MINUTES OF THE

TOWN OF BARNES

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

DECEMBER 18, 2007

 

 

Chairman Collyard called the Regular Board Meeting to order at 6:30PM. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said.  A Roll Call to establish a quorum and verification of the Public Notice was done: Porter-present, McGee-present, Webb-present, Meinke-present, and Collyard-present. Quorum was established.  Motion (McGee/Webb) to approve the December agenda. Motion carried. The agenda is as follows:

NOTICE

TOWN OF BARNES

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

DECEMBER 18, 2007 AT 6:30PM

AGENDA

Call the Regular Board Meeting to order at 6:30PM

Pledge Allegiance to the Flag

Roll Call to establish a quorum/Verification of Public Notice/Motion to approve the December Agenda

Approve minutes of the Last Regular Board Meeting and Motion to dispense with reading of the minutes.

Treasurer’s Report

Voucher’s Approval

Clerk Correspondence    

Department Head Reports:

                Highway                               

                Cemetery                                             

                Fire and Ambulance Department                  

                Constable

Committee and Commission Reports:

                Eurasian Water Milfoil Committee

                Recreation Committee

                New Town Hall Complex Committee

                Land Use Planning Commission

Change Date for February Regular Town Board Meeting

Discussion and Approval of Resolution for Taxes in excess of Treasurer’s Bond

Discussion and decision on proposals received for Auditor Services

Discussion and acceptance of rates for Health Insurance from Anthem for 2008 and approval for contribution into Health Savings Accounts for the Full-time employees

Request to lease land by BAHA (tabled from last meeting)

Appointment of Poll Workers for 2008-2009 Election years

2 Year New Operator License approval for Carol Peterson

Public Comment Session – 5 minute limit for those not on the Agenda

Issues Timeline Update

 

All Department Heads are encouraged to be at the Regular Board Meetings

All Department Heads and Committee Heads are to submit a written report to the clerk

By Friday evening prior to the Board Meeting.

The Town Board reserves the right to solicit information from

Department heads and Committee heads only, without opening the floor to discussion.

Any persons requiring special needs for handicap services please contact the Clerk-Treasurer

Elaine J. Brustad Barnes Town Clerk-Treasurer

Dated this 12th Day of December, 2007

 

Motion (Porter/McGee) to approve the the minutes of the last regular board meeting and to dispense with the reading of the minutes. Motion carried.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Checking Balance from last meeting

 

$29,221.80

Receipts

 

 

 

 

$19,193.43

Transfer from Money Market Account

 

$50,000.00

Check #'s 22167-22255

 

 

($77,399.21)

November Tax Payment & other direct payments-Ck# 299

($3,834.98)

Service Charge November

 

 

($15.21)

Interest Earned November

 

 

$14.76

 

CHECKING BALANCE

 

 

$17,180.59

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money Market Gen'l Fund Balance from Last Meeting

$473,869.26

Interest earned November

YTD Interest $34,308.63

$2,233.25

Ck# 1062  Transfer to Genl Fund

 

 

($50,000.00)

 

Sub-Total Money Market Gen'l Funds

$426,102.51

Highway Dept. Sinking Fund

 

 

$16,072.92

BES Sinking Fund

 

 

 

$32,677.05

Park Savings

 

Deposit $125.82

$12,698.17

Ski Trail Savings

 

Deposit $40.40

$694.61

Parade-Event-Calendar Fund

 

 

$1,842.60

Town Hall Complex Fund

 

 

$11,391.08

Act 102 Fund

 

 

 

$5,902.54

 

Sub-Total Money Market sub accounts

$81,278.97

Total all Money Market Funds

 

 

$507,381.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ALL ACCOUNTS

 

$524,562.07

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motion (Porter/McGee) to approve the Treasurer’s report. Motion carried.

 

Motion (Meinke/McGee) to approve the vouchers. Motion carried.

 

Clerk Correspondence

Brustad wanted to remind people interested in the 2 Supervisors positions available held by the incumbents Jack Meinke and Mitch McGee that the deadline is January 2, 2008 at 5:00PM to hand papers in to her.

Brustad said she had made a mistake on the 2007 Tax Levy information sheet in the percentage of the Town’s levy.  On the sheet sent out to people in the tax bills it said 3.62%.  It should have said 36.28%. All her figures that are certified to the state and county were reported correctly.  Collyard said he had received a few calls about it already, and the reason for the large percentage was due to the loan payment for highway roadwork for $165,000.00.  He said had the Board known about the error in the percentage they would have not been so liberal in adding some things to the budget such as the tractor and the fire truck.  He said he was committed to next year getting this back down to 2%, even if that means not getting money for gravel, because we need to do something to make sure taxes aren’t increased.  He felt it wasn’t fair to the taxpayers.  Webb said had they known about this during the budget meetings they would have looked at it again and done something else.  Meinke had received a few calls also and said he was under the impression the figure was 3.2% also.  Jerry Witt wanted to know where the money came from the last two years of payments.  It was explained the first year’s payment came out of the loan proceeds, this past year’s payment came out of surplus funds. 

 

Department Head Reports:

                Highway

This past month, maintenance on the snowplows and the plow vehicles was finished. At this time we have had two major snowplows.

South Shore Rd, from River Rd to Y, was given a haircut, and the brush was chipped into the woods. Mike and I also trimmed the remaining middle mile on South Shore and are working on chipping that brush into the woods.

Dave Schiess has taken over care of the Town ski trail at the Tomahawk Lake Park. The trail is open and has been groomed. The condition of the ski trail can be found on a link, on the Barnes Web-site.

The hockey rink is also open for business. The lights are on a timer. The timer is located just to the right of the warming shack on one of the light poles.

               

                Cemetery Bud Pease reported there had been no activity since the last meeting.  Collyard asked how he was doing in his research to find owners of lots.  Bud said they had been working on it but progress was slow. 

                                               

                Fire and Ambulance Department   Tom Renz was unavailable but the Clerk-Treasurer read his report. Since the Town Board meeting in October we gave had nine fire runs

2 – False Alarms

1 – Chimney fire

1 – Wild land fire

1 – Mutual aid Fire to Gordon Fire Department for Structure Fire

2 – Good intent call where passerby spotted fire and called it in was just brush fires

1 – set up LZ zone

1 – Ice Rescue man through Ice with Argo

The Entry Level Class will soon be completed and we will have a well trained Fire Department. 

We conducted Ice rescue training. 

Bids for new Fire truck are out and will be opening them at the next Town Board meeting.

We also have problems with the west side service entry door.  I believe the door needs to be replaced.  There is a big gap in the door on the bottom and it has been adjusted several times by Jerry and Dave both but does not take care of the problem.  The gap is big enough to allow heat to escape and rodents to enter and leave as they wish. 

I also have an application for new Fire Fighter, Ron Cairns.  Ron actually lives in the Town of Highland and is on their Department.  Ron is a level one Fire fighter and is a Certified First responder.  Ron is also around during the days during the week as he works on weekends. The ambulance has had several calls.

1 – no transport

1 – life flight

1 – transport to Hayward

2 – transport to Duluth

All EMTS have completed their thirty hour refresher course. 

                 

                Constable Mike O’Keefe was not at the meeting yet, although Collyard said he planned on being here after he picked his kids up from school.  Clerk-Treasurer Brustad read his report:  ( 2 ) Alarms ( from sheriff ),( 1 ) check welfare of over due hunter ( found alive and well & hung-over)( 2 ) Assist motorists ( went into ditch during recent storm.) on hwy 27( 1 ) Unruly person complaint : contacted by employee of Cabin store who was concerned about odd behavior of a male customer ( who was intoxicated and potentially violent.) I responded, followed by Sheriff deputy R. Miller. Subject was taken into custody at scene and transported to Washburn. I've been making weekly home checks for those folks who are out of town for the winter or holidays. who called and asked me to keep an eye on their homes. Our new vehicle has had its decal work completed, and is in the radio shop in superior and should be completed by Friday. Collard said Mike had asked him about keeping the old radio and lights on his personal vehicle.  After discussion the Board wanted Collyard to tell him the radio was fine to keep but the lights should be removed. 

 

Committee and Commission Reports:

 

                Eurasian Water Milfoil Committee Mitch McGee said the committee won’t be meeting until February.

                Recreation Committee Webb said the committee hadn’t met since the last meeting.  The Ice Rink has been flooded and is open for skaters.  

 

                New Town Hall Complex Committee Brustad said the committee won’t meet until January.  She had put out some information about the committee in the newsletter asking for input from the townspeople.  She had already heard from a few. 

 

                Land Use Planning Commission The Plan Commission did not meet this month as there were no zoning issues to discuss.

 

Change Date for February Regular Town Board Meeting Brustad said the date had to be changed because there was a Primary election scheduled for that day. 

Motion (Webb/Porter) to change the Regular Board meeting date for February to Tuesday, February 12th, which is the second Tuesday of the month. Motion carried.

 

Discussion and Approval of Resolution for Taxes in excess of Treasurer’s Bond  Brustad said this is the same form as last year which is required of the County Treasurer. The Resolution # R-07-11 is as follows:

WHEREAS, the Town of Barnes Treasurer is required by statute to furnish a bond to the County Treasurer in a sum of double the amount of state and county taxes apportioned to her town, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of her office and that she will account for and pay over according to law all state and county taxes which shall come into her hands, and

WHEREAS, the Town of Barnes is given the power under Section 70.67(2) of the Wisconsin Statutes, to obligate the town in case the Town Treasurer shall fail to pay all state and county taxes required by law to be paid by the Town Treasurer to the County Treasurer,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of the Town of Barnes, at its regular meeting held this 18th day of December, 2007, that the Town of Barnes does hereby obligate itself to pay in case the Town Treasurer shall fail to do so, all state and county taxes required by law to be paid by such Treasurer to the County Treasurer.

__________________________                  _________________________

Dick Collyard, Chairman                                                    Jack Meinke, Supervisor

__________________________                                   _________________________

Christine Webb, Supervisor                                              Donna Porter, Supervisor

__________________________

Mitch McGee, Supervisor

CERTIFICATE

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly and legally adopted by the Town Board at its Regular Town Board Meeting held on December 18, 2007.

