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February 5, 2009 Meeting Minutes
Mercer Town Board of Supervisors – February 5th 2009 – Minutes
Chairman Jim Kichak called the meeting of the Mercer Town Board of Supervisors to order on Thursday the 5th of
February 2009 at 6:30 pm in the Haines Civic Building.
Roll Call: Jim Kichak, Jim Lambert, Jeff Stenberg, Bonnie Banaszak, Toni Sendra, Opal Roberts, and Atty Schellgell. Absent Christan Manners/Brandt.
Motion made by Banaszak, seconded by Sendra, to approve the minutes from the January 15th 2009 board meeting. Carried.
Open comment: Fire Chief, Steve Altman had asked the Clerk if the driveway ordinance required property owners to keep the roadway free of trees and shrubs to prevent damage to emergency vehicles. The driveway ordinance was adopted in 2007 and does not address driveways constructed prior to this date or the maintenance once the driveways are constructed. It was suggested a notice be inserted into a newsletter and the next tax bills asking property owners to keep the driveways clear of obstructions for a width and height of 18’. If this is not done, the owner will be liable for any damage to the vehicles.
New Business: a) Discuss/Approve amendment to Subdivision Ordinance to include dry hydrants.
Atty Schellgell recommended adding the paragraph “As a condition to approval of any subdivision in the Town of Mercer, the applicant shall provide for Fire Hydrants in the plat of the subdivision, if property is located in the Mercer Sanitary District, and “dry” Fire Hydrants if said property abuts a waterway. If said property does not lie within the Mercer Sanitary District or abuts a waterway, this provision is not required. The number of dry hydrants shall be determined by statute, or alternately, the Town of Mercer Fire Chief. Said hydrants shall be constructed in accordance with State Statutes and/or Wisconsin Administrative Code subject to Department of Natural Resources specifications.” (See attached list of materials and general dimensions).
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Stenberg, to approve the amendment to the Subdivision Ordinance as stated above. Carried.
b) Discuss adopting a Wood Burning Ordinance.
The Iron County Health Department is requesting each Iron County township or city consider enacting a policy regarding outdoor wood boiler units. This request is due to the danger of harmful pollutants emitted from outdoor boiler units during operation if they are installed incorrectly. Included in the packet was a “Guide for Health Professionals for Outdoor Wood Boilers”, a sample policy, a copy of the City of Hurley Ordinance on Outdoor Solid Fuel Heating Devices, and a copy of the WI-DNR publication for a model ordinance on outdoor burning.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Stenberg, to send a letter to the Iron County Health Department stating that Mercer Township does not have a problem with outdoor wood burning furnaces and will not regulate them when, due to the current economic conditions, more people are using wood as an alternate heating source. Carried.
c) Discuss possible purchase of new furnace for library.
The town had received several quotes on the cost of replacing the furnace in the library. The heat exchanger is defective and is covered under the warranty. After discussion by the board it was decided to replace the heat exchanger and do other repairs as needed to insure safe operation of the furnace.
d) Discuss possible purchase of new water heater for Ambulance Barn.
Adam Kussard had asked for this to be placed on the agenda but was called out on an ambulance run just after the meeting started. The Ambulance Barn is switching from liquid propane to natural gas and the appliances need to have conversion kits installed. The cost of doing this for the old water heater may not be cost effective. He left the board with one quote for an “on demand” hot water heating system. The board would like to look at other alternatives before deciding on this matter.
Motion made by Banaszak, seconded by Lambert, to postpone this item until the next meeting. Carried.
e) Permission to turn over to Sanitary District old Sanitary District records.
The Clerk has reviewed the old records for the Sanitary District and there are two boxes of documents that the Sanitary District may be interested in obtaining. The Town of Mercer will retain legal ownership of these records.
Motion made by Sendra, seconded by Banaszak, to approve the transfer of the two boxes of old Sanitary District records to the Sanitary District with the town retaining legal ownership. Carried.
f) Drawing for ballot position in April election.
