Town of Germantown

Regular Town Board Meeting

MINUTES

Town of Germantown Town Hall
N7560 17th Avenue
New Lisbon, WI 53950
May 12, 2009
7:00 p.m.

Town Officials Present: Chairman William Jax, Supervisors Rosetta Boyle, Steve Gillespie, Michael Poe, and Dave Specht
Town Officials Absent: None
Others Present: Clerk/Treasurer Betty Manson, Assistant Clerk/Treasurer Marion Uphoff, Zoning Administrator William Bruce, Town Officer Tony Green, Public Works Worker Richard Martin, and 9 guests

Call Meeting to Order
Jax called the regular monthly board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.

Verification of Proper Posting
Manson verified that this meeting had been properly posted at 3 locations and published in “The Messenger” on May 7, 2009.

Approve Agenda in Any Order
Jax stated the board will follow agenda as presented.

Minutes
Motion was made by Boyle to approve the minutes of the regular monthly board meeting held on April 14, 2009, 2nd by Poe, Motion Carried. Motion was made by Poe to approve minutes of a Joint Town Board and Planning Commission Public Hearing meeting held on April 22, 2009, and minutes of a special board meeting held on April 25, 2009, 2nd by Gillespie. Motion Carried.

Treasurer’s Report, Bank Reconciliation Report, Buckhorn Acres Property Owner’s, Inc./Morro’s Mile Inc. Report
Manson read the monthly financial statement. Outstanding checks totaling $629.18. Poe stated he has reviewd and reconciled with the bank statements and is in agreement. Motion was made by Poe to approve the treasurer’s and reconciliation reports as presented, 2nd by Specht. Motion was made by Poe to approve Morro’s Mile Inc Financial Report, dated April 30, 2009: balance $2,464.25 and Buckhorn Acres Property Owner’s Inc Financial Report dated April 30, 2009 balance $1,729.97, 2nd by Gillespie. Motion Carried.

Appoint Committee Members/Board Approval
Jax appointed the committee members as follows:

• Planning Commission: Chairperson – Dave Specht, Michael Poe, Roger Bean, Audrey Scholl, Jim Collis, Margaret Miller, and Paul Merk.
• Board of Appeals: Chairperson – Ray Feldman, Mike Raabe, Keith Korbein, Jim Fank, Margaret Miller, and Kathy Petras-Timm.
• Emergency Planning Committee: EM Director – Fred Cobbs, EM Asst – Bill Bruce, Gervase Thompson – Juneayu County EM Director, Steve Gillespie – Chairperson, Michael Poe – Supervisor, Dale Simonson, Jim Collis, and Keith Korbein.
• Road Committee: William Jax – Chairperson, Michael Poe, Dave Specht, Steve Gillespie, and Dick Martin
• Parks and Grounds: Rosetta Boyle – Chairperson, Joyce Maxxoni, Denise Cobbs, Mary Jane Bean, and Bud Kass.
• Law Enforcement committee: William Jax – Chairperson, Brent Oleson – Sheriff, Steve Gillespie, Marion Uphoff – Clerk, Bill Curran, Dale Simonson, and Fred Cobbs.
• CRAM Representative: Rosetta Boyle

Motion was made by Poe to approve the recommendation of the committee members as present by Jax, 2nd by Gillespie. Motion Carried.

Class B Combo – Ownership Change (South Shore) – Consider Approval
Motion was made by Jax to table the Class B Combo, need more clarification – agent cannot be an LLC, 2nd by Specht. Motion Carried.

Liquor Operator Licenses
Michelle Housworth, Kevin Andraska Motion was made by Poe to approve Michelle Housworth’s and Kevin Andraska’s operator licenses pending background checks done by Town Officer Green, 2nd by Gillespie. Motion Carried.

Committee Reports

• Law Enforcement Report: Tony Green stated that the equipment has been installed in the squad car. House fire on Glacier Point, domestic arrests, speed trailer will be in Germantown soon to remind motorists of the speed limits. Jax stated that the old control panel could not be used with the new equipment making the cost more. Previously the board had approved $900.00 and the total cost was $1315.00 Motion was made by Specht to approve amoun expended, 2nd by Gillespie. Poe stated that 3 items (Taser, Computer, and Visa-Bar) have been purchased for the squad car. In the event that the township no longer contracts with Juneau County, these items would be returned to the Town. Motion Carried.
• Emergency Report: Replacement of Street Signs/Fire Numbers
  Bruce stated that F Cobbs received a quote from Gray Electric to install electric pedestal, RV receptacle for the old Town Hall located at 16th and G for $790.00 Motion was made by Poe to accept Gray Electric’s proposal of $790.00 to do the electrical work at 16th and G, 2nd by Boyle. Motion Carried. Bruce stated that in 2012 the State of Wisconsin will mandate new size road name signs with 9″ lettering. Bruce wanted recomendations from the Town Board for the way the Town should prepare for 2012 – suggested doing in sections. Bruce/Cobbs attended the Wildfire Meeting in Necedah regarding Fire Plan. Fire numbers need replacing especially in Buckhorn Estates. Board would like Bruce to propose a plan for May 21st meeting make road name signs the priority and take out of fund balance rather than the budget. Motion was made by Poe to direct EM Asst Bruce to develop plan for street signs then fire signs, 2nd by Gillespie. Motion Carried.
• Park Report: Bid Opening for Plumbing Repair
  Boyle reported nothing new for parks. She attended CRAM meeting on May 5th stating that the Juneau County Landfill will be at capacity 2012. At this time Juneau County has no plans for developing a new landfill. County is checking into utilizing Adams or Monroe County’s Landfill. Jax would like to get bids for stump removal in the Town Park. Boyle would like to check the budget first. Jax opened the following bids for plumbing repair at the community center:
  • Mauston Plumbing $2, 135.00 and additional $1,263.00 if pump needs replacing.
  • Lange Plumbing $4,490.00
  • Don’s Plumbing $3,160.00 Seat replacement additional $96.00
  • Kendall Trucking & Plumbing $3,240.00
  • A&M Plumbing $3,652.00 Seat replacement additional $102.00
    Motion was made by Poe to postpone awarding the bid until the May 21st meeting, 2nd by Specht. Motion Carried.
• Roads Report: Jax stated that the Road Committee had checked the Town roads on April 25th and have prepared a list of the proposed roads that needs repairing. May 21st at noon is the date/time that has been set for the bid opening.
• Building Report: Specht has not received any preliminary plans as of yet.

Zoning Administrator’s Report – Ordinance #34 Public Nuisance Ordinance
Bruce reported 4 building permits were issued: 9-12 thru 9-15 totaling $12,000.00 (3 permits in April, 1 in May). Bruce stated that Ordinance #34 has been recommended for approval from Town’s Attorney. This ordinance gives the town authority to care of the junk because the Town can’t prosecute under the Juneau County’s Ordinance. Gillespie questioned what the zoning administrator does now to regulate the nuisances. Bruce responded that when he drives around checking the building permits and their setbacks, he also is looking for violations, but mostly he relies on community complaints. Bruce stated that it is up to the Town Board to set fines. Motion was made by Poe to approve Ordinance #34 Public Nuisance Ordinance with its modifications, to change 5-7 Penalty to read: $200 fine for 1st offense, $400.00 fine for 2nd offense, $600.00 fine for 3rd Offense, $800.00 fine for 4th Offense, and $1000.00 fine for 5th Offense and thereafter. ($1,000.00 fine being the cap for the fines), 2nd by Jax. Motion Carried.

Approve Vouchers
Motion was made by Boyle to Approve 37 checks #13861 thru #13897 & EFT 5-10 and service charge, totaling $21,598.03 from the checking account, and #594, totaling $20,000.00 from the money market account, 2nd by Specht. Motion Carried.

Public Comment
Dan Graf stated that he was in favor of the public nuisance ordinance, but questioned if Bruce would be the only one to write fines for this ordinance? Poe explained the procedures. Graf also stated that the taxes are way up and asked the board to make a fair budget. Poe stated that there was a complaint regarding the Ho Chunk Nation’s property and wanted to thank the Nation for their effort as their property is now being cleaned up. Poe also thanked Ray Feldman for his effort in cleaning up the property. Dale Simonson is concerned that their subdivision is being surrounded on 3 sides by berms. Jim Collis warned the board to be careful of the lowest plumbing bid as it is substantially lower than all the others. Andy Suehs inquired what the total square mile size of this township is and how much property does the Pavloski’s own within the Town? Specht estimated them to own 5%.

Closed session as per state statute 19.85 (1)(c) considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility
Motion was made by Specht to go into closed session per state statute 19.85(1)(C) Considering employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility at 8:05 p.m., 2nd by Boyle. Roll Call taken by Manson: Specht – Aye, Boyle – Aye, Poe – Aye, Gillespie – Aye, and Jax – Aye. Motion Carried.

Reconvene in open session as per state statute 19.85 (2)
Motion was made by Poe to reconvene in open session as per State Statute 19.85 (2) at 8:20 p.m., 2nd by Specht. Roll Call taken by Manson: Specht – Aye, Boyle – Aye, Poe – Aye, Gillespie – Aye, and Jax – Aye. Motion Carried.

Any Business Transaction from Closed Session
Motion was made by Gillespie to increase Assistant Clerk/Treasurer Marion Uphoff’s wage $0.55/hr to $19.05/hour (a 3% increase), 2nd by Poe. Motion Carried.

Adjourn Meeting
Motion was made by Specht to adjourn the regular monthly town board meeting at 8:22 p.m., 2nd Poe. Motion Carried.

Chairperson Jax declared the regular monthly town board meeting adjourned.

Meeting Adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Betty Manson, Clerk/Treasurer