Category Archives for "Minutes"

Meeting Minutes, Town Board and Public Hearing, November 11, 2019

Chairman Terry Theis called the Public Hearing on the 2020 budget to order at 6:30 pm on Monday, November 11, 2019 at the Liberty Town Hall and proper public notice was affirmed. A list of attendees is attached to these minutes. Clerk Polhamus reviewed the proposed budget and answered questions with an increase of 1.563% in new net construction equating to an overall increase of $1037 in the operating levy limit. The current debt is paid in full as of this month and the new debt service levy is an estimate that will be adjusted upon the Board’s decision on capital borrowing at tonight’s meeting. Adrian Amelse stated he would like the 1/3 allocation for the fire truck looked at again at possibly using equalized values rather than a straight 1/3 for each municipality. Motion by Adrian Amelse/second by Nicole Rakobitsch to adjourn the public hearing at 6:45 pm. All in favor. Motion carried.

Chairman Terry Theis called the Special Town meeting of Electors to order at 6:45 pm. Motion by Orlin Engh/second by Paul Linskens to approve the Operating Levy of $67,360. All in favor. Motion carried. Motion by Paul Linskens/second by Orlin Engh to adjourn the meeting of electors at 6:50 p.m. All in favor. Motion carried.

Chairman Terry Theis called the regular monthly meeting of the Town of Liberty to order at 6:50 p.m. and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for Veterans Day. Members present were Terry Theis, Adrian Amelse, Nicole Rakobitsch, Treasurer Karen Peterson and Clerk Lori Polhamus.

2. Clerk Lori Polhamus read the minutes of the October 14th and October 24th meetings. The date on the minutes should be changed from the 12th to the 24th. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to approve the minutes as corrected. All in favor. Motion carried.

3. Treasurer’s report (report attached) Peterson read the Treasurer’s report. Beginning cash balance as of 10/1/2019 was $47,091.27 and an ending cash balance as of 10/31/2019 of $63,318.63 was reported. Interest year to date on the General Fund was $19.73 and interest year to date on the Tax account was $76.16. There is $45,304.55 available in the tax account. Receipts include $10,000 from Ho-Chunk funding and transportation aids.

4. Patrolman’s report– Orlin stated we got the truck back and the cost was going to be around $6000 less the apron fix. Orlin stated he will shorten the chain on this. The new grader is a nice machine with good maintenance records. We will be swapping the tires from the old grader onto this one and have someone willing to give us $8000 for the old grader. We also need six more no shining signs.

5. First period for public comment– Bill Putze stated there were hunters from Indiana last Friday hunting on the old dump property that the Town owns and he would like to put up a bigger no trespassing sign on the Town fence that borders his property. Tom McInerney thanked the board for the culvert on Elk Run and we should put a reflector post up for the winter. Paul Linskens stated the beaver dam at Hwy 56 and County S should be removed.

6. Town Announcements– Polhamus stated we are meeting with FEMA on Thursday evening regarding the July 2019 flood.

7. Discussion with possible action on sale of property – Gabe Williams– Theis stated he received an email from a realtor regarding property that Williams is trying to purchase. This is a sixteen acre parcel off from a 130-acre parcel owned by Barns LLC. Rakobitsch contacted them about the potential zoning. He is trying to gain driveway access off from Boggs Road because the State won’t allow him a driveway off from Hwy 56. There is a triangle piece of property that the Town was granted an easement on as long as we continue to use if for highway purposes. If we no longer do it would revert back to the original owners which has changed hands several times since 1941. When a survey of this area was done, the parcel in question that the Town has an easement through was left off. A title search of this area was recommended before final action can be taken to make sure all parcels are accounted for and who owns what. The item was tabled for Theis to talk to Williams.

8. Discussion on transportation grant with possible action– this was tabled as we are not ready to apply by the December deadline.

9. Discussion with possible action on bank loan for capital expenditures– the Board discussed the possibility of adding insulating the shop to the list or using proceeds from the sale of the grader towards this project. Amelse was in favor of using the proceeds to pay down the debt first. The items to include in the bank loan would be the grader, fire truck, fire gear and truck repairs. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to approve a bank loan for capital expenditures in the amount of $195,300 for ten years at 2.75%. This consists of $60,875 for the grader, $121,325 for 1/3 of the fire truck, $7100 for fire gear and $6000 for truck repairs. Two in favor, one against. Motion carried. Amelse voting no.

10. Adopt 2020 budget– Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to adopt the 2020 budget with the change in debt service to accommodate the long-term debt amount of $195,300. All in favor. Motion carried.

11. Discussion with possible action on fire contract– the fire contract was presented to the Village of Viola already as to how we want to set up the Fire Board. They will have more discussions on this at the next Fire Board meeting and Amelse would like to address the way the payments are split by thirds rather than other options such as equalized value.

12. Review of draft zoning ordinance with possible action– this item was tabled.

13. Discussion with possible action on Chadwick Hollow Road engineering costs and road maintenance– Theis was approached by Daron from Viola regarding Delta 3 engineers that are working on their Tid district. They had proposed having their engineers do a study on Chadwick Hollow and were asking us to pay part of the cost of the study. They would also work on grant funding. This item should start with the Town and not the Village of Viola as we own the road and it is not designated as an emergency route and it would have to remain gravel. If another meeting is set up regarding this subject, the entire Town Board would like to participate.

14. Action & approval on monthly bills– Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve total bills of $79,031.43 as presented. All in favor. Motion carried.

15. Approval on building permits – there were two permits presented, Fred Hall for an outbuilding and Wayde Lawler for a storage shed.

16. Second period for public comment– none

17. Future agenda items– zoning ordinance, meeting next week for road rating, 11/21 at 1:00 pm. Fire Board meeting in December.

Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 pm. All in favor. Motion carried.

Minutes submitted by: Lori Polhamus, Town Clerk

Meeting Minutes, Town Board, October 24, 2019

TOWN OF LIBERTY

October 24, 2019

Chairman Terry Theis called the special meeting of the Town of Liberty to order at 6:00 pm. on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at the Liberty Town Hall. Members present were Terry Theis, Nicole Rakobitsch, Treasurer Karen Peterson and Clerk Lori Polhamus. Supervisor Adrian Amelse was excused.

