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.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE
The Annual Town Meeting will be tomorrow night, April 13th. The Town attorney has been instructed to begin legal action to recover the cost of repairing a guardrail on Bohn Road from the individual responsible for causing the damage.
CITIZEN INPUT
There was no citizen input.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Don McKay moved approval of the minutes of the March 8th meeting, Steve Cowan seconded, and the minutes were approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Deposits for the month of March were $1,054.68. $550 was received for site visits, $325 for driveway permits, $115 for dog licenses and $64.68 in interest.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.
CLERK’S REPORT
The spring election brought out 232 voters, which was over 38 percent. Most bills were routine quarterly bills except for check 1989 which included the expense of replacing the air conditioning compressor and several lines on the tractor. We received $1,419.13 from the Wisconsin Disaster Fund for expenses incurred in storm damage cleanup and road shoulder repair from an August 2007 rain storm; the check did not arrive in time to be deposited in March
A motion was made by Steve Cowan and seconded by Don McKay to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Approval is sought for payment of bills for March, 2010, paid by checks numbered 1948 through 1991 and ACH transfers 4, 5 and 6 for health insurance, income continuation insurance and State withholding. Check 1948 was discussed at the March meeting and check 1949, for diesel fuel, went out early in the month. Check 1991 is an April check for County Election Services.
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer to approve payment of bills for March and early April, 2010 with the exception that a detailed invoice for the tractor air conditioning repair should be requested before the check is released. The motion was approved.
UPDATE FROM DANE COUNTY COMMUNITY DEPUTY
In April the Sheriff’s Department made a presentation at the Wisconsin Heights High School on “risky behaviors” among teenagers. A mock accident, demonstrating the risks of impaired driving, is planned for the High School prior to prom night. A list of Department calls within the Town during the first part of 2010 was presented to the Board.
CONSIDERATION OF PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REGARDING REZONES AND HOMESITES FOR THOM GRENLIE OFF FORSHAUG ROAD IN SECTION 26
Rezoning of three lots is being requested, with house sites on two of the three; the Planning Commission recommended approval of all three. No driveway permits are being requested at this time. Barbara Grenlie, a party to the requested rezonings, left her Board seat during consideration of these requests.
Lot 1 consists of 16 acres and one home site and a rezone to RH4 is being requested. Mark Sherven moved approval, Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
Lot 2 consists of 24 acres and one home site and a rezone to RH4 is being requested. Larry Ziemer moved approval, Steve Cowan seconded and the motion was approved.
Lot 3 consists of 16 acres and no home sites or Potential Development Rights and a rezone to A4 is being requested. Larry Ziemer moved approval, Steve Cowan seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RECREATION PERMIT APPLICATION FROM FRIENDS OF BLUE MOUNDS STATE PARK FOR JUNE 19 HORRIBLY HILLY HUNDREDS BICYCLE RIDE
Shelby Retzlaff, Event Director, and Willi Van Haren, a member of the governing board of the Friends of Blue Mounds State Park, were present to submit the application and permit fee. Missing on the application was the number of expected participants. From past experience they expect 1100 to 1200 participants in the event. Dane County Highway Department approval and Proof of Insurance remain to be obtained. Chairman Mark Sherven requested that the organizers notify residents along the route prior to the event, and they agreed. He also noted that route times are now staggered, which should lead to less congestion along the route.
Supervisor Grenlie noted that some Town roads, particularly Zwettler Road, are particularly impacted by bicycle events, a fact might be of particular concern to people living along those roads. She also noted that the rights of property owners should be respected by those manning water and rest stops along event routes. Deputy Longley noted that providing resident notification and obtaining landowner cooperation prior to an event will make it less likely that deputies will have to move through the event to address citizen complaints.
Steve Cowan moved that the application be approved contingent upon receipt by the Town of proof of insurance. Don McKay seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RECREATION PERMIT APPLICATION FROM VIKING BIKING CLUB FOR JULY 10 INSANE TERRAIN CHALLENGE BICYCLE RIDE
Shelby Retzlaff represented the Viking Biking Club, which is proposing a 350 person event. Ms. Retzlaff indicated that they would be willing to notify residents along the route prior to the event.
Steve Cowan moved that the application be approved contingent upon receipt by the Town of a copy of the Dane County Highway Department permit and proof of insurance. Larry Ziemer seconded and the motion was approved.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RECREATION PERMIT APPLICATION FROM MAD CITY VELO BIKE CLUB FOR JULY 24 BLUE MOUNDS CLASSIC BICYCLE RACE
Robert Brunette represented the Mad City Velo Bike Club, which is proposing an approximately 100 person event. They plan to notify residents along the route prior to the event. Proof of insurance was submitted along with the permit application.
Mark Sherven moved that the application be approved contingent upon receipt by the Town of a copy of the Dane County Highway Department permit. Barbara Grenlie seconded and the motion was approved, with Don McKay voting not to approve based on the fact that the event is a race.
DISCUSSION OF FUTURE PROPERTY PURCHASE OPTIONS
Property has come up for sale at the intersection of Highways J and JJ. Chairman Mark Sherven suggested that Board members consider whether it would be in the Town’s interest to purchase this centrally located property for future community needs. Steve Cowan moved that the item be tabled, Barbara Grenlie seconded and the motion to table was approved.
DISCUSSION OF BLACK EARTH JOINT FIRE DISTRICT PURCHASE OF NEW SQUAD VEHICLE
The Black Earth Joint Fire District Board will be voting on purchase of the new squad vehicle on May 6. If the vehicle is purchased, the Town will need to pay its $17,000 share of the chassis purchase price soon after. It is expected that money will need to be borrowed near the end of the year to cover this expenditure until the squad purchase can be budgeted for 2011 and beyond. The outcome of the May 6 vote is uncertain, given the current economic slowdown and a reluctance to approve expenditures which could possibly be postponed.
APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATE MEMBERS FOR 2010 BOARD OF REVIEW
It was proposed to the Board that David Dybdahl, Donald Parrell, Virginia Urness and Sarah Danz be named as BOR alternates. A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Don McKay to approve the list of alternates, and the motion was approved.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Chairman Mark Sherven presented his appointments for 2010 – 2011:
Plan Commission: Chair, Jim Elleson
Driveway Committee: Planning Commission Chair & Board Chair
Road Committee: John Bird, Dave Haugen, Jack Schulenberg & Mark Sherven
Town Liaison to Villages of Mt. Horeb, Mazomanie & Black Earth: Don McKay,
(alternate) Mark Sherven
Representative to Black Earth Fire District & District One EMS: Steve Cowan, (alternate) Mark Sherven
Representative to Mt. Horeb Fire District: Mark Sherven, (alternate) Don McKay
COMMITTEE REPORTS
District One EMS had its annual banquet in March, with a number of volunteers being honored for their length of service. For the Road Committee, Mark Sherven noted that preliminary estimates are being obtained for replacement of the old salt storage shed with a new addition for the storage of equipment for which there is not now room. Kelliher Road has suffered serious damage over the winter and a portion will require extensive repair. The spring road cleanup has been completed, with the Town Patrolman’s daughter volunteering to help him as part of an Agricultural Leadership course. The Board expressed its appreciation for her help. Stan Olson has accepted the offer to be the new Mt. Horeb fire chief.
Mark Sherven noted that the Planning Commission should make the development of intergovernmental agreements with surrounding municipalities one of the next topics to address. Another area to be considered is Planning Commission policy concerning approval of home sites without associated driveways.
DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR MAY MEETING
No items were proposed for the May agenda
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Barbara Grenlie and seconded by Larry Ziemer that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:42.
Marc Robertson, Town Clerk