MINUTES

TOWN OF VERMONT BOARD MEETING

May 13, 2013


The meeting notice has been posted at the Black Earth Branch of the State Bank of Cross Plains, at John Bird Accounting in Black Earth, Harris 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: Chair, Barbara Grenlie; Supervisors, Don McKay, Todd Culliton and Larry Ziemer; Clerk Marc Robertson and Treasurer Kathy Smith. The meeting began with Supervisor seat 4 vacant.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA


A motion to approve the agenda was made by Larry Ziemer, seconded by Todd Culliton and approved with the change that the approval of an appointment to fill vacant Supervisor seat 4 was moved from item 9 to item 3.


DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENT TO FILL VACANT SUPERVISOR SEAT 4


Barbara Grenlie nominated Kevin Kuntz to fill out the term of Supervisor seat 4, Larry Ziemer moved that the nomination be approved, Don McKay seconded and the motion was approved. At this point Kevin Kuntz was sworn in by Chair Barbara Grenlie.


CHAIRMAN’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE

The annual Dane County Towns Association meeting will be on May 29. Todd Culliton reported that one topic to be discussed is the proposal by Dane County to discontinue providing vehicle, liability and workers compensation insurance to EMS districts in the County. This would have the effect of shifting that cost to local units of government. It remains unclear whether the organizers of the bicycle race on July 4th weekend have been able to revise their plans to avoid conducting the event on Town of Vermont roads on July 4th itself, which was a condition of approval of their Recreation Events permit.

CITIZEN INPUT


There was no citizen input.


APPROVAL OF MINUTES


Don McKay moved approval of the minutes of the April 8th meeting, Todd Culliton seconded, and the minutes were approved.


TREASURER’S REPORT


Total deposits for the month of April were $25,324.45. $20,386.71 was our quarterly General Transportation Aid payment, $3,664.59 was our Lottery Credit Settlement, $512.63 was our Lottery Credit Settlement for Special Districts, $204.70 was our April Aid in Lieu of Taxes, $180 was for recycled metal, $125 for building permits, $125 for recreation permits, $50 for dog licenses, $39.29 for Delinquent Personal Property Tax and the remainder was $36.53 in interest.


A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Todd Culliton to accept the Treasurer’s report and the motion was approved.


CLERK’S REPORT


Board of Review will be Monday, May 20th starting at 5:00 p.m. Check 3431 was to replace the air conditioner clutch on the Ford truck. Check 3438 was for our 2013 crack filling on Vermont Church Road and Blue Mounds Trail. Check 3442 was for the majority of our 2013 culverts and check 3452 was for our annual brush mower rental.


A motion was made by Don McKay and seconded by Larry Ziemer to accept the Clerk’s report, and the motion was approved.


PAYMENT OF BILLS


Approval is sought for payment of bills for April, 2013, paid by checks numbered 3425 through 3452 and ACH transfer 9 for health insurance. Check 3425 was for an invoice that arrived the day of the April meeting and was discussed at that meeting, check 3426 was a replacement check for one apparently lost in the mail and was also discussed at that meeting. Check 3427 was to Dane County for an erosion control permit and sent out early. Checks other than those discussed in the clerk’s report are for normal supplies, repairs and maintenance and for regular Monthly bills.


A motion was made by Larry Ziemer and seconded by Todd Culliton to approve payment of bills for April 2013 and the motion was approved.


CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING HOMESITE AND DRIVEWAY CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION FROM DON PARRELL ON BLUE MOUNDS TRAIL


Engineering plans for the proposed driveway had been presented to the Planning Commission and approved.


Discussion ensued concerning what Town policy should be regarding the approval of driveway plans without concurrent approval of a home site and septic system. In the case of this application there are a number of potential house and septic system sites, and the applicant preferred that a decision concerning those locations be postponed until a buyer was available to be consulted. However, in not having concurrent approvals the applicant runs the risk that future regulatory changes may make future approvals more difficult. Since Mr. Parrell acknowledged this potential risk to having only a Driveway Construction Permit approved by the Board at this time, Todd Culliton moved that the application be approved, Larry Ziemer seconded and the application was approved, with Don McKay abstaining.


CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING CHANGES TO DRIVEWAY PERMIT RENEWAL


The Planning Commission recommended that currently valid Driveway Construction Permits be valid for three years from the date of this Board meeting and that future Driveway Construction Permits be valid for three years from the date of issuance. Don McKay moved approval of the revised application procedures, Todd Culliton seconded and the motion was approved.


CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR WIND TURBINE SITING ORDINANCE


This topic is not yet ready for Board consideration.

CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF LETTER TO DANE COUNTY REGARDING PUBLIC NOTICE AND INVOLVEMENT IN TAX PAYER FUNDED LAND ACQUISITION PROCESS


This topic is not yet ready for Board consideration.


CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF 2013 – 2014 APPLICATIONS FROM TYROL BASIN FOR ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSE AND OPERATORS LICENSES FOR DON MCKAY AND NIKITA EXTEROVICH


Barbara Grenlie moved approval of these licenses, Kevin Kuntz seconded and the motion was approved, with Don McKay abstaining.


DISCUSSION OF 2013 TOWN PICNIC


The 2013 picnic will be August 25th. Kathy Smith co-chaired the picnic in 2012, but will be unable in 2013. There is currently no picnic chair, volunteers will be solicited in Vermont’s Voice.

COMMITTEE REPORTS


The new International truck is currently being outfitted at Burke Truck. The Ford truck has required several recent repairs, including a new air conditioner clutch and radiator, however the radiator and several related components were replaced under warranty. 2013 crack filling has been completed. The new tractor should be in service in 2 – 3 weeks. The new garage addition has been started. The Black Earth Joint Fire District is revising its contract with participating municipalities for their future consideration. Insurance options for local fire and EMS districts is being explored given the possibility the Dane County will cease providing that insurance. A recent study showed that District One EMS is the lowest cost local EMS district in Dane County, providing service at $4.89 per capita.


DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS FOR JUNE MEETING


The proposed bicycle race during the period surrounding July 4th may be discussed depending on whether the sponsors have made arrangements to not hold the event on July 4th itself. A Town wind turbine ordinance may be approved for public hearing as well as consideration and possible approval of a letter to Dane County regarding public notice and involvement in tax payer funded land acquisition process. It is expected that there will be a report on the Dane County Towns Association meeting. Larry Ziemer will report on the WisLine material received concerning frack mining, and he suggested that the Town may in the future consider an ordinance governing that subject.


ADJOURNMENT


A motion was made by Kevin Kuntz and seconded by Todd Culliton that the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35.

Marc Robertson, Town Clerk