2. First Period for public comment – None

3. Resolution for purchase of fire engine and funding – Jeff Liska and members of the fire department were in attendance to explain the fire engine. It would have a life span of 20 years and they would like to change the fleet from seven to five. This would have a high pressure system that does less damage to homes and they can get into the rugged terrain we have around here. They looked at lease options but it would end up costing more. One of the current trucks is still attached to a federal grant so they can’t sell it yet until the grant is released which they are working on. They are purchasing it from Pierce and they require the entire payment up front and guaranteed the price until December 31st as the prices go up in January. Total contract price is $363,975 so our 1/3 share would be $121,325 with the interest discount. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to approve the resolution to purchase the fire engine. All in favor. Motion carried.

4. Discussion with possible action on capital equipment purchases – grader, truck, fire equipment – Our 1980 grader is leaking oil, the hydraulics are bad in the blade and we have an estimate from Fabco of $16,000 plus to fix the issues with it plus an additional $10,000 to overhaul. Orlin has found a used 1994 grader at Fabco for $60,000 with 8000 hours that is in good condition with a new transmission. There is a 2001 model with 3000 hours on it for $77,000 in Minnesota. We could maybe get about $3500 for trade in of ours as is. The truck needs a new head gasket, power steering reservoir, the apron & sander need to be tightened and the chain needs to be replaced. The motor is also leaking oil. LaFarge Truck Center won’t fix it so it needs to go to LaCrosse Truck Center with worst case scenario fix of about $28,000. We would not be able to get a new truck for over a year and there aren’t any available to lease. It could take from 4 days to three weeks to fix the truck and we would need to fix anyway to trade. New trucks can run $160,000 or more. The fire equipment for $7100 was already approved at a previous meeting.

5. Discussion with possible action on bank loan for capital debt financing – Citizens First Bank will do a locked in ten year loan at 2.75% interest which on a $200,000 loan would be $23,150 per year debt payment. Our current debt levy that is expiring is $16,994. If we wanted to keep the levy amount the same we could pay $16,500 per year with a balloon payment at the end that could be refinanced after ten years for an additional five. WCCU gave us a quote but it was at commercial rates which were not competitive with the bank. Rakobitsch suggested having the fire truck @ 121,325, the fire equipment at $7100, the grader at $60,000 and between $10,000-$30,000 for the truck repair included in the bank loan. This would bring the total loan to $218,425 with an annual payment about $25,281 for debt service. Orlin will check with LaCrosse Truck Center to see if we can get a better estimate on the repair prior to the November meeting for the official loan. Motion by Nicole Rakobitsch/second by Terry Theis to authorize the purchase after a successful test run at our location of the 1995 Cat grader for $60,000. All in favor. Motion carried.

6. Second period for public comment –None

Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to adjourn the meeting at 7:28 pm. All in favor. Motion carried.

Minutes submitted by: Lori Polhamus, Town Clerk

Meeting Minutes, Town Board, October 14, 2019

TOWN OF LIBERTY

October 14, 2019

Chairman Terry Theis called the monthly meeting of the Town of Liberty to order at 6:30 pm. on Monday, October 14, 2019 at the Liberty Town Hall and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present were Terry Theis, Nicole Rakobitsch, Treasurer Karen Peterson and Clerk Lori Polhamus. Supervisor Adrian Amelse was excused.

2. Clerk Lori Polhamus read the minutes of the September 9, 2019 regular town meeting. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as read. All in favor. Motion carried.

3. Treasurer’s report. (report attached) Peterson read the Treasurer’s report. Beginning cash balance as of 9/1/19 was $48,812.70 and an ending cash balance as of 9/30/19 of $38,126.60 was reported. Interest year to date on the General Fund was $19.73 and interest earned year to date on the Tax Account was $76.16. There is $75,318.32 available in the tax account. Receipts included gravel receipts and building permits.

4. Patrolman’s Report – no update

5. First Period for public comment – None

6. Town Announcements– Polhamus stated there is no additional charge on our insurance for the two locations of the shop and town hall. Theis stated that there has been increased participation in the Town Advocacy Council so more legislative action is happening to get highway funding.

7. Approval of service contract with Vernon County for Shining Ordinance enforcement – Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to approve the agreement for services with the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department to enforce the Shining Ordinance. All in favor. Motion carried.

8. Discussion with possible action on Elk Run road project – Theis stated that when meeting with the DNR regarding the project that we would have to put large rock down in the water to stabilize the bank instead of what we had proposed earlier. The Board chose to hold off on this project to hear from FEMA and possible additional funds from DOT grants.

9. Discussion with possible action on all Town road maintenance issues – There are DOT transportation grants that we can apply for by December 6th. New projects must be a minimum of $50,000 and can combine up to three projects with up to six years to complete them. We would also need a capital plan put together. There may be other additional funds available.

10. Southwest Sanitation recycling contract discussion with possible action – we currently do not have an updated contract as they are only updating the fees on a regular basis. If we were to go back to the County we would have to separate recyclables again and we would lose the grant. The Board chose to stay with Southwest Sanitation. Polhamus stated we can also choose whether we want to continue taking items during cleanup days or have residents take them directly to Southwest.

11. Update from Zoning Committee with possible action – the committee met on September 24th and October 8th and have used the Town of Whitestown ordinance as a model and revised it for Liberty with a single district ordinance. Variances would be required for any other usage. They will be meeting on November 5th to review a draft report and ordinance and the draft will be brought before the November 11th Town Board meeting. Rakobitsch will send out a draft to the Town Board prior to the meeting for their review.

12. Discussion with possible action on 2020 Humane Society Contract – the renewal amount for the contract in 2020 is $800 for dogs only and doesn’t include a cap on mass seizures as discussed previously. The Board would like to see the additional language included in the contract.

13. Preliminary 2020 budget discussion, debt and capital planning – we will need to purchase fire equipment of $7100 as previously discussed and a fire truck is being discussed as well that we will be responsible for 1/3 of the cost of around $365,000. Turnout gear will need to be replaced in about 3 ½ years, the grader is having issues and our truck has been needing repairs.

