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September 4, 2008 Meeting Minutes

Mercer Town Board of Supervisors – September 4th 2008 – Minutes

Chairman Jim Kichak called the meeting of the Mercer Town Board of Supervisors to order on Thursday the 4th of
September 2008 at 6:30 pm in the Haines Civic Building.

Roll Call: Jim Kichak, Jim Lambert, Jeff Stenberg, Toni Sendra, Opal Roberts and Christan Manners/Brandt. Absent: Bonnie Banaszak and Atty Schellgell.

Motion made by Sendra, seconded by Stenberg, to approve the minutes from the August 21st 2008 board meeting. Carried.

Open comment: Joyce Olson, of Associated Bank, explained that town accounts in excess of the federally insured amount of $500,000 could be insured using the “Public Deposits Security Agreement”. Kichak said he would contact the WI Towns Association for an opinion on this matter.
Diane Markos, a property owner on Wilson Lake, had a complaint about the new culvert installed on Wilson Lake Road. Even though the new culvert is at the same level as the old one, the shape is different and this allows more water to flow out of Wilson Lake. Kichak will ask the DNR to inspect the culvert to see if this is the case. Another member of the audience commented on the fact that there had been an obstruction at one end of the culvert before it was replaced.

New Business: a) Conditional Use permit for Douglas Hare.
There was discussion by the board about the size of the lot, another shed, and small garage already on the property.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Stenberg, to approve the conditional use permit for a 32x45 accessory building on property on part of the W1/2 of the SE1/4 of Section 28, Twp 42 N, R 3 E at 2990N Hiawatha Road, on the condition it not be used for a commercial business or for human habitation. Carried.

b) Discuss Tom Dart business on County Road FF without a Conditional Use permit.
Sendra had asked for this to be placed on the agenda although several board members had been contacted about Mr Dart continuing to operate a business at this site even though he had been denied a Conditional Use permit. A letter will be sent to bring this to the attention of the County Zoning Administrator.

c) Discuss Carow Park grant and changes to original plan.
There was discussion as to what can be done to allow the proposed shelter at the park to be constructed at 35’ from the waterline instead of the required 75’. The DNR did not want the grant to be involved in any variance proceedings. The park committee is trying to place it in the best location for the users of the shelter. Stenberg will contact Patricia Zatopa of the DNR, who is overseeing this grant, to see if the shelter can be excluded from the grant. Kichak will contact Coleman Engineering about redrawing the walkway on the park plans.

d) Discuss repair/replacement of pumper truck.
Adam Kussard had contacted Pomasl and they had information on several used pumper trucks at costs from $40,000 to $55,000. There is an ad in this months Municipality magazine for a 1984 Pierce Arrow for $40,000. Chief Altman had called for more information on this truck. Kussard was asked to do more research on the used trucks and to have the information available by the next board meeting.

e) Discuss law enforcement officer for Town of Mercer.
Several Iron County deputies and jail dispatchers were present in the audience to discuss this item with the board. Dianne Keefe, on behalf of Banaszak, who was unable to attend this meeting, asked if the board would consider the appointment of a committee or task force to research this question and report their findings to the board. Lambert stated that the Sheriff’s budget for 2008 is $1,601,441. Mercer pays about half of this through property taxes. Sendra commented that adding a budget item we really can’t afford, when we are not getting the service we are paying for through the property taxes for law enforcement, is not in the best interests of the town. Lambert said the problem may be with the scheduling, not the number of deputies. Deputy Petrusha stated that of the 141 actual patrol hours scheduled each week, Mercer receives about 75 hours of this. When the under sheriff is working we receive about 80 hours. He agreed that a Mercer officer would be able to enforce our ordinances where the county deputies cannot. Donna Saarnio stated that the Mercer officer would still have to respond to calls outside Mercer Township, if needed. Lambert will ask Sheriff Bruneau to attend a town board meeting, or to have a Law Enforcement meeting in Mercer, to address this subject. The appointment of a committee to determine if having our own officer is feasible will be considered after the meeting with the Sheriff.

