Home Page: Meeting Minutes
|
February 11, 2008 Board of Supervisors
February 11, 2008
Board of Supervisors
Minutes:
Chair Hoenisch called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
The Supervisors reviewed the bills payable.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Chair Hoenisch explained to the audience that the meeting had been called at 6:00 p.m. to
allow time for the Supervisor’s to review bills payable.
Chair Hoenisch requested a motion to approve bills payable. Supervisor Schult made a motion to approve bills payable, seconded by Supervisor Shore. Motion carried.
Clerk Walter stated that the Presidential Primary Election is coming up on February 19th. Clerk Walter explained she has January 14, 2008 and February 4, 2008 meeting minutes that will need to be approved. Chair Hoenisch asked the Supervisors to make a motion to dispense of the reading of the minutes and make any changes or corrections. No corrections were made. Supervisor Shore made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Supervisor Schult. Motion carried.
Chairperson’s report:
Chair Hoenisch reported that the Town’s oldest plow truck broke down on January 29th. The truck was repaired and returned the following day. Chair Hoenisch informed the Supervisors that if there were any phone calls about the south end of the Town being plowed, to inform residents that we had only one truck to plow the entire town. Chair Hoenisch also explained that the Town should consider keeping the old truck when a new truck is purchased.
Chair Hoenisch reported that the last couple of days, the workers have been working hard on maintaining the roads from snow drifting.
Chair Hoenisch reported that she’s been talking with road contractors already to get ready
for spring road bids.
Chair Hoenisch reported that there have been extra meetings due to the Brokaw Water Line issue that will be discussed later on in the meeting.
Chair Hoenisch explained that this last Friday, the Clerk and she attended an election machine training seminar to help with the February 19th election.
Chair Hoenisch reported that there was a complaint about dogs on Merrill Avenue without any shelter during the 20 below zero spell. The call came in to the office by a passer buyer and Clerk Walter went and drove by the house right away to confirm it. Clerk Walter then came back to the office and called the Humane Society right away so this issue could be addressed because of the cold weather. Chair Hoenisch explained the Humane Society went to this house immediately, saw the conditions and sent the resident a letter to fix the situation immediately.
Chair Hoenisch explained a complaint from a city resident that lives by the former Hanz pit which is now owned by Mathy Construction. She explained that the resident doesn’t like the dynamite noise and would like all mining operations to go to China. Chair Hoenisch gave the gentleman the phone number for County Zoning.
Chair Hoenisch explained a complaint from a resident on the section of North 72nd Avenue that the Town of Berlin takes care of. The resident complained of a large bump where a culvert goes across the road and wants the Town of Maine to take care of it.
Supervisor’s report:
Supervisor Shore reported that she issued 1 burn permit.
Supervisor Shore reported that she is still working on Charter Town’s and will report on it a different time.
Supervisor Schult reported that the workers and he have looked at a used 2000 gallon water tank for the Town to use in watering roads and will be purchasing it.
Supervisor Schult explained that there were problems today on 60th Avenue with snow drifting and had informed the road workers.
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Marilyn Grunenwald reported on the Town’s bank accounts ending January 31, 2008:
Money Market Account Balance 12/31/2007 $ 1,202,686.78
Deposits and Interest $ 1,295,290.14
Expenses $1,064,748.10
Money Market Account Balance 1/31/2008 $ 1,433,228.82
Town of Maine Checking Account $ 3,875.10
Certificate of Deposit for Garbage and Recycling
Special Assessment Account $ 27,421.43
Fire Department Petty Cash Checking Account $ 1,515.30
Fire Department Money Market for Memorials
and Special Donations $ 20,424.30
Municipal NOW Account $ 420,458.95 Supervisor Schult made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report, seconded by Supervisor Shore. Motion carried.
Zoning Report for 2007 Year End and January 2008- Zoning Administrator Rich Grefe reported that he had issued three permits and ten inspections in the month of December. Mr. Grefe reported that in 2007, he issued fifty-one permits and one conditional use. Mr. Grefe reported that he has one permit pending and ten inspections in the month of January.
Other Business:
Discussion and possible action on the 2008 Ambulance Contract with the City of Wausau.
Chair Hoenisch explained this was a little bit higher than what they proposed in their fall proposal; until they pass their budget they don’t know a correct number. This is a second year in a row that it’s gone above their estimate. At this time, the Town has no other options, unless we want to purchase our own ambulance. Rib Mountain has contacted the Town and has expressed an interest in possibly working with the Town on ambulance service. Chair Hoenisch has tried setting up meetings with them and our fire department but it never worked with our fire department. Rib Mountain is providing ambulance service for Stettin and they are very happy with the service and cost savings. The Town will be looking into this issue. Supervisor Shore made a motion to approve the 2008 City of Wausau Ambulance contract for $61,631.28, seconded by Supervisor Schult. Motion carried.