Occasionally there is a question on how the ballot position for elections is decided. The Clerk usually has a person not on the ballot do the drawing in her office. Old town board minutes have sometimes contained the outcome of the drawing for ballot positions and the Clerk thought this was a good practice. In the presence of the board, Deputy Clerk, Dianne Keefe, drew the names. For Chairman it will be (1) Jack English. (2) Jim Kichak. For Supervisors it will be (1) Bonnie Banaszak (2) Dave Minisan (3) Jeff Stenberg. For Sanitary District Commissioner (1) Lucien Perron (2) Adam Kussard.
Old Business: a) Discuss driveway/road on Jack English property.
Attty Schellgell had researched some of the old legal records in his possession but had not found anything on this subject. He will have his office assistant do more research. He explained that the old Chapter 80 Statutes would apply to this case. This road was an easement therefore the property owners own the land under the roadbed. There are two methods to abandon a roadway. One is to have a public hearing. Clearly, the minutes indicate a meeting was held and the roadway abandoned but the details are not explicit. The second way is by non-use or non-maintenance. The road across the Pierpont properties was abandoned but this question is about the portion of the old road on the English property. Due to the snow cover, it is difficult to determine the location of the road in relation to the lot lines.
Motion made by Banaszak, seconded by Sendra, to postpone this matter until Atty Schellgell’s office can do more research into the old legal records and after the snow melts this spring. Carried.
Legal: he had given the Clerk the Bill of Sale form for the fire department.
Officer Reports: Clerk’s Report - Roberts presented the receipts list and the vouchers. Included in the receipts is the $69,000 borrowed by the Sno-Goers.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Sendra, to approve the vouchers and issue the checks. Carried.
Communications: Letter from Tom McMahon asking what services or benefits he receives for the $150 Annual Tourist Rooming House fee. This fee is stated in the TRH ordinance and Lambert asked if he rents his house out for free.
Letter from Foltz and Associates asking to be considered when the town has any surveying or engineering projects.
The health insurance rates were received and they have been increased 11.75%.
The Vote-Pad company is going out of business and asked if we needed any leftover supplies. The County Clerk, Mike Saari, said we may be able to purchase an electronic voting machine with the remainder of the money we did not spend.
Chief Altman would like to purchase four 30x96 training tables for the Fire Department at a cost of $170 each. The board approved the purchase of the tables.
Scott Klopatek sent a “Thank You” for the town’s donation to Operation Santa Claus.
Treasurer’s Report – Roberts presented the Treasurer’s Report. The General Account has a balance of $326,483.84. Tax Collection balance is $2,100,539.37. Total of all funds is $2,854,528.83.
Motion made by Stenberg, seconded by Sendra, to approve the Treasurer’s report. Carried.
Board Reports: Chair/Garage reports: Had to replace the transmission in one of the plow trucks and the turbo in another. Salt/sand is getting low. Chuck Schroepfer reported the crew had made 120 yards of the salt/sand mixture this week. Kichak attended the highway conference and the consensus was that the stimulus money will not make it to the local government level. Milwaukee and Madison will get the largest share of whatever package is approved for the states. He talked to several county highway representatives and most of them do not use work orders in their garages. He talked to Mike Stoffel of Ayres while at the meeting and suggested he get on the ball with finding grant monies for the town’s portion of the EPA grant. Maybe the board should talk to Ayres, if nothing is done in the next ten days or s, and request a change in engineers because we are not entirely satisfied with working with Stoffel.
Supervisors: Sendra – The engineer hired by the library board presented the first drawing of his idea for the expansion. The library board suggested some changes and sent it back to Sobec. The library is applying for the $5000 Mead Witter grant and the Gates Foundation may be supplying the funds for new computers.
She talked to Murry of Xcel Energy about the lights in the park. Both poles have underground wiring. She is still working on who owns the light in the alley behind Century 21. Murry said it sounds like it is owned by one of the businesses. Xcel plans to audit the street lights in Mercer and when this is completed we will know which ones are owned by the town.
The Sanitary District may be looking at the expenditure of between $20,000 and $25,000 for moving the laterals during the Highway 51 re-construction. The Sanitary District will no longer be posting a “freeze” notice in the paper. There are only three people in the district affected by this. All freezing problems, other than with the SD portion of the laterals, will be the responsibility of the property owner.