14. Discussion with possible action on Election security grant & transportation grant funding – the State Elections Board is offering grant funding to improve Cyber security on Town computers as it relates to using the Elections database. Our computer is new and has Windows 10 so we are compliant in that aspect along with the security training, however we don’t have formal IT support which we can get a $400 grant for. We are also currently using the Clerk’s personal email address so we could set up a generic town email as well. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to apply for the election security grant for IT services. All in favor. Motion carried. The transportation grant was discussed under item nine.

15. Action & Approval on monthly bills – Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to approve total bills of $35,313.40 as presented. All in favor. Motion carried.

16. Review of building permits (if any) – There were three applications for Gabe Williams.

17. Second period for public comment – Evan Jones thanked the Board for their work. Sue Mueller stated that the DOT has other grants available for road repair and there are USDA grants for emergency funds as well. Polhamus stated we received $10,000 from Ho-Chunk funding as well for road repairs. Anne Orso asked if the zoning ordinance will address the cell towers. Paul Linskins stated that we may want to consider not using the smaller dumpster at cleanup day as we are not filling it with items that are required to be recycled.

18. Future agenda items – transportation grant, budget, debt levy and zoning ordinance.

Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 pm. All in favor. Motion carried.

Minutes submitted by: Lori Polhamus, Town Clerk

Meeting Minutes, Town Board, August 12, 2019

TOWN OF LIBERTY

August 12, 2019

Chairman Terry Theis called the monthly meeting of the Town of Liberty to order at 6:30 pm. on Monday, August 12, 2019 at the Liberty Town Hall and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present were Terry Theis, Nicole Rakobitsch, Adrian Amelse, Treasurer Karen Peterson and Clerk Lori Polhamus.

2. Clerk Lori Polhamus read the minutes of the July 15, 2019 regular town meeting. Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as read. All in favor. Motion carried.

3. Treasurer’s report. (report attached) Peterson read the Treasurer’s report. Beginning cash balance as of 7/1/19 was $29,532.05 and an ending cash balance as of 7/31/19 of $24,807.13 was reported. Interest year to date on the General Fund was $14.59 and interest earned year to date on the Tax Account was $63.56. There is $75,305.72 available in the tax account. Receipts included transportation aid, bartenders license, shared revenue and building permits.

4. Patrolman's Report– The equipment is working except the truck dash, the tires on the backhoe are ok for winter yet. Waiting on apron price from Monroe Truck equipment and gravel will be going on roads in next two weeks. Culverts will be done next week along with work on Chadwick Hollow for sloping the bank and ditch wash out. The shining signs are in but waiting on posts for decision on ATV signs. We have four loads of gravel to do for FEMA work and Elk Run had about $30,000 of damages sent in for FEMA.

5.First Period for public comment – Barb Ramsden questioned the town truck usage by our employees and Ann Orso thanked Orlin for the gravel for her mailbox.

6.Town Announcements- Theis attended the Towns Association picnic and they discussed a County wide fire ordinance that is going before the County Board and there was a lot of opposition to the ordinance from the Towns. Amelse stated that he was going to vote against it in its current form.

7.Discussion/update on Town Insurance coverage – Kevin Bluske, Rural Insurance– Bluske reviewed the current policy with the Board and suggested possible upgrades to the policy such as the advantage plus endorsement. This will be added to the next agenda for discussion.

8. Reconsideration of ATV ordinance for Town Roads– Our Town and County roads are currently closed to ATVs. Our patrolman have had incidents of atvs almost hitting the grader on Chadwick Hollow and UTV's are tearing up the roads. Gabe Williams stated he would like to see it open for his campground and bar businesses. He feels that it would be used mainly during daytime traffic and on weekends. Even if just County Road S was opened up and if there becomes a problem it could be closed down. Amelse stated he will talk with other Towns and the Highway Commissioner to see if there have been issues and further discussion will be held at the next meeting.

9.Discussion on road rating– Theis stated that PASER rating is done every year and WISLR every two years. It is recommended that three people do the rating, the patrolman, the person doing the report and one other board member. We have 18.74 miles of road and the report is due 12/15/2019. All board members stated they would participate and these would be noticed meetings as there would be a quorum of the board. Theis will get maps to the Clerk to send out and the rating will be done in September. The board should get possible dates to the Clerk.

10.Discussion with possible action on Elk Run road work– we had about $30,000 in damages to Elk Run and Willow. FEMA may not cover this area because they only cover the road right of way and we have asked for mitigation through the DNR. For about $10,000 we could pull about a dozen trees, slope the road (70 ft of bank) and seed it to maintain the road. Gabe Williams stated he would help with the pulling of the trees if we provided the product. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Amelse to remove the trees, shape the bank, seed it and continue to pursue FEMA funding. All in favor. Motion carried.

11.Discussion on Gore Hollow Hill and general road maintenance issues– Theis stated we have had requests to close the hill, seal coat the hill, gate it and keep it open. Seal coating would cost $11,855 and would have to be done twice plus the prep work would be another $12,000 with the possibility of only lasting a year because of the steep grade. We could explore changing the road to a Class B road which only controls the weight and speed for closing the hill seasonally and install gates but we would still need to put in a turnaround at a cost of about $4000 and this would need to be bid out. We are still waiting on underlayment costs to rebuild the top of the road if we want to come up with a plan to fix the existing road. Amelse and Rakobitsch both stated they are not in favor of closing the hill but are still open to seasonably closing it and not for seal coating due to the cost factor. A capital budget allocation may be necessary and come up with a plan for all the roads with Orlin making a list of needs for each road. This item was tabled until the next meeting with Orlin to bring options on gravel and turnaround.

12.Approval of Vernon County flood recovery assistance grant agreement– The County Board approved up to $10,000 in funding for flood assistance to each Town. We currently have $8743.17 in FEMA local match funds and the remaining would be from the fixing of Chadwick Hollow to come to the $10,000. Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve the grant agreement with Vernon County. All in favor. Motion carried.

13.Emergency plan for Town Officials/employees– the Sheriff's department needs to know who to contact during an emergency and the Clerk was called after the last storm because both patrolmen were on vacation and the Board was unavailable. If we are going to be gone for an extended time frame the Clerk should be notified so if an emergency call comes in she is aware of who to contact if dispatch cannot get a hold of anyone on their list.

