Home Page: Meeting Minutes
|
March 5, 2009 Meeting Minutes
Mercer Town Board of Supervisors – March 5th 2009 – Minutes
PUBLIC HEARING TO ABANDON ALLEY
Chairman Jim Kichak called the Public Hearing to order on Thursday the 5th of March 2009 at 6:30 pm in the Haines Civic Building.
Roll Call: Jim Kichak, Jim Lambert, Jeff Stenberg, Bonnie Banaszak, Toni Sendra, Opal Roberts, Christan Manners/Brandt and Atty Schellgell.
This Public Hearing is to abandon the alley northwest of Statehouse Circle between property owned by Gene Organist on the west and the Nazarene Church and Malone Plumbing on the east. This alley is approximately 20’ wide by 158’ in length. The Clerk stipulated that the notice of the Public Hearing had been published in the Iron County Miner three times (Feb 5, Feb 19 and Feb 26). Atty Schellgell asked if the Clerk had received any objections about the abandonment of the alley. No objections had been submitted to the Clerk. Atty Schellgell addressed a concern John Malone had about the utility easements for the water and sewer. Malone also suggested a stipulation that prohibits the construction of any other structure or the replacement of the existing garage if it were destroyed. Schellgell spoke with Pastor Floyd and he had no objections to the abandonment. Atty Schellgell will draw up a highway order of vacation, execute some quit claim deeds, and an easement which all the parties, including the Mercer Sanitary District, will sign.
TOWN BOARD MEETING
Motion made by Sendra, seconded by Banaszak, to approve the minutes from the February 19th 2009 board meeting with the clarification of a sentence in paragraph C. Carried.
Open comment: none
New Business: a) Resolution/Order to vacate alley.
Atty Schellgell explained the procedure for the vacation of the alley. This an unpaved alley which has not been maintained by the town. The parties abutting approached the town to abandon the alley. The abandonment will not create any landlocked parcels. Notice was provided to each landowner and Schellgell spoke to each personally. The town will retain an easement which will be turned over to the Sanitary District. The town will restrict the building of permanent structures on said land including the rebuilding of the existing garage. Mr Organist will reimburse the town for the cost of abandoning the alley.
Motion made by Banaszak, seconded by Lambert, to approve the order to vacate the alley lying northwest of State House Circle between property owned by Gene Organist on the west and the Nazarene Church and Malone Plumbing on the east.
b) Discuss/Approve amendment to Land Use Ordinance to require a blue print or scaled drawing of the proposed structure when a Conditional Use permit from Iron County is required.
With the problem of some accessory buildings being used for living quarters, the board discussed the possibility of amending the Land Use Ordinance to require a drawing to scale or a blueprint of the proposed building. Atty Schellgell suggested they be careful with the wording so as not to give the impression the town would be doing building inspections by asking for blueprints.
Motion made by Banaszak, seconded by Stenberg, to approve the addition of a paragraph to the Land Use Ordinance, which Atty Schellgell will draft, requiring the submission a scale drawing for accessory building. Carried.
c) Discuss/Approve amendment to Sign Ordinance to clarify types permitted and total size limits.
After discussion about the wording of the amendment, it was decided to postpone this item until the next board meeting. Atty Schellgell will draft wording for the amendment to the sign ordinance.
Motion made by Banaszak, seconded by Sendra, to postpone this item until the next board meeting. Carried.
d) Discuss purchase of chairs for the Community Center.
During large parties and wedding receptions there are not enough chairs for the number of tables at the Community Center. Clermont Office Supply gave a quote for 40 chairs at a cost of $925.70. Stenberg also mentioned that the refrigerator needs replacing and maybe some local organization might be interested in donating this item.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Sendra to approve the purchase of 40 chairs for the Community Center. Carried.
Old Business: a) Conditional Use permit for a 36’ x 48’ building on Sopko Rd by Ale & Colette Anderson.
Mr & Mrs Anderson had submitted a scaled drawing of the building plan. In the enclosed letter, they stated they were aware of the prohibition against using the building as living quarters.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Stenberg, to approve the Conditional Use permit for the 36’ x 48’ building on property on Sopko Road owned by Sale & Colette Anderson with the condition that the building not be used for a commercial business or human habitation. Carried.
b) Discuss/Award bid for Ambulance Barn water heater.
