Rushford Town Board Minutes

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

 

The Town of Rushford Board meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm on September 7, 2011 by Chairman Thomas 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:  7 additional persons per attendance record on file, although several others were present, but did not sign in.

 

Statement of Public Notice   The Rushford Board Meeting was posted at the Eureka and Waukau Post office, the town hall door and the town web page.  Notices were mailed to Town Board members and the Zoning Administrator.   Public notice of appeal board hearing were posted and additionally published in the Oshkosh Northwestern. 

 

Clerks Report & Minutes:    Motion by Schoonover, 2nd by Kafer to approve the minutes as presented for the August 10, 2011 town board meeting.  Motion carried. 

 

Treasurers Report was given by Kathryn Lewis.  The balance at the end of August in the general account is $198,793.68. There is $26,427.75 in the Fire Truck CD which will mature September 8, 2012.  The Town tax account has $105.86.  $45,199 was paid towards the town hall loan.  Kathy also stated that the payoff balance on the hall is $68,787.86.  The interest rate is 4.35% and it matures on September 15, 2011.  Motion by Schoonover, 2nd by Kafer to accept the treasurer’s report.  Motion carried. 

 

Tom Egan stated that we hold one more CD.  He had talked to the bank and they said that we could cash it out without penalties, but we would not receive the interest which was $21. The interest rate on this CD is 1.25%.   Motion by Don Wagoner, 2nd by Patsy Pomplun to cash in the CD and use the proceeds towards the town hall loan.  Motion carried. 

 

Township Policing Discussion with Sheriff Department:  Deputy Kyle Schoonover was present to address any questions or concerns.  Tom Egan stated it seems like there is less speeding in the town.  Pat Kafer asked if the town board could lower speed limits or if the county did.  He feels a lower speed limit should be on the curves on Eureka Lock road.  Town road speed limits are controlled by the Town.  The road sign for Senn Road is missing. Tom Egan informed the board that Kyle Schoonover has been promoted to patrol office and offered congratulations. 

 

Payment of invoices –Peggy Hendricks approved and submitted to the board the bills for September in the amount of $20,827.45 for approval of payment.  Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to pay August bills as submitted.  Motion carried. 

 

Public Input:   None

 

Communications & Correspondence:

 

·         Tom Egan went over a letter from Jenny & Dan Mccollian sent to Mr Timm and copied to Peggy Hendricks.  They are asking for their land to be reviewed before the following tax year, for 15.5A was taken out of agricultural use and put into recreational land.  They sent copies of the DNR conservation reserve program contract that this land is in.  It was suggested that the clerk call Larry Timm to see what he says on this.

·         Tom Egan went though the Wetland Conservation activities general permit which we received from the Department of Natural Resources for Bohn Farms, Inc for 2021 Rush Lake Drive, Ripon, WI

·         Tom Egan read the Notice of Commencement of proceedings in rem to foreclose tax liens by Winnebago County.  This will be for parcel 022 0702 02

·         Tom Egan mentioned that we have not heard yet from the project crew that will be doing brushing.  Starting date is approximately October 17th.

·         Peggy Hendricks went though the recall election costs for Winnebago County and the Town of Rushford.  Our cost for the two recall elections came to $1774.00.

·         Tom Egan reminded the supervisors that the Local Road certification packet will have to be done soon.  The WDOT would like this by October 21.

·         Peggy Hendricks explained the address change request for the home located on Arlo Pit.  Tom Egan asked Fred Kasten if previous things were taken care of; for the old house was suppose to be razed or surveyed into a separate lot. 

 

Constable Report – Peggy Hendricks:  Peggy Hendricks stated this past weekend, 2 letters were served by our constable to people who have not picked up the registered letters informing them of the fines due.  Affidavits of Delivery were signed.  The sheriff’s department had contacted Jerry Schoonover on the dogs next to McDermott’s in Waukau and he went to talk to the landlord.  The landlord stated that the dogs would be gone in 30 days.  Letters were also sent to the landlords of the persons owing fines. 

 

Old Business:  Jerry Schoonover reported that the garbage on 2662 Archery Drive has been picked up and they have been cleaning up the area.

 

Peggy Hendricks asked if anyone knew who owned the trailer in Delhi so a letter could be sent.  It was Scotts place.  A person will have to drive down to get the fire number.

 

New Business:  Peggy Hendricks read the new requirement where municipalities must have an employee grievance procedure in place.  A grievance procedure, grievance form, grievance decision form and a resolution for the board to approve was explained.  A hearing officer will have to be elected.  Tom Egan suggested that Ron Bahn be asked if he would consent to be the hearing officer.  Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to accept and sign the resolution present with the understanding that Ron Bahn will be the hearing officer.  Motion carried.

 

Peggy Hendricks presented a resolution to allow the posting of “No conceal/carry weapons.  This is needed if the Town wishes to post signs.  It was discussed if this would be just for buildings or buildings and surrounding area.  Motion passed with 3 ayes.

 

Discussion of Town Hall maintenance/needs:   The flag pole was discussed.  Pat Kafer stated that he will contact Hyler to see if he can come out to suck out the sand so concrete could be put in to straighten the pole.

 

Tom Egan asked about the spraying of round up on the grounds.  It was discussed that the back of the hall should be reseeded with grass and the bush that is back there, be moved.  Pat Kafer asked if Tom Traxler could be contacted to get an update on the rain garden and see if we could clip this in the fall. 

 

Tom Egan stated that Ron Gehrke will be donating a picnic table to the Town. 

 

Discussion on Town Maintenance:

 

Roads:  Tom Egan explained that we are just keeping up with the maintenance on the roads.  If they start now, we will just have holes.  We have always tried to do 5 miles of roads a year.  We have over $100,000 for roads, but we are behind almost $25,000 for snow removal and the year is not over.  Whatever is left will be rolled over and more will be done. 

 

Brushing:  Pat Kafer stated that the ditches should be mowed again and after the last wind storm, there are a lot of brush, trees, etc   Tom Egan stated that another posting should be put up to inform people that the brushing will be done and permission from the land owners would have to be obtained before wood was taken.

 

Jim Schoonover volunteered to put a cut in the slab by the playground so it would not crack.

 

Tom Egan will call Ripon Trucking to see if they can start the 2nd round of mowing.

 

Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to send a Thank you card for the donation of $1500 for the playground to Rew/Ross.  Motion carried.  An article was in the Omro Herald along with a picture of the presentation of the check to the board members.

 

 

Reports on Meetings that have been attended:   Fred Kasten reported on the Winnebago Plan Commissioner meeting at the Omro Town hall on August 31st.  It was mainly on park trails and conservation wetlands.

 

Fred Kasten reported on the appeals board hearing for a variance requested by Jim & Peggy Hendricks on September 6th.  The request was to have a lesser side set back of 25’ instead of 50’.  The appeals board unanimously approved the request. 

 

County Report: 

·         Tom Egan stated that the bridge will be done next year.  They have to come in this fall to take the mussels out.  It passed though the historical society. 

·         He also reported as of now, the County will pay for all the radios that is needed for emergency/fire department. 

·         The jail is not being added on to at this time.

·         The landfill is being covered.  By next year, all our garbage will be going to Outagamie and Brown County.

·         Parkview is out for bids.

 

Upcoming meetings and workshops : 

 

a.       Local Budget & Finance workshop at Ripon on September 14

b.      Omro-Rushford Fire District Meeting at 7:00 on September 14

c.       Public hearing for Comprehensive Land Use Plan Amendment at 4 pm September 27 in the Lounge Room of the Courthouse

d.      Conditional use permit hearing for Arlo Pit on September 28, 2011 at 7 pm

e.      WTA 64th Annual Convention October 24 in Sierra Hotel/KI Convention Center, Green Bay

Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to approve $70 per person who wishes to attend the WTA Convention.  Motion carried.

 

Fred Kasten stated that an application was received by Dennis Wilke for a Conditional use permit for Arlo pit.  He will be the owner/operator and he wishes to use the pit to take out clay fill.  He will not be washing sand.  He should also go through a zoning change, a conditional use permit or raze the home that is there if it is on the parcel in which the Conditional use permit application is being requested.

 

County Zoning Report:  Fred Kasten reported that they will be having a meeting tomorrow night.  They should be finishing up the rewrite and should have almost everything wrapped up except for a farm site plan for 500+ animal units and wind mill siting.  They should be ready for public hearing after the first of the year. 

 

Building Permit Report:  Tom Egan reported there were 3 building permits for the month of August.

 

John Drexler, 7923 Cty Rd K, Omro, 685-3090

Black top part of driveway by Custom Pouring, 54561 Valley Corp. Freedom, WI

$5500                    Parcel # 022 078401                          August 11, 2011

 

Knigge Farms, 4577 Poygan Ave, Omro, 685-5531

Pole heifer shed built by Covenant Construction, W895 Pleasant View Ct, Mt Calvary, WI

84’x54, - open to south 3 rolls of freestalls

$80,000                 Parcel # 022 0055                               August 12, 2011

 

Julie Henke, 2879 Morrow Rd, Omro, 685-5537

Black top driveway.  Work done by Badger Highways, Menasha, WI

$11,000                 parcel # 022 07550101                      August 26, 2011

 

Jerry Schoonover asked if the community would have an interest in having a CPR class.  It was mentioned that there have been CPR classes at the Waukau Youth Center.  Jerry Schoonover will check into the possibilities of having a class here, the fire department or at a location in the town if there is an interest.

 

Motion by Schoonover, 2nd by Kafer to adjourn the meeting at 8:45.  Motion carried. 

 

Respectfully submitted by Peggy Hendricks, Clerk