14.Discussion on capital equipment replacement plan– the grader will need a new drive chain and sprockets and a new truck will be needed in the next couple of years that is dependable. The order of importance is the truck and then the grader for future planning.

15.Discussion with possible action on local control options for cell towers– there are seventeen Bug Tussel towers going up in Vernon County. They are 300 foot towers that are 4-6 miles apart. There are sample ordinances that the Town has regarding these but we cannot adopt them without zoning in place.

16.Update from Zoning Committee– they are meeting monthly with the last meeting on July 30th. They reviewed the Town of Stark zoning ordinance but that was more complicated and Whitestown has one that is more like us. They have invited one of their supervisors to come to their next meeting.

17.Action & Approval on monthly bills– Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve total bills of $6482.65 as presented. All in favor. Motion carried.

18.Review of building permits (if any) - There were two permits for Heidi Stendel for a building enlargement and onsite barn and one for Zara Escobar for a manufactured cabin.

19.Second period for public comment – Paul Linskens stated that October 12th will be the fall cleanup day and there are some changes regarding plastic recycling. Joe Orso stated his concerns about the cell tower issue and he has information that he could share with the board on community rights.

20.Future agenda items– Most of the items from this agenda will be brought back again with road maintenance issues being discussed together.

Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 pm. All in favor. Motion carried.

Minutes submitted by: Lori Polhamus, Town Clerk

Meeting Minutes, Town Board, September 9, 2019

TOWN OF LIBERTY

September 9, 2019

Chairman Terry Theis called the monthly meeting of the Town of Liberty to order at 6:30 pm. on Monday, September 9, 2019 at the Liberty Town Hall and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present were Terry Theis, Nicole Rakobitsch, Adrian Amelse, Treasurer Karen Peterson and Clerk Lori Polhamus.

2. Clerk Lori Polhamus read the minutes of the August 12, 2019 regular town meeting. The cleanup day should be listed as October 12thand not the 2nd. Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as corrected. All in favor. Motion carried.

3. Treasurer’s report. (report attached) Peterson read the Treasurer’s report. Beginning cash balance as of 8/1/19 was $24,807.13 and an ending cash balance as of 8/31/19 of $48,812.70 was reported. Interest year to date on the General Fund was $16.39 and interest earned year to date on the Tax Account was $69.96. There is $75,312.12 available in the tax account. Receipts included the tax settlement, towing insurance payment and building permits.

4. Patrolman's Report– Theis read the report that Orlin prepared. The equipment is in good working order. 1500 yards of gravel was put on the roads with 250 yards for winter mix will be mixed in early October when salt is available. The culvert was put in on Willow Road and gravel was hauled for 2019 flood work. Ditch work has been done on Gore Hollow, Chadwick Hollow, Scott Hollow and Ames Hill roads. The bank work and culvert on Chadwick will be done this week along with the culvert on Elk Run. Final rounds of mowing will start next week along with gravel to be finished on all roads. There is repair work to be done on Gore Hollow ¾ up the hill where the ditch has washed out and is eroding the road. All the no shining signs were put up and we may need one on County S at Kickapoo Town line.

5.First Period for public comment – Bunker Kelly shared the Bug Tussel contract with the board and updated them on the conversations he has had with them and that he is not going to let them use his land for a tower. Anne Orso stated there is a group meeting at the VFW regarding these towers and doesn't think Liberty Bar needs atvs to increase their business.

6.Town Announcements- October 12this cleanup day, there will be an emergency volunteer appreciation service at the fair on September 11that 7:00pm, there is a public hearing on 9/16 regarding the proposed countywide burn ban/illegal burning ordinance at 5:30pm in the County Board Room with action on this at the County Board on 9/17. In regards to use of the town truck, when the truck is being repaired, Orlin leaves his car in LaFarge and then brings the truck home. Once he has someone to take him back to his vehicle the truck goes back to the shop. In regards to hauling gravel we deliver this to anyone in the truck and he had a load of gravel delivered to his home. In regards to Carl using the truck, he does not live in Liberty so this will be addressed. Terry attended the Fire Board meeting last month and they will be buying equipment in which $7100 will be our responsibility at the end of the year and we will be looking at the contract again. Bruce Olson is requesting an explanation of Harrison versus Harrison Hollow Road.

7.Discussion with possible action on changes to town insurance coverage– there will be an additional charge for the two separate addresses of the shop and town hall. Polhamus will check with our agent for clarification on this, otherwise we are fine with our current coverage.

8. Reconsideration of ATV ordinance for Town Roads– Amelse stated he checked with the Highway Commissioner and 2/3 of the County have approved atv routes with six towns not allowing it with Bergen considering doing it. Concerns of noise and safety have been brought up with different amounts of people for and against so a possible referendum, public hearing or straw poll may be conducted prior to a final decision. This item was tabled for more info on public participation possibilities.

9.Discussion with decision on Gore Hollow Hill– we had a public hearing and presented the costs. Amelse and Rakobitsch are not in favor of closing the hill. A cost analysis of closing the road for the winter for a turnaround needs to be completed as only closing it part time would change the scope of the turnaround project. Rakobitsch questioned the sealcoating longevity and whether we should try this method. Terry will check with George Wilbur in regards to Class B roads in Whitestown and what they do. The info that needs to be obtained prior to further discussion will be costs, duration of closures if any, Class B info, turnaround costs, gates and easements with landowners.

10.Update from Zoning Committee– they met on 8/27 with guest George Wilbur who gave an overview of Whitestown's zoning ordinance which has only one district. The Cell tower variance was the first time they used their ordinance. It doesn't cover subdivisions or minimum lot size acreage. Their next meeting is 9/24 and they hope to bring something before the board in December.

11.Action & Approval on monthly bills– Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve total bills of $ 10,839.71 as presented. All in favor. Motion carried.

12.Review of building permits (if any) - There were four permits for Jaclyn Barnes, Anne Orso and two for Erika Broser.

13.Second period for public comment – Evan Jones stated we should stay with gravel roads and not sealcoat and is upset that other entities are trying to decide what Chadwick Hollow is to be used for. Joel Johnson stated that neighboring towns are talking about Chadwick. Theis stated there is a meeting on 9/25 with other entities to talk about Chadwick. Anne Orso feels we need to do something sooner regarding the cell towers.

