on a procedure for the transfer of development rights, which has been forwarded to Dane County Planning and Development for review.
The 1st mowing of Town roadsides is nearly complete, with patching in advance of chip sealing to be started after mowing is finished.
The Mt. Horeb Fire Department is working on an eligibility list of potential future employees. The Fire Chief position, presently filled by an interim Chief, is currently being reviewed. The Department will soon be selling Rescue 38. Plans for a future fire station are being considered.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR JULY MEETING
Depending on action at the State level, consideration of blanket rezoning action at the town level may be on the agenda. The status of the building inspection contract with MEI will be considered. It is expected that a further 4 roads will be considered for discontinuance.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Barbara Grenlie that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:59.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk