MINUTES OF THE REGULAR TOWN
BOARD MEETING
Chairman
Gene Ratzel called the meeting to order at 6:35PM.
The
Pledge of Alliance was said.
The
July agenda was read as follows:
Pledge
of Allegiance to the Flag
Approve
the July Agenda
Approve
the Minutes of the Last Regular Board Meeting
Treasurer’s
Report
Treasurer-Change the way the accounts
are done
Clerk
/ Correspondence
License
Applications-
1-year Operator’s License-Todd Walsh
Anyone
not on Agenda-
5 minutes
Ski
Trail Groomer Bid- Gene Miller
Buck
N Bass-
Kevin Murphy
Potawatomi
Land Issues-
Dawn Pittman
Cemetery
Committee-
Bud Pease
BADC- Updates
Comprehensive
Land Use Planning Committee- Updates
Board
Member Reports
Motion (Webb / Scharlau) to approve the Agenda as read. Motion carried.
Motion (Scharlau / Meinke) to approve the Minutes of the Last Regular
Board Meeting as presented. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s
Report- Debbie
Sesko gave the Treasurer’s Report as follows:
Checking Balance from last meeting $ 39,217.75
Receipts #15799-15838 ($ 43,550.00 Transfer
from BES) $ 138,764.11
Checks #16769-16876 $ (58,939.83)
June and July EFTPS $ ( 8,074.44)
June Interest $
26.74
June Service Charge $
(16.80)
Automatic Withdrawal-June Insurance Payment $ ( 3,608.24)
Checking Balance $ 107,369.29
Ambulance Dept. Invest. Fund-Receipt #15834-$4.45 $
1,805.34
Highway Department Sinking Fund-#15831-
$172.75 $ 70,030.79
Highway Department Operational
Fund-#15830-$2.49 $ 1,010.94
BES Sinking Fund-Receipt #15833-$120.80(Less
Transaction) $
5,422.38
BES Operational Fund-Receipt #15832-$2.49 $
1,009.43
Park Savings-Receipt #15806-#15829 and
#15835-$196.03 $
9,767.52
Ski Trail Savings-Receipt #15797 and
#15836--$28.97 $
1,644.13
Parade-Event Calendar Fund-Receipt #15837
$6.47 $
2,622.98
Balance All Accounts $ 200,682.80
Motion (Webb / Meinke) to
approve the Treasurer’s Report as given. Motion carried.
Treasurer- Change the way the accounts are done.
Treasurer Sesko presented the plan to close out the Highway Operational Account
and the BES Operational Account and put these funds, along with the General
Property Tax Levy that we had on our 2003 budget into the General Fund, under
sub accounts. This is on the advice of the town’s CPA firm. All checks are
issued from the General Fund and these accounts are only sub accounts of the
General Fund and should not have their own separate bank accounts. In the Tax
Savings Account we have about $260,000.00. All money, except $1,10.00 to avoid
a service charge in the that account, will go to the General Fund Account under
the sub accounts for the Highway Fund and the BES Fund. This amounts to
$46,555.00 to go into the General Fund Account under the BES sub account and at
the August settlement we will owe the BES sub account $20,000.00. To the
Highway Fund sub account we will put the exact amount levied which is
$212,681,00. When we close out the two Operational Accounts, that money will
also go into the General Fund under those sub accounts. All monies due these
accounts, including the tax levy, are listed under the sub accounts in the
system as well as any monies paid out, so there is a detailed accounting of all
monies. The accounts that are for special purposes such as the sinking funds,
park, ski trail savings and parade-event funds will remain as they are as these
are not funds included in the budget.
Motion (Webb / Scharlau) to minimize the number of accounts that we have at the bank currently and transfer those operational funds into sub accounts under the General. Motion carried.
Motion (Webb / Scharlau) to approve the vouchers as presented. Motion carried.
Clerk / Correspondence- There was
one Intent To Cut for Louise Jones for Bill Hecimovich. The notice that FCL and
MFL money will be coming in. Also the 2003 Fire Dues of $4,354.70 will be
coming in. The Fire Dues payment to us is based on the town’s equalized value.
License Application-1-year Operator’s License for Todd Walsh. Motion (Meinke / Scharlau) to approve the one- year operator’s license for Todd Walsh. Motion carried.
Anyone Not on Agenda – 5 minutes.
Marcia Wellnitz asked for the town’s support of the Northern Waters Library
System of which Bayfield County is a part. Because Barnes does not have a
library of its own, it relies on a lot of the services provided by the system.
Cuts are planned that could eliminate some of these services. Wellnitz asked
that a letter be sent to the County Board Finance Committee to say that Barnes
wants to see continued funding of the library system of a 2% increase or at
least the funding level of 2003. Motion (Meinke / Scharlau) to have the
clerk send a letter to the County stating our support of the library system.