_________________________________

Elaine J. Brustad, Clerk-Treasurer

 

 

Motion(Meinke/Porter) to approve Resolution R07-11. Roll call vote taken: Porter-yes, McGee-yes, Webb-yes, Meinke-yes, Collyard-yes. Motion carried.

 

Discussion and decision on proposals received for Auditor Services

Brustad had copied the two bids received for the Board members. The bid from Lutz and Bohl was for $3,500.00 for each year (2007, 2008, 2009).  The other bid received was from Anderson-Hager-Moe in Hayward.  Their bid was for $5,000.00 for 2007, $5,250.00 for 2008, and $5,500.00 for 2009.

 

Motion(Webb/McGee) to accept the bid from Lutz and Bohl Auditors for $3,500.00 for the three year period for 2007, 2008 and 2009. as it was the low bid.  Roll call vote taken: Webb-yes, Meinke-yes, Porter-yes, McGee-yes, Collyard-yes. Webb wanted to make sure that the Board receives the report by March 31st each year so they have time to look at it before the Annual Meeting. Motion carried.

 

Discussion and acceptance of rates for Health Insurance from Anthem for 2008 and approval for contribution into Health Savings Accounts for the Full-time employees.  Brustad reported the rates for the renewal policy from Anthem was up 31%.  She included two others which were higher yet.  Collyard felt the Board should start looking at forming a committee to look for savings for next year.  Meinke felt we should start looking at it in the spring, rather than wait for the renewal to come in.  Brustad said they don’t get the renewal amounts out until right before they are due which makes it hard to look elsewhere.  Each company needs to look at the health histories of the employees also, so that takes some time to get the information together.  Jerry Witt said the applications all go to the same underwriter so it doesn’t matter who you send the applications to the amount will be similar.  Webb said it was too late to change anything, the Board had already done reviews and salary increases for 2008.  It wouldn’t be fair to reduce an employee’s health insurance now.  The contribution into the Health Savings account was minimal, compared to the actual rates.  Brustad said last year the Board ok’d contributing $2500.00 for family coverage, and $1,250.00 for single coverage.  That effectively reduces the deductible the employee has to pay to $750.00 for single or $1500.00 for family coverage. 

Motion(Webb/McGee) to approve the health insurance renewal rate from Anthem, with the contribution into the Health Savings account the same as last year. Roll call vote taken: Porter-yes, McGee-yes, Meinke-yes, Webb-yes, Collyard-yes,  Collyard said to put this on the timeline, and they will look at forming a committee to study health insurance benefits this spring. Motion carried.

 

Request to lease land by BAHA (tabled from last meeting) Brustad said Lu Peet had called and BAHA had not met since the last Board meeting so they wouldn’t need to be on the agenda until a later date.

 

Appointment of Poll Workers for 2008-2009 Election years – Brustad said she had received 10 applications for the 2008-2009 term.  They are: Lu Peet, Polly Beuk, Dorothy Mueller, Beverly Lowery, and Terri Rossman as regulars, and Roberta DeLizio, Roxanne Lindgren, Florence Prickett, Linda Nowaczyk, and Mary Sadenwasser as alternates.  Motion(Webb/McGee) to approve the appointment of the 10 poll workers for the 2008-2009 term.  Brustad said one regular had wanted only a split shift.  Webb asked if that could be done. Brustad said through a Resolution allowing it from the Board.  Webb felt there shouldn’t be split shifts in case there would be any questions on the voting.  She felt the same ones should work the whole shift.  Collyard agreed.  Motion carried.    

 

 

2 Year New Operator License approval for Carol Peterson Brustad reported Carol had a license that had lapsed in 2006.  Background check was done and nothing found.

Motion(Porter/McGee) to approve the 2 year Operator License for Carol Peterson. Motion carried.

 

Public Comment Session – 5 minute limit for those not on the Agenda

Patti Joswick reported snowmobilers on Tomahawk Lake.  She thought they were entering through the town park from Moore road, then traveling onto the lake.  The last couple of weeks they have come around the 3:00 hour, she thought maybe after school or after work.  They were getting very close to some fishermen and crossing the lake onto private property on the peninsula across from the park. Collyard said he would check with Russ Carter to see if the road to the park is a designated route for snowmobiles or not.  Brustad said the list is in the ordinance.  Webb suggested calling the Constable also and he can be around when they are doing this.  Collyard said he would check tracks to see if they were coming from the park or if they were entering from private property on the lake.  If they are coming from private property on the lake there isn’t much we can do. 

 

Issues Timeline Update

Town Owned Land – Work in progress

Fire Department SOG’s – will meet in January

Fire Department Billing Policy – Will meet in January

Helipad – completed

Recreation area planning – on hold

ATV routes – completed and should be taken off

Cemetery – Work in progress

Constable – Work in progress

Ski Trails – completed and should be taken off

 

Collyard asked for a motion to adjourn. Motion (Webb/McGee) to adjourn the meeting of December 18, 2007. Motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 7:45PM.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Elaine J. Brustad

Clerk Treasurer

Dated this 21st Day of December, 2007