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April 6, 2009 Town Board Meeting
Minutes of the April 6, 2009 Monthly Town Board Meeting
*AMENDED at the May 4, 2009 Town Board Meeting
Chairman Schmidt called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Those attending were Chairman Schmidt, Supervisor Williams, Supervisor Osfar, Deputy Clerk Eifert, Treasurer Sell and Town’s Attorney, Tim Volke. There were 31 people in the audience.
Supervisor Osfar made a motion to approve the agenda at the discretion of the Chairman. Supervisor Williams seconded and the motion carried.
Supervisor Williams made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 2, 2009 Monthly Town Board Meeting and the March 3, 2009 Special Town Board Meeting. Supervisor Osfar seconded and the motion carried.
Supervisor Williams made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report as read. Supervisor Osfar seconded and the motion carried.
Supervisor Osfar reported the Winchester Town Lakes Committee did not meet in March. On July 16, 2009 the Winchester Town Lakes Committee will host a potluck and public forum on Lake Issues. Bronson Haase stated Harris Lake received funding for lake surveys to be conducted in 2009 and 2010. AIS information packets will be distributed to resort/rental property owners to give to their clients. There will be an AIS Workshop, July 23, 2009, on Papoose Lake. August 15, 2009 will be the 2nd Annual Crayfish Boil. Supervisor Osfar also reported on several Wisconsin Legislature bills. Supervisor Osfar stated an eight foot dock extension will be installed this spring at the Birch Lake boat landing.
Supervisor Williams reported the Library Board met March 28, 2009. The library received the Mead-Whittier Grant of $4,990.00. The next Library Board meeting will be April 25, 2009. Supervisor Williams received a call from the post office regarding two houses on County Road W that were sharing a fire number. He called Vilas County Mapping and they issued a second fire number.
Chairman Schmidt reported the Emergency Services Board met on March 21, 2009. Several items were on the agenda – Fire Inspector, Emergency Services Board attending the Fire Department meetings, new Chairperson for the Emergency Services Board – Marjean Schuelke, EMS Donation checkbook – Ginger Brousil will setup a checking account at Citizens Bank and all the donation monies will be in that account. A letter went out to the donors for the Wildland Rescue Suits – the total amount of contributions received was $9,626.00. The total expenditure for the suits was $9,611.00. That was for 15 suits and 15 pairs of boots. We received a letter that there will be a program at the Northland Pines High School, May 2, 2009, regarding declining lake levels. The information will be on the bulletin board. The new town truck was delivered about 1 ½ weeks ago. The town crew is trying to get ready for spring getting the parking lots cleaned up. They will also be grooming the roads and getting the sand off of the roads. The town crew has been doing maintenance and a little building maintenance. The flags will be put up this week if it isn’t too windy.
Supervisor Williams stated there were no new road/lane name changes.
Discussion held regarding town lake access between blocks 18 and 20 of the Turtle Lake Resort Subdivision, S33 T44N R5E. Chairman Schmidt stated this is regarding a well line that is placed in the town lake access between those two parcels. That is Supervisor Williams’ well line from the existing well to his new home. At the last meeting Supervisor Williams stated he had the well line in. Chairman Schmidt stated at the December monthly town board meeting the lake accesses were discussed. At the March monthly town board meeting Supervisor Williams stated the well line was put in a few months ago. Chairman Schmidt asked when the well line was put in. Supervisor Williams read a statement regarding the town lake access and his well line. Supervisor Williams had a survey of his property and corners marked but did not file the survey. The survey showed a discrepancy with the original survey and that one of the buildings placed in the 1950’s was partially on that 20 foot access strip. Supervisor Williams stated when building his new home he decided to use the well of his cabin. As the well line was already under the town lake access he stated it did not occur to him that he needed anyone’s permission to use the well line for his new home. Chairman Schmidt researched who and when the original property was purchased and if wells were on the properties. He also received a letter stating the parcels in question from 1956 to 1994 did not have any water or utility lines under the town’s lake access. Chairman Schmidt researched further and on the UDC permit for Supervisor Williams’ new home well work was done in September of 2008 regarding well line running under the town lake access. At the Special Town Board Meeting, February 17, 2009, Chairman Schmidt mentioned to Supervisor Osfar this would be placed on the March Town Board Meeting agenda. Town’s attorney, Tim Volke, was contacted regarding legalities as to having private utility on public property. At the March 2, 2009 Monthly Town Board Meeting, Supervisor Williams stated he did not realize he needed permission to go on town property with private utility; if there was a problem, he would remove the line and start a new well. Chairman Schmidt checked with the Vilas County Surveyor’s office and found only one survey map regarding the town lake access. He was told all survey maps must be registered 60 days after completed. Al Wagner surveyed the lake trail and lots on July 1979; no encroachments of any structures were on the lake access trail survey. After researching the town archives, Chairman Schmidt brought up old lake accesses and how the Town Board acted on the requests from the people involved. Supervisor Osfar made a motion to have Mr. Williams send the town a letter within two weeks regarding what he feels is correct or not correct and what should be done. Chairman Schmidt seconded and the motion carried.