Action Floors has agreed to donate the flooring for the basketball count in the White House if this project is decided on by the President. She contacted Karen Graff of Feingold’s office, and Renee Daniels of Obey’s office was contacted by Kelly Klein. Tom Thompson Jr, Chairman of the Iron County Economic Development Committee, and County Board Chairman Dennis DeRosso also approved this project.
Banaszak – She had an email from Stoffel stating he had checked into several grant possibilities for matching funds and neither would work. He also contacted Obey’s office and was told there is a possibility stimulus money could be used for this purpose. He also said he had updated the “slamm modeling”. She told him that he needs to get moving on the EPA and DNR applications because she and Will Andresen will be working on the narrative with him. She spoke with a representative in Senator Kohl’s office about moving the post office to the old clinic building and was told to contact their office within a month. Karen Graf also called about the post office move. Graf suggested setting up a “photo op” with the Fire Department about the FEMA grant.
She attended the Fire Fighters grant workshop and received a list of files that need to be maintained for the FEMA grant. She has given a copy of this list to Dianne Keefe who is in charge of the financial records for this grant.
Lambert – none.
Stenberg – the Planning Commission made a list of “shovel-ready” projects and this list will be given to Will Andresen of the Extension office. There isn’t much hope the town will receive any financial help with these projects. A private citizen has expressed an interest in building a senior center or assisted living facility in Mercer. Mercer should have a “Wish List” of projects the town needs. The ice making company south of town feels the assessor over assessed them on their personal property taxes without having gone into the building to view the equipment. It was raised 300%. Carlson needs to send out assessment change letters for personal property as he does with the real estate assessments.
For Consideration and Approval: a) Temporary Beer Permit.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Banaszak, to approve the Temporary Beer Permit for the Mercer Lions on February 26th 2009 at the Community Center. Carried.
b) Bartender: Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Sendra, to approve the Operators License for Kenneth Huguenard. Carried.
c) Cemetery: Motion made by Banaszak, seconded by Sendra, to approve the transfer from Jack Chayka to Karen Lakatos sites in Section 3, Block 12, Plot 6, Sites 4, 6, 7 & 8. Carried.
Vouchers:
Payroll: #00301 WI Retirement System $3,007.73; #25465 J Hammond $1,164.03; #25466 C Hertel $1,061.94; #25467 C Schroepfer $1,172.11; #25468 C Schroepfer $151.64; #25469 K Brunell $1,335.51; #24570 J Hahn $1,015.10; #25471 D Keefe $371.00; #25472 J Huffmaster $171.77; #25473 S Huffmaster $111.65; #25474 G Lawrence $609.19; #00003 Assoc. Bank $2,673.24; #25525 O Roberts $1,690.56; #25526 C Brandt $606.53; #25527 J Kichak $231.59; #25528 J Lambert $360.16; #25529 J Stenberg $300.64; #25530 B Banaszak $323.24; #25531 T Sendra $360.16; #25532 A Kussard $486.26; #25533 T Thompson Jr $534.42; #25534 T Schmidt $1.741.76; #00004 Assoc. Bank $2,422.82; #00005 Assoc. Bank $2,380.69; #25535 J Hammond $1,098.64; #25536 C Hertel $979.47; #25537 C Schroepfer $1,085.65; #25538 C Schroepfer $1451.64; #25539 K brunell $1,055.34; #25540 J Hahn $1,018.08; 25541 D Keefe $291.95; #25542 J Huffmaster $128.83; #25543 S Huffmaster $133.12; #25544 G Lawrence $614.76
