MINUTES OF THE REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING
OF OCTOBER 19, 2004
Chairman
Gene Ratzel called the meeting to order at 6:30PM.
The
Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Ratzel
read the Amended October Agenda as follows:
Call
the Meeting to Order
Pledge
Allegiance to the Flag
Approve
the October Amended Agenda
Approve
the Minutes of the Last Regular Town Board meeting
Treasurer’s
Report
Voucher’s
Approval
Clerk’s
Correspondence
Liquor
Licenses-Application-2-Year License: Scott Meinke and Gale Chermack
Public
Comment Session-5 Minutes for those not on the agenda
Department
Head Reports:
Cemetery Committee-Bud
Pease
Ambulance Department-Del
Jerome
Fire Department-Tom Renz
Constable-Mike O’Keefe
Garage-Len Schiller
New
Clerk / Treasurer-Approval of personnel
Relief
Help for Transfer Site-Approval of personnel
Grant
for Eurasian Watermilfoil-Carol Tierney
Ad
Hoc Eurasian Watermilfoil-Dave Thorson
Four
Star Construction-Additional billing for River Road Bridge repair
East
Eight Mile Lake Road and Eight Mile Lake Road- Roadwork
Zoning-1. Corey Clausen-51640 CTY
HWY Y-Build a residence in F1 zoning district
New
Doors for Town Hall-Approve the contract
Sale
of Town Truck-Bids
opened and approve / reject sale
Comprehensive
Land Use Planning Committee-Updates
Centennial
Committee-Updates
BADC-Barnes Area Development
–Updates
The
board will then go into closed session pursuant to State Statute 19.85 (1)(g)
for the purpose of conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who
is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the
body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved.
The board will return to open session immediately after the closed session.
Motion (Meinke / Chermack) to approve the Amended October Agenda as
read. Motion carried.
Motion (Webb / Chermack) to approve the minutes of the last regular town board meeting as presented. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report-Debbie Sesko gave
the Treasurer’s Report as follows:
Checking
Balance from last meeting $ 321,781.73
Receipts # 16190 to # 16214 $
76,168.75
Check # 18383 to # 18479 $ (67,660.57)
September 2004 Service Charge $ (17.90)
September 2004 Interest $
160.40
September 2004 Federal Tax Payment
(EFTPS) $ (3,573.94)
Checking
Balance $ 328,858.47
Ambulance Department Investment Fund-Receipt
# 16197 $5.35 $
2,836.79
Highway Department Sinking
Fund-Receipt # 16199 $161.80 $
85,761.66
BES Sinking Fund-Receipt # 16198
$35.77 $
17,820.73
Park Savings-Receipt # 16190 $228.00
& #16202 $17.90 $
9,957.10
Ski Trail Savings-Receipt # 16201
$.57 $
303.55
Parade-Event Calendar Fund-Receipt #
16200 $4.19 $
2,217.57
Balance
All Accounts $ 447,755.87
Motion (Webb / Meinke) to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented. Motion carried.
Motion (Chermack / Meinke) to approve the vouchers as presented. Motion carried.
Clerk / Correspondence-
1. 2 Intent to cut-Wendy Davis CO HWY N by Carl
Peters and Plum Creek Timberlands for Plum Creek Timberlands
2. Letter from Steve Probst thanking us for the opportunity to speak at the last meeting and some notes from him.
3. Notices from the Board of Adjustments and the Zoning Department on the results from their hearings and of the zoning meeting to be held on October 21, 2004.
Liquor Licenses-Application-2-Year
Operator Licenses to Scott Meinke and Gale Chermack. Both have had their
Responsible Beverage Server Classes and have had the background checks done.
Motion (Webb / Ratzel) to approve the 2-Year Operator
Licenses to Scott Meinke and Gale Chermack. Motion carried.
Public
Comment Session-5 minutes for those not on the agenda-Penny Paul spoke on the
need for a turn around at the end of Tomahawk Lake Road where she lives. The
school bus has to come down that road and it gets stuck trying to turn around
in their driveway. She asked if the town was supposed to provide a turn around?
Could the town plow push the snow? Len Schiller said that the road ends just
past the driveway and the town would do a turn around for the school bus, as
well as for the town truck. There was discussion on the issue of some
differences to be worked out, but Schiller said the town would do it this year
for sure.