14.Future agenda items– Adrian will be gone for the October meeting. Discussion on new debt potential and capital budget planning.

Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 pm. All in favor. Motion carried.

Minutes submitted by: Lori Polhamus, Town Clerk

Meeting Minutes, Zoning Committee, August 27, 2019

MEETING MINUTES - 8.27.19

TOWN OF LIBERTY - ZONING COMMITTEE

  1. Call Meeting to order

-Nicole Rakobitsch called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Present: Jason Vidas, Wayde Lawler, Elizabeth Tigan, Joel Johnson, Kyle Prorok, Nicole Rakobitsch, George Wilbur (Town of Whitestown). Absent: Susan Mueller.

  1. Read and approve minutes from July meeting

-Lawler moved to approve July minutes. Tigan seconded. Motion carried voice vote.

  1. Discuss Town of Whitestown zoning ordinance

-Wilbur discussed Smart Growth/Comprehensive Plan goal required by state. Town of Whitestown planning committee sent out a survey to town residents. Good response. High priority on maintaining “rural character” of town. Developed comprehensive plan. Spent multiple years considering question of whether or not to adopt zoning and how zoning would look in a rural area. Reached conclusion that multiple districts was more appropriate in urban area. Developed a single district for entire town, allowing three uses: residences, small businesses (fewer than 25 employees), and small farms. All other uses would require variance. Process took approximately four years. Since adoption in 2014 to 2019 no variances were requested. Cell phone company requested variance in 2019. Town board held public hearing in August of 2019 and then denied application for variance. (Board had to create application for variance). Haven’t been any issues with a single district. Held public hearing before adopting zoning or “land use” ordinance. Do not have minimum acreage or setback requirements. Have considered subdivision ordinance, which are sometimes stand-alone ordinances. Town of Whitestown has made effort to respect landowner rights. Haven’t had any notable pushback from town residents. Wanted to include rights of nature even though they acknowledge they may not be enforceable. Right of towns to deny variances for cell towers have thus far stood up in court.

- Johnson asked if rights of nature could come into conflict with effort to support agriculture. Wilbur acknowledged this potential but stated it hasn’t come up to date.

- Vidas asked where we should look for best model ordinances. Wilbur stated that some of Whitestown ordinance would probably not stand up if challenged in court, but the ordinances have a deterrent effect nonetheless.

- Johnson asked about public hearing with cell phone representative. Wilbur stated that company representatives have made misleading statements about what powers municipalities have to regulate cell towers. State statute does allow municipalities some regulatory authority over cell towers.

- Whitestown town ordinance grants certain rights to residents of town, e.g. to bring suit, to designate environmentally sensitive areas, etc.

- Rakobitsch asked if single district would stand up in court. Wilbur stated that nothing in statute prohibits a single district. Things that might not stand up in court are more related to preemption (CAFOs, etc.)

- Committee is unsure if Liberty Comprehensive Plan set any mission or goal. Zoning ordinance in clear violation of CP could lead to lawsuits.

- Wilbur stated that state statute has been amended so that comprehensive plans are no longer required.

- Whitestown recently adopted ATV ordinance. Haven’t had any problems with it.

- Wilbur stated that Towns Association is valuable resource for town board supervisors, clerks, and potentially the members of this zoning committee.

  1. Review and discuss Town of Liberty parcel data

- Johnson obtained data from Vernon County GIS Coordinator and Land Information Office Planner. Lots of data, a bit overwhelming.

- 786 parcels in Liberty

- 54 parcels fewer than 1 acre

- Committee needs to know what information we’re trying to extract from the data provided

- Town Assessor states that there are approximately 1250 parcels. Not sure where the discrepancy between this and Vernon County information comes from.

- Rakobitsch suggested reviewing online parcel map to find where small parcels with houses exist

- Wilbur stated that Whitestown decided not impose minimum acreage primarily because of concerns about taking land out of agricultural production

- Lawler suggested that we reserve entire next meeting for discussion of minimum acreage issues

- Prorok asked if other ordinances like a subdivision ordinance, for example, might be a better approach to preserving rural character

  1. Period of Public Comment

- No public comments were heard.

  1. Future agenda items and next meeting date

- Minimum lot size

- Subdivision ordinance - Rakobitsch will check with Towns Association for model

  1. Adjourn

- Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Wayde Lawler

Meeting Minutes, Town Board, July 15, 2019

​Town of Liberty

July 15, 2019

Chairman Terry Theis called the monthly meeting of the Town of Liberty to order at 6:30 pm. on Monday, July 15, 2019 at the Liberty Town Hall and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present were Terry Theis, Nicole Rakobitsch, Adrian Amelse, Treasurer Karen Peterson and Clerk Lori Polhamus. Citizens present are on the attached attendance sheet.

2. Public hearing on options for Gore Hollow Hill – Theis opened the public hearing at 6:31 pm. It was stated this is a listening session for the Gore Hollow hill issue and part of the process is to have a public hearing for the Board to hear all sides of the issue. Lester Meyer and Barb Ramsden are concerned about the safety and response by emergency personnel with the road closure and it will cost $8.00/foot for Vernon Electric to put in underground wires. Joanne Groves stated they measured the distance for response and it was 1.3 miles either way and that the rescue squad is fine with whatever the Town decides. Laurie Renish asked how many grants the Town applied for and the accident count on Gore Hollow. Ray Renish stated there will be double the traffic from UPS trucks and others and the hill should be seal coated and raise the levy to do it. Peter Groves stated he is against seal coating as other towns are wanting to go back to gravel for cost. John Mathis stated the Town of Forest has seal coated all their steep hills. Jeff Wendal would like to see the costs broke down by road. Myra Daines stated Gore Hollow is not the worst hill on her mail route but would rather go down than up the hill. Residents may also have to move their mailboxes down by the town hall if the road is closed. Gabe Williams asked what happens if the lower part of Gore Hollow is compromised if there is only one way out? Kathy Linskins stated the gravel is all coming onto their property from the hill currently. Burdette Nelson is a bus driver for Kickapoo Schools and she takes the bus down the hill rather than up and the school would like to see the road remain open for their 37 foot bus. There were comments both ways by residents that would like to see the hill remain open and those that would like the hill closed.