Motion carried. The clerk will draft the letter and send it to the
County Finance Committee.
Discontinuance of Sweet Lake Road- (Mr. Zigman was not at the
meeting at this time. Ratzel said we would table the issue until Mr. Zigman was
here to present his issues. [See further into meeting minutes]
Ski Trail Groomer Bid- Gene Miller presented the
groomer bid information. There was one bid for $1,091.00 from ABR, Inc. (Eric
Anderson) from Ironwood, Michigan. The minimum bid was for $1,000.00 so this
bid did meet the requirement. Motion (Meinke / Scharlau) to accept Mr.
Anderson’s bid for the ski
trail groomer for $1,091.00.
Motion carried. Gene Miller will assist in the transfer of the old groomer to Mr.
Anderson.
Snow Plowing Issues-The issue is broken down
into two issues. 1. Will the town continue to plow snow and 2. What will the
town charge? Motion (Webb / Meinke) to open the floor to discussion.
Motion carried. The board asked Len Schiller if there was anyway
that the cost of plowing snow could be determined, as the town is not supposed
to loose money doing this. It should break even. Mr. Schiller said that he had
started to keep track of how much it cost the town last year and made notes on
how much time was spent on driveways. Webb asked if he could get that
information to the board. There was a decline of about 50% in the requests for
driveway plowing compared to the year before. The issue has to be set by the
August meeting as the notice of snow plowing has to be put out before September
as that starts the snow season. Motion (Webb / Meinke) to close the
floor to discussion. Motion carried. After discussion, Webb said
she was in favor of continuing to plow private drives at the same rate as last
year, unless something shows up in the figures that will be presented at the
next meeting in August. This issue will be on the August agenda.
Constable Issues- Chairman Ratzel said he had
met with John Chambers, the attorney who will be taking over for Jon Anderson.
Mr. Anderson will be assuming the judgeship in August. Mr. Chambers will
generate the instrument that will give us the authority to issue tickets and he
will let us know when it is ready. We can proceed with the rest of the issue
after that is done. Ratzel said he has discussed this with the constable and
O’Keefe said this issue had been brought up before, but that no action was ever
taken. Ratzel said this could cause costs to the town in the form of court
costs, addition wages, attorney fees, etc. Motion (Webb / Scharlau) to
open the floor to discussion. Motion carried. The constable asked
if the existing ordinance was looked at? Ratzel said that is has been looked at
and that the model that the attorney has presented back to us is about the same
as our old ordinance. There are just a few issues to clarify. Scharlau asked
what the amount of the costs could be. The costs can be recouped to a large
degree according to Tom Renz, who works in the Sheriffs Department. Wages for
the constable would be one cost that the town would have to pay. The Sheriff’s
Department cannot issue tickets for local town ordinances and they would
contact the constable to handle these issues and vice versa, the constable
would contact the Sheriff’s Department for other state and county issues.
Ratzel said that the time has come to enforce our ordinances. O’Keefe said he
has been busy informing people of the laws and regulations. A question was
brought up as to the ordinances being up to date. This issue is being looked
into at this time and all ordinances will be gone over and all action will be
taken on them in the near future. The attorney was also notified that the town
would be redoing the ordinances. Motion (Webb / Scharlau) to close the
floor to discussion. Motion carried. The clerk asked if this issue
would be back on the August agenda? The issue will be back on when the
information is available.
Buck N Bass Resort-Kevin Murphy. Mr. Murphy was
not able to attend the meeting tonight, but would like to be put back on the
August agenda.
Sweet Lake Road Discontinuance- (Mr. Zigman arrived and the
Sweet Lake Road issue was the put back on the agenda after being tabled
earlier). Mr. Zigman discussed the various issues dealing with his request to
discontinue Sweet Lake Road. He asked the board to pass the resolution that he
has presented to the board asking that Sweet Lake Road be discontinued and that
the land revert back to the original property owners as provided by State
Statute 66.1003. This details how the town board can discontinue the road and
the rules on how it reverts back to the original landowners. Mr. Zigman
referred to a court case dealing with this issue. He also addressed the issue
of adverse possession. He said that most of the land abutting Sweet Lake Road
belongs to him or one of his companies. All
others have signed off on the issue. Mr. Zigman’s attorneys, the town’s
attorneys and Mr. Ratzel, will work out any legal details. There was discussion
if the board had experience with this type of issue. It was noted that there
have been other discontinuances. Webb asked about the west branch of Sweet Lake
Road. This would remain a town road. There was discussion on the procedures to
follow. The resolution needs to be approved by the board and then the other
agencies have to be notified, any hearings and legal procedures have to be
followed. Webb said the board should accept his petition. Motion (Webb
/ Scharlau) to accept Mr. Zigman’s petition to discontinue Sweet Lake Road that
reads as follows: “Resolution-Resolved, that the Town of Barnes abandon
[Discontinue] the Sweet Lake
Road and that right-of-way
as described in Mr. Zigman’s Memorandum dated June 21, 2003 and authorize the
Town Chairman to approve, execute and file any documents that may be required
to carry out and finalize this Resolution including, but not limited to, information
letters to the Department of Transportation, the DNR, the Bayfield County
Emergency Services to update their records and a Quit Claim Deed.” and then go
to the town’s attorney for clarification on all issues. Motion carried. This issue will be on the August
agenda after the attorney lets us know how we need to proceed.