Department
Head Reports:
Cemetery Committee-Bud Pease reported that
there was a burial for Matt Bott on October 2nd and that
there would be a burial on October 23rd for Mr.
Plachy. Other than that there was nothing new.
Ambulance Department-Del
Jerome, Ambulance Director, reported that they had 4 runs since the last
meeting-one was to Ashland with
an intercept with Great Divide, three were to Hayward-one of these
was a multiple patient run. There
were 3 temporary licenses for the people who are taking the EMT
classes and one person who was a
transfer from Florida who wants to be a new EMT on the department.
Fire Department-Fire Chief
Tom Renz was attending EMT classes and could not be at the meeting.
The clerk reported that there was
nothing new to report for the Fire Department according to Renz.
Constable Report-Mike O’Keefe
had sent the report in to the clerk. There were 17 calls since the last
meeting: 6 ATV complaint; 2
Assist motorists; 2 Deer hits; 2 Trespass on private property (hunting
related); 3 Alarm calls from the
sheriff’s department; 1 Assist ambulance and 1 Parking related (No over
night parking / camping at boat
landing).
Garage-Len Schiller reported that Fabco had done repairs on the grader. The crew has been cutting
limbs around town. The water lines have been winterized. The nets have been removed from the tennis
courts and the buoys removed from the water. Del Jerome has trucked 290 yards of gravel to Eight Mile
Lake Road and 65 yards to Cranberry Lake Road. The crew did some black top patching. 16 loads of
gravel was hauled to Smith Lake Road and James Road. Scott Construction has finished shouldering
the Pease Road and gravel has been added to the driveways where they dropped off to low due to the
road construction. The town received a new delivery of gas and diesel. The old Town of Barnes signs
have been removed. There was a question if there were any salvageable items. Schiller said that it was
all too damaged to save.
New
Clerk / Treasurer-Approval of personnel and introduction of Elaine Brustad as the new
Clerk / Treasurer. The clerk would swear the new person in when she starts as
Part Time Deputy Clerk on November 1, 2004. Motion (Chermack / Meinke)
to approve Elaine Brustad as the new Clerk / Treasurer. Motion carried. Elaine
was introduced to the people. Brustad will take over as Clerk / Treasurer in
April upon completion of the terms of the current Clerk and Treasurer.
Relief
Help for the Transfer Site-Approval of hiring Harry Jacobson as the relief person for Tom Pieters
at the Transfer Site. There was discussion that the process was not followed
correctly as far as putting out notices for the position. Ratzel said that it
was an emergency situation as Tom was going to be gone a lot in November and
someone had to be hired to fill in. The job was not going to add hours to the
Transfer Site, only replace Tom when he was gone. Ratzel said that that there
were not too many people willing to work every weekend, especially out in the
cold and we needed someone fast. The other board members said that they were
unaware that there was a need for this position until tonight. There has to be
more communication. Meinke said he had no problem with Mr. Jacobson, as he
knows he would do a good job, but he did have a problem with how this action
was carried out. Motion (Meinke / Chermack) to approve Harry Jacobson
as the relief person for the Transfer Site. Motion carried. Mr.
Jacobson would have the same rate of pay as Pieters, $10.00 per hour.
Grant
for Eurasian Watermilfoil-Carol Tierney, a resident of Barnes spoke on this issue. She said she
had volunteered to secure a grant for Eurasian Watermilfoil. The grant can be
up to $10,000.00, but she felt it would not have to be that much. Chermack
asked what lakes were involved. There are 2 bodies of water in the Town of
Barnes that are infected as of now-Tomahawk Lake and Sandbar Lake. They are at
Stage 2. The town would be the sponsor for the grant, but all of the community
could be involved. Groups such as the Conservation Club, the Property Owners
Association and individuals would be asked to help in the project. The money
must go through the town. There is a deadline that is fast approaching, so Ms.
Tierney has a lot of work to do. The board was in agreement to go ahead with
this.
Ad
Hoc Eurasian Watermilfoil-Dave Thorson spoke on the idea of getting an Ad Hoc committee formed
to look into this issue. The Property Owners Association is very interested in this.