The public hearing was closed at 7:15 pm.

3. Clerk Lori Polhamus read the minutes of the June 10, 2019 regular town meeting. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Amelse to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as read. All in favor. Motion carried. Joanne Groves stated as a point of correction that John Mathes does not speak on behalf of the Kickapoo Rescue Squad.

4. Treasurer’s report. (report attached) Peterson read the Treasurer’s report. Beginning cash balance as of 6/1/19 was $37,121.81 and an ending cash balance as of 6/30/19 of $29,532.05 was reported. Interest year to date on the General Fund was $11.76 and interest earned year to date on the Tax Account was $57.16. There is $75,299.32 available in the tax account. Receipts included managed forest payment, building permits and liquor licenses.

5. Patrolman's Report– the truck is back from the repair shop with a faulty fuse line. The tubes are not installed yet. Polhamus stated the towing charges have been sent into insurance.

6.First Period for public comment – Denise Grass representing Liberty Bar & Blakely Hobbit stated they would like to have the ATV discussion brought back on a future agenda for re-consideration. Peter Groves stated the ditch on Ames Hill Road is completely filled and the County should be contacted to clean their ditch too off County S. Gabe Williams would like to change the location of his driveway on Elk Run and there will be a change of business at his Hwy 56 location.

7.Town Announcements- Theis will be attending Paser training in Mineral Point.

8. Discussion with possible action on dust control on Town roads– the other road work is not complete yet so this hasn't been addressed. This will be added to the road discussion on a future agenda.

9.Discussion with possible action on Premier Coop contract pricing - Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Amelse to approve the deposit pricing with Premier Coop for 2708 gallons at 1.209/gallon and send in a deposit of $270.80. All in favor. Motion carried.

10.Discussion with possible action on back up plan for Town Truck– this item was tabled and we will continue to fix our current truck.

11.Discussion with possible action on local control options for cell towers– this item was tabled until August.

12.Update from Zoning Committee – They met on June 25thand discussed the Town comprehensive plan, reviewed the Whitestown ordinance as an example of a single district, looked at scope of work. The next meeting is 7/30 at 7:00 pm and they will review the Town of Stark ordinance and any issues and concerns.

13. Board may entertain a motion to adjourn into closed session pursuant to section 19.85 (1) (c) WI Stats. Considering employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility – Review Recycling Attendant applications – the Board remained in open session and only one application was received from Paul Linskens.

14. Reconvene in open session with possible action on items discussed during closed session - Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to hire Paul Linskens as the recycling attendant effective Saturday, July 20th. All in favor. Motion carried. The Board thanked Carol Theis for her work at the dump.

15.Action & Approval on monthly bills– Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Amelse to approve total bills of $21,001.33 as presented. All in favor. Motion carried.

16.Review of building permits (if any) - There was one permit for Isaac Gjefle for an addition on his existing residence.

17.Second period for public comment -Anne Orso asked about getting a couple of buckets of gravel to put by her mailbox. Carol Theis stated there is a third cabin on Chadwick Hollow that needs a building permit.

18.Future agenda items– Road discussion, capital equipment plan, atvs, cell tower, Gore Hollow information for discussion and property insurance update.

Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Amelse to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 pm. All in favor. Motion carried.

Minutes submitted by: Lori Polhamus, Town Clerk

Meeting Minutes, June 10, 2019

TOWN OF LIBERTY

June 10, 2019

Chairman Terry Theis called the monthly meeting of the Town of Liberty to order at 6:30 pm. on Monday, June 10, 2019 at the Liberty Town Hall and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present were Terry Theis, Nicole Rakobitsch, Adrian Amelse, Treasurer Karen Peterson and Clerk Lori Polhamus.

2. Clerk Lori Polhamus read the minutes of the May 13, 2019 regular town meeting. Rakobitsch stated the spelling for Prorok should be fixed under item twelve. Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as corrected. All in favor. Motion carried.

3. Treasurer’s report. (report attached) Peterson read the Treasurer’s report. Beginning cash balance as of 5/1/19 was $16,380.74 and an ending cash balance as of 5/31/19 of $37,076.81 was reported. Interest year to date on the General Fund was $9.08 and interest earned year to date on the Tax Account was $50.97. There is $75,293.13 available in the tax account. Receipts included FEMA payments, building permits and gravel sales.

4. Patrolman's Report– the truck is in the shop again after being towed in. They are not sure of the problem so the ditch work is not getting done. The gravel cannot be hauled until the ditching is done. Discussion on the fall back plan for our truck should be added to our next agenda.

5.First Period for public comment – John Mathes had a question on the Gore Hollow turnaround for the rescue squad and Theis stated they were okay with the radius of the turnaround that is being discussed. Taryn Lawler stated there is a $3000 grant availability toward fire gear that she will bring info to the Board on.

6.Town Announcements- July 15this the date of our next meeting because of the public hearing. Amelse stated the resolution that went to the Vernon County Finance Committee got reduced to $10,000 per Town from Ho-Chunk funding from $20,000 so that is what is going to the County Board. Rakobitsch stated the Comprehensive Plan is now on the Town website.

7.Acceptance of resignation and approval to advertise for recycling attendant position– Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Amelse to accept Carol Theis's resignation as recycling attendant effective July 13th. All in favor. Motion carried. Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to place ads for the recycling attendant at $11.27/hour in the Epitaph, the dump board and website with a due date of July 12th. All in favor. Motion carried. Review of applications will be done at the July 15thmeeting.

8. Action on liquor license renewals for 2019-2020 license year– Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve the Sportsman's Club and Liberty Bar renewals at the current prices with a conditional approval on three of the operator licenses that need to show proof of taking the alcohol class. All in favor. Motion carried.

