MINUTES OF THE
OF
Chairman Gene Ratzel called
the meeting to order at
The Pledge of Allegiance was
said.
Ratzel read the February Amended Agenda as follows:
Amended Agenda
Call the meeting to order
Pledge Allegiance to the Flag
Approve the February (Amended) Agenda
Approve the Minutes of the Last Regular
Board Meeting
Treasurer’s Report
Voucher’s Approval
Clerk / Correspondence
License Application-2-year Operator’s License to David Basacker
Public Comment Session-5 Minute limit for those not on agenda
Department Head Reports:
Cemetery Committee-Bud Pease
Ambulance Department-Del
Jerome
Fire Department- Tom
Renz-Board approval of Fire Depart. election results
Constable- Mike O’Keefe
Garage-Len Schiller
Employee Policy Handbook
Issues Timeline-Update
*Snowplowing of Kickapoo Trail
*Contracting Out of Janitorial Service
Barnes Area Historical Association
(BAHA)-Centennial Committee-Updates
Barnes Area Development-BADC-
Updates
Board Member Reports-
The Town Board of the Town of Barnes will go into closed session pursuant to State
Statute 19.85(b) and (c) for considering
employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the
governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.
The board
will return to open session immediately after the closed session.
* These two
agenda items were inadvertently left off of the printed version handed out at
the meeting, but
were published in the Northwoods Shopper on
Motion
(Chermack / Scharlau) to approve the Amended February Agenda with the
corrections as read. Motion carried.
Motion (Scharlau / Webb) to approve
the Minutes of the last regular town board meeting. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report- Treasurer Debbie Sesko gave the Treasurer’s Report as follows:
Checking
Balance from last meeting $ 241,316.74
Receipts # 16285 to # 16300 $ 43,756.85
Checks # 18810 to # 18900 $ (165,003.46)
January 2005 Service Charge $
(7.95)
January 2005 Interest $
106.71
To correct Jan.2005 Treasurer’s Report Check # 18759
was
originally picked up as $150.00-Should have been
$138.52 $ 11.48
Checking
balance $ 120,180.37
Ambulance Investment Fund $
2,842.21
Highway Department Sinking Fund $ 85,925.39
BES Sinking Fund $
1,054.40
Park Savings $ 10,472.13
Ski Trail Savings $
304.13
Parade-Event Calendar Fund $
1,822.07
Balance
All Accounts $ 222,600.70
Motion (Meinke / Scharlau) to approve the Treasurer’s
Report as given. Motion carried.
Motion (Chermack / Meinke) to approve the vouchers as
presented. Motion carried
Clerk / Correspondence
1. Letter from Northwest Regional Planning Commission on
the upcoming meeting on
2. Letter from the DNR that the town will no longer be
responsible for taking its own water samples. The Bayfield County Health
Department will be doing this now. There was some discussion on the cost to the
town. The Clerk was not made aware of what the cost would be. The county would
most likely contact the town. Webb thought that this would be under the
county’s budget. Meinke asked if the county would be doing the businesses or
church. This was not known at this time.
3. Notice of the Bayfield County Zoning meeting and
public hearing of
4. Notice from the Northwoods Shopper that the
advertising rates will be going up.
5. Remember to come out and vote next Tuesday for the Spring
Primary. The ballot will be for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
License Application-2 Year Operator’s License to David Basacker. He has
to complete the Responsible Beverage Server Classes before he will be issued a
regular license. He has a Temporary Operator’s License now. He has had his
background check done. Motion (Meinke / Scharlau) to approve the
2- year Operator’s License to David Basacker. Motion carried.
Public
Comment Session- No one spoke at this
time.
Department
Head Reports:
meeting.
There
were 7 runs since the last meeting. Three of these were intercepts, one
helicopter transport
and
three unassisted. One was to
helicopter.
Jerome said that he had met with Gene Ratzel and Tom Renz the other day on the
Employee
Handbook
issues and requested it be all inclusive and that the handbook not be finalized
until both the Fire and Ambulance
Department information was included and not do it piece meal. Webb asked if
Jerome
had gotten a copy of the Ambulance Department Training records for 2004 to the
clerk. Yes, the
clerk
got one from Viola Friermood and Jerome has a copy of it. Chermack said that is
was the intent of
the
board to get all departments included in the handbook. Jerome asked about the
Ambulance Investment Fund and how
the personnel would be paid out. Jerome said that two Ambulance people have retired from the department-Marilee
Ludgatis and Lynn Skandel. Webb and Jerome both indicated that
they
would have to get together and discuss this area. There would be a process
created for this purpose,
a
final form for resignation, etc. There should be some time frame on this.
Ratzel asked if Jerome had a
final
date on these people. Jerome said yes.