Thorson has been in contact with the DNR. One representative is Frank Koshier,
State Aquatic Plant expert and the other is Dave Bloomer of Spooner, whom the
town has dealt with on other water quality issues. Bloomer also deals with the
Aquatic Invasive Species Program. All of the community should be concerned, as
it could affect all of us in one way or the other, ecologically or financially.
Eurasian Watermilfoil is spread primarily by boats that are transported from
one lake to another. Parts of the plant remaining on the boat or motor, if not
removed, then get into the lakes. Once it is in a lake, it can’t be eliminated,
but it can be controlled. There are basically two situations to address on this
issue. One is what to do about the lakes that already have the problem-Sandbar
and Tomahawk Lakes. The other issue, possible requiring a separate grant, is
the issue of keeping the Eurasian Watermilfoil from spreading to other lakes
and waters. That would be the proposal for the Ad Hoc committee, to see that
action is taken and work done to control this problem to keep it from
spreading. Thorson proposed that the Conservation Club, the Property Owners
Association, the Town Board of Barnes, the DNR, the residents on the lakes
already infested, the Business Association and other individuals work together
on an Ad Hoc committee along with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
[Thorson noted that this group has money
available
plus experts who work in this field]. There are residents of the lakes just to
the south and west of us, Beauregard Lake and Catherine Lake and the 70% of
Lower Eau Claire that is in Douglas County that should be involved also. We
need to be pro active in this matter. Jon Harkness said that he was part the
team that checks the lake water for quality. He said it was a matter not of if,
but when this problem would come. People have to be very careful to clean off
their boats and motors. We now have lakes that have water of outstanding
quality and we want to keep it that way. Webb asked if this was connected to
the other lake grant we have. Thorson said it is not, that this would just be
for Eurasian Watermilfoil. Webb said that the board has to be pro active and asked
if the board should make a motion for this. Thorson said that leadership on
this issue should come from the board. If the town is willing to assemble the
Ad Hoc committee, they can do so even before the grant work is done. Work can
be done so that it is ready when the grant is finished. Chermack asked if
Thorson would set a meeting date and at that meeting decide what to do. Webb
said that the ad Hoc committee should consist of members of the organizations
in town, as well as any individuals who want to be involved, including
residents from the Town of Highland. Thorson said that because we already have
Eurasian Watermilfoil and we are not just trying to prevent it, we would be
given priority. We are also at Phase 2, not Phase 1. Webb said that the town
should have 2 board members there to start. Ingemar Ekstrom said that there
would have to be matching funds for this grant. Ratzel said we would have to
get some figures for the budget if we have to do some matching funds. Ekstrom
said that part of the money could be received “in kind” and there are people
out there who are willing to donate their time. Motion (Chermack /
Webb) to approve support of the AIS Ad Hoc committee for Eurasian Watermilfoil
or any other aquatic invasive species prevention or control and the grant for
this. Motion carried.
Four
Star Construction-Ratzel said that the town had received a bill from Four Star for the
last work they did on the River Road Bridge. He thought that it had been agreed
that this work was to be done free of charge as it was the fault of Four Star.
Webb said that it was not done right in the first place. Meinke said that all
they did was make an initial cut of 2’ x 4’, but didn’t take out that portion
and then decided that wasn’t needed either. They just poured some concrete in
the holes. Webb said that it didn’t meet the requirements yet. Meinke said that
he had been out there and that the blacktop had dropped already. The board
asked the clerk to write a letter of dispute to deny the payment. Chermack said
that the problems should be looked at and Webb said that there should be
documentation of the problems in case of any court action. Chermack asked if
there should be a different way of doing the bridge. The DNR was supposed to be
involved in this project. It was decided that the town would start with a
letter to Four Star. The clerk and the chairman would get a letter out.
Eight
Mile Lake Road and East Eight Mile Lake Road- The roadwork issue was discussed. Schiller said that 4 to 5 areas were marked
off on these roads for more gravel to be put down. Del Jerome then hauled the
gravel to those locations. Ratzel said that he didn’t think there was anything
else we could do before winter. We won’t know if this would be adequate until
spring. The residents still are not happy with it. Meinke said that it looked
like it would drain if the ground stays firm like it is. Unless we get another
4” of rain, it should hold up. The residents were told that this was to get
them through the winter and that in spring, bids would be put out on the roads
and have it done by professionals. This road is a bus route now, so we have to
address the issues, Ratzel said. Chermack said she had been out on those roads
and that it looked like the gravel would help. The residents know how it really
is. Meinke said that he had seen it at its worst and that it was much better
now. The ground seems to be quite hard.
Zoning-1.Corey Clausen of 51640
CTY HWY Y was petitioning the board to OK his request to build a residence in
an F1 zoning district. Chermack said that she had contacted Mr. Clausen and
that he said he would not be able to attend the meeting tonight, as he lives in
Chaska, MN. She said that he told her that he has already
poured
the slab, as he thought the zoning had already OK’d his building. There was
discussion that the zoning office should be more clear on their approval
process. Motion (Chermack / Meinke) to approve Mr. Clausen’s request
to build a residence in an F1 zoning district. There were no other restrictions
from the board. Motion carried. All of the board members and the
clerk signed the request. The clerk would send it back to zoning.
New
Doors for the Town Hall-There was only one bid for this project and that was from Sclavi
Builders of Solon Springs. The bid was for $3,674.00 for materials and labor to
install a new single metal door in the rear of the building by the kitchen and
also to replace the main double doors at the front entrance of the main hall
and to repair the one broken Anderson window. Motion (Chermack /
Meinke) to have the work done by Sclavi Builders for $3,674.00. Roll call vote
was taken: Chermack, Yes; Meinke, Yes; Webb, Yes and Ratzel, Yes. Motion
carried. Schiller would back to Sclavi on this matter.
Sale
of Town Truck-There
was only one bid and that was opened at the meeting. The bidder was Wayne Boelk
of B & S Landscaping, with a bid of $3,100.00. The minimum bid had been set
at $3,000.00. Motion (Meinke/ Webb) to accept the bid for $3,100.00
from Mr. Boelk. Roll call vote was taken: Chermack, Yes; Meinke, Yes; Webb, Yes
and Ratzel, Yes. Motion carried. Schiller would get the truck
ready. The town decals have to be removed and some other items have to be taken
care of. Schiller would inform Mr. Boelk of these issues. Mr. Boelk would see
the clerk for the title and payment.
Ordinance
Issues / Action-Chermack said that she had gone over the draft of the ordinances that
Ruth Kressel had given the board. She had noted several typos and had marked
them. Webb went through the various chapters. The layout is as requested.
Several dates are missing and have to be inserted. The ordinance for the
parking was sent to the board members with the attached map. The board should
make any changes and then get the draft back to the attorney so that it can be
finalized. The attorney will prepare the Code of Ordinances and provide the
clerk with several copies for viewing. Once the corrections are done, the
notice would go into the paper 15 days in advance of the November 16, 2004
regular town board meeting. The board can then approve the Code of Ordinances
at the November 16, 2004 meeting. The board would use Chermack’s copy, as it
was already marked, and she would bring it up to the attorney’s office on
Thursday when she goes to the zoning meeting.
Comprehensive
Land Use Planning Committee- Dave Pease said that the committee was working on the Housing Element
of the plan. The committee discussed the soil types and drainage and how it
relates to zoning. The next meeting would be held on Wednesday November 10,
2004. Everyone is welcome to come.
Centennial
Committee-Dave
Thorson, a member of the committee, spoke on what was happening. There are now
two groups in the Barnes Centennial Committee. One is the actual Centennial
Celebrations Committee that deals with the actual celebration to be held next
year and the other is the Barnes Area Historical Association. This last group
is looking at first of all, the publication of a book about Barnes and in the
future, a small museum. In order to be able to solicit money from individuals
and businesses for publication of the book, they had to be associated with a non-profit
organization. The Barnes Area Historical Association is now a member of the
Bayfield County Historical Society. They have been approved as a sub member.
Dave Pease and Thorson will be attending those meetings. The clerk read a
letter from Judy Neider on the calendars that the Centennial Committee would be
selling as follows:
The
Barnes Centennial Historical Calendar-Limited Edition will be ready for
sale in November. This keepsake edition has over 30 archival black and white
photos of the Barnes area. The cost is $10.00. Calendars will be for sale at:
Jim’s Bait and the Barnes Town Hall. For more information and to order your
keepsake limited edition calendar in advance, call Marilyn Bowes at
715-795-3125 or Judy Neider at 715-795-2310.
