The meeting was called to order at 7:30. 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.
Present: Chairman, Mark Sherven; Supervisors, Barbara Grenlie, Steve Cowan, Larry Ziemer and Don McKay; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Sarah Danz .
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Barbara Grenlie, seconded by Larry Ziemer and approved with the change that Item 12, the presentation regarding the proposed Centurion bicycle race, was moved to follow Item 13.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
Chairman Mark Sherven noted that the Mount Horeb Fire District Board had offered the position of Interim Fire Chief to Stan Olson and is awaiting his response.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Barbara Grenlie moved approval of the minutes of the February 8th meeting, Don McKay seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Deposits for the month of February were $361,598.41. The largest portion was $355,979.49 in 2010 tax payment collected at the end of January but which could not be deposited until February. $2,659.52 was received from the DNR as Payment in Lieu of Taxes, $1,195 was a partial refund of workers comp payments made for 2009 and 2010, $1,105 was received for dog licenses, $240 for building permits, $25 for a title search and $394.40 in interest.
A motion was made by Steve Cowan and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
The spring election will be April 6th and the 2010 Annual Town Meeting will be April 13th.
We now have Quickbooks 2010 installed on the Town computer. Other than that expense, restocking office supplies and some minor repair bills, all other bills are routine monthly bills.
A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Barbara Grenlie to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for February, 2010, paid by checks numbered 1914 through 1947, March check 1948, and ACH transfers 2 and 3 for health insurance and State withholding. Checks 1914 through 1919 were discussed at the February meeting since they had to go out early in the month.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer to approve payment of bills for February and early March, 2010 and the motion was approved.
UPDATE FROM DANE COUNTY COMMUNITY DEPUTY
No one representing the Department was present.
INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION REGARDING PROPOSED NEW BLACK EARTH JOINT FIRE DISTRICT VEHICLE PURCHASE
Fred Wolf, Chair of the Black Earth Joint Fire District Board and Mark Richter, Fire Chief, were present to discuss an initial proposal for the purchase of a new squad vehicle for the District. The current squad is 20 years old and is costing an average of $6,000 per year to repair. It is now several years beyond the useful life originally projected for it by the Department. The squad is used for all fire calls, which in 2009 was 81 calls, and must therefore be reliable.
A new squad is expected to cost a total of $325,000 to $350,000, with the Town’s share being approximately 18 percent of that amount. A total of approximately $94,000 will be due in 2010 when the order for the chassis is placed, with the Town’s share projected to be approximately $17,000. 2010 may be the last year that a new International chassis can be purchased without urea injection in the exhaust; waiting beyond 2010 might add approximately $30,000 to the cost of a new truck along with requiring additional annual maintenance for the urea injection system. A Rosenbauer squad body will cost approximately $228,000 additional if it can be purchased before the addition urea injection is required on the chassis.
It is expected that the Black Earth Joint Fire District Board will make a decision on the purchase at their meeting on the first Thursday in May. Placing the order in June or July will make the Town’s first payment due two weeks later with the remainder due upon completion of the vehicle 16 to 18 months later.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2135 FOR YAHARA MATERIALS QUARRY ON HARALD NORSLIEN PROPERTY AT 4732 STATE HIGHWAY 78
The quarry has been in operation since 1990 but requires a new Conditional Use Permit every 10 years. No changes are anticipated in the future operation of the quarry, though it is expected that the usable stone within the current quarry boundaries may be exhausted within the upcoming 10 years. Since the State monitors quarry operation, particularly blasting activities, the Town’s concern is mainly with the welfare of residents and property owners near the quarry. Neighbors present had no objection to the CUP renewal. Barbara Grenlie moved approval of CUP 2135, Steve Cowan seconded and the motion was approved.
DISCUSSION OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING REVISION OF SHORT TERM AMUSEMENT AND RECREATION EVENTS ORDINANCE AND POSSIBLE SCHEDULING OF PUBLIC HEARING
Work has continued on the proposed ordinance after the most recent Planning Commission meeting. Discussion topics included the relative burdens to be placed on the applicant versus the Town government regarding the contents of the application and verification of compliance with the notification requirements of other governmental entities. Also discussed was the need for an ordinance provision prohibiting the sweeping of gravel off of recently seal coated roads by those event organizers using Town roads. Don McKay moved that the ordinance draft as modified by this Board meeting be sent to a public hearing, Steve Cowan seconded and the motion was approved. The public hearing is scheduled for April 19, 2010.
PRESENTATION REGARDING PROPOSED CENTURION BICYCLE RACE
Tim Hyland representing the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau, was present to provide further information concerning the Centurion bicycle races proposed for August 7-8, 2010. The proposed course has been adjusted in an attempt to reduce the doubling back on the same road by the event, but the effect has been to increase the usage of Town of Vermont roads for the event. The use of the rolling enclosure was discussed further, along with the duration and timing of complete road closures. Citizen concerns were again expressed about the potential emergency need to access the highways from home during the event as well as the general disruption to local transportation needs by both the event and those attracted to the area to practice for it. It was also noted that some of the Town roads proposed to be used for the event are narrow, with blind curves and driveways and are considered by some residents to be unsuitable for an event of this size.
A permit application was presented for consideration. Barbara Grenlie moved that the permit be denied, Don McKay seconded the motion and the motion to deny the permit was approved, with Steve Cowan voting to approve the permit.
DISCUSSION OF SUBSTITUTE 1 TO ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 22, 2009-2010 AMENDING CHAPTER 12 OF THE DANE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR REDUCED REZONING APPLICATION FEES FOR DANE COUNTY FARMERS CONSTRUCTING A PRIMARY FARM RESIDENCE
This ordinance amendment has been sent to the Town for discussion only. While the Board’s view regarding the Ordinance Amendment was generally favorable, no action was required.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 45, 2009-2010 AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE DANE COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, CREATING TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (TDR) ZONING DISTRICTS
The Planning Commission recommended that the ordinance amendment be approved. Wording has been added to an earlier draft emphasizing that participation by towns in the TDR program is voluntary and that Dane County will not consider a town’s non-participation a reason to deny rezoning applications. Barbara Grenlie moved that the ordinance amendment be approved, Steve Cowan seconded and the motion was approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Spring road cleanup will soon begin, with the Town Patrolman’s daughter volunteering to help as part of an Agricultural Leadership course. The Board expressed its appreciation for her help.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR APRIL MEETING
Further discussion of the Black Earth Joint Fire District truck purchase is expected.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Steve Cowan and seconded by Larry Ziemer that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 10:40.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk