The meeting notice has been posted at the Black Earth Branch of the State Bank of Cross Plains, 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, John Smith, Barbara Grenlie and Larry Ziemer; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Kathy Smith. Supervisor Don McKay was absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Barbara Grenlie, seconded by Larry Ziemer and approved with the provision that adjustments to the agenda order would be made as needed to accommodate those appearing personally.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
Board of Review will be on June 6. Two Town Board members, Larry Ziemer and Don McKay, attended BOR training this year. No one appeared at the May 2nd Open Book.
Citizens at the Annual Town Meeting expressed their wish to commend the staff of the Town newsletter the Vermont’s Voice for their work. Mark Sherven moved that a letter of thanks be written on behalf of the Board to those involved, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Larry Ziemer moved approval of the minutes of the April 9th meeting, John Smith seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of April were $52,833.81. The largest amount was for a combination of MFL withdrawals and timber harvest yield fees of $27,099.74. $20,937.13 was received as the Town’s quarterly State transportation aid payment. $3,734.94 was received for a general Lottery Settlement from the State, $464.21 for the Special Districts Lottery Settlement, $204.70 for Payment in Lieu of Taxes, $100 for a recreation permit, $85 for assessment searches, $75 for a building permit, $70 for dog licenses $25 for a driveway permit, and the remainder was $38.09 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.
CLERK’S REPORT
We had 334 ballots cast out of 612 total people registered for the recall primary on May 8th, or 54 percent. Check 2930 was written this month to the Village of Mt. Horeb for the Town’s 2012 municipal court agreement cost. Check 2932 is for our annual brush mower rental, check 2936 is for 2012 crack filling and check 2939 is for rental of a stump grinder attachment for the Bobcat.
A motion was made by John Smith 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 April, 2012, paid by checks numbered 2922 through 2960 and ACH transfer 9 for health insurance. Check 2922 was discussed at the April meeting, check 2923 for Board of Review training was written and sent shortly after the April meeting and check 2924 for $25 for our town hall and garage alarm system fee was written to replace the $50 check discussed at the April 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 April, 2012 and the motion was approved.
UPDATE FROM DANE COUNTY COMMUNITY DEPUTY
Community Deputy Josalyn Longley present a summary of Sheriff’s Department calls for service within the Town for 2012 to date. She did not feel that there were any notable trends, though a new person has been added to the Department to perform more such analyses in the future. A meeting will be held soon bringing together Sheriff’s Department and State Patrol personnel and local government representatives and citizens to discuss spring weight limit ordinance enforcement. The Dane County Highway Department has set up an e-mail notification system to make local governments aware that event organizers have applied for a permit to use county roads within or near their borders for a special event. Citizen concerns have been expressed concerning the amount and speed of traffic on North and Greenwald Roads.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE REZONE, HOMESITE AND DRIVEWAY FOR KEEPMAN ON BLUE MOUNDS TRAIL
The Planning Commission recommended approval of all applications for this property contingent upon receipt from Dane County Public Health of a Preliminary Opinion of Site Suitability for a Private On-Site Wastewater Treatment system. That documentation has been received. Mark Sherven moved approval of the rezone, homesite and driveway applications, Larry Ziemer seconded and the applications were approved with Barbara Grenlie abstaining.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RECREATION PERMIT APPLICATION FROM MIDWEST SPORTS EVENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 23 BICYCLE RACE
Gloria West and Mike Larsen were present representing the organizers of the event. This is the second year for their event, the first year having been conducted without incident. This year the event has been moved to later in the year to avoid conflicts with other July and August events. All application material has been received. John Smith moved that the Recreation Event Permit be approved contingent on receipt of the remaining $75 permit fee, Larry Ziemer seconded and the application was approved.
DECISION CONCERNING RESCHEDULING DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON POSSIBLE DISCONTINUANCE OF LICKEL ROAD
Because of issues concerning providing adequate hearing notice to property owners adjoining Lickel Road, there is a need to set a date to which the scheduled May 22 hearing can be adjourned. The Board reached consensus that June 18th at 7:00 p.m. be chosen as a new date and time to which the hearing can be adjourned.
CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL FOR HEARING OF TOWN OF VERMONT JOINT MUNICIPAL COURT ORDINANCE CHAPTER 12
Barbara Grenlie moved that the ordinance draft presently before the Board be approved for public hearing on June 18th at 7:30 p.m. Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION OF OA 39 WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARDED TO DANE COUNTY
Barbara Grenlie moved that the draft presented by the County to the Town be approved, John Smith seconded and Ordinance Amendment 39 was approved. It was noted that the Dane County Towns Association is recommending that towns may wish to consider passing their own non-metallic mining ordinances in the future.