9.Discussion on Chadwick Hollow as emergency route – John Mathes– Mathes was in attendance on behalf of the Kickapoo Rescue Squad stating that Chadwick Hollow was not passable after the flooding and needs to be year round as a matter of emergencies. This is not designated as an emergency route, however during the floods this may be the only way that an emergency vehicle can get through. There is possible funding to help with this through CDBG. There are three areas that need base and mat along with breaker run and gravel at an estimate of about $12,000. Orlin stated it would probably be higher than that. Rakobitsch will check into the grant funding. An overall road discussion will be added to an agenda later this summer.

10.Discussion with possible action on road tubes– We need five tubes put in with two on Gore Hollow, one on Chadwick Hollow Hill, one on Willow Road and one on Elk Run. Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve the tubes. All in favor. Motion carried.

11.Discussion with possible action on dust control on Town roads– Theis did not hear back from the Town of Franklin and Town of Sterling will not be ordering pine tar this year. They order from Walsh AG in Waukon, Iowa so we will get a price from them. In 2012 we paid $727.63 to the Town of Franklin to put pine tar down. The County has one truck that could be used but only with Chloride and their driver. The cost would be $40.88 for the truck rental, $35.00/hour for driver and .71 cents/gallon for the chloride plus 5% admin fee. It would take approximately 6 hours labor and truck and around 1000 gallons. Other options would be to do oil based products and adding a tank to our truck with a spray bar. Motion by Amelse to authorize up to $2000 with the use of Vernon County to spray when the ditch work is complete for this year and reassess in 2020. Motion failed for lack of second. This will be added to next months agenda for further discussion.

12.Update with possible action on plans for Gore Hollow hill– Notices went out to residents regarding the public hearing on July 15th. This info will also be sent to the Post Office, EMS, Kickapoo Schools, Brandon Larson, Fire Department, Rescue Squad and Vernon County Sheriff. The public hearing will be to collect information with a decision to be made in August. Orlin will bring aerial shots of the hill to the meeting and a rough estimate of costs to go out for bids. It was suggested to possibly designate the hill as a Class B highway which would change the maintenance requirements and allow to close it only during the winter months. It would also have a 50% weight restriction. The Town of Stark did this with some of their roads.

13.Action on updates to alternative members for Board of Review Ordinance– this item will be brought back to the next meeting after the members are notified.

14.Discussion with possible action on shining ordinance– Amelse worked with Proline to come up with an 18x12 steel sign. It will take about 10+ signs so he recommends ordering 15 at $241.78 so we have some spares. We will also need posts. Amelse will talk with Phil Hewitt and DOT regarding sign locations on State and County highways. The announcement should go in the paper and on the website. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Amelse to approve ordinance number 2019-02 prohibiting shining of animals on public roadways in Town of Liberty. All in favor. Motion carried.

15.Discussion with possible action on cell tower ordinance – A town resident received a letter from Bug Tussel looking for locations for cell towers and we may want to look at what local control we want to add on these. There are some templates for possible ordinances at the Towns Association and Rakobitsch will follow up on those.

16.Update from Zoning Committee – the first meeting was on May 28thwith all present. Nicole was elected Chair and Wayde Lawler is Secretary. They plan to meet once a month with June 25that 7pm being their next meeting. They will use consensus decision making. They discussed the open meetings law, reviewed the comprehensive plan,timeline and scope of work. They hope to present a draft recommendation to the Town Board in December.

17.Action & Approval on monthly bills– Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve total bills of $8,979.80 as presented. All in favor. Motion carried.

18.Review of building permits (if any) - Wayde Lawler permit was completed.

19.Second period for public comment -David Klann stated there have been several ATV's on County Highway S. Taryn Lawler and Paul Linskins commented on the EMS and Chadwick Hollow issue.

20.Future agenda items– only those listed previously within these minutes.

Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to adjourn the meeting at 8:24 pm. All in favor. Motion carried.

Minutes submitted by: Lori Polhamus, Town Clerk

Meeting Minutes, May 13, 2019

TOWN OF LIBERTY

May 13, 2019

Chairman Terry Theis called the monthly meeting of the Town of Liberty to order at 6:30 pm. on Monday, May 13, 2019 at the Liberty Town Hall and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present were Terry Theis, Nicole Rakobitsch, Adrian Amelse, Treasurer Karen Peterson and Clerk Lori Polhamus.

2. Clerk Lori Polhamus read the minutes of the April 17, 2019 regular town meeting. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Amelse to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as read. All in favor. Motion carried.

3. Treasurer’s report. (report attached) Peterson read the Treasurer’s report. Beginning cash balance as of 4/1/19 was $19,400.12 and an ending cash balance as of 4/30/19 of $16,380.74 was reported. Interest year to date on the General Fund was $7.79 and interest earned year to date on the Tax Account was $44.57. There is $75,286.73 available in the tax account.

4. Patrolman's Report– None

5.First Period for public comment – None

6.Town Announcements- We received payments for the 2017 and 2018 floods from FEMA totaling $11,153.31 and $14,316.82. Open Book is scheduled for 5/18 and Board of Review is 5/30. Rakobitsch stated there is a zoning workshop in Greenville this week if anyone is interested. Carol Theis submitted her letter of resignation as the Dump Attendant effective July 13, 2019.

7.Resolution requesting Ho Chunk Funds for flood recovery– The Wisconsin Towns Association has submitted a resolution on behalf of the Towns in Vernon County for up to $20,000 of the 2019 Ho Chunk Funds for flood recovery. We can count damages from the 2004-2018 floods. Documentation has been sent in to the county for the match funds that we have had of $8743.17. This does not include the additional gravel needed for Chadwick Hollow when Viola used this as a emergency exit during the flooding. Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve the resolution. All in favor. Motion carried.

8. Discussion with possible action on dust control on Town Roads– Vernon County has a truck that can do the spraying. If we purchase the material we can rent their machine. Theis will contact the three companies to get a cost estimate for the Board to review in June.

9.Discussion with possible action on future plans for Gore Hollow Hill –Theis contacted the Towns Association regarding the bike trail question from last month. If it were a bike trail, the Town would no longer have the responsibility or liability because this property would return to the land owners adjacent to the road. Linskins, Mulland, Augelli and Vingers would be directly affected. They would have to deal with the DNR and the County regarding considering a bike trail. This would be returned to its natural state and all culverts would come out. A notice to all affected landowners for all of Gore Hollow will go out in June for a public meeting during the Town meeting in July which was moved to July 15th. Terry has worked with Orlin regarding the turnaround area. The bus routes and post office would be notified and the EMS services were ok with the turnaround concept. Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to give notice to all landowners on Gore Hollow and schedule the public hearing at the July 15thtown meeting. All in favor. Motion carried.