Potawatomi Land Issues-Dawn Pittman. Ratzel said
that he had spoken with the town’s attorney. (Mrs. Pittman asked who the
attorney was? Ratzel said Spears, Carlson and Anderson would continue to be our
law firm even though Jon Anderson has been elected to the judgeship. John
Chambers is the attorney Ratzel spoke with about all of the matters here
tonight.) The town will have the lawyer prepare the documents that will release
the town’s interests in these lands. This issue will be back on the August
agenda.
Cemetery Committee-Bud Pease. Pease reported
that a couple of monuments had been installed recently. The committee is going
through the records and getting the right documentation done. Ratzel said that
he has seen all the work at the cemetery that Bud and Dixie have done so far.
BADC-Updates- Ratzel said he had met with Steve
Schraufnagel, the design architect for the industrial park, on the site and
that they went over it point to point. There are some preliminary drawings
done. Everything else is about the same.
Ambulance Department -Viola Friermood, Ambulance
Director.
Since the last meeting we had 6 calls-One
intercept with the helicopter, 3 to transports to Hayward, 1 transport to
Duluth and 1 call to a fire scene on Bony Lake Road. Peggy Kman and Viola went
to a training session put on by the state on database for the EMS. It is only
for director and assists. They can access the information and they can create
the licenses for the EMTs after all information is in about classes and
training, etc. Friermood asked permission from the board for the Ambulance
Department to purchase a new blood pressure cuff that they have had in the
ambulance for a month. This one works a lot better when the vehicle is in
motion. It is around $2,500.00. It is difficult to get parts for the old one.
There was discussion on what was left in the budget. Friermood also asked to
buy a new cot, one that would be able to load with one person and would be able
to lift heavier persons. This would cost about $7,200.00. Webb said there would
be money for the blood pressure monitor. Motion (Webb / Meinke) that
the ambulance department go ahead and purchase the blood pressure cuff monitor
that they have been using. Roll call vote was taken. Scharlau-yes, Meinke-yes,
Webb-yes, Ratzel-yes. Motion carried.
Fire Department-Tom Renz. There was 1
structure fire started by lightening and 1 helicopter landing zone set up. Renz
discussed the fireworks on the 4th. He said he had been in contact
with Arrowhead Fireworks Company and had informed them that the employees that
were sent to do our display were extremely intoxicated when they came to do the
display. The town will not be doing business with them next year. The tanker
that we hope to replace caught on fire during the parade. This was caused by an
over heated light switch. The sales contract has been received from Elite for
our new fire truck. Ratzel said that the loan papers were at the attorney’s
office, being checked over, and that as soon as the town gets them back the
papers would be sent in. The chassis has been ordered. The Spaghetti Feed fund
raiser that will be put on by the VFW for the new fire truck is going to be
held this Saturday, July 19, 2003 at the VFW Post 8329 on Lake Road from
12:00PM to 5:00PM.
Constable-Mike O’Keefe gave the constable’s report. He
responded to 22 calls since the last meeting. He said that the majority
of the calls were ATV or trespassing
complaints.
(Webb reminded the Chairman that the
Comprehensive Land Use Planning Committee report had been omitted.)
Comprehensive Land Use Planning Committee-Updates. Dave Pease,
chairman of the committee, said that the committee has had a little trouble
with MSA Professional Services regarding the contract for the plan. There were
so many changes in the contract that the committee decided to meet with several
other planners to see what they would offer. This would be an on- going project
for a while, Pease said.
Garage Report- Len Schiller reported that
the crew had fixed up the area by Idlewild Lake Road and West Idlewild Lake
Road and put up a stop sign there. About 30 yards of gravel was brought up to
the Transfer Site and the area was graded and the drainage improved. It looks a
lot better. Schiller reported that he had contacted the Solon Springs
postmaster and was given permission to pick up the old knocked down mailboxes
that were down around town. The useable ones are available. Anyone needing a
mailbox may contact Schilller. They may need paint, etc., but they are useable.
The new locks were installed on the doors in the garage and the fire and ambulance
halls. The dumpster at Peninsula Lake Road Landing is being mostly used for
household garbage. The old outhouses at Tomahawk Lake Park have been removed.