BADC-Barnes Area Development
Corporation-The clerk said that she had talked to Art Smith today and that there
was nothing new. There would be a meeting in 2 weeks. There was a question on
the web site issue. The clerk said that she has been working with CCS of
Hayward on the web page. It is going well and should be done soon.
Board
Member Reports:
Jack Meinke-Jack had nothing
more to add.
Dixie Chermack-Dixie said that she had prepared
a timeline format for ongoing issues to help keep the
board on track-who is doing what
and when. This is a master list. She went through the list with the
other board members. She asked if
they thought it was a good idea. It was agreed by the board members
that it was a good idea. Chermack
said that she had spoken with Patrick Beilfuss of Cedar Corporation,
as she was concerned that the
cost of the Comprehensive Plan was going to go over what it was
contracted for. Beilfuss said
that the cost would not exceed the $37,000.00. They have done $27,000.00
worth of work already, but still
have a year of work to do. The verification of the cost was done both
verbally and by contract.
Chris Webb-Chris said that
she liked Chermack’s idea of the timeline because maybe we will get some
things done. The ordinances are
close to being completed. There was discussion on the 122-1 Road
issue. This has to get out of the town’s hands. The web site is
almost completed also. We need to get
these issues off the table. Webb
said that the board had received a letter from the DNR about Cranberry
Lake Road. The letter basically said that if the town was going to
alter or change a road, it has to contact
the DNR. Webb said that this
issue did not apply to this road. Once we decide on what roads we would
do however, the board should send
a letter to the telephone company and the electric company when
they are going to do any work.
Schiller said that he does this already. Webb said we were just repairing
Cranberry Lake Road, not altering
it. This was just a roadwork issue. If the roads would be close to any
waterways, then the DNR should be
notified. Someone should send a letter to the DNR referring to this
road, saying what we are doing on Cranberry Lake Road and that
this issue does not apply here.
Gene Ratzel-Gene said that if
residents have issues with the roads, they should contact the garage first.
Leave a message if the crew is
out or talk to Len if he is there. If you talk to him, he’ll have to call Len
anyway and then it delays the
issue at hand. There have been a lot of driveway issues lately. We are
trying to fix and adjust those
that we feel that we are obligated to do because of roadwork done in the
area, etc. Some have to become
the owner’s responsibility.
Motion (Webb / Chermack) to go into closed session pursuant to the
State Statute noted. Roll call vote was taken: Chermack, Yes; Meinke, Yes;
Webb, Yes and Ratzel, Yes. Motion carried. The regular session was
adjourned at 8:00PM.
OF OCTOBER 19, 2004
Chairman
Ratzel called the closed session to order at 8:05PM.
Only
the members of the board and the clerk were present in person at the closed
session. The board met to discuss only the issues related to the State Statute
noted. The attorney was present by speakerphone.
The
closed session was adjourned at 8:35PM and the board immediately returned to
the regular session.
Webb
asked if the letters went out to the residents involved in the Road 122-1 issue.
The clerk said that all of the letters had been sent out. There was discussion of discontinuing town
roads. Ratzel said that this discussion would take place after the first of the
year, when the new Transportation Statutes go into effect. There was no decision on any other issues at
this time.
Motion (Webb / Meinke) to adjourn the reconvened regular session.
Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40PM.
Members
of the board in attendance: Chairman Gene Ratzel, Supervisors Dixie Chermack,
Jack Meinke and Chris Webb. Absent was Supervisor Dave Scharlau (Out of town).
Also present was the Treasurer Debbie Sesko and Clerk Lu Peet.
Department
heads and committee members present: Garage Supervisor Len Schiller; Cemetery
Committee Chairman Bud Pease; Comprehensive Land Use Planning Committee
Chairman Dave Pease; Dave Thorson Centennial Committee member; Del Jerome
Ambulance Director; and Constable Mike O’Keefe.
Members
of the community present: Marcia Wellnitz, Donna Porter, Dick Collyard, Wayne
Boelk, Penny Paul, Ron Clark, Lois Clark, Elaine Brustad, Carol Tierney, Pat
Tierney, Janine Watts, Jon Harkness, Buzzy Harkness, Patti Joswick, Ingemar
Ekstrom, Bill Cirhan and Mitch McGee. There may have been others present and
not noted or signed in.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lucille
J. Peet
Barnes
Town Clerk
Dated
this 26th day of October 2004