Chairman Schmidt made a second motion to have Stu Voltz & Associates survey the property and verify if the lake access is open and if there is an encroachment on it. Supervisor Osfar amended the motion to survey it and see where the boundary lines are. Supervisor Osfar seconded and the motion carried.
Chairman Schmidt made a motion that due to the fact the Town Board did not pre-approve placement of the well lines in the town lake access, the well lines be removed before June 1, 2009 under the supervision of the Town Board. Supervisor Osfar amended the motion to when the surveyor comes back with the survey stating lines were pre-existing or what have you, and if they weren’t what Mr. Williams’ plans to do. Chairman Schmidt seconded to amend the original motion. The motion carried. Chairman Schmidt retracted removal of well line by June 1, 2009.
Supervisor Osfar made a motion that when we look at outside professional costs, that would include legal costs, surveying, professional costs, whatever other ones that come up, that the Town Board be notified. Supervisor Osfar amended his motion to we look at any outside professional services (surveying, landscaping, etc.) other than the necessary items that the town has to do like fix a truck, etc. Supervisor Williams seconded and the motion carried. Chairman Schmidt opposed.
*Supervisor Osfar made a motion to amend the above motion to state, any member of the Town Board can contact the town’s attorney at his discretion, but the other members of the Town Board should be notified the attorney was contacted. Supervisor Misiak seconded and the motion carried.
The Emergency Services Board wanted clarification on who reviews the Fire Chief, who hires him and who fires him. Chairman Schmidt received information from Tim Volke, town’s attorney, on how to determine if a person is a town employee. If the person is paid by the town, withholding social security and medicare and if he is under the town’s insurance he is an employee of the town. The Fire Chief is an employee of the town. Chairman Schmidt made a motion that we ask the members of the Fire Department to vote on their Fire Chief. Who they want as their Fire Chief and bring it back to the Town Board for the May 4, 2009 meeting and the Town Board will take their recommendation for Fire Chief. Supervisor Osfar amended the motion to bring back the Fire Department’s recommendation for Fire Chief to the June 1, 2009 Town Board meeting for discussion. Supervisor Osfar seconded and the motion carried.
Discussion held regarding recycling costs. Eagle Waste sent a letter stating the changes in recycling costs – they are now being charged to dispose of recyclables. Chairman Schmidt made a motion to accept the change of the recycling cost to $45.00 per ton. Supervisor Osfar seconded and the motion carried.
Supervisor Osfar reports that the town did not get the grant for the park.
Chairman Schmidt stated there was an agenda posted for a couple of days regarding the possibility of funding for a bike trail in Winchester. We did not qualify due to some wetland issues. We tried to get a meeting together because it needed to be taken care of before April 1, 2009. The more Mark Schuelke looked into it, he found out we would not qualify for the funding. This is just an FYI regarding the agenda that was posted.
Discussion held regarding Lions Club proposal for new park structure. The Board gave the Lions Club the permission to go ahead with the planning for the structure.
Supervisor Osfar stated that Mercer Rentals would put in all the docks and take them out for $530.00. If they only did South Turtle boat landing dock it would be $210.00. The South Turtle dock is a difficult dock to put in and take out. The town crew will do Birch Lake and Harris Lake docks. Supervisor Williams made a motion to hire Mercer Rentals to install and remove the dock on South Turtle landing this year for the total cost not to exceed $210.00. Supervisor Osfar seconded and the motion carried.