Town: #25515 Lincoln Benefit $1,300.00; #25518 Time Insurance $729.24; #25519 VFIS $695.00; #25520 Vision Plan $89.25; #25522 WPS Insurance $4,090.86; #25551 DWD-UI $117.58; #25553 F Schellgell $1,802.00; #25555 Horton Group $473.00; #25567 Mercer Chamber $1,250.00; #25571 M Stevens $105.00; #25576 P Carlson $1,500.00; #25582 UW-Extension $20.00; #25585 Xcel Energy $22.39
Office: #25548 CenturyTel $316.94; #25549 Clermont $98.97; #25556 Iron Co Minor $20.00; #25564 League of WI Municipalities $18.00; #25574 Office Enterprises $232.43; #25575 O Roberts $63.80
Garage: #25545 AmeriPride $126.20; #25546 AT&T Mobility $41.50; #25546 Bobcat Plus $120.15; #25548 CenturyTel $115.84; #25550 Control Concepts $406.38; #25552 Fabco $2,579.19; #25569 Mid-State Truck $3,612.46; #25570 Midland Services $3,400.31; #25572 Newman Signs $255.43; #25573 North American $60.00; #25578 Rent-A-Flash $47.60; #25579 Ritchie Oil $3,108.84; #25584 Waste Management $72.92
Fire Dept: #25523 Reg. Fee Trust $74.50; #25548 CenturyTel $59.21; #25557 J Schmidt $12.03; #25560 J Schmidt $335.50; #25563 Krist Oil $27.20; #25566 NAPA $170.05; #25568 Mercer Lumber $253.04; #25570 Midland Services $1,055.10; #25577 Pomasl $539.46; #25583 Warehouse $11.17; #25584 Waste Management $78.06
Library: #25512 Baker & Taylor $214.86; #25513 Demco $769.79; #25514 Iron Co Miner $32.00; #25516 Mercer Library $62.92; #25517 M Frederick $32.00; #25521 WI Taxpayers $2.70
Park: #25559 J Kohegyi $525.00
Vets Memorial: #25481 International bronze $2,145.00; #25524 Large Art Co. $3,249.00
Debt Service: #00209 Assoc. Bank $6,208.51
Tax Collection Payments (refunds): #25475 C Kuszewski $296.45; #25476 C Fink $249.99; #25477 C Loteyro $819.71; #25478 D Reige $228.32; #25479 D Haley $503.39; #25480 A Elkins $245.56; #25482 J Pawlisz $665.26; #25483 J Scavone $77.97; #25484 L Simpson $296.65; #25485 L Schroeder $442.00; #25486 M Miller $105.39; #25487 N Hamrick $231.70; #25488 R Johnson $263.12; #25489 R Holmgren $276.36; #25490 S Klitzing $717.86; #25491 T Maerz $444.36; #25492 T Hernikl 439.03; #25493 W Millard $210.92; #25494 B Mapes $14.19; #25495 B Baltz $30.73; #25496 C Hanel $69.39; #25497 D Owen $177.79; #25498 D Schultz $111.58; #25499 D Begalle $181.54; #25500 D shanholtz $195.36; #25501 E Saarnio $182.71; #25502 F Mertens $255.63; #25503 G Harrington $76.89; #25504 G Roudebush $105.89; #25505 Iron Co Treasurer $203.38; #25506 M Miller $146.95; #25507 M Ertl $120.21; #25508 P Quinnt $1934; #25509 R Hintertjuer $115.46; #25510 S Hoffmeister $156.96; #25511 T gray $138.43; #25554 G Bogenschneider $95.61; #25558 J Kosidowski $100.48; #25561 J Kohegyi $211.52; #25562 K Knipp $237.00; #25564 M Dierbeck $194.52; #25580 R Tomlin $335.92; #25581 R Lupo $189.35
The next regular meeting of the Mercer Town Board of Supervisors will be held on Thursday the 19th of February 2009 at 6:30 pm in the Haines Civic Building.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Sendra to go into Closed Session at 7:45 pm Carried.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Stenberg, to return to Open Session at 8:24 pm. Carried.
Action on Closed Session: The suggested changes in the union contract wording in the job classifications section will be sent to the union representative. The board elected to keep several paragraphs the union had suggested be deleted. The board agreed to several minor changes suggested by the union. The garage will continue to use the work orders as has been past practice.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Banaszak, to adjourn the board meeting at 8:28 pm. Carried.
Archive:
August 19, 2010 Meeting Minutes
August 5, 2010 Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2010 Meeting Minutes
July 1, 2010 Meeting Minutes
June 17, 2010 Meeting Minutes
June 3, 2010 Meeting Minutes
May 20, 2010 Meeting Minutes
May 6, 2010 Meeting Minutes
April 15, 2010 Meeting Minutes
April 13, 2010 Annual Town Meeting Minutes