10.Discussion with possible action on revisions to recycling ordinance– Polhamus reviewed the changes with the Board. Theis would like to see a contract with Southwest Sanitation since the amounts at the cleanup day keep changing. Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve the amendments as presented to the recycling ordinance. All in favor. Motion carried.

11.Discussion with possible action on shining ordinance– this ordinance is regarding shining on public roadways. Amelse drafted the ordinance after Buffalo County. He received a quote for signage from Proline for ten signs for $217 or twenty signs for $414. He will work with Orlin on locations. The next step would be our communication plan in the paper, website and other announcements. Nicole will work on this piece. The plan is to have a “Whitetail Watch” session where the DNR Game Warden can educate landowners on what to watch for because we have had a lot of poaching in our area. The Sheriff and Game Warden are in support of this process and it was suggested to have the Sportsman's Club help organize this event possibly at the Liberty Bar. Vernon County would write the tickets on our behalf but if there is an appeal the Town may be incurring some expense. This will be brought back in June for further action.

12.Discussion with possible action on appointment of Zoning Board – We can have a five or seven member board that would draft recommendations for the Town Board. The following residents have volunteered to be on the Zoning Board – Jason Vidas, Elizabeth Tigen, Wade Lawler, Joel Johnson, Kyle Prorok, Susan Mueller and Nicole Rakobitsch. Polhamus will help with the meeting posting and agendas. The committee will choose their Chairperson and Secretary for the keeping of minutes as these have to be open meetings. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Amelse to appoint the seven volunteer members listed to the Zoning Board. All in favor. Motion carried.

13.Action & Approval on monthly bills– Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to approve total bills of $5,296.78 as presented. All in favor. Motion carried.

14.Review of building permits (if any) - the permit for Halverson did not contain a legal description of the property. This was corrected and forwarded to Martin so this one was complete.

15.Second period for public comment -Wade Lawler had a question on his building permit. Jason Vidas suggested sending notice to all residents regarding the zoning issues. Susan Mueller stated a Zoning Board of Appeals will need to be established when this is implemented. The Comprehensive Plan needs to be added to the website.

16.Future agenda items– Town picnic, Shining ordinance, Gore Hollow discussion and dust control.

Motion by Amelse/second by Rakobitsch to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 pm. All in favor. Motion carried.

Minutes submitted by: Lori Polhamus, Town Clerk

Meeting Minutes, April 17 2019

TOWN OF LIBERTY

April 17, 2019

Chairman Terry Theis called the monthly meeting of the Town of Liberty to order at 7:30 pm. on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at the Liberty Town Hall following the Town Annual meeting and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members present were Terry Theis, Nicole Rakobitsch, Treasurer Karen Peterson and Clerk Lori Polhamus. Supervisor Adrian Amelse was excused.

2. Oath of Office for Board Members elected at 4/2/2019 Election – Clerk Polhamus administered the oath of office to the members present.

3. Clerk Lori Polhamus read the minutes of the March 11, 2019 regular town meeting. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as read. All in favor. Motion carried.

4. Treasurer’s report. (report attached) Peterson read the Treasurer’s report. Beginning cash balance as of 3/1/19 was $13,007.02 and an ending cash balance as of 3/31/19 of $20,213.09 was reported. Interest year to date on the General Fund was $5.58 and interest earned year to date on the Tax Account was $38.38. There is $75,261.49 available in the tax account.

5. Patrolman's Report– The roads are drying out and we exceeded the amount of gravel on Chadwick Hollow because of flood control out of Viola. The Elk Run road culvert will be put in soon. The truck electrical problem seems to be fixed. Orlin was asked to obtain an estimate for the hydrolic work on the truck that is needed for the next meeting.

6.First Period for public comment – None

7.Town Announcements- Construction on the Bishop Branch bridge on Hwy 56 is slated to start in 2023 per the Department of Transportation and there will be detours. Town Official workshops are on May 16thin Tomah if interested. The local meeting of the Towns Association will be on 4/25 at the Courthouse in Viroqua. Annual convention is Oct 13-15 in Wisconsin Dells. There is a construction trailer being delivered tomorrow for a bridge replacement in the Town of Webster and they will be paying us $500 to keep it at the Town Shop. Road bans will come off early next week. Clean Sweep will be May 11that the Vernon County landfill.

8.Award of gravel bid – we received one bid from Kraemer Company of $9.59 per cubic yard or $7.10 per ton. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to approve the gravel bid from Kraemer Company. All in favor. Motion carried.

9.Discussion with possible action on future plans for Gore Hollow Hill – Theis contacted the Towns Association regarding the closure of a road and there is an eight page document that he will forward to the board for their review. We will need a local attorney to help draft some of the documents needed. Orlin reviewed the amounts for maintenance of the hill during the winter months of December through April and also April to December. Winter maintenance totaled $10,627.44 and summer maintenance was $2,052.08 for a grand total of $12,679.52 for just the hill in an average year. This amount would increase if it required more than one round of maintenance. The winter could be two to three rounds of maintenance adding to the cost. If the hill is closed a 65 foot turnaround would be needed. The previous quotes on seal coat were also discussed. The residents in attendance from Gore Hollow were in favor of closing the hill as the Town does not have the resources to continue maintaining the hill in the long term and could use the resources elsewhere. Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to move forward with exploring the possibility of closing the Gore Hollow Hill. All in favor. Motion carried.

10.Discussion with possible action on zoning ordinance – this was discussed during the Annual meeting and will be added to the May agenda.

11.Action & Approval on monthly bills– Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to approve total bills of $17,396.33 as presented. All in favor. Motion carried.

12.Review of building permits (if any) - None

13.Second period for public comment -None

14.Future agenda items– Recycling ordinance, shining ordinance, zoning committee and dust control

Motion by Rakobitsch/second by Theis to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 pm. All in favor. Motion carried.

Minutes submitted by: Lori Polhamus, Town Clerk

1 2