f) Approve accounts for 4th of July Committee.
The clerk had contacted the WI-DOR and the WI Towns Association on the legality of allowing the committee to use the town’s tax-exempt number. Both entities said this should not be done. The monies need to go through the town accounts and the checks signed by the chair, clerk and treasurer. Joyce Olson said she will inform the committee of their options. The accounts for this can be approved at the next board meeting.

g) Set date for Board of Review.
The original date for the Adjourned Board of Review was set for September 10th but the tax roll is not ready at this time. The assessor, Paul Carlson, will have the Open Book on October 13th and 14th from 9:00 am to noon. The board set the date for the Adjourned Board of Review for Thursday, October 16th at 9:00 am in the Town Hall.

Old Business: none

Legal: none.

Officer Reports: Clerk’s Report - Roberts presented the receipts list and vouchers.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Sendra, to approve the vouchers and issue the checks. Carried.

Communications: The clerk has received an email stating the electronic copy of the Business Park audit has been received by the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. This is a sign that the audit is moving through the EDA process and we may hear from them within the next couple of months.
The Union proposals for the next contract were submitted to the office and copies given to each board member.
Letter from the Sanitary District explaining why they were so upset with the use of the large amount of water by the Fire Department during practice on August 13th.
Letter from the DNR to inform us of the proposed state purchase of 55.75 acres of land for the Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area in the Town of Mercer.

Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer’s Report – Manners presented the Treasurer’s Report. The General Account has a balance of $58,707.42. Total of all funds is $1,345,848.28.
Motion made by Stenberg, seconded by Sendra, to approve the Treasurer’s report. Carried.

Board Reports: Chair/Garage reports: Mowing is almost done. Pitlik & Wick will be here to pave in October. Hiring to have the gravel hauled for Wilson Lake Road will cost approximately $2,200 to $2,300. Feely Lake Road will be done after the power poles are moved to allow use of the plow wing in winter, then to Crystal Lake Drive West. There has been a problem with a property owner complaining about the cutting of the trees along the road but this has to be done to do the ditching for proper drainage. The washouts on Fisher Lake Road are being repaired. Kichak requested the clerk order more ATV signs and several Pedestrian Crossing signs. The plow truck is ready for the attachments and the bids will be opened at the next board meeting.

Supervisors: Sendra – Bambiland Road does not have speed limit signs. The residents along this road have made their own signs. Kichak will see about placing curve/speed limit signs on this road. Dianne Keefe made the comment that people do not obey the speed limit signs anyway because there is no enforcement. Lambert said the residents need to get the license numbers of the speeders and turn them into the Sheriff’s department.
Craig Trenkamp seems to be renting out his property even though he has been denied a Tourist Rooming House permit, but the Iron County Health inspector is addressing the matter.

Lambert – He received a complaint that someone in the Delich subdivision had clear cut down to the lake on one of the lots. Kichak will take a look at this to determine if this has been done.
The Hadley Pit hours will be from 8:00 am to noon until further notice.
Lambert stated that he could not see where work has been done on the roads in the Mazol subdivision since the last board meeting. Kichak will meet with Pitlik & Wick to determine what has been, and what still needs to be done, with these roads. He will also check out the condition of the boat landing, which is also supposed to be paved.

Banaszak – none.

Stenberg – Gene Organist asked about the requirement by the town that a survey be done on the alley to be abandoned. Does the town really need a survey before doing this? DeCherrie asked about Moricolli Road again. Dan Kowalski still having water problems on Beachway Drive. The snowmobile trail cannot run through the Business Park now that the construction of the Evergreen Energy building is in progress. The mess by the Malone trailer park needs to be forcefully addressed. It has been much too long and nothing has been done about this eyesore by the Business Park. Lambert stated that the buildings and junk on the Bruce Brunell property need to be looked at also. Sendra stated that these complaints should be heard and then addressed by the board without the filing of an official complaint by a citizen. Stenberg asked if a DOT pre-road sign could be installed for Maple Ridge Road.

For Consideration and Approval: a) Liquor/Operators Licenses: Operator Licenses for James McGraw, Travis Alexander, Candice McCampbell, and Mary Emerson.
Motion made by Stenberg, seconded by Lambert, to approve the Operator Licenses for the above named. Carried.

b) Cemetery Deeds: Transfer of two sites from Mary Ann Baldauf to Neil Zevitz.
Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Sendra to approve the transfer of two sites in Section 3, Block 16, Plot 3, Sites 5 & 8 from Mary Ann Baldauf to Neil Zevitz. Carried.

Vouchers:
Payroll: #00207 WI Retirement System $2,207.69; #00908 Assoc. Bank $6,208.51; #24843 O Roberts $1,660.14; #24844 C Manners $598.79; #24845 J Kichak $202.33; #24846 J Lambert $346.31; #24847 J Stenberg $288.98; #24848 B Banaszak $310.89; #24849 T Sendra $346.31; #24850 A Kussard $333.25; #24851 J Roberts $300.14; #24852 D Hohner $916.05; #00027 Assoc. Bank $1,88.63; #00028 Assoc. Bank $2,381.64; #24853 J Hammond $1,003.37; #24854 C Hertel $957.85; #24855 C Schroepfer $1,055.74; #24856 C Schroepfer $151.64; #24857 K Brunell $1,030.31; #24858 J Hahn $900.12; #24859 D Keefe $211.29; #24860 R Vacca $555.89; #24861 J Huffmaster $86.15; #24862 S Huffmaster $132.36; #24863 G Lawrence $598.06
Town: #24870 F Schellgell $434.25; #24871 Horton Group $265.00; #24873 J Lambert $142.72; #24874 Joey Lambert $35.68; #24875 J Hahn $520.05; #24877 Local Gov Prop Ins $5,672.00; #24880 Chamber of Comm. $1,250.00; #24890 T Thompson Jr $249.76; #24891 T Sendra $37.85; #24893 Town of Saxon $140.00; #24896 WTA $165.00; #24898 WPS Ins $4,090.86
Office: #24867 CenturyTel $305.40; #24868 Clermont Supply $39.53; #24872 Iron Co. Miner $48.00; #24892 Town Hall Software $114.95; #24900 Xerox Corp. $72.65
Garage: #24864 AmeriPride $75.35; #24865 Aring Equip. $390.61; #24866 AT&T $41.64; #24867 CenturyTel $117.71; #24883 Northern Environmental $3,900.00; #24886 Power Plan $131.96; #24887 Ritchie Oil $4,423.82; #24894 Volm Co. $549.75; #24895 Warehouse $41.58; #24897 Waste Management $77.96
Fire Dept: #24867 CenturyTel $56.40; #24869 Donner’s Bay $103.91; #24876 Lange Ent. $966.28; #24878 NAPA $38.51; #24879 BP/Amoco $257.79; #24881 San. Dist. $216.03; #24889 SS Sport Store $23.95; #24897 Waste Management $77.40
Park: #24890 T Thompson Jr $1,500.00; #24895 Warehouse $17.90
Park Grant: #24882 Miller & Assoc. $11,318.00; #24884 Northern Lakes Concrete $595.80; #24888 E Schillenger $1,100.00
Cemetery: #24885 Northwoods Lawn $1,000.00
Vets Memorial: #24899 Xcel Energy $18.50

The next regular meeting of the Mercer Town Board of Supervisors will be held on Thursday, the 18th of September 2008 at 6:30 pm in the Haines Civic Building.

Due to the attorney not being in attendance, the board did not go into Closed Session.

Motion made by Lambert, seconded by Stenberg, to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 pm. Carried.

Archive:

December 18, 2008 Meeting Minutes
December 4, 2008 Meeting Minutes
November 20, 2008 Meeting Minutes
November 6, 2008 Meeting Minutes
October 16, 2008 Board of Review Minutes
October 16, 2008 Meetiing Minutes
October 2, 2008 Meeting Minutes
September 18, 2008 Meeting Minutes
September 15, 2008 Meeting Minutes
September 4, 2008 Meeting Minutes

View all from: 2008