Town of Germantown

Official Website of the Town of Germantown, Juneau County, WI

Regular Town Board Meeting

MINUTES

Town of Germantown Town Hall
N7560 17th Avenue
New Lisbon, WI 53950
September 14, 2021
6:00 p.m

Present:               Chairman Gregg Haunroth, Supervisors Ken Jax, Keith Korbein, Skip Barton, Ray Feldman, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Michaele Korbein, Assistant Emergency Management Director Christopher Leopold, Zoning Administrator Dick Martin

 Absent:                Emergency Management Director Fred Cobbs, Clerk/Treasurer Susan Ganther

 

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at the town hall at 6:00 p.m.

 

Pledge of Allegiance

 

Minutes

A motion was made by Skip Barton, seconded by Keith Korbein, to accept the meeting minutes of the August 10, 2021 Board meeting.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Treasurer’s Report -Bank Reconciliation Report

A motion was made by Skip Barton, seconded by Keith Korbein, to accept the Treasurer’s report as read.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Vouchers and Checks

A motion was made by Keith Korbein, seconded by Skip Barton to approve the vouchers and checks #12740-11786 totaling $329,896.18, #5002 for $4,727.40, #5003 for $4,727.40, and EFTs totaling $5,346.45.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Presentation by Gavin Luter from the University Year project

The presentation was on doing a study or studies of future needs in the town, such as on traffic and pedestrians. Studies are done by students.  Costs are minimal, as it would only be the actual cost they incurred doing the study.  If this is something the Board would want, they should send him their idea and figure out a project.  He will also send a list of similar studies they did for Adams County for ideas.

 

Update from MSA on Germantown Park

Dan Schmitt from MSA reviewed the project so far.  Path width and locations reviewed. The second bridge would be like a DNR style boardwalk with treated lumber.  Smaller projects within the whole project could be pulled and done by local contractors to save time and dollars within the whole project. Drive/gate may need to be widened slightly to accommodate equipment.  Restrooms could be on a timer for locking up.  One hose bib and one duplex outlet would be in each restroom. May want another light fixture on the path. Three pet waste stations are being planned.  Soil analysis showed the area to be consistently sand with a shallow water table.  

 

Operator’s Licenses

A motion was made by Ken Jax, seconded by Ray Feldman, to approve an Operator’s License for Brian Raabe.  Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Ray Feldman, seconded by Ken Jax, to approve an Operator’s License for April Roelke.  Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Ray Feldman, seconded by Ken Jax, to approve an Operator’s License for Jasmine Lierman.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Discussion on use of brush dump

Brush dump is for those with property in Germantown.  Someone coming from the Town of Clearfield was spotted dumping debris in the Germantown brush dump.  Could have better signage, cameras or trail cams, along with an ordinance and fines.  An ordinance would need to be enforced.  The Town may need code enforcement of it along with the other ordinances as well.  Could get a note out in tax bills about who can use the brush dump, along with any other concerns, the ordinances and the fines that pertain.

 

Discussion and possible approval of Resolution 2021-6 Amending the 2021 Budget

A motion was made by Skip Barton, seconded by Keith Korbein, to approve Resolution 2021-6 Amending the budget.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Discussion and possible approval of Resolution 2021-7 Designating Juneau County to Issue Dog Licenses

A motion was made by Keith Korbein, seconded by Ken Jax, to approve Resolution 2021-6 Designating Juneau County to issue dog licenses, rather than Germantown.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

 Committee Reports:

 

Public Safety

Gervase Thompson retired from being Juneau County Emergency Management Director.  Andy Zobal will be the interim director until the position is filled. 

For the EOC, they would like to convert over to all electronic for easier updating.

The MAAA budget is up a little over 5%, which is based on population, assessed value, and call volume.

 

Roads

Crack filling and filling dips in subdivision have to be done yet.

Need black dirt and seed for a helicopter pad more toward the brush dump. This will need to wait because of the budget.

Future road work in subdivisions and developments may start affecting the levy, as some of those roads are upwards of 15 years old and need to be taken care of.

 

Zoning Administrators Report

11 permits were issued in Aug.; 7 of which were for new homes.  Total of 67 permits issued for the year.

 

Parks/Town Hall/Buildings

Park presentation was given earlier in the meeting.

Board Reports:

Ken Jax – Sanitary District upcoming project update was noted.  Also recapture fee in Sanitary District 2 was originally implemented to get Castle Rock Gardens to hook into the sanitary sewer and then pay the developer Beall back. 

Gregg Haunroth – Employee reviews will be going forward.   A letter was received from a property owner requesting the Town to abandon property that was to have been a road, but currently is not, and the property owner owns lots on both sides of this area and has maintained that road area for 30 years.  Gregg, Ken, and Keith will attend one or both days of the WTA meeting in October.

Skip Barton – Attended the CRAM meeting where 41 Germantown people signed up to recycle at the Juneau County Landfill, which costs the Town $8000/year.  Many in the town use a private company to pick up their recyclables, especially in developments.  Also, many don’t know they have to sign in the book when they arrive at the landfill so they can be counted in the Town’s recycling numbers.

Keith Korbein – Signed up for the October 1 legal round table regarding WI laws re: Room Taxes, after which will be available to the other Board members to review.  He was asked by a resident to look into getting the speed limit reduced to 45 mph from Hwy G from 58 to Cozy’s -this would have to be recommended to the County.

Ray Feldman – No report, as at this time he had an emergency and left.

 

Public Comment

Question if there was a noise ordinance, as there are concerns with ATV noise, blaring music, and even helicopters at 4am.  There currently is no playing loud music by bars past midnight.

Questioned whether the snowmobile is still in the lake that went through in winter -would be a question for the DNR. 

A boat has been beached on the rocks for the last few months and the owner is not cooperating to get it removed.

The water level is down 14-16” -question whether this will be the norm going forward -this is a WRPCO issue; we have no control over that.

Question on plowing north of 32nd.  Also, if the barrier on 38th will be repaired or replaced. And, if there were concerns that 38th is not the same width as “A”.

Branches on path through the park need to be trimmed.

 

Adjourn

A motion was made by Skip Barton, seconded by Keith Korbein to adjourn at 7:56 p.m.  Motion carried 4-0.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Michaele Korbein

Deputy Clerk/Treasurer