Red Mundle replaced the brakes on the 1997 dump truck. The west end of the
Island Lake Road and the Lynx Road loop have been completed. Two stop signs
have been installed there. The new swim ropes and buoys have not arrived yet,
so the old ones were put up temporarily at Tomahawk Lake Park. Schiller has
spoken with the most of the residents on Clearwater Road and Wallman Road about
the upcoming roadwork. Most residents received a notice on the projects. Most issues, mainly tree issues, have been
resolved. Thompson Sand and Gravel will be starting the roadwork any day now.
The first thing will be cutting of the trees. Wallman road will be started on
first, and then they will go on to Clearwater Road. Arch Heating will be
installing the new heating system in the garage tomorrow. The town crew will be
gravelling the very end of Cranberry Lake Road shortly. It’s a narrow stretch
near Art Smith’s home and won’t be widened.
Jack Meinke-Jack had nothing for this meeting.
Chris Webb- Webb had several issues. The
budget is coming up soon and she asked that the clerk send out notices to all of
the department heads, etc. to get their budget proposals together so that work
can start on the budget in August. The clerk said she usually sends them out
the first part of August, but that she could send them out earlier. The River
Road Bridge? Does any one know what is happening there? Scharlau said that Dan
Carthel, the engineer, came to look at South Shore and River Road bridges
today. The River Road Bridge is waiting for permits from the DNR. Webb said she
was aware of the delays on that end. Webb reported that she had asked the clerk
for some preliminary budget information so that we can keep up on what is being
spent. Webb inquired as to the issues of any liquor licenses that had problems.
The clerk said there was one, but that the issue was resolved. The clerk had
contacted the Alcohol and Tobacco Department to see what the town needed to do
if the issue was not resolved. The clerk is following up on that. Webb said
that she and Chermack would be getting into doing the ordinances very shortly.
Webb had some personnel issues. There was a meeting several weeks ago where the
town hires a person and she didn’t know anything about it for a week, even
though it had been posted somewhere. She wanted to know what kind of work was
involved with this new job and why? Ratzel said it was physical labor and that
he didn’t want to pull a machine operator off the job to this kind of labor.
The work would include helping put up signs, clearing the intersections of
loose gravel, helping in the cemetery, etc.-manual labor. Webb then said that
perhaps the board should cut down on the special meetings and handle the issues
at the regular board meeting. The clerk said that there was just one special
meeting on the hiring issue. Webb asked about Henry Norton’s status. Is he
going to be able to go on Social Security Disability? Ratzel said that Henry
has applied for the disability and is waiting for it to be finalized. Webb
asked if the two people hired to fill in were going to continue to work? Ratzel
said yes, as long as they are needed. They rotate duties so that one person
does not always have
to work every weekend at the Transfer Site.
They are both part time positions under 30 hours a week with no benefits. Webb
was concerned about the budget restraints. The picture will be clearer when the
budget report is finished. The town has 3 full time workers in Highway and the
others are in Parks and Recreation, Cemetery and Transfer Site departments. The
other position is just part time summer help. Webb said that the board needs to
work together and that the decisions have to be held until the board meetings.
Dave Scharlau- Scharlau said that Dan
Carthel said the town should just monitor the situation at South Shore Road
Bridge about 3 times a year. Carthel had taken measurements at the bridge. If
this bridge lasts to 2006 when there would be funding, perhaps the town should
look at putting in for funds to replace the bridge instead of putting money
into all the repairs needed. The structure of the bridge is safe, however. Len
said that he had rerouted some of the heavy trucking of gravel. River Road
Bridge has been posted for weight. The only other thing that Scharlau had was
that the Conservation Club was waiting for the permits from the county to build
the steps to the lake at Tomahawk Lake Park.
Motion (Scharlau / Webb) to
adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:58PM.
Members of the board in attendance: Chairman Gene Ratzel,
Supervisors Jack Meinke, Chris Webb and Dave Scharlau. Also present were
Treasurer Debbie Sesko and Clerk Lu Peet.
Members absent: Supervisor Dixie Chermack
(was asked to be excuse because of a previous commitment).
Members of the community present: John Kudlas, Florence
Prickett, Jim Prickett, David Pease, Caroline Kearns, Norb Kearns, Robert C.
Stack, Brett Harper, Dawn Pittman, Greta Pittman, Dick Rickus, Emmy Rickus, Vi
Friermood, Marcia Wellnitz, Janine A. Watts, John Cramblit, Kay Cramblit, Gene
Miller, Tom Renz, Bill Cirhan, Del Griffin, Joan Griffin, Keith Beaver, Len
Schiller and Bud Pease. There may have been others in attendance not noted or
signed in.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lucille
J. Peet
Barnes
Town Clerk
Dated
this 19th day of July 2003