Chairman Schmidt discussed the new library. The proposals were discussed after last month’s meeting. Decker Lumber was the low proposal. Chairman Schmidt talked to Senator Holperin and had a slot for $390,000 for the stimulus funds. A few weeks ago Chairman Schmidt received a letter from the state from the Office of Recovery and Investment. They stated we would not be getting the $390,000. They stated Winchester was too rich a town. Our equalized value divided by our population was too great. The rules for how the stimulus package is to be disbursed has changed. They have to go to a poverty based scale; those areas that have a low equalized value and a high population will get the money first. So, we are back to where we were with private fundraising. At the March 2, 2009 meeting we made a motion to have Bob Bell proceed and get state approved plans. The preliminary plans were sent to the state March 9, 2009. Bob Bell is on his third set of submittals to the state. The state is still requesting further information. Bob Bell plans to send the requested information to the state by the end of the week. So, at this point we still do not have a set of state approved plans.
Discussion held regarding the allocation of funds received from the sale of the town truck. The town received the check from the Town of Cassian for $43,000.00. The original thought was to rollover the money to next year’s budget to purchase a one ton pickup. There are three items on the agenda tonight, purchase of a new pickup truck, tailgate spreader and mig welder. The purchase of a tailgate spreader would be to replace the existing tailgate spreader we had that the Town of Cassian did not want to buy from us. Chairman Schmidt stated the tailgate spreader is pretty much shot. We need the tailgate spreader because we use it for shouldering roads, etc. Chairman Schmidt received quotes on a new spreader. Supervisor Osfar made a motion to utilize the funds from the sale of the old truck to purchase the HTC1800A hydraulic truck conveyor for $6,659.60. Supervisor Williams seconded and the motion carried.
Discussion held regarding the purchase of a new pickup truck. Chairman Schmidt stated the town crew made a few phone calls regarding current pricing of a new pickup truck. This would help with the budgeting of a new pickup for next year. Parsons of Eagle River, Inc. has a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 diesel dump truck, that is outfitted similar to the 1997 Ford we have, for $36,823.50. They also called other dealers. Parson’s is low because they want to move this vehicle before the 2010 vehicles arrive. Supervisor Osfar made a motion to purchase the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 diesel dump truck from Parson’s for $36,823.50. Supervisor Williams seconded and the motion carried.
Supervisor Osfar amended the motion to read we purchase the above truck for $36,823.50 with the remaining money from the sale of the old town truck. Supervisor Williams seconded and the motion carried.
Discussion held regarding the mig welder. The Board will review this later in the year when the budget is reviewed for next year.
Discussion held regarding allocation of funds to be received from the sale of town property on New “O”. The original plan that was talked about at the last Annual Meeting was that the funds from the sale of the property were to offset the purchase of the 40 acres north of the town. That will take out $75,000 of that money. The purchase price of the sale of the New “O” property is $145,000 which leaves $70,000.00. Supervisor Osfar made a motion to utilize the incoming funds from the sale of the town property on New “O” to offset the cost of the property purchased from Plum Creek for $75,000.00 and the remainder of the money, $70,000.00, be put into a line item for future construction. Supervisor Williams seconded and the motion carried.
Chairman Schmidt made a motion to adjourn to public participation items in compliance with the open meeting law; all comments must pertain to agenda items of what the Chairman considers town business. Supervisor Williams seconded and the motion carried.
Chairman Schmidt made a motion to reconvene into open session. Supervisor Osfar seconded and the motion carried.
Supervisor Osfar made a motion to approve vouchers #21574 through #21637. Chairman Schmidt seconded and the motion carried.
The Town Board did not go into closed session.
Chairman Schmidt made a motion to adjourn. Supervisor Osfar seconded and the motion carried. The
meeting adjourned at 9:05 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Allis, Town Clerk
Archive:
January 16, 2012 Special Town Board Meeting Minutes
January 3, 2012 Monthly Meeting Minutes
December 27, 2011 Special Town Board Meeting/Meeting of Electors
December 5, 2011 Monthly Meeting Minutes
November 7, 2011 Monthly Meeting Minutes
November 4, 2011 Special Town Board Meeting Minutes
October 26, 2011 Monthly Meeting Minutes
October 11, 2011 Special Town Board Meeting
October 3, 2011 Monthly Meeting
October 3, 2011 Monthly Meeting