The meeting was called to order at 7:31. 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 John Smith and approved with the changes that items (10) report on the 2011 Town picnic, (13) discussion and possible action regarding building inspection contract and (14) discussion and possible action regarding Town insurance policy be moved to after item (8).
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
A card was received from Mad City Velo thanking the Town for the use of Town roads for the Blue Mounds Classic event. The chairman noted that there has been an increase in local property crimes, and further information will be requested of the Dane County Sheriff’s Department. The Centurion Bicycle event took place recently, with some resident complaints regarding the behavior of participants and litter left along local roads. Correspondence has been received from the Dane County Towns Association suggesting that recertification of the Dane County Farmland Preservation Plan be delayed until the end of 2012.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Don McKay moved approval of the minutes of the August 8th meeting, Larry Ziemer seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of August were $141,042. $102,835.49 was received as the Town’s August tax settlement, $33,529.19 was the special district tax settlement, $3,873 was FEMA/State reimbursement for expenses incurred during the February snow storm, $625 for a building permit, $125 for assessment searches, $25 for a driveway permit renewal and the remainder was $29.32 in interest.
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
Check 2590 is for major repairs to the Ford truck brakes. Check 2612 is for the 2011 – 2012 Bobcat lease. The $700 reflects a $100 allowance against this lease for some of the extra usage hours paid by us in 2010. Check 2614 is the first installment for the shouldering work being done on Bohn road. Check 2616 is for the 2011 picnic
A motion was made by John Smith and seconded by Barbara Grenlie to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for August, 2011, paid by checks numbered 2585 through 2616, September check 2617, and ACH transfers 15 and 16 for health insurance and income continuation insurance. Check 2585, at the top of the August listing, was discussed at the last board meeting. 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 August, 2011. The motion was approved.
REPORT ON 2011 TOWN PICNIC
Barbara Bird reported that 115 people signed in to the picnic, with $202 collected in donations for 2011, which is very similar to 2010. The fishing contest for the kids was a success. Some new people are being recruited to assist in organizing the picnic for 2012. Printing and postage totaling approximately $200 annually has been donated by John Bird Accounting, which may in the future have to be covered by the Town due to an upcoming change in ownership.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING BUILDING INSPECTION CONTRACT
A letter has been drafted providing notice to our current building inspection firm, Municipal Engineering and Inspection Services, Inc., that their contract will be terminated on November 15, 2011. John Smith moved and Barbara Grenlie seconded that the letter be signed and sent and the motion was approved. Barbara Grenlie moved and John Smith seconded that a contract be signed with Vierbicher Associates, Inc. for building inspection services beginning with building permit requests received on and after November 15. The motion was approved.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING TOWN INSURANCE POLICY
Barbara Grenlie moved that insurance coverage be moved to Rural Insurance at the beginning of 2012 and Don McKay seconded the motion. After further discussion, the motion failed to pass. Further information will be sought concerning 2012 rates and coverage and the topic again considered at the October Board meeting.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING REVISED BUILDING SITE PLAN FOR RICHARD KELLY ON WOODCHUCK CROSSING
Both Planning Commission and Board members who reviewed the new proposed building site agreed that it is advantageous to both the owner and the Town and approval is recommended. Don McKay moved that the new building site be approved, Barbara Grenlie seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING REZONING PETITION FOR JOHNSON / MCMURRAY AT 3523 COUNTY ROAD JG
Barbara Grenlie moved that the Board recommend approval of a rezoning from A-2 to A-2(2). Larry Ziemer seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS REGARDING DISCONTINUANCE OF DANZ ROAD, SMITH ROAD AND ZWETTLER ROAD(2), ALSO KNOWN AS ZWETTLER FARM ROAD
John Smith moved that all three road discontinuance resolutions be approved to be effective on September 30, 2011. No one appeared at the public hearing on these discontinuances. Larry Ziemer seconded the motion and it was approved.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF MT. HOREB AREA JOINT FIRE DEPARTMENT PROMISSORY NOTE
This is still be reviewed by other parties and so consideration is postponed until the October Board meeting.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING STATUTORILY REQUIRED EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
The Wisconsin Towns Association initiated a draft procedure which was modified by the Dane County Towns Association. This draft grievance procedure has been reviewed by the Town attorney and referred to the Board for action before the October 1 deadline. John Smith moved that the procedure be adopted, Don McKay seconded and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF SPRING WEIGHT LIMITS ON ROADS AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE FOR PUBLIC HEARING
At a recent Dane County Towns Association meeting, drafts of an ordinance and supporting permitting forms were presented to towns for their consideration. Barbara Grenlie moved that all Town roads be listed within the draft ordinance presented to the Board and that it be approved for a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on December 5, 2011. Larry Ziemer seconded the motion and it was approved.
CONTINUED DELIBERATIONS ON 2012 BUDGET AND SCHEDULE FURTHER BUDGET MEETINGS
The budget currently awaits some fire / EMS district information as well as the final shared revenue amount. Discussion at this meeting primarily concerns the road budget, particularly the timing of several wedging projects. Price estimates will be obtained and considered at a road committee meeting. A question was raised concerning whether the Town could recover highway taxes paid on fuel purchased by the Town which is actually used off-road, and this topic will be investigated. A new category will need to be added to the budget for the Town’s share of maintaining and operating the Dane County interoperable radio system. An effort will be made by the towns to have their levy limits adjusted in the future to reflect this shift in financial responsibility from the County to other municipalities.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Bergum Road box culvert has been completed. The Bohn Road shouldering work is almost complete. Winter salt will be delivered over the next 2 weeks. Money may need to be added to the 2012 budget for road signage in anticipation of passage of a spring weight limit ordinance. The District One EMS budget for 2012 has been completed. Delivery of a new squad for District One has been delayed, possibly requiring the use of a loaner for the remainder of the year, supplied by the company building the body for the new squad. The Black Earth Joint Fire District has initiated a major equipment purchase fund with the proceeds from a recent vehicle sale. The interim Chief of the Mt. Horeb Fire District has been hired as the Fire Chief. A part-time temporary Deputy Chief of Resource Management has also been hired. The Village of Mt. Horeb is working on reconciling siting requirements with surrounding municipalities. Surrounding municipalities have in some cases passed resolutions prohibiting concealed carry of firearms in their public buildings. The chairman will contact the Town attorney regarding the creation of an easement agreement among adjacent property owners that would permit the discontinuance of Haag Road. The Planning Commission will continue to consider other discontinuances, including the end portion of Kelliher Road.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR OCTOBER MEETING
The Community Deputy or another Sheriff’s Department representative will be asked to attend the October meeting. A representative of Vierbicher Associates will be asked to attend the meeting to continue discussion of the building inspection process. The Town insurance policy as well as the Mt. Horeb Fire Department promissory note will be on the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 11:14.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk