Town of Germantown

Annual Meeting

MINUTES

Town of Germantown Town Hall
N7560 17th Avenue
New Lisbon, WI 53950
April 14, 2012

47 in attendance, 43 qualified voters, 4 non-qualified

Acting Chairman Boyle called the meeting to order.
Pledge of Allegiance

Read minutes of last years Annual Meeting. Motion to accept the minutes was made by Mr. Simonson. Second Mr. Berkos. Hand vote, 40/3 Motion carried.

Discuss the financial report. Question on wages of Clerk/Treasurer. Wages included the sick time and vacation time accumulated when Mrs. Manson left. No other questions on the Financial report.

EMS Building report – Mr. Gillespie reported that the Public Works Committee had been working on the EMS Building.

The Town has hired Baraboo Ambulance Service and we now have paramedic services available for 24/7 care. Mr. Gillespie explained the expenses the Town has incurred and what we can anticipate in the future. Baraboo has been the best selection for the Town at $13.40 per capita. There have been 90 calls so far and two lives saved.

Discuss the Fire Departments – 3% annual increases, operating budgets, % of budgets. Necedah now has an extra charge as we no longer get a multi-service discount without ambulance service. Charges are $1500 to $2000 average for a grass fire.

The Committee has looked at the Impact Needs Assessment. Allowed $2200 in 2003 it included fire department facilities. Fire Dept. need is in the Comprehensive Plan. Some homeowners will see a Class Ten rating, highest rate forFire insurance. With a station within six miles of your home there would be a benefit in savings on insurance. Financing – Bank of Mauston gave us a commitment for a loan for 1% interest, tied to prime. Will not exceed 3.25%. There are stop gaps of 3/4 of 1%. End of 5 years 4.75.

Basic budgets: Town Outlay – the Town has no say in what it’s payment will be. It can be purely arbitrary and charge at anytime. The Town started to take control with snow plowing when the extra charges got so high. This is a similar comparison.

Questions
Mr. Thompson – What about the special town meeting where the public safety building was told to move ahead up to $325,000? Discuss of those there (only 8 people) It is our own fault for not coming.
Mr. Haunroth discussed how to get to the people. Does not feel Board went far enough to get to the people. Mr. Haunroth reported that he has opened an account on Facebook for the Town of Germantown and will turn it over to the Town when he takes office.
Mr. Berkos does not see the specifics of projected costs, revenues, impact fees or the annual costs to run the new EMS facilities.
Mr. Cobbs – There is a common misconception that we would be striking out on our own. This is not true. We are looking at tying in with an existing service and having 1 pumper, 1 building, 1 brush truck and 1 portable pump. Ideally budget $35,000 per year for point system, operating costs. @ firefighters already work for the Town, have 5 more that are interested who are certified, would have dual membership.
Mr. Berkos – Now we need actual prices and costs.
William Bruce – The town is growing, in 2012 we already have 18 new home permits. We need to look at where we want to be in 4, 5, 10 years from now and make some long range plans.
Mr. Bean – employees are talking. You need to try to estimate prices.
Mr. Thompson – Impact fees are limited.
Mr. Wells – It bothers him if you don’t want Necedah New Lisbon and Mauston to know what you are doing. It’s not right. Feels these are half truths, information doesn’t go back to what the Township paid when given the discount.
Mrs. Boyle – The Town has no control. We tried to fight it when New Lisbon changed from per capita to equalized value. Our costs quadrupled and we were told that is the way it is and you have nothing to say in the matter.
Mr. Haunroth would like to know the next steps, how to get questions answered in group.
Mr. Gillespie reported this is a diverse community and the committee has tried to draw on local resources, have asked for assistance even from some here today, Have been told “not interested in helping”. What the committee wanted today was for the people to tell us if they want us to keep looking into this.
Mr. Thompson – would like to establish a Fire Commission.
Discuss having a study commission first.
Chief Willard is available if anyone wants to talk with him also. Question: Why was this information not in Dec. newsletter? ANSWER: There was a change in office personnel and little time to work on the last newsletter.
Mr. Meisner discussed no industry in area. Need to be intelligently staged. EMS building separate. Makes sense to start EMS project. Fire Dept need more work. Should hire consultant.
Mr. Berkos – need to look forward but not with this project. Need Fire Commission.
Mr. Berkos made a motion to create a police and fire commission. Second Mr. Thompson. Discussion – Mr. Bean – current contract up the end of the year.
Discussion on having to have a police dept and or fire dept to form a police and or fire commission. Mr. Berkos amended his motion to create an advisory committee. Second Mr. G. Thompson. Discussion – Mrs. Boyle wanted to clarify that the projects would be totally separate. If approved it won’t change anything with the EMS ambulance building.
Mr. Gillespie – prioritize needs.
Mr. G. Thompson – in Nov the Township was approved to move forward up to $325,000.00 for the EMS Ambulance building.
Mrs. Boyle – We don’t want fire issue to cancel ambulance building.
Mr. Wells – would like the committee to look at the location, should look at from the beginning.
Mr. Bean – How long is contract for? Jan. ends. Question if there are provisions for us to provide facilities for them. Next contract who pays living portion. Possibly two stations are needed.
Motion is on the floor to from the advisory commission to study feasibility for police and fire depts. Hand vote – 37 yes, 6 no 4 did not vote.
Mr. Haunroth suggested that those interested would submit name if they would like to be on committee. It will be the Public Works Committee.
Don Stewart commented on the Ambulance Building plans. Question how much has been spent on the big building plans. $15,000. DIscuss if EMS are contracted yearly what happens if they double their price. Mr. Gillespie explained that they set the same price for all in their coverage. Contingency plans. Mr. Cobbs – Town has a comparable plan.
There were personal stories of the time it previously took for ambulances to arrive and for care to be administered.
Mr. Wells – discussed private enterprises, should town be providing for them?
Mr. Gillespie – It is a partnership, 24/7 for just Germantown would be costly. We don’t have exclusive rights.
Mr. Steward – not going to bid on the building.
Mr. A. Thompson – have to get a ball park idea.
Mr. Haunroth – need to reach out to those bidding on to notify them if it is not going to happen.
Mr. Collis – where have people been when we have been begging for help? Now you want a big fight? We want volunteers. Come to the meetings.
Mr. G. THompson – we elected you to act on our behalf.
Mrs. Boyle – maybe we could put on the radio.Mr. Haunroth – email and facebook could be a benefit to everyone.

Town Board / Town Worker
Mr. Gillespie – A Town Board member can work in another capacity for the Town as long as his earnings are under $5000.00. Discuss that a board member has done snow plowing in the absence of Town Workers.
Mr. Berkos made a motion to pay an hourly rate to elected Town officers of the lowest paid rate for the job being done. Second Mr. Cobbs.

Next annual meeting – Saturday April 13, 2013.

Reminder that the next regular Board meeting is May 9 because of the election. 7pm

Motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Berkos. Second Mr. Stewart. Voice vote. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted, Marion L. Uphoff, Clerk/Treasurer