DISCUSSION OF DANE COUNTY DRAFT FARMLAND PRESERVATION PLAN
Brian Standing from the Dane County Planning and Development Department was present to discuss a draft Farmland Preservation Plan currently being considered for passage by Dane County by the end of 2012. An incentive for counties to participate is that resident farmers are eligible for a $7.50 per year state tax credit, with the amount rising to $10.00 per acre per year an area approved as an Agricultural Enterprise Area.
Certain aspects of the plan, particularly development restrictions within “Resource Protection Corridors”, which is land mapped as exceeding a 20 percent slope, would have an especially significant impact on the Town of Vermont. Chairman Mark Sherven indicated that any restrictions on slopes of less than 30 percent would be unacceptable within the Town because of the Town’s exceptionally steep topography. Maps will be generated by Dane County showing the coverage within the Town of both a 20 percent and a 30 percent slope restriction, and also showing currently existing structures so that citizens can more readily gauge the impact of such restrictions on their own land.
Also discussed was the current Dane County 66 foot public road frontage requirement for each parcel for land divisions to be approved. It appears that no progress is being made toward revising that policy to better accommodate the use of easements in areas such as within the Town where topography limits practical access routes.
Other topics addressed were interpretation of the term “findings of fact” by the Dane County Board with respect to rezones out of farmland preservation zoning districts, and possible future interpretations of the term “typical” as it refers to possible restrictions on the local regulation of the farming practices of very large farming operations.
Mr. Standing indicated that a town cannot opt out of the farmland preservation plan, since that would require Dane County Board approval, which would be unlikely.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF 2012 – 2013 APPLICATIONS FROM TYROL BASON FOR ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSE AND OPERATOR LICENSES FOR DON MCKAY AND JOSHUA EISELE
Applications and fees have been submitted. Barbara Grenlie moved approval, John Smith seconded and the applications were approved.
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSAL FOR TOWN-WIDE TRASH AND RECYCLING PICKUP
Town-wide pickup would involve adding a fee to the tax bill of all residential property owners. The per household fee would be approximately half of the current cost to those now contracting for similar service, but would be a mandatory expense for all residential property owners.
It currently appears that adding such a fee to the tax bill can only occur after the service has been provided, meaning that the Town will be financially responsible for one year of service before the money can be recovered.
It is suggested that an informational insert be included the Vermont’s Voice and a survey of residents concerning the question be undertaken. Barbara Grenlie moved that a survey be undertaken with one response per household allowed. The motion died for lack of a second. John Smith moved that a survey be undertaken with one response per registered voter allowed. The motion was seconded by Mark Sherven. A vote was called and failed with tie vote of 2 yes and 2 no votes. Larry Ziemer moved that both the information sheet and the survey be included in Vermont’s Voice. Mark Sherven seconded the motion for discussion purposes. Larry Ziemer suggested that surveys could be mailed, dropped off at the Town Hall or e-mail to the Town clerk. Another option would be having the surveys returned to a post office box. The motion to include the information sheet and survey in the Vermont’s Voice was approved.
APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATE MEMBERS FOR 2012 BOARD OF REVIEW
Andrew Anderson and Donald Parrell have volunteered to act as alternate Board of Review members for the 2012 Board of Review, and their appointment as alternates was approved.
DISCUSSION OF 2012 TOWN PICNIC
A volunteer for chair of the 2012 picnic is being sought.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The agreement between the Black Earth Joint Fire District Board and participating municipalities dates to 1989, and is currently being reviewed. Fire departments are requesting that copies of building permits be forwarded to them. The Road Committee reported that the new leased Bobcat has been delivered. Payne and Dolan has completed asphalt paving and wedging for 2012. The 2005 International Harvester truck is starting to develop serious corrosion and so consideration should be given to budgeting for a replacement. Greenwald Road is seeing heavier traffic, so brush cutting to improve sight lines is being undertaken. Very preliminary drawings are available for a proposed town garage addition.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR JUNE MEETING
Planning Commission appointments will be made at the June meeting. Barbara Grenlie attended a meeting addressing future bicycle events in Dane County, which will be discussed at the June meeting. At the Annual Town Meeting, the subject of surveying citizens concerning the possibility of restricting the concealed carrying of weapons in the Town Hall during elections was brought up, and that survey may be considered by the Board at the June meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:43.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk