Rushford Town Board Minutes

Wednesday May 5, 2010

 

The Town of Rushford May 2010 Board meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm on May 5th by Chairman Tom Egan followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  Roll call was taken with Tom Egan, Patrick Kafer, Jerry Schoonover, Kathryn Lewis and Peggy Hendricks present.  Also present for all or part of the meeting:  8 additional persons per attendance record on file.

 

Statement of Public Notice:   This meeting, the road tour, the pit tour and the Hwy K Bridge meeting was posted at Eureka & Waukau post office, the web page, and the town hall door. Notices were also mailed to Town Board members and the Zoning Administrators.   

 

Public Input:  Jim Moore, 7505 Archery Drive, Waukau asked if the request for him to clean up at the annual meeting was by one certain individual.  Egan stated that he was correct.  Mr Moore asked about clean up of some other properties.  He asked if 7755 Hwy K was residential or agricultural.  Egan stated it was agricultural.  He then asked about 7383 on Hwy 91.  The barn has been down for 3 years and it has not been cleaned up.  He requested that it be cleaned up, for when he took his barn down, the town gave him 3 months to clean up.  He then asked about 2524 Hwy 116.  He asked if it was abandoned, for no one is living there.  He also asked about 2536.  Egan stated that he talked to them about a year ago. 

 

Patsy Pomplun, 7505 County Road E, asked about a trailer on Wayside Drive that has been sitting there for over a year.  It has not been moved in all that time.

 

Minutes:    Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to approve the minutes as presented for the April 7, 2010 town board meeting.  Motion carried. 

 

Treasurers Report was given by Kathryn Lewis.  The balance in the general account is $77,423.56.  There is $70,341.88 in 3 separate Fire Truck CD’s and $4,646.20 in the Now account.  Motion by Schoonover, 2nd by Kafer to accept the treasurer’s report.  Motion carried. 

 

Payment of invoices –Peggy Hendricks read off the invoices which she approved and submitted to the board for approval of payment for an amount of $21,612.41.  Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to pay May’s bills that were submitted.  Motion carried.

 

Egan mentioned that according to the Budget to date, things looked like we are right on as far as finances for the year.  Hendricks mentioned the only place where we are over budget is for the poll workers.  But we are under budget by a few thousand dollars for election equipment and all the equipment has been purchased.  Egan mentioned that we are short on brushing.  Hendricks mentioned that when the bills are received from the county, sometimes it is hard to figure out if it should go under road maintenance or trimming. 

 

Correspondence & Communications:   Egan read the letter from the Winnebago Highway Commission concerning bridge/culvert aid for 2011. 

 

Hendricks read a letter sent out from Wisconsin Towns Association which concerned the importance of contacting the Governor’s office to ask him to sign AB260 into law.  Copies were available for residents to have the bill and contact information.

 

Kafer read a letter from Doug Bohn which stated that Don Metco, Town of Rushford representative for the Rush Lake Watershed Restoration Committee would like to retire.  He suggested the Town appoint Bruce Mueller to fill his position.  Egan said the board will consider the position and appoint someone at the June Board Meeting. 

 

The following letters were also read:

·         The announcement of $4456.40 awarded to the Town of Rushford for the 2010 Recycling Grant

·         A thank you from Omro Area Development Corporation and the City of Omro for the allocation of Winnebago County Per Capita funds for 2010.

·         A notice of Public Hearing from the Town of Winneconne concerning proposed changes to the Future Land Use Plan Map.

 

New Business:   Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to grant picnic license for 2010 to Pastymes, the Snowmobile Club, Flying Mane, Waukau Youth Group and the Omro Police Department.  Motion carried.

 

Discussion of Town Hall maintenance/needs:   Hendricks stated that the playground equipment has been purchased and as soon as it is dry, they will start construction.  Schoonover asked what the recommended base would be.  Hendricks mentioned from all the research that had been done, it would seem pea gravel would be best.  The Board will have to meet to decide for sure where the playground will be.  If it is in the front, the wiring to the trees and the new light should be installed first. 

 

Hendricks mentioned that a new notice board for the Eureka Post office is needed.  She gave the Board prices that she had come up with.  This was approved at the 2010 annual meeting. 

 

Chairman Egan commended Kyle Kafer for the mowing and Patsy Pomplun for the trimming and the trellises on the side of the hall.  He mentioned that as soon as the north side is dry where the rain gardens will be, they will come in and plant.  It should be done sometime in June. 

 

Pat Kafer said he would donate the Roundup for spraying if Patsy Pomplun would do the spraying where needed.

 

Upcoming meetings and workshops : 

 

·         A WMCA District meeting in Grand Chute.  Reservations were sent in for Hendricks and Lewis, but they found they could not make the date, so the money was refunded.

·         The August meeting date is during fair week.  It was decided at the annual meeting to discuss the Farmland Preservation Program and Board member salaries at the August Meeting.  Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to move the August Board meeting to Wednesday, August 11, 2010.

 

Reports on attended meetings:    

 

1.       Fred Kasten reported on the Plan Commission meeting that was held at the Omro Town Hall on April 28th.  There is no grant money appropriated for the Towns for the Farmland Preservation Program.  The Towns are going to try to piggyback on what the County does.  How to do the mapping for the Farmland Preservation District was also discussed. 

2.       Tom Egan reported the Hwy K Bridge Meeting that was help on April 21.  There was a much smaller crowd this time due to the Locks project being on hold.  They had a very nice presentation.  The earliest the project would start is after July 4, 2011.  They have found they have to move a large number of different varieties of mussels.  Since it is a historical bridge, there is a lot of paperwork that has to be sent to the Federal Government.  They also have to do netting so birds do not nest on the bridge.  The cost right now is at $1.85 million, which will climb as time goes on. 

3.       Peggy Hendricks reported on the Annual Meeting held on April 14th

 

County Zoning Committee Report:  Kasten reported that they have had one rewrite meeting since the first of the year.  The plan is to finish up phase 1 of the rewrite of the zoning codes in May and to start phase 2 in June.  They plan to have the rewrites and mapping done by March 2011. 

 

Egan stated that clean up letters should be sent to the residents who were earlier mentioned.  Discussion on the Hendricks clean up on Union Street, Eureka.  A letter was sent and Hendricks contacted the County stating that they have the neighbor mow and what more should be done.  Egan said that there are old trees down and there is garbage amongst the trees.  Only a couple passes are done with the mower.  There is wood, blocks, tools, and tires which should be removed.  The property owners have the supervisor’s phone numbers, but no one on the board has been contacted.  As it stands, they will have to have it cleaned up by May 17th, or else the Town will have it cleaned up and the cost will be on his tax bill.

 

Discussion with Sherriff’s Department   Officer Herlache was present to answer any questions, concerns or issues.  Kasten asked who can ticket for no wake violations.  The officer mentioned that they can do that, the DNR and the town could if they had an ordinance.  The ordinance that the Town has dates back to the early 1970’s.  He suggested contacting the lawyer for the county, the Corporation Council. 

 

Jim Moore requested that extra patrol be on Archery Drive for many people speed down the Archery Drive between 116 and State Hwy 91.  Pat Kafer inquired if weight limits are monitored.  Tom Egan thanked Officer Herlache for stopping at the meeting.

 

Fred Kasten asked about a mobile home on Liberty School Road, West of Eureka Road.  He thinks it has been abandoned for a year or more.  He would like a letter sent informing them to move the trailer. 

 

Larry Timm was not available for the assessors report.  Hendricks mentioned that it was explained at the Annual meeting that the assessment roll is not ready, so the Board of Review and the Open Book will be later than in past years. 

 

Building report:  Egan reported that four building permits were issued during the month of April.

 

Discussion on Town Maintenance:  Tom Egan stated that on April 16, he met with the one of the representatives from the Correctional Facility and they did a road tour.  He said that it would cost about $5000 to do all the work.  That includes cutting everything except for a chipper.  Egan mentioned that he talked to the Parks Department and we can use theirs for a couple of weeks if they are not using it.  

 

They can start in August and the crew will consist of 8-12 men.  Jerry Schoonover will have to supervise the first week of brushing, for it is fair week.  Kafer mentioned that we should utilize the crew as much as we can.  The work will be done August 2-5, 16-20, 23-27 and October 18-22.

 

The County was out on the River Road and they cut 3 trees down on the first curve.  This was done so they can haul fill to place there. 

 

Egan mentioned that there is a problem on Lost Lane where the tree tops need to be cut so busses and motor homes can go down the road.  It was agreed to contact the County to have this done.

 

Jerry Schoonover mentioned that there is a sign down on Archery Drive.  It is a 45 mph speed limit sign.  There is also a sign down on 2nd Street and Wayside Drive.  He will order the new signs and it will be billed to the responsible parties when and if known.

 

Tom Egan went though the Highway report cost estimates from the Road Tour.  The culverts that meet the requirements for culvert aid will be submitted.  Kafer stated that Freund should be contacted for all the culverts except for the ones which will be submitted for Culvert Aid.  The Board will set a time to meet to discuss bids on wedging.  They will  also schedule a time to meet with Tim Zillges to discuss the repair to the culvert and repair on Bell School Road. 

 

Tom Egan reported on the Pit Tour.  East Central Planning said whatever we do with Arlo Pit is up to the Board because he did not see anything wrong on their part.  Michels, Wagoners and The Albright Pitt looks OK.  It was suggested to watch what goes on at the Zillges Pitt.  There is no work going on at Clausens Pitt. 

 

Fred Kasten suggested that we pursue landscaping and the berm for Arlo Pit.    Kafer suggested that a letter be sent asking for a plan to be delivered to the town in the next 30 days on what he plans to do with the berm.  A letter will be sent to Dennis Wilke explaining what the town would like to be done.  Hendricks will meet with Fred Kasten to help with the wording of the letter.

 

Hendricks stated that Bob Eckstein will be picking up large recyclable items on May 20-24th.  He will pick up by appointment. 

 

Egan mentioned that we got an address assignment for 3220 Quarry Drive. Eureka.  This is for the business building for Tom Schuster.  Egan did not know if this property would have to be rezoned as commercial or apply for a Conditional use permit.  Fred Kasten will contact Tom Schuster.

 

Pat Kafer reported that all the address numbers have been ordered. 

 

Jerry Schoonover mentioned that Larry Hildebrand called and stated that he will be mowing the trails and he is in perfect health. 

 

The board then audited the treasurers and clerks financial books.

 

Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to adjourn the meeting at 9:15.  Motion carried. 

 

Respectfully Submitted by Peggy Hendricks, Clerk