Fire Department- The Fire Department
Report was given by Fritz Barnes in the absence of Chief Renz
(attending EMT classes). The department had 5 runs since the last meeting-2 false alarms, 1 snowmobile
accident
response (used rescue sled), 1 LZ setup for Ambulance Department and 1 trailer
fire. Mr.Barnes
asked
the board to approve the results of the Fire Department elections that were
held in January. The
election
results are as follows:
Fire
Chief-Tom Renz (Elected Unanimously)
Assistant
Fire Chief-Dave Christenson (Elected Unanimously)
Second
Assistant-Dave Schiess (Elected Unanimously)
Secretary
/ Treasurer-Gene Miller (Elected Unanimously)
Motion
(Webb / Meinke) to approve the individuals on the Fire Department Election
results. Motion
carried.
Town Board member(s) at scenes.
I do
not know why Town Board member(s) feel it necessary to respond to scenes of
ambulance calls or
fire
calls. Recently, this has happened again and this person was in a hot zone. For
purposes of liability
reasons
unless a member of the Town board is on the Roster a Town Board member is
considered a
civilian
and should never be in the Hot Zone. For clarification if this is a necessary
mode of operation
you
have to know that there are three zones of operation for incident command.
1-cold
zone or white zone-A zone in which civilians are allowed to enter and where
some parts of
operation or staging may occur.
2-warm zone or green zone-Zone of
operation and incident command takes place. For incident
command purposes civilians may be asked into
this zone for incident command purposes but only
when asked.
3-Hot zone or Red zone-This is the zone
of most danger and therefor no civilians are ever allowed in
this Zone and is monitored very closely by
incident command and operations Chief.
I hope
as Fire Chief this would clear this matter up and prevent any further
incidents. Again I want to
stress this is strictly a liability issue wether to
prevent further injury to others that would then take attention away from the
original problem and also to protect us from any impact HIPPA may have to us.
Thomas M. Renz
(This was the end of the original Fire Department
Report)
Ratzel asked Mr. Barnes what document this was that he
was reading. Mr. Barnes said it was a letter from Tom Renz to the board. Ratzel
asked to have a copy of the letter. Chermack asked who the person was at the
scene. Ratzel that it was he and it was at the Eight Mile incident. Webb asked
what this incident was and Mr. Barnes said that it was a very bad situation and
that Mr.Ratzel was in the hot zone. There was discussion on this issue. Mr.
Barnes said that by having this person [Ratzel] in the hot zone, you not only
have the person you’re taking out, but now you have another person at risk. This
is putting our fire department and ambulance department at a lot of risk. Do we
have to go to the state? Mr. Ratzel indicated that he had been at the scene and
had been requested to assist and do what he did. Mr. Barnes said that Ratzel
should not have been in the hot zone, that’s why the letter was written. Ratzel
said that these processes just showed up this past week. Mr. Barnes said that
have these proceedings have been there for years. Ratzel said that this was the
first time that anyone had been notified here. Ratzel said the request [for him
to help] was from a member of the fire department. Mr. Barnes wanted to know
how the other members of the board felt. Scharlau said that no one should be in
the hot zone, unless the fire chief or the incident commander requests it. Webb
said that at a recent WTA meeting, Dick Pukema spoke on incident command for town
officials and he went through what the town board’s responsibilities are and
where that responsibility end and when the people who are trained take over. It
may be beneficial for us to have Mr. Pukema come down and do this with us and the
fire and ambulance departments so that we are all on the same page. Scharlau
said that the board members, or anyone, can be there to observe, but not in
that zone. Ratzel said that when you are asked to assist by the personnel on
scene, [Webb asked if that person is in authority at the scene] [Donna Porter
said that there were not enough people there for lifting assistance and that is
why Gene was asked to help] how does anyone know at that point what’s
legitimate or should we refrain from any assistance whatsoever when it’s
requested. Mr. Barnes asked if he [Tom Renz] would have wrote this letter if he
wasn’t concerned that you were in the wrong. Ratzel did not know. Mr. Barnes
said that he would put it on record that if it doesn’t stop and get the board
to do something about this, he would go to the state about it. As a fireman,
ambulance and as a tax payer, he did not believe that the town should be put in
jeopardy at that fire scene. Mr. Barnes asked Scharlau that at a fire scene,
unless there is a homicide, the fire chief has the whole say so over the county
sheriff or anybody, was that right? Scharlau said absolutely. Mr. Barnes said
he [the Chief] is telling you in this letter that he does not want you in those
zones. There was discussion between Ratzel and Barnes on this issue and the
difference between the zones. There was discussion on the incident involved and
also on a previous incident. Mr. Barnes asked for a decision from the board.
Chermack said she did not want to make a decision without the Mr. Renz, the
person who formulated the letter, being here. He’s the person we need to talk
to. Scharlau said that when there is an emergency you go to, somebody establishes
right away who the incident commander is when they get there, so everyone knows
who is in charge. That’s the person you go to for anything that you do and for
us that is only if they ask us to do it. It does not necessarily mean the Fire
Chief. Mr. Barnes asked the board if they felt the chairman should go to these
scenes without having any training. What about the HIPPA laws? Ratzel said he
did not attend or pursue the calls. There was discussion on how the chairman