Discussion and possible action on a resolution determining that 6025 Rainbow Drive is an uninhabitable property and approve an Order to Make Safe or Raze. Chair Hoenisch explained that there was complaints made about this house, so Rich and herself made an appointment to inspect that property. On September 18, 2007, Rich Grefe and Chair Hoenisch were allowed in by the realtor to conduct an inspection. Chair Hoenisch explained there were windows missing, siding missing, back porch was unstable, front porch is boarded up and no stairway to the ground, the entire house on the north side and east side are in the set back areas (11 feet off the road), no insulation in most places, exterior sheeting is rotten (day light is visible thru the boards), the floors are badly soiled and stained, very bad odor in entire home, foundation issues, electrical wires are dangling out of the walls, plumbing pipes are dangling, septic issues, duct work issues and there was a boarded up room in the basement that Rich was able to look thru a knot hole and saw a open well. Chair Hoenisch explained that according to surrounding neighbors, there have been four different parties that have tried to rehab this house.
Surrounding neighbors came to the meeting to express their feelings on this issue. Some neighbors stated the house should be torn down because of the smell and rats. David Teske stated that he thought this home had the original septic. The septic would run on top of the ground when families lived there and there were a lot of bats at this home in summer. Peter Monday stated that one lady that lived there, did furniture stripping and because of that, surrounding neighbors should be worried about their well water. Supervisor Shore made a motion to find this house uninhabitable and issue U.S. Bank a 60 day raze order, seconded by Supervisor Schult. Motion carried.
Discussion and possible action on Brokaw’s Water Transmission Line Easement Agreement.
Chair Hoenisch explained that this has been something the Town has been working on, even before these Supervisors were in office. Chair Hoenisch said there have been many meetings, Attorney Frokjer and she went down to the Madison DNR, the board attended several meetings in Brokaw, contacted 3M about a well site, contacted Congressman Obey about grants and Attorney Frokjer has worked at great lengths with Rural Development. The Town feels that Brokaw has ethics issues, such as they built their subdivision on the top of the hill, by taking 53 acres of land from the Town of Maine, knowing that they could not provide services. Congressmen Obey gave Brokaw a grant for $1,000,000.00 to get sewer and water to the subdivision, even though Brokaw doesn’t have a good source of water. Chair Hoenisch has met with Obey’s grant writer and has requested three times to see the grant application. She has never received it, never a phone call and this is open records.
Brokaw got the $1,000,000.00 to save them, came across the river when they had other options. The Town went to 3M immediately, and 3M jumped up to the plate and offered to site a well along the Wisconsin River on 3M’s land so we could furnish Brokaw with water and they won’t even talk to us about it. Attorney Frokjer explained that we have gone over every pro and con about this decision. We have turned over every stone possible, looked at alternative options, checked different sources and every way you look at this, it’s not good. Attorney Frokjer stated that this is one of the hardest cases he’s had, due to the fact the Town has absolutely no control over what’s going to happen, and the Town is impacted the most. The Village of Brokaw will benefit short term, but long term they will lose their autonomy. The City of Wausau who seems to have promoted this water source will gain the most. The sad part is that after looking at every angle, but not being able to look into the future, he can not give the Town any good options.
Supervisor Schult would like the minutes to reflect that he totally disagrees with what Brokaw has done in getting their new water source. Mr. Schult went on to explain that Brokaw’s other option where the County would allow them to run the water main along County Road K to County Road WW and then east to their tower, would be more detrimental to the Town. He also explained that to litigate the ethics issue would cost the Town too much money and he didn’t feel the outcome would be any better. Supervisor Schult stated that he thought the Town Board should use tax payer money to be proactive in keeping land from being annexed to Wausau.
Supervisor Shore stated she could not approve this motion. She explained she loves this township and that she lives on the southeast part of the township that will be most greatly affected by this water main. Supervisor Shore stated that she feels approving Brokaw’s Easement Agreement will expedite the loss of her part of the township. Chair Hoenisch explained that this has been a tough decision for the entire Town Board and Attorney.
Chair Hoenisch stated that this is like giving into the bully on the block, but we don’t have any other good option. The Town is getting no help from the DNR, Rural Development, Attorney General’s office, Obey, Decker, Feingold, or Seidel’s office. Chair Hoenisch also felt there was more at risk for the Town if Brokaw puts their water main into the County right-away. Attorney Frokjer stated that if the Supervisors don’t agree, Chair Hoenisch will have to be the tie breaker. Supervisor Schult made a motion to approve the Brokaw Water Transmission Line Easement Agreement, seconded by Chair Hoenisch. Supervisor Shore opposed this motion. Motion carried.
Open discussion from the audience. No discussion was heard.
Schedule the next Board of Supervisor Meeting for March 10, 2008 at 6:30 for bill approval and general business at 7:30 p.m.
Motion by Supervisor Schult to adjourn at 9:40 p.m., seconded by Supervisor Shore. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted and approved on April 14, 2008.
Tammi M. Walter
Town of Maine Clerk
Last modified: 03/22/07.
Archive:
August 19, 2009 Board of Supervisors special meeting
August 13, 2009 Board of Supervisors special meeting
August 10, 2009 Board of Supervisors
July 27, 2009 Board of Supervisors special meeting
July 13, 2009 Board of Supervisors
July 6, 2009 Board of Supervisors special meeting
July 6, 2009 Board of Supervisors Special Meeting
June 29, 2009 Board of Supervisors special meeting
June 15, 2009 Board of Supervisors special meeting
June 8, 2009 Board of Supervisors Meeting