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July 11, 2011 Town Board Meeting
1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER The July 11, 2011 meeting was called to order by Chairman Len Schmick at 7:30 p.m. at the Utica Town Hall. Len Schmick, Chairman; Chuck Kuhrt, Supervisor #1; Donavon Bradley, Supervisor #2; Betty Messerschmidt, Treasurer; and Jenny Sonnleitner, Clerk were present. 13 citizens were in the audience. 2. APPROVE JUNE 13, 2011 MINUTES The minutes of the June 13, 2011 Town Board Meeting were reviewed. Supervisor Bradley made a motion, seconded by Supervisor Kuhrt to accept the minutes as presented. 3 ayes, 0 nays - Carried 3. APPROVE TREASURER’S REPORT Treasurer Messerschmidt read the report. Receipts: $16,119.83, Disbursements: $26,151.54, Checkbook Balance: $180,139.17. Chairman Schmick made a motion, seconded by Supervisor Bradley to accept the Treasurer’s Report as read. 3 ayes, 0 nays - Carried 4. ADOPT AGENDA 5. PUBLIC FORUM Police Officer present and no news of any activities in our area. No updates on Michelle Voight missing, has some confidential leads. Dave Bradley – wondering about Wes Krenz property zoning update. Shirley Gallert – brought property into compliance and not sure of other issues. A meeting was schedule and Wes was unable to attend, no new meeting had been scheduled. Will check into the situation and getting it onto the agenda. Bud Marohn – Suggests to say the Pledge Allegiance 6. START MEETINGS WITH A PRAYER County Board starts meeting with prayers to ask for guidance during the meeting. Supervisor Bradley thinks this will cause conflicts. Chairman Schmick motions to start meetings with prayers. Supervisor Kuhrt seconded a motion to discuss this topic further. When it was brought up in the past, it seemed like many citizens were not in favor of this. This could open up to other non-Christian religions, but does not agree to have prayer as part of the agenda, but if anyone wants to pray before the meeting starts, that would be okay. Supervisor Bradley thinks it is personal and we can pray anytime, anywhere and does not agree to have it a part of the meeting. 1 ayes, 2 nays – Not Carried. 7. NOLAN INSURANCE No one arrived to discuss. 8. FARMLAND PRESERVATION UPDATE The Board received some calls regarding zoning to complete the survey. Many were not aware of what they were zoned or how the Farmland Preservation zoning worked. Next Monday, Nelson Hinz and Shirley Gallert will start recording the zonings on a map. Shirley asks if it’s okay to pay for the map if she is charged to get a copy of the map from the County. Supervisor Kuhrt will see Diane Culver to ask for a copy of the map. Planning and Zoning’s new location is on Otter Street, no longer in King building. Can be A1 and not participate in Farmland Preservation, but still subject to rules. Questioning how some land changed zoning without owners being aware; can make zoning changes this year without the conversion fee. A list from 1980’s has zoning information, we can check the minutes. Will need to have a public hearing after the map has been coded possibly in September. Shirley Gallert contacted Town of Vinland for their newspaper publication and they listed parcel numbers and owners, not legal description. Supervisor Kuhrt spoke with Mr. Farrey, and he suggested if you are unsure of what to do, go with A2 and can go to A1 easily. There are more difficulties going from A1 to A2. Chairman Schmick feels we have done our part to try to educate the land owners. Supervisor Bradley suggests to remove A1 or switch those we have not heard from to A2. Shirley Gallert said we are not able to switch those we have not heard from. They will stay as they are currently zoned. Chairman Schmick says it’s the landowners’ responsibility to know the zoning of their property. At one time, everyone was A1, those that didn’t want A1 chose to go into A2 to not be Farmland Preservation qualified. 9. ROAD AND CULVERT REPAIR UPDATE Will be getting a bill for the culverts and they will be dropped at the sites to avoid other charges. 10. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS PICNIC LICENSE APPROVAL Chairman Schmick motioned to accept their license, Supervisor Kuhrt seconded. 3 ayes, 0 nays – Carried. 11. M&I BANK STATEMENTS Betty wants to keep the statements as is – paper copies and will continue to be charged $4 per month. Chairman Schmick says to keep Betty’s wishes 12. REVIEW OLDER FILES Chairman Schmick motioned, seconded by Supervisor Bradley to let Clerk go through older files and collect those she suggests to purge. The Board will then schedule a special meeting to go through files to complete necessary forms for destruction or to the Historical Society. By clearing out older unnecessary files, this will give more space to future paperwork. Right now, all file drawers are full. 3 ayes, 0 nays – Carried 13. ELECTION – JULY 12 14. AUGUST BOARD MEETING DATE CHANGE Chairman Schmick will be gone on a mission trip and made a motion to move the meeting to August 15 to be involved in the meeting; seconded by Supervisor Bradley. 3 ayes, 0 nayes, - Carried. 15. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION IN NEWSLETTER Tickets are available for Volunteer Firemen’s Picnic raffle and dinner from the firefighters and EMS volunteers. 16. REPORTS: • Board of Appeals • Fire Department/EMS • Defibrillators – Get a discount when ordering more than one; $3000-3500 each. Fundraising efforts during the Fisk fireworks collected $1292 from parking, selling treats and drinks. Received a single donation of $650 from a town family. Would like to purchase 10 over 3-4 years. The current ones are now obsolete. • Plan Commission • Rush Lake Restoration Committee had a fundraiser June 4; raised money to spend about $3000 for efforts to spray cattails to reduce them, allowing bulrushes to come back and increase habitat of muskrats. Trapping is encouraged. This habitat will also allow more ducks to nest. The committee is trying to regulate the water better. • August 4 meeting – Radloff, Bradley, and possibly a third. • Education • Attend Budget and Finance Workshop – Betty, Jenny – Chairman Schmick motions, Supervisor Bradley seconded. 3 ayes, 0 nays – Carried. • Grant Assistance – Betty suggests someone should go to this; will hold off for now 17. APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS Chairman Schmick motioned and Supervisor Bradley seconded to pay the bills as submitted by the Clerk. 3 ayes, 0 nays - Carried. 18. ADJOURNMENT Supervisor Bradley made a motion, seconded by Supervisor Kuhrt to adjourn. 3 ayes, 0 nays - Carried. Jenny Sonnleitner, Clerk