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April 14, 2009 2009 Annual Meeting Minutes
TOWN OF NEW DENMARK
2009 ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 14, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
The Annual Town Meeting for the Town of New Denmark was called to order by Chairman Moore on April 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Congratulations extended to the residents of New Denmark for receiving the highest registered voter turnout in the Brown Cty. A traveling trophy is awarded to the municipality by Get Out to Voter Challenge. Minutes from the 2008 Annual Town Meeting were read and a motion was made by Mike Calewarts and seconded by Tom Gerrits to approve as read. MC
Updates from the Chairman:
In a review of the 2008 Annual Minutes, many things have been accomplished. The Town has an official web site which includes notices, minutes, codes and helpful information. Digital cameras were purchased for Bd members. Shutters on the Town Hall were replaced and re-installed. The Town did not adopt the Town of Humboldt’s sex predator ordinance but opted for their own version which combined two restrictions into one and sets a few more parameters. The Bd reviewed old Minutes regarding Petersen Lane and a CSM was never substantiated by the Town, so the road will remain unchanged.
Annual Report: The 2008 Annual Financial Report was reviewed, highlights of revenues and expenditures discussed. Copies of the 2007 report available for comparison.
Tom Gerrits requests grading of gravel roads occur earlier in the year. Adding gravel and grading later in the year does not allow the gravel to pack into the pots holes and into the road bed. Would also like to see ½ inch vs. 2 inch gravel.
Frank Wiltman inquires about fee per tonnage for gravel pits. Farm equipment does as much damage to the roads as heavy trucks. The Town needs to be fair across the board. Chairman Moore states the tonnage fee has since been eliminated from the Ordinance.
Norb Hansen inquires if figures from previous year’s Annual Report could be incorporated with current Annual Report. Clerk states it would be more difficult on the spreadsheet format and categories somewhat vary from year to year. A monthly/year to date summary is provided at each meeting with generalized categories for resident reference.
Richard Bradley makes a motion that all Town employees shall submit to a drug and alcohol screening and grass cutting be awarded to the lowest bidder who is a Town resident utilizing the Town’s tractor. In addition, he requests the Town Chairman check on repairs made to the Town tractor which resulted in a $8,000 bill which was unauthorized by the Town Board and also investigate if repairs were due to operator error or lack of maintenance. Believes it is a conflict of interest that a Town Board member act as an employee of the Town and be allowed to operate the tractor/mower. Seconded by Charles Winnekens. MC unanimously.
Supervisor Francis Rabas comments he keeps a log for every hour he spent on the tractor, which roads were cut and length of time spent cutting. If anyone wants to review the log, they are welcome to it.
Fred Heezen questions if grass cutting bids were received from outside contractors. Chairman Moore states yes, the Bd reviewed a number of proposals, but the cost was significantly higher.
Tom Gerrits inquires of revenue bond proposed for digester. Chairman Moore states it was actually a conduit bond which leaves no liability with the Town. The Town is only named as the initiator of the bond and void of any liability. The purpose of a conduit bond is to provide low cost funding for business development w/in the community. The request for the bond was dropped and a referendum would now be required and resident approval to proceed. Uncertain of construction plans for the digester, Informational Building permit approved. Tom inquires if Town has the ability to regulate the potential for increase truck traffic on County Hwy R if digester is built. Chairman Moore states the Town does not as Cty R is not a town road.
Richard Bradley states the house on the end of Petersen Lane should be considered for condemnation.
Gary Moore makes a motion as follows: “As per Wis. State Statute 60.10, I hereby make a motion directing the Town Board to look at the long term effect of raising money by using the town road system as a vehicle to obtain additional funding and creating parity for all town residents. The Town Board is directed to provide a report within 6 months from this date – 4/14/09. The report would indicate the cost of upgrading and maintenance of all gravel roads in the Town, which are named town roads – in the State road report. The report will indicate if State aid for the roads, out-weights the cost of upgrading and maintenance. If the cost out-weights the income, the Town Board is directed to abandon the road, as state law allows. This abandonment is to occur within one year of this date – April 14, 2009. If income exceeds cost, the Town Board is directed to accept (in current condition) all drives being requested by town residents, as town roads.” Seconded by Richard Bradley. MC – 22 ayes, 1 opposed (Tom Gerrits).
Tom Gerrits requests clarification. Chairman Moore states the purpose is to look into the cost effectiveness of many private driveways that are actual Town roads. Roads where an individual has personal property on both sides. He would request the Town look into the cost of maintaining these roads and see if they are costing the taxpayer money to upgrade and maintain something that is technically a private driveway. These numbers should be reviewed with the State aid which is a little less then $2,000 a mile. Question raised if someone would need to improve a road if it proves to generate revenue. Road would be accepted as is. Steve Olsen questions the parameters of this directive. Chairman Moore states a directive to the Town Bd from an Annual Meeting must be complied with.
Kathy Janssen makes a motion to make an annual donation of $1,000 to the Denmark Senior Center and $1,200 to the Veterans Memorial Shelter. Seconded by Frank Wiltman. MC unaminously. Chairman Moore states at the April regular Town Bd meeting $300 was donated to the Denmark Baseball League for maintenance of the ball field.
Joe Kobes inquires of buildings being condemned. Chairman Moore states the school house on Pine Grove will be removed by July 1st and other two property owners are disputing the condemnation order.
Charles Winnekens questions process of grass cutting bids. In years past, he could not bid on grass cutting as a Supervisor, conflict of interest. Chairman Moore state per the Town’s Association a Supervisor can perform work for the Town up to a certain dollar amount. Charlie states he was awarded half the grass cutting last year and only received a 1/3 of the work. Sup. Rabas states he received a directive of the other Supervisor and Chairman to finish the cutting for the year. Chairman Moore states the new Town Bd will make a decision on these concerns for the upcoming year. Fred Heezen states it was discussed in prior meetings it was not recommended that a supervisor also cut grass for the Town. He is not criticizing, just making a statement.
Norb Hansen states Kathy Janssen commented on a job well done by the Town Bd and he understands there will be some areas of conflict. He wishes best of luck to the new Bd members.
Gary Moore would like to extend a special thank you to the residents for putting up with many changes and assisting in many of the accomplishments that have been made in the last four years. Very fortunate to have a good group of committees and people who worked hard to accomplish these tasks. Ordinance committee, Comprehensive Growth committee, election workers, Plan Commission, Appeal Committee. It was instrumental that everyone worked cooperatively. Members of these various committees devoted endless hours of their personal time, worked hard to reach a resolution that was in the best interest of the town. Many varying view points were raised, disagreements, but all in all, a final resolutions was reached that was in the best interest of the Town. The people of a town make the Town, not a select few. Many good things are going for the Town and he believes we are better off today then we were four years ago. Zoning map has been updated. All this work was accomplished by a BIG team and he extends his thanks to everyone. A special thank you is extended to Kathy Janssen who challenged him on many issues, attended almost every special meeting even though she was not a committee member to some of those. When she offered her input she always had the best interest of the Town at heart and he takes his hat off to Kathy Janssen. Gary also thanks the residents for the opportunity to serve the Town. He wishes the new Town Bd success. Also would like to publically thank Richard Bradley for 28 years of service as a town board member. Financially, the Town is in good standing, audits ensure Town funds are handled appropriately with the utmost honestly.
Norb Hansen states through the selection of committee members and leadership of the Town Bd, the best interest of the Town has always been first and foremost.
Gary Moore states the Code of Ordinances recently adopted are not meant to hurt or punish people, but to provide guidelines as to what is expected of you, your neighbor, the Town and to protect vs. hinder. Ordinances will help corral problems and keep them in check and a offer a remedy.
Abby Yopek questions if the ordinances are available for review. The most commonly referred ordinances are online and written in simple terms to make them very readable.
Motion by Tom Gerrits and seconded by Mike Calewarts to adjourn at 7:55 p.m. MC unaminously.
Prepared by: Michelle Wallerius, Clerk
Attendance Sheet Attached
Approved: April 13, 2010
Archive:
August 31, 2010 Special Town Board Meeting Minutes
August 17, 2010 Plan Commission Meeting Minutes
July 20, 2010 Plan Commission Meeting Minutes
July 12, 2010 Regular Monthly Meeting for July
June 15, 2010 Plan Commission Meeting Minutes
June 14, 2010 Regular Monthly Meeting for June
May 18, 2010 Special Town Bd Meeting - Garbage/Recycling contract
May 4, 2010 Regular Monthly Meeting
April 20, 2010 Plan Commission - Zoning Code Updates
April 13, 2010 Draft - 2010 Annual Meeting Minutes