The ad for bids had been published and no responses were received. The board decided to accept the previous quote from Klopatek Plumbing.
Motion made by Stenberg, seconded by Banaszak, to accept the quote from Klopatek Plumbing for a Rinna 75 natural gas tankless water heater and installation for $2,200. Carried.
Legal: Gene Taylor will be issued a deed for the purchase of Lot 11 in the Business Park. The resolution to sell this property was passed on December 4th 2008.
Officer Reports: Clerk’s Report - Roberts presented the receipts list and the vouchers. Included in the vouchers are the payments for the January PILT to the various taxing authorities in the amount of $162,894.86.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Sendra, to approve the vouchers and issue the checks. Carried.
Communications: IRACE donated $200 in thanks to the town for the work done on the race track. Letter from South Side Auto attorney asking for the specifications for a fence to be erected on the South Side Auto property. Kichak will talk to Tom Bergman of the Iron County Zoning office about the height limit on fences in the county ordinance. The fence will need to exceed the height restriction in the county ordinance. Capital Indemnity is no longer issuing Public Officials bonds. The Horton Group will issue this bond and cost will be based on amount of coverage. Lambert asked the Clerk to check into the previous bond amount of coverage for public officials. The town’s health insurance agent sent a spreadsheet comparing costs for several companies providing health insurance. Even though the premium from one company is lower than our current carrier, the board decided to stay with WPS. There was a question as to when Clean-up week would be held since the 4th of July falls on a Saturday this year. Banaszak said there will be activities scheduled the week before the 4th. It was decided to hold Clean-up week during that time. Senator Feingold’s office sent a copy of a letter addressed to David Martin, District Manager of the USPS, asking him to review the safety issues of the Post Office in its present location. The microphone is missing from the Community Center. The town will need to purchase a microphone and stand and store it in a secure place when not in use. The developer of the accounting software in use by the clerk is undergoing cancer treatments and the technical support available leaves a lot to be desired. The town may need to purchase a new accounting program before the end of the year. At least two board members will need to attend the Annual Board of Review training. Classes are scheduled for April. A number of letters and emails from Ayers concerning the storm sewer project were received by the clerk’s office. Mainly email between the Mercer Lake Association and Ayres. An invitation to the 50th Anniversary celebration of Northwest Regional Planning Commission on Wed. June 24th at Siren Wisconsin.
Treasurer’s Report – Manners/Brandt presented the Treasurer’s report. The General Account has a balance of $320,651.60. Tax Collection balance is $706,374.74. Total of all funds is $1,455,004.78.
Motion made by Banaszak, seconded by Sendra, to approve the Treasurer’s report. Carried.
Board Reports: Chair/Garage reports: letter from Wisconsin Towns Association stating the only projects for local governments that will be considered under the Stimulus Package will be bridges. Maybe the one on Cramer Lake Road and on Manitowish River Access Road. If we include on the application the road will be used as a hiking/biking and snowmobile trail it might help obtain the grant. Xcel Energy is moving the utility poles along the roads as requested. Bayfield Electric still needs to move the poles on Fisher Lake Road. Crew is cleaning up the snow from the curbs and gutters just in case we do have some melting due to the warmer temperatures predicted for the next few days. He has contacted paving companies and their prediction is that there will be a 25% increase in paving materials. The gravel pit on Fierick Road needs to be opened up more and a large bulldozer may need to be leased for this job. Crew is cutting dead trees along the town roads. No idea when the road weight limits will be in effect. Definitely after mid-month and more likely toward the end of the month.
Supervisors: Sendra – none.
Banaszak – updated the board on the Ayres situation and the considerable dialog between Ayres and the Mercer Lake Association. There hasn’t been much agreement between the two. She will be contacting the Mercer Lake Association and Kichak will be speaking with Ayres to get some resolution to the problems. She had talked to Jim Guild of the Mercer post office and was told that Guild’s supervisor had called him about the proposal to move the post office. Apparently the letters to our representatives are having some sort of effect. Howard Young is willing to refurbish the building and repave the parking lot at the old clinic. At present, Mercer Post Office is paying the highest lease fee of any of the surrounding areas. She drove in a blinding snowstorm to the Bike Path meeting on February 25th in Manitowish Waters. Several possibilities for the bike paths connecting the local areas were discussed. The groups are doing a regional concept of the bike path. The next meeting of the group will be in early May.
Lambert – the state is proposing to close the Sandy Beach campground. This is one of the most popular beach areas in southern Iron County. A letter needs to be sent to the Iron County Forestry Committee requesting they check into and research the feasibility of the county keeping this campground open.
Stenberg – the lights and furnace at the library have been repaired. The lights and doors at the Community Center are repaired. Maybe Senator Feingold’s office can help the town with the match money for the storm sewer project. Evergreen Energy’s biofuel plant in the Business Park would be a good candidate for the stimulus package. The Board of Adjustment approved the relocation of the sun shelter at the park.
For Consideration and Approval: a) Temporary Beer Permit. b) Cemetery Deeds - none
Vouchers:
Payroll: #00007 Assoc. Bank $1,757.82; #00302 WI Retirement System $2,572.61; #25642 O Roberts $1,688.73; #25643 C Manners/Brandt $606.53; #25644 J Kichak $231.59; #25645 J Lambert $360.16; #25646 J Stenberg $300.64; #25647 B Banaszak $323.24; #25648 T Sendra $360.16; #25649 A Kussard $429.22; #25650 T Thompson Jr $477.38; #00008 Assoc. Bank $2,395.49; #25651 J Hammond $1,055.19; #25652 C Hertel $970.02; #25653 C Schroepfer $1,072.40; #25654 C Schroepfer $151.64; #25655 K Brunell $1,044.31; #25656 J Hahn $928.45; #25657 D Keefe $85.66; #25658 J Huffmaster $176.07; #25659 S Huffmaster $124.53; #25660 G Lawrence $612.55;
Town: #25640 Vision Plan $89.25; #25641 WPS Insurance $4,090.86; #25669 Clermont Supply $849.95; #25671 DWD-UI $89.36; #25675 G Roberts $75.00; #25679 Iron Co Development Zone $750.00; #25680 J A Funk $700.90; #25681 J Huffmaster $26.84; #25683 Local Gov Prop Ins $184.00; #25686 Chamber of Comm. $1,250.00; #25687 Mercer Lumber $37.36; #25692 P Carlson $1,500.00; #25695 S Pischer $100.00; #25697 Warehouse $59.14; #25699 WisLine Registrations $20.00
Office: #02009 Assoc. Bank $29.00; #25668 CenturyTel $314.45; #25669 Clermont Supply $41.99; #25676 Iron Co Miner $410.00; #25698 WI-DOR $165.27
Garage: #25661 Ace Welding $85.98; #25662 Amerigas $18.01; #25663 AmeriPride $78.85; #25665 AT&T Mobility $40.60; #25666 AW Direct $27.98; #25668 CenturyTel $115.84; #25670 Control Concepts $53.72; #25672 Fabco $607; #25673 Fastenal $33.52; #25674 Giovanoni’s $45.97; #25682 J Hammond $19.25; #25689 Midland Services $3,175.83; #25694 Ritchie Oil $746.18; #25697 Warehouse $45.04; #25700 Waste Management $81.06
Fire Dept: #25664 Arrowhead Radio $898.00; #25668 CenturyTel $65.64; #25684 NAPA $597.49; #25685 BP/Amoco $17.00; #25693 Pomasl $86.94; #25700 Waste Management $77.55
Rescue Barn: #25689 Midland Services $215.05
Park: #25678 Iron Co Zoning $550.00; #25690 M Rozak $475.00
Debt Service: #00309 Assoc. Bank $6,208.51; #25667 Board of Comm. of Public Land $86,626.36
January PILT Payments: #25677 Iron County $65,565.42; #25688 Mercer School $76,129.35; #25691 Nicolet College $18,240.99; #25696 State of WI $2,959.10
The next regular meeting of the Mercer Town Board of Supervisors will be held on Thursday the 19th of March 2009 at 6:30 pm in the Haines Civic Building.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Sendra, to adjourn the board meeting at 7:27 pm. Carried.
Archive:
February 2, 2012 Meeting Minutes
January 19, 2012 Meeting Minutes
January 5, 2012 Meeting Minutes
December 15, 2011 Meeting Minutes
December 1, 2011 Meeting Minutes
November 17, 2011 Meeting Minutes
November 3, 2011 Meeting Minutes
October 20, 2011 Meeting Minutes
October 6, 2011 Meeting Minutes
September 15, 2011 Meeting Minutes