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, Don McKay, Barbara Grenlie, Todd Culliton and Larry Ziemer; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Kathy Smith.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Larry Ziemer, seconded by Todd Culliton and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
The Dane County Towns Association recently held a meeting of town chairs. Among the topics was to note that Dane County Board chair John Hendrick has asked the DCTA for recommendations regarding nominations to a steering committee to conduct a review of the comprehensive plan every 5 years. The DCTA is asking the County to amend its rules to allow citizen appointments to the County Zoning and Land Use Regulation Committee. While that committee governs activities in rural areas, it at present lacks any rural representation.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Larry Ziemer moved approval of the minutes of the January 14th meeting, Todd Culliton seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of January were $942,263.58. The majority was $920,612.66 for 2013 property taxes paid in 2013. $20,386.71 was our first 2013 General Transportation Aid payment, $1,030 was for dog licenses, $75.50 was a refunded bank charge from December, $29.20 was a workers compensation insurance refund and the remainder was $129.51 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
The spring primary election is on February 19th. The bid opening for the garage addition will be on February 20th, with a special board meeting on February 25th to make a bid decision. January checks for tax settlements, 2013 fire, EMS and DCTA dues and our Northwest Dane Senior Services contribution were discussed at the January meeting. The new computer is installed in the clerk’s office, paid for with check 3298. There were no software expenses other than the operating system, since Office 2007 could be installed on the new computer. Check 3318 is for completion of the electrical service upgrade and repair of the outside light on the salt shed.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Todd Culliton to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for January, 2013, paid by checks numbered 3281 through 3320 and ACH transfer 1 for health insurance. Checks 3281 through 3289 were discussed at the January meeting. Checks 3290 for Diesel Fuel and 3291 for tax forms were sent out early. February checks 3321 through 3325 are included at the bottom of the check register as checks that were written after January was closed out. The first 4 checks are mandated Payment in Lieu of Taxes transfers and check 3325 is for the down payment on equipping the new International truck. 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 Larry Ziemer to approve payment of bills for January 2013 and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF STATE AND COUNTY STEWARDSHIP FUNDING FOR THE ACQUISITION BY THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS OF THE “PARRISH SAVANNA”, THE FORMER JOHNSON PROPERTY, AND OTHER PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO THE PLEASURE VALLEY CONSERVANCY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD F AND MOYER ROAD
The Chair felt that public notice of this topic was not sufficiently clear to neighboring property owners, so no action is anticipated at this meeting. In the past, requests have been for letters of support from the Town for conservation easements, which have not in the past required that public access to the property be allowed. Since State and County funding is no longer available for easements that do not allow public access, this request is for the Town to support State and County funding for a portion of a 29.3 acre purchase by Prairie Enthusiasts, a non-profit, tax exempt entity. The purchased land will be open to the public, with an informational kiosk and parking facilities being planned along Moyer Road. Ken Wade was present to speak in favor of the letter of support, providing maps of the area and information about the Prairie Enthusiasts. It appears that any Potential Development Right(s) attached to the property would be extinguished upon purchase using public funds, which would reduce the Town’s future tax base much as if the PDR had been transferred out of the Town. Kevin Kuntz, a neighboring property owner to one of the parcels mentioned in the published meeting agenda, was present to comment on the proposed purchase, and presented information on Dane County property currently under public ownership and open to the public. Todd Culliton moved and Barbara Grenlie seconded that further consideration be referred to the Planning Commission and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF EMERGENCY FACILITY OPTIONS WITHIN THE TOWN
Many Dane County schools and some churches and other facilities normally open to the public are currently designated as emergency shelters. Locally, Vermont Lutheran Church has limited bathroom facilities, so it may not be reasonable to ask them to permit such a designation.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF 2013 BUDGET AMENDMENTS
It is requested that a budget amendment be approved to move money for the purchase of a new International truck from the reserve fund created for that purpose, and from the uncommitted 2012 carryover, to the Highway Equipment Capital Outlay portion of the 2013 budget. Barbara Grenlie moved that the amendment be approved, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Largely because of a recent fatal accident at the entrance to the Wisconsin Heights High School, the State Department of Transportation has proposed for public comment 3 alternative improvement plans for Highway 14 near the school. The Wisconsin Towns Association has an upcoming meeting in Mineral Point and there is an upcoming membership meeting of the Dane County Towns Association. The Mt. Horeb Fire District expects to contract for an independent feasibility study of the options for a new fire house, with some answers expected by the end of 2013. The Road Committee reports that as of today, 10 potential bidders have requested bid specifications for the new town garage addition. Also reported is that winter weather and possibly contaminated fuel has required extra truck fuel filter replacement.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR MARCH MEETING
It is expected that that the Planning Commission recommendation regarding Town support of the land purchase by Prairie Enthusiasts will be on the agenda. Using the official Town web site to archive back issues of Vermont’s Voice as well as possibly other unofficial uses of the web site will also be discussed. In preliminary discussion of this subject there seemed to be some sentiment that expansion of the existing official web site should be restricted to Vermont’s Voice.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Todd Culliton that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk