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, Larry Ziemer and Kevin Kuntz; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Kathy Smith. Supervisor Todd Culliton was absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Larry Ziemer, seconded by Kevin Kuntz and approved with the change that items 14 and 15, the short term recreation event applications, were moved ahead of item 13, discussion of possible amendments to the ordinance and application.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There were no items to report that would not be covered later in the meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Larry Ziemer moved approval of the minutes of the March 10th meeting, Don McKay seconded, and the minutes were approved. Larry Ziemer moved approval of the minutes of the March 20th meeting, Barbara Grenlie seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Total deposits for the month of March were $876.48. $825 was for a building permit, $25 for an assessment search, $13.54 for delinquent personal property taxes and the remainder was $12.94 in interest.
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Kevin Kuntz to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
The April 1st election went well, with 214 voters. Checks for March include normal quarterly expenses, including to District 1 EMS and the Black Earth Joint Fire District.
A motion was made by Don McKay and seconded by Larry Ziemer to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PATROLMAN, LIAISON AND FIRE & EMS DISTRICT REPORTS
The Town patrolman reported that the sand on the roads from the winter has been swept off. Trees are starting to fall from the soft spring ground. Annual brush trimming with the leased mower is almost completed. The new town tractor will be delivered soon. Larry Ziemer reported on the cadet program operated by the Mt. Horeb Fire District, which is considered quite successful. Rescue 38 has been ordered.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for March 2014, paid by checks numbered 3818 through 3861 and ACH transfers 9 and 10 for health insurance and retirement contributions. Checks 3818 through 3820 were written the day of the March meeting and discussed then. Check 3861 is an April check written after March was closed out. 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 March 2014 and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING REZONE, HOMESITE AND DRIVEWAY APPLICATIONS FROM DAVID SUTTER ON HIGHWAY F
All conditions set by the Planning Commission for approval have been met, Larry Ziemer moved and Don McKay seconded that the rezone, homesite and driveway applications be approved and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING APPLICATION BY TOM SCHULENBERG FOR CHANGE TO FARM ROAD ON PARCEL FRONTING ON BOHN RD. AND HIGHWAY J
Barbara Grenlie moved that the application to improve a field road be approved, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING DRIVEWAY/FARM ROAD CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION AND HOMESITE/REZONE APPLICATION FOR ERIC GROVER/WILLIAM PARRELL PROPERTY AT 4612 BLUE MOUNDS TRAIL
A condition of rezone approval was removal of a corn crib that was within the setback required to a neighboring parcel. That has been accomplished. Don McKay moved that rezoning be approved, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved. Further work is required before the driveway/farm road applications and the homesite applications can be approved, so tonight’s action addresses only the rezone application.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF DEED RESTRICTION AMENDMENT FOR CRESS SPRING FARM, INC.
Larry Ziemer moved that the deed restriction amendment be approved, Barbara Grenlie seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RECREATION PERMIT APPLICATION FROM MAD CITY VELO BIKE CLUB FOR JULY 12TH BLUE MOUNDS CLASSIC BICYCLE RACE
For the last 2 years the event has attracted fewer than 100 participants, with that likely to be true in 2014 also. No permit is required for events having fewer than 100 participants. The organizers have obtained insurance for the event, coordinated with the Dane County Sheriff’s Department and intend to notify residents of the event through reverse 911. Larry Ziemer moved that a permit be granted with the payment of no further fee beyond the application fee, with the understanding that the regular fee structure would apply if there are more than 100 participants. Kevin Kuntz seconded and the permit was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RECREATION PERMIT APPLICATION FROM TEAM SPORTS INC. FOR USA CYCLING NATIONAL ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS BICYCLE RACE
This event is being held in this area for the second and final time for the foreseeable future. The 2 local days will be Wednesday, July 2nd and Thursday, July 3rd. A major issue last year was disruption caused to local farming operations by both practice for the event and the event itself. Allowable practice times this year will be between 9:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. on the 2 days prior to the event, and the roads will remain completely open during practice, with some Sheriff’s Department monitoring. Also, this year the event schedule will begin and end earlier in the day. Rolling closures will be used again this year during each lap of the leading group of riders, which will tend to impede road traffic in both directions on the road. Two written notices will be provided to residents along the route prior to the event. Larry Ziemer moved and Barbara Grenlie seconded that the event application be approved. The application was approved with Don McKay voting no.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO SHORT TERM AMUSEMENT AND RECREATION EVENT ORDINANCE AND CHANGES TO APPLICATION
The Planning Commission and the Board have suggested changes to the ordinance and application. With respect to the ordinance, it was suggested that the date for setting application fees for a given year be moved from on or before July 1st to on or before January 1st. Also suggested was changing the specification of “a sample letter” to a more general “plan to notify”, allowing more flexibility in the resident notification requirement to reflect the availability of reverse 911. It was noted that a hold harmless agreement is already required by 6.04(d.3.) of the ordinance. At previous meetings there has been discussion of limiting the number of events in the Town. It was noted that 6.07(j) already allows the Board to “set an annual limit for the number of permits to be issued”.
Suggested changes to the application include changing the application space requesting a fax number to requesting an e-mail address, possibly changing the paragraph numbers on the application to mirror the numbers in the ordinance and providing a clear reference on the application to the ordinance location within the Town web site. While the hold harmless agreement has technically been required in the past, it has not been enforced; attaching the preferred form to the application would clarify the need for one. Kevin Kuntz moved and Larry Ziemer seconded that the amendments to the ordinance be approved and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF ROAD COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION REGARDING ACCEPTANCE OF CHIP SEALING BIDS
The Road Committee recommended that the chip sealing bid from Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, Inc. be accepted. Don McKay moved that the bid be accepted, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING AMENDMENT TO TOWN ORDINANCE CHAPTER 7 REGARDING CREATION OF PARCELS HAVING ROAD FRONTAGE BY LEGAL EASEMENT
The Planning Commission recommended that the words “or have access guaranteed by legal easement” be added to the end Chapter 7.6 (1)(a) of Town Ordinances. Don McKay moved approval of that ordinance amendment, Kevin Kuntz seconded and the amendment was approved.
DISCUSSION OF DANE COUNTY RESOURCES PROTECTION CORRIDORS
Consideration of this item was postponed, with the suggestion that Board members review the Dane County web site items pertaining to this item as well as minutes from the first Dane County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee meeting on this subject, which have not yet been published. It was suggested that this item be on the April Planning Commission agenda as well as the May Board meeting agenda.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF A CELL TOWER LOCATION ORDINANCE AND PERMITTING REQUIREMENT
This topic was postponed until the Planning Commission is able to consider it.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF THE ADDITION OF A TOWN PERMIT REQUIREMENT FOR THE SITING AND CONSTRUCTION OF WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS
The Board has decided to retain rather than repeal the existing wind energy ordinance, but a permit and permit fee need to be added. This was referred to the Planning Commission for consideration.
DISCUSSION OF FUTURE TOWN POLICY REGARDING TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
This item was tabled.
APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATE MEMBERS FOR 2014 BOARD OF REVIEW
Andrew Anderson and Don Parrell have agreed to be alternates. Barbara Grenlie moved that they be approved, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF UPDATED BLACK EARTH JOINT FIRE DISTRICT AGREEMENT
An updated agreement with the Black Earth Joint Fire District, valid for 10 years, has been presented for approval. Larry Ziemer moved approval, Barbara Grenlie seconded and the motion was approved.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
This item was postponed until the May meeting so that a new Board member can take office.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR MAY MEETING
It is expected that the Eric Grover driveway/farm road and homesite applications will be on the agenda, as well as Resource Protection Corridors and committee appointments.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Kevin Kuntz and seconded by Larry Ziemer that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:43.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk