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, Todd Culliton, Barbara Grenlie 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 Don McKay and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
The patrolman for the Town of Black Earth passed away unexpectedly several weeks ago and surrounding towns, including the Town of Vermont, stepped in to plow roads for the Town of Black Earth. The Annual Meeting will be April 16th. Mark Sherven will be retiring as Town Chair at the end of the Annual Meeting, and he thanked Board members for their work during his years of service.
CITIZEN INPUT
Don McKay expressed his thanks for the work of Mark Sherven as Chair.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Barbara Grenlie moved approval of the minutes of the March 11th meeting, Don McKay seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of March were $1,865.67. $1,027.84 was for building permits, $650 for a driveway permit, $97.50 was a refund of an earlier bank service charge, $25 for a recreation permit application, $20 for dog licenses, $10 for garage building plans and the remainder was $35.33 in interest.
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Barbara Grenlie to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
The Town had 273 voters at the April 2nd spring election, or 42 percent. A reminder that the Annual Meeting is now on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, which this year is April 16th. Quite a few March checks were written, largely because of the election and the fact that it was the end of a quarter. Of the notable checks, check 3381 for $1,930 was for architect fees for the new garage addition, check 3382 for $2,000 was for first quarter assessment maintenance. Checks 3385 and 3386 were 2nd quarter Black Earth Fire and District One EMS levies. Check 3424 was for topping off the propane tank again beyond our 2012 – 2013 prepaid amount.
A motion was made by Todd Culliton 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 March, 2013, paid by checks numbered 3373 through 3424 and ACH transfer 8 for health insurance. Checks 3373 and 3374 were discussed at the March meeting. Check 3375 for Thursday’s Board of Review training was sent out early. Checks other than those discussed in the clerk’s report are for normal supplies, repairs and maintenance and for regular quarterly bills.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Todd Culliton to approve payment of bills for March 2013 and the motion was approved.
UPDATE FROM DANE COUNTY COMMUNITY DEPUTY
Deputy Josalyn Longley supplied 2013 Sheriff’s Department calls to date in the Town. As is normal for the winter months, many were calls to support EMS dispatches to the Tyrol Basin Ski area. She thanked the Town patrolman Jack Schulenberg for his work on the roads this winter, since deputies must travel in all weather conditions. She also announced three upcoming presentations in Cross Plains on drug abuse, identity theft and internet and technology safety. With several bicycle events coming up, she noted that it is worthwhile to place as much road signage as is available during the event.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RECREATION PERMIT APPLICATION FROM TEAM SPORTS, INC. FOR JULY 3rd AND 4th USA CYCLING NATIONAL ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS BICYCLE RACE
An event application was submitted by Tom Schuler, who was present with Becky Hall representing Team Sports, Inc. Mr. Schuler noted that the event dates posted on the meeting agenda are incorrect, the correct dates are July 4th and 5th. In the past the event has been held on one day, and on a weekday that was not a holiday. It was noted that back tags will be worn by all participants, there will not be more than 125 participants in each race and a rolling enclosure will surround the leading group with the race restricted to one lane. Residents along the route will receive 2 hand delivered event notifications prior to the event.
Among the concerns of Board members was the impact of the event on the travel of Town residents and their guests on 4th of July weekend, as well the potential impact on Blue Mounds State Park, which will be the beginning and ending point of the event. It was noted that the total number of laps around the course each day of the event will produce a larger impact on other users of the roads than the relatively small number of race participants might suggest.
The organizers requested Board approval contingent on moving the 4th of July portion of the event to the previous day, July 3rd. Don McKay moved that the event application be accepted contingent upon the event being held on July 3rd and 5th, receipt of Dane County Highway Department approval, a certificate of insurance and receipt by the Town of the remaining $75 of the permitting fee. Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved, with Barbara Grenlie voting no.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RECREATION PERMIT APPLICATION FROM MAD CITY VELO BIKE CLUB FOR JULY 13th BLUE MOUNDS CLASSIC BICYCLE RACE
The organizers are proposing a relatively short, 2 ½ hour event involving between 60 and 100 participants. The event has been held since 1996, though it was not held in 2012. The $25 application fee has been paid and a certificate of insurance supplied. Participants will wear back tags and residents along the route will receive written notification in advance of the event. Don McKay moved that the event application be accepted contingent upon receipt of Dane County Highway Department approval and receipt by the Town of the remaining $75 of the permitting fee. Todd Culliton seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RECREATION PERMIT APPLICATION FROM RACE DAY EVENTS LLC FOR JUNE 15th HORRIBLY HILLY HUNDREDS BICYCLE EVENT
The sponsoring organization for this event is the Friends of Blue Mounds State Park. In 2013 the sponsors have retained new organizers, Race Day Events, LLC, represented at the meeting by Russel Larson. He emphasized that the event will be a ride, not a race, participants will wear back tags, there will be no road closures and participants will be expected to abide by traffic laws. It is expected that there will be written notices to residents along the route of the events as well as newspaper notices and reverse 911 notification. The Chair noted that a weakness in the organization of the event in prior years was that the promised self-policing of participants was inadequate. Mr. Larson indicated that his group intends to address the shortcomings of previous events and that he would provide the Town with a copy of the management plan that Race Day Events will have in place. Barbara Grenlie reiterated a long-standing concern regarding the number of participants in the event, which was raised to 1,300 several years ago and has never been returned to the prior somewhat lower number. It is expected that there will be a “debriefing” concerning the strong and weak points of the event organization at the July Board meeting. Todd Culliton moved that the event application be accepted contingent upon receipt of Dane County Highway Department approval, a certificate of insurance, receipt by the Town of the remaining $75 of the permitting fee and receipt of a copy of the event management plan. Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT #42, 2012 – 2013 REGARDING THE SITING OF WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS
The Planning Commission recommended that the Board approve OA #42 as well as consider the adoption of a local ordinance which references the State statute. Even though neither the County nor a town ordinance can be more restrictive than State statute, local notification of proposed wind energy systems can be required by such an ordinance. Don McKay moved that OA #42 be approved, Todd Culliton seconded and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR ACQUISITION, WITH THE HELP OF STATE AND COUNTY GRANTS, OF THE CURRENT 29 ACRE STIEMKE PROPERTY ALSO KNOWN AS THE PARRISH SAVANNA AT 3571 CTY RD F BY PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS, A NON-PROFIT TAX EXEMPT ENTITY
The Planning Commission recommended that the Board take no action regarding a letter of support for this purchase, and Don McKay made a motion to that effect. Todd Culliton seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF ROAD COMMITTEE RECOMMEDATION REGARDING ACCEPTANCE OF CHIP SEALING BIDS
Three companies submitted bids for 2013 chip sealing. One proposed a different process, slurry sealing, that did not meet current year requirements but may be considered in future years. Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, Inc. and Scott Construction, Inc. both submitted chip sealing bids with Fahrner being the low bidder. Mark Sherven moved and Todd Culliton seconded that the Fahrner bid be accepted and the motion was approved.
APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATE MEMBERS FOR 2013 BOARD OF REVIEW
Andrew Anderson, Don Parrell and Mark Sherven have volunteered to be alternate members of the Board of Review. Larry Ziemer moved and Barbara Grenlie seconded that they be named as alternates and the motion was approved.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Todd Culliton will be the chair of the Planning Commission for the coming year and the Driveway Committee will be Barbara Grenlie and Todd Culliton. The Road Committee will be Barbara Grenlie, Dave Haugen, Jack Schulenberg and Marc Robertson. Representative to the Black Earth Joint Fire District and District One EMS will be Todd Culliton, with Barbara Grenlie as alternate. Representative to the Mt. Horeb Fire District will be Don McKay, with Larry Ziemer as alternate. Town liaison to nearby towns and villages will be Larry Ziemer.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Larry Ziemer noted that several “non-conforming” quarry sites in The Town of Vermont have been identified. That category is for sites approved prior to the adoption of new regulations in 1968. None of these sites are currently in operation but could be restarted in the future.
Demolition of the old salt shed has been completed and construction of the new garage addition is expected to begin on April 22nd. The new truck-mounted broom has been put into service. The arm mower, which is rented for one week per year, will be in use near the end of April. Spring weight limit signs have been put up, with a special concern being logging trucks. It is expected that the new tractor will arrive at the end of April.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR MAY MEETING
Todd Culliton noted that some of the controversy regarding whether the Town should actively support the Stiemke property acquisition arose from the fact that there is no process to notify neighboring property owners in advance of such an acquisition. He proposed that the board approve a letter to Dane County and possibly the State, the entities which provide significant funding for these acquisitions, asking that a process be put in place to provide for such notification. Approval of such a letter will be on the May agenda.
A Town wind turbine ordinance may be approved for public hearing at the May meeting.
It is expected that there will be approval of an appointment to replace vacant Supervisor seat 4.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Barbara Grenlie that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:38.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk