The meeting was called to order at 7:34. The clerk certified that the notice had been posted at the Black Earth State Bank, at John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, Amcore Bank in Mt. Horeb, on the town web site www.townofvermont.com, and on the front door of the town hall. It was also published in the News Sickle-Arrow and the Mt. Horeb Mail.
The agenda amendment was posted at John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, Amcore Bank in Mt. Horeb, the town web site www.townofvermont.com and on the front door of the Town Hall.
Present: Chairman, Mark Sherven; Supervisors, Barbara Grenlie, Steve Cowan, Bill Hanson and Don McKay; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Bill Hanson, seconded by Barbara Grenlie and approved.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
Discussions with the Dane County Highway Department indicate that they are not in a position to grant permission for the spraying of invasive species in the County right-of-way, but neither will they take steps to prevent spraying by others, including individuals authorized by the Town.
A letter was received from Dane County informing the Town of a one year extension to Dane County participation in a special HUD grant funding program.
Weather radios have been received from Dane County and are available for purchase at the Town Hall at a discounted price.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Bill Hanson moved approval of the minutes of the March 10th meeting, Don McKay seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Deposits for the month of March were $28,864.18. The largest share was the State of Wisconsin Lottery Credit payment of $25,527.27, but of this $21,060.02 must be paid out to Dane County and the school districts. $2,311.79 was received from the Wisconsin DNR for Payment In Lieu of taxes, $425.00 for building and driveway permits, $25 for a recreation permit and $575.12 for interest. A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson to accept the Treasurer’s report, and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
We were billed for the last load of sand from Kowalski-Kieler and the salt that we purchased from Dane County. That brings our total bill for replacement sand and salt for this past winter to $5,617. We may receive federal reimbursement for a portion of our winter expenses.
We had about a 53 percent voter turnout for the spring election and registered a number of new voters.
Checks were ordered from a new vendor. Rather than using our sample check for a beginning number, they began with check number 1001. The reorder check will be kept with this month’s paid bills to document the stopping point for the old check stock.
A motion was made by Bill Hanson and seconded by Steve Cowan to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for March, 2008 and paid by checks numbered 11827 through 1005. Check 11826, dated March 10, was to District One EMS for the Village of Mazomanie for medical care transportation supplement payment reimbursement and was approved at the March meeting.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to approve payment of bills for March and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE NAME OF ROBERTS ROAD OFF OF MOEN VALLEY ROAD IN SECTION 1
Occasionally road names which have been locally accepted have not been presented to Dane County for formal recognition. In this case, Dane County is willing to recognize the name of Roberts Road if presented with a resolution by the Town Board. Barbara Grenlie moved that a Board resolution regarding the naming of Roberts Road be approved, Bill Hanson seconded and the resolution was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF WISCONSIN DOT EQUIPMENT RATES FOR FUTURE COST ALLOCATION
Recent interaction with FEMA suggested that it would be in the best interest of the Town to adopt Wisconsin DOT equipment rates for use in the event that future emergencies require that resources be shared among municipalities.
As part of the discussion, Mark Sherven supplied details of the recent application to FEMA for reimbursement for some expenses connected with the early February snowstorm.
Mark Sherven moved that a Board resolution formally adopting the Wisconsin DOT equipment rates be approved, Barbara Grenlie seconded and the resolution was approved.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PURCHASE OF TOWN TRUCK
Three bids were received for replacement of the existing Town Ford 550 by a new Ford 550. The lowest bid received for the chassis was $36,260 from Hallada Motors, Inc. in Dodgeville. The road committee has recommended to the Board that the Hallada bid be accepted. Mark Sherven moved that the Hallada bid be accepted, Steve Cowan seconded and the motion was approved unanimously.
A bid of $17,292 was received from Double D Services, Inc. for a dump body, plow and accessories. A bid was also received from Monroe Truck Equipment. The road committee has recommended to the Board that the Double D Services bid be accepted. Mark Sherven moved that the Double D Services bid be accepted, Steve Cowan seconded and the motion was approved unanimously.
Delivery of the completed truck will be in approximately October. There was discussion that trucks should be replaced more often than is the current practice, possibly every 7 or 8 years.
While truck replacement is not in the 2008 budget, the frequency and magnitude of recent repairs to the existing truck have made replacement desirable. The Town is
fortunate in that MFL withdrawals in 2008 are likely to fund much of the net replacement cost.
CONSIDERATION OF DISTRICT ONE EMS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
Steve Cowan presented the Board with large-scale prints of the new building. It is expected that the building will be largely completed by the middle of May, and that EMS volunteers will be able to acquire the majority of the furnishings need for the building. It is also possible that grants will be available for some of the equipment required to outfit the building. It has been determined that more parking will be required for training participants than is currently planned, a problem to be resolved.
APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATE MEMBERS FOR 2008 BOARD OF REVIEW
It was proposed to the Board that Virginia Urness, David Dybdahl, Donald Parrell and Sarah Danz be named as BOR alternates. A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson to approve the list of alternates, and the motion was approved.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Chairman Mark Sherven presented his appointments for 2008 – 2009:
Plan Commission: Chair, Barbara Grenlie
Driveway Committee: Planning Commission Chair & Vice Chair
Road Committee: Dave Haugen, Jack Schulenberg, Mark Sherven & John Bird
Town Liaison to Villages of Mt. Horeb, Mazomanie & Black Earth: Don McKay,
(alternate) Mark Sherven
Representative to Black Earth Fire District: Bill Hanson, (alternate) Steve Cowan
Representative to EMS District One: Steve Cowan, (alternate) Bill Hanson
Representative to Mt. Horeb Fire District: Mark Sherven, (alternate) Don McKay
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Bill Hanson reported that the Black Earth Fire Department will be spending approximately $5,500 to purchase special pickup truck mounted equipment for fighting brush and grass fires. Don McKay reported on continuing progress on development of the comprehensive plan. Bill Hanson moved that a resolution be presented to members of the Town Planning Commission commending them for the hard work they have put into the comprehensive plan, which new Planning Commission Chair Barbara Grenlie hopes will be completed in a few months. Mark Sherven seconded the motion and it was approved.
Several members of the road committee attended a Dane County Highway Department presentation on the use of salt brine as a supplement to granular salt for winter deicing. It is expected that the use of brine will assist in the reduction of overall winter road salt usage by making the granular salt work more quickly as well as stick to the road better. Applicability to the Town will be only in the future because the brine is not suitable for use with our sand and salt mixture.
Bids are currently being sought for 13.76 miles of seal coating. Crack filling is expected to be done on Braun Road, Union Valley Road, Blue Mounds Trail and Vermont Church Road. This is more mileage than originally budgeted, but it is expected that some tree trimming funds will be allocated to crack filling. Several culvert repairs and replacements are also being planned.
CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CONSIDERATION OF BOTH BUS AND RAIL OPTIONS IN PLANNING AND CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION STATING THE TOWN, NOT THE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SHOULD CONTROL THE FUTURE LAND USE OF THE TOWN
A resolution was presented to the Board indicating the Town’s position that the Federal Transit Administration should reject a Dane County application for rail transit on the grounds that options other than rail should be considered in future County Transportation planning. Mark Sherven moved approval, Don McKay seconded and Barbara Grenlie called the question. The motion was approved with Steve Cowan voting no.
A resolution was presented to the Board that the Town comprehensive plan, not the Dane County comprehensive plan, should control future land use in the Town. Mark Sherven moved approval and Barbara Grenlie seconded. Barbara Grenlie called the question and the motion was approved unanimously.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR MAY MEETING
Liquor licenses for Tyrol Basin will be on the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Bill Hanson that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:21.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk