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 drive-in office 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: Chair, Barbara Grenlie; Supervisors, Don McKay, Todd Culliton, Kevin Kuntz 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 Town has received for review the Dane County Water Quality Plan which was released in March of 2013 by the staff of the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission.
The Town now has a copy of a consultant’s plan for the future Mt. Horeb fire station. The 66h annual Wisconsin Towns Association meeting is coming up for any supervisors that are interested.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Larry Ziemer moved approval of the minutes of the September 9th meeting, Todd Culliton seconded, and the minutes were approved with Kevin Kuntz abstaining.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of September were $1,190.76. $519.77 was repayment of an overpayment to the Mt. Horeb Fire District in 2012, $200 was for assessment searches, $156 was from recycling old culverts, $124.65 was from Special Tax Payments collected by the County for this tax period and $34.06 was for Special Tax Payments collected by the County, plus interest, for prior tax periods. $75 was for a recreation permit, $59 was a dog license rebate from the County for prompt payment of dog license fees, $10 for a new dog license and the remainder was $12.28 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
The Town received our new voting machine and ballot bin, for which we be billed in 2014. Of the September checks, check 3588 was for shelving frames for the garage, check 3597 was for improvement of the McFee Road turnaround and check 3627 was our final payment for the garage addition. Check 3628 is for 2 month’s telephone service; we have had a billing problem with TDS, which has hopefully been resolved and we will again receive monthly bills.
A motion was made by Todd Culliton 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 September 2013, paid by checks numbered 3587 through 3628 and ACH transfer 14 for health insurance. 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 Larry Ziemer and seconded by Kevin Kuntz to approve payment of bills for September 2013 and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF TOWN INSURANCE WITH INSURANCE AGENT
Cindy Brunner and Matt Amenda were present to discuss 2014 Town insurance. Deductibles on several categories of insurance have gone up, which will allow insurance expenditures to go up 1.2 percent for the coming year. The cost for public officials bonds will remain the same. Whether the Town will continue purchasing a tax collection bond will be decided later after input from the County Treasurer’s office, since it is possible that there is already some tax collection coverage through the County. The Board decided to eliminate itemized coverage of the leased Bobcat on the Inland Marine policy, since there is automatic $100,000 coverage for leased equipment. There will be a premium savings of approximately $75. After the meeting it will be confirmed that the newly purchased power broom is covered under the Inland Marine policy. It was felt that having input from the insurance agent in the fall during budget preparation is valuable and should be continued.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING SHORT TERM AMUSEMENT AND RECREATION EVENTS ORDINANCE APPLICATION FEES AND CONDITIONS
It was confirmed that permit fees should be set at the January Board meeting in anticipation of giving more detailed examination of future applications. Special scrutiny will be given to multi-day, multi-lap racing events since both the event and practice for the event have been the most disruptive. The Planning Commission will review the existing permit application form to determine whether additional information should be required, and those recommendations forwarded to the Board.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING DISPOSITION OF TOWN PICNIC DONATION FUNDS
Barbara Grenlie moved and Larry Ziemer seconded that a reserve fund category be created for the donations to be used for future rentals or purchases to benefit those attending the picnic.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC HEARING OF CITATION ORDINANCE
Progress is being made on the Citation Ordinance, but further work needs to be done.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC HEARING OF NON-METALLIC MINING ORDINANCE
The Planning Commission recommended that Town action on an ordinance wait until Dane County has taken action. However, Dane County has requested feedback on the treatment of grandfathered mining sites. Don McKay moved that Dane County be advised that the Vermont Town Board believes that the reopening of mines grandfathered by previous ordinances be subject to the same regulation as new operations. Todd Culliton seconded the motion and it was approved, with Barbara Grenlie to e-mail a comment summary to the Dane County Towns Association. The Town will likely find it advantageous in the future to adopt an ordinance covering this topic in order to be given notice and the opportunity to comment on the issuance of Conditional Use Permits for mining operations, which otherwise will require only that the applicant work with Dane County. While Town actions are constrained by State Statute, the Planning Commission will begin consideration of a Town ordinance.
DISCUSSION OF ORDINANCE REGULATING THE PLACEMENT OF CELL PHONE TOWERS
No new information is available on a possible cell phone tower ordinance.
FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF 2014 BUDGET AND SETTING OF PUBLIC HEARING AND SPECIAL TOWN MEETING DATE
The only significant changes to the draft budget between the September and October Board meetings were a recalculation of patrolman wages based on the Dane County contract, and the insertion of updated insurance premium numbers which only recently became available. Larry Ziemer moved that the draft budget be approved for public hearing, Todd Culliton seconded and the motion was approved. Don McKay moved that the budget hearing be held on November 4, 2013 at 7:00 p.m., with the Special Town Meeting to approve the 2014 levy and 2014 road expenses to follow. Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Mount Horeb Fire District Board approved the 2014 budget with only Don McKay, the Town of Vermont Board representative, voting in opposition. The Fire Board also voted to sell a presently owned truck for $450,000 with the money to be used toward the purchase of a new $1 million ladder truck in 3 years. Don McKay voted no because a single motion was used to approve both actions rather than having the ladder truck purchase be approved separately. Also discussed was the proposal for a new fire house, which was recommended to be in the same location as the existing fire house, though expansion at that location will require Congressional approval of a property swap to relocate the existing federally funded bike trail. The planned fire house is larger than the average size for communities the size of Mt. Horeb, though it is projected to last for 50 years. A consensus of the board is that Don McKay should continue to question these expenses.
Todd Culliton reported that District 1 EMS passed a budget with a 2 percent increase. They have the same issues with the recruitment of volunteers that many Fire and EMS districts are facing. A particular issue is that the level of training required by the County and State continues to increase, which requires a major time commitment from volunteers just to stay current.
For the Road Committee, the Patrolman reported that the winter supply of salt and stone chips is in storage. The final round of mowing is to begin soon, and there is one more culvert to be replaced.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR NOVEMBER MEETING
Topics to be on the November agenda include changes to the Short Term Amusement and Recreation Ordinance application and fee structure, possible approval of the Citation Ordinance for public hearing, discussion of an ordinance regulating the placement of cell phone towers and discussion of future Town policy regarding Transfer of Development Rights.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Todd Culliton that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:24.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk