Rushford
Town Board Minutes
Wednesday,
May 2, 2012
The
Town of Rushford May Board meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm 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: 10
additional persons per attendance record on file, although several others were
present, but did not sign in.
Statement of Public Notice: The Annual Meeting, Rushford
Board Meeting, Zoning Organizational, Zoning committee meeting and
Representatives Spanbauer office hours were posted at
the Eureka post office building, the Waukau Post office, the Town hall door and
the Town web page. In addition, public
notice of election equipment testing and the Zoning hearing was published in
the Oshkosh Northwestern. Notices were
mailed to Town Board members and the Zoning Administrator.
Tom
Egan added an addition to the agenda under New Business to include appointment
of the Appeals Board.
Sheriff’s Department
representative: No one was present.
Guest Speaker Andrew
Ballard: Mr. Ballard went though the policy renewal
that the Town has with Rural Mutual.
Attorneys
Sondalle and Blazel were
present to answer questions from the Town electors. Attorney Selsing was present last month to
answer resident’s questions.
The
decision for the Town Attorney was carried over from the Annual Meeting, April
11, 2012. Pat Schoonover made a motion
to hire Attorney Blazel for our Towns Attorney for
one year. Tom Jackson 2nd the
motion. Motion carried with one nay.
The
Town Attorney will be appointed every year.
Clerks
Report & Minutes: Motion
by Schoonover, 2nd by Kafer to approve the minutes as presented for
the April 4th Town board meeting. Motion
carried.
Treasurers Report was given by Kathryn
Lewis. The balance at the end of April in
the general account is $333,574.24. Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to accept the treasurer’s
report.
Motion carried.
Payment of invoices: Peggy Hendricks approved and submitted to the
board the bills for May in the amount of $18,389.99 for approval of payment. Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover
to pay May bills as submitted. Motion
carried. Hendricks stated that she
received a bill from Radtkes for $4854.75 which was
paid from pre-paid funds.
Communications &
Correspondence:
Peggy
Hendricks read a letter sent by Wisconsin State Senator, Jessica King.
Tom
Egan ad email from the WisDOT inviting the board members to a meeting for
the WIS 441 Tri-County Project which will be held May
10 from 1:30-3 at the Town of Menasha Municipal Complex.
Discussion of Town maintenance:
Roads
& Brushing: Mr Egan did not know if the Correctional workers
are still cutting or chipping. Peggy
Hendricks will call for an update. Peggy
Hendricks presented the bill that they sent for this month which had dates of
service billed the same as last month’s bill.
Hendricks will inquire about the service dates on the
invoice. Mr Egan read the letter and
contract from Ripon Truck which included their rates for mowing and other
services they provide. Motion
by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover for Ripon Truck to do the town mowing
with the equipment they see fit unless if the County is less. Motion carried.
Emergency
Signs: Russ Lee was asked if he
would like to put up the 911 Emergency Number signs. Mr Lee said that he should be free in the
middle of June and he could do them then if we still did not have them up. Diggers Hot line
should be called before the signs are put up.
Ditching on River Road:
Mr
Egan had some pictures of ditching that was done on River Road. The Town did not order it and we are
responsible if anything would happen, for some of the ditching comes right up
to the shoulder. The clerk will send a
letter to who the board thinks is responsible (Bob Schmitz) telling him that
the ditch will have to be fixed and he should be liable for the bill. He is to contact a board member as soon as
possible.
New Business: Tom Egan asked the board for approval to
appoint Fred Kasten as Zoning Administrator for 1 year. Motion by Schoonover, 2nd
by Kafer to appoint Fred Kasten as zoning administrator for 1 year. Motion carried. Chairman Egan asked the board for
approval to appoint the same members to the appeals board since they have only
met twice in the past 2 years. The board
consists of Steve Demuth, Charles Knigge, Pat
Ostrander, Janet Helmuth, Warren Bohn and Helen
Larsen as alternate. Motion
by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to approve the chairman’s appointment as
read. Motion carried.
Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to have Rural
Mutual for the towns insurance needs.
Motion carried.
Hendricks
stated that last month the application was sent in for the recycling
grant. The DNR sent notice that we were
offered an award of $2,884.09 to help offset our costs for this year.
Tom
Egan read a letter from the County offering the town to purchase a foreclosed
property in the Town for nonpayment of taxes. #022 0702-02 Vacant
lot on River Rd. County’s current costs
are $2,058.40. Motion
by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to not purchase the property. Motion carried.
Old Business:
Discussion on Parcel
#022 031203, 8858 Edgewater Ridge – James Erdmann: Hendricks stated that the certified letter which
was sent to Mr Erdmann was returned to the town. Motion by Kafer, 2nd
by Schoonover to turn this over to Attorney Blazel. Discussion:
Tom Egan stated he did stop and no one came to the door. The radio was on and children’s toys present. He feels there are adults and children
residing on the property. Mr Stokes
stated there is activity on the property.
Motion carried.
Town Zoning Committee
Report – Dan Stokes: Mr Stokes reported
that they met on April 25. Mr King had a
public hearing for a zoning change on 022 0224 and 022 0231. Lot 2 on the pending CSM
would be changed from A-1 to A-2 and Lot 2 which is 2.855 acres would be
changed from A-1 to A-3. The zoning
committee recommends approving the zoning change to the Town Board. Bill Spanbauer came
in to explain he had taken a building permit out in 2007, but because of a
family hardship he was not able to build in the allotted time. Another building permit was issued from the
building inspector.
Motion by Kafer, 2nd by Schoonover to approve the
zoning change for Ralph King, parcels 022 0224 and 022 0231 to make the lots
conforming. Motion
approved. Motion by Kafer, 2nd
by Schoonover to approve the CSM for Ralph King,
parcels #022 0224 & 022 0231 with the zoning change of A-1 to A-2 on Lot 2 and from A-1 to A-3 on Lot
1 as shown on the CSM. Motion carried.
Tom
Egan stated he was called on a question about some adjoining property owners who
did not receive notices of the hearing.
Hendricks stated that she sends out registered letters to adjoining
residents within 300 feet of the property.
This rule is not stated in our Towns ordinance and it is not a state
statute. It is done because that is what
she was told when she started as clerk.
There are not any written guidelines for registered letters and this is
something that should be added to the Towns ordinances. Hendricks showed Mr Egan the property owners
who were notified and everyone who had adjoining property lines were notified. Mr. Jackson stated
because of the previous month’s action, the adjoining property owner was the
same owner. This should be clarified
also in the ordinance rewrite.
County Zoning Permit by
Fred Kasten: Fred Kasten reported that they had an
informational meeting for towns to opt in or out of County Zoning. Tom Egan thanked Tom Jackson for filling in
for the zoning committee meeting. Mr.
Kasten and Mr Egan had county meetings and could not attend the zoning hearing.
Town Assessor Report –
Larry Timm: Mr Timm reported he has sent out notices of tax
change to the residents whose tax assessments have changed.
Dog, Constable Report: Peggy Hendricks reported that Mr Mier rescued
2 cats and took 2 dogs to Traxlers. A citation was given out for 2 dogs running
at large and no tags. The owner came in
and purchased tags and paid the citation.
Building Permit Report –
Tom Egan:
Steve Doro, 9349 Bell School Road, Omro, WI
28x84 solar heifer barn, self built
$20,000 April
4, 2012
Matt Walker, # 022 039302, 1719 Koro Rd, Berlin, WI
Remodeling, fixing roof, residing, new windows
for 9413 Bell School Rd, Omro
Done by Al Resop, 417 Van Horn St, Berlin
$45,000 April
11, 2012
County Update: Tom Egan: Mr Egan reported they had their
organizational meeting,
He was voted Vice chair of the Planning & Zoning, he was put
back on the Highway committee.
Reports on Meetings that
have been attended:
·
Jerry
Schoonover reported on the Winnebago Unit WTA meeting which was held on April 5
at the Nepeuskun Town Hall. The next one will be held in the Town of Omro
on July 12.
·
Peggy
Hendricks reported that Representative Spanbauer held
office hours at the Town hall on April 30th.
Upcoming meetings and workshops:
· Testing of Election Equipment May 4 at 11 am
· Election Day on May 8, 2012 and June 5, 2012
· Open Book May 25, 3-7 pm
· Zoning Committee Meeting on May 30th at 7:00
· Board of Review June 2, 9-11 am
Motion by Schoonover, 2nd by Kafer to adjourn at 8:30. Motion carried.
Respectfully
submitted by Peggy Hendricks, Clerk