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February 20, 2007 Town Board Meeting
Town Board Meeting of February 20, 2007 Chairman Jeff Long called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Also present were Supervisors Jay Christgau and David Schuenemann, Clerk/Treasurer Lois Smith, and guests: Dennis Westphal, Jim Galloway, Cathy Schneider, Mykl Hensley, Steve Duba, John Scapes, Charlie Spencer, Greg Bienenwalt and Russ Cluey. Charlie Spencer informed the board that the Gresham Lakes Association has close to $14,000 committed from members and friends and that the DNR had granted their permit for herbicide application. Chairman Long assured the members that any excess funds over the required grant amount share will be directed back to the association and that the town’s participation will still be consistent. Chairman Long read the agenda. MOTION/SCHUENEMANN: SECOND/CHRISTGAU: To accept the agenda as posted. MOTION CARRIED. The Treasurer’s Report for January was reviewed. MOTION/SCHUENEMANN: SECOND/CHRISTGAU: To approve the treasurer’s report as presented. The minutes of the Special Board Meeting of December 27, 2006 was read. MOTION/SCHUENEMANN: SECOND/SCHUENEMANN: MOTION CARRIED with Supervisor Christgau abstaining. The minutes of the January 16, 2007 were read. MOTION/CHRISTGAU: SECOND/SCHUENEMANN: Correction of board members’ name will be made. MOTION CARRIED. Minutes of the February 13th special board meeting were read. MOTION/SCHUENEMANN: SECOND/LONG: MOTION CARRIED with Supervisor Christgau abstaining. New Business: Fire Chief Dennis Westphal began by informing the board that the new ambulance has been purchased and has been on two calls already and are waiting for the purchaser of the old ambulance to pick it up within the next week. Chairman Long gives tremendous credit to the FD members for their effort for saving for this vehicle for six years. Chief Westphal then explained the reason for the request for the replacement of Tanker #1. The chassis is a 1982, 25 years old. He would like permission from the board to purchase a new chassis and lease it like they did with Tanker #2, which they just made the final payment in January, 2007. They would like to handle the lease the same and run it again for five years. Further discussion ensued about fire department equipment. MOTION/LONG: SECOND/CHRISTGAU: To authorize the fire department to proceed with getting prices for a new chassis ($75,000), changing of lights and required upgrades ($7500) and the purchase of a Newton dump valve ($7000). The estimated cost to be about $89,500. MOTION CARRIED. Chief Westphal then informed the board the members had approved the construction/purchase of a storage building from their funds. Chairman directed the clerk to put in a class 2 notice and a Tuesday night was okay with the department. They would like to have it before the end of March, so they can get the winter discount being offered. Chief Westphal also stated he along with the board needed to begin to look at sometime in the next year replacing the heavy rescue truck with a rescue engine which would give them greater pumping power to retain our ISO rating. The approximate cost is $200-225,000. The brakes on the old truck have been giving them trouble. The old truck was purchased about 15 years ago. Further discussion ensued. The replacement would have some additional features such as more storage and racks for specialized equipment and a ladder rack. The department will continue to look into what will be needed on the replacement truck. Chairman Long reviewed the sign application permit for Mike Bauer and Stephanie Miesbauer of the Blueberry Patch. The sign permit will be approved by the board as we no longer have a zoning deputy. Chairman Long found no discrepancies in the permit with our sign ordinance. In the future the board will approve the sign permit and the clerk will issue the permit. MOTION/LONG: SECOND/LONG: To approve the sign permit. MOTION CARRIED. Chairman Long read the proposed amendment to the BJ Zoning Ordinance 2-65, 3-72, 2-78, 2-89, 1-82 and 9-80. This amendment will be a two year moratorium on the enforcement of the listed ordinances and that Vilas County Zoning will be issuing zoning permits during this two year time span. Discussion ensued. MOTION/LONG: SECOND/CHRISTGAU: To approve the amendment as presented for final approval at the March board meeting. Short discussion ensued. MOTION CARRIED. Mobile Home Ordinance 2-65 has been under the local zoning and now will be change and be part of the Uniform Dwelling Code, Ordinance 1-2004. This has been a change coming down from the state. We will be re-writing this ordinance with the assistance from Leon Butler, Uniform Dwelling Code Inspector. He has provided us with some sample copies to work with and hope to have a final copy for the meeting in March. The new code for the state is effective in April, 2007. The ordinance will be dealing with manufactured homes placed in mobile home parks or manufactured home communities and also on private lots. Sign Ordinance 1-98 needs to be upgraded to reflect the current changes in zoning. The mention of zoning deputy or zoning ordinance will be changed. The Ordinance will now be called Sign Permit, approved and enforced by the town board and issued by the town clerk. The amendment to the ordinance will be available at the March board meeting. Chairman Long explained the need to amend the Board of Adjustment Ordinance, 1-78. A moratorium of two years will be placed on this ordinance also and will be in final copy for the March meeting. The change comes about because of the change on zoning transferring the permit from the town to the county for two years. A letter from Vilas County Land Records Office requesting we appoint a liason person for the upcoming address changes and fire #’s assigned issues to establish a Uniform Addressing System for all of Vilas County. Chairman Long stated he would be willing to be the liason until such time a policeman is hired. Lengthy discussion ensued. MOTION/CHRISTGAU: SECOND/SCHUENEMANN: To appoint Jeff Long as liason. MOTION CARRIED. The application for Operator’s License for William C. Fricke was reviewed. MOTION/CHRISTGAU: SECOND/LONG: To approve Operator’s License for William C. Fricke. MOTION CARRIED. The Room Tax for 2006 declined by .64% from 2005. The decline came about in the third quarter from the resorts category. It appears it is lower because of a lodge that burned down and had not yet been rebuilt. Chairman Long reported we have 91 applicants. Sheriff John Niebuhr will be here on Thursday, February 22 to assist in reviewing the applications. There will be special meetings for the interviews and the process of making the selection of replacing the retired police officer. Dennis Westphal will be assisting, as well as, a retired Sheriff/Taxpayer. They will be looking at the applicants, putting them in categories of experienced, new and EMT/Fireman experience. These meetings are open to the public. 2006 designated funds remaining is $38,616.49. MOTION/LONG: SECOND/DAVID SCHUENEMANN: To designate 2006 remaining funds of $38,616.49 be placed into the 2007 road funds. These funds to be used for the road project in front of the post office past the two churches (Old Hwy K). MOTION CARRIED. Contract with the Chamber of Commerce has been signed, however, there are some insurance issues to be resolved. The contract between Looking East Music Productions and the Chamber of Commerce is still in the works. The jam is scheduled for June 23, 2007 and to be held at the ball park. Lengthy discussion ensued on all aspects of the jam. Jay Christgau’s residency issue. He will be moving on March 2nd, 2007. He is moving to shorten his travel time to work for himself and his wife. He is very sad to have to leave Boulder Junction. Clerk Smith informed the board his position ceases the day he moves from Boulder Junction. Due to the proximity of the election on April 3, 2007, it only leaves us with a one-month vacancy. Someone could come forward as a write-in candidate. If the write-in candidate does not win over Mr. Christgau, who is already on the ballot, then the Town Board would appoint someone to fill the vacancy. Chairman Long stated Jay has served this community in many capacities and has helped to make Boulder Junction what it is today. He was a very valuable member of emergency services, business community and fire department. Chairman Long thanked Jay for his service to the community from the bottom of our hearts. Elisa Farmilant is the Northern Field Representative for Congressman Steve Kagen. She stopped in the office and asked that I give all board members her card and to contact her, if her services to represent Mr. Kagen are needed. Notice from Vilas County Zoning and Planning of an upcoming meeting concerning new and existing density requirements and setbacks on March 16, 2007. It has been posted on the bulletin board. A letter from EMC Insurance thanking us for our business and informing us of $1427.00 due to the good claim experience of our account over the past year. Also another piece of correspondence from Dustin Overbeck, E-Door County Webb Designs stating his available services in establishing a web site. Bills payable were approved in the amount of $153,694.90 (includes pmt of new ambl.). . MOTION/LONG: SECOND/SCHUENEMANN: To adjourn the meeting at 8:58 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Lois J. Smith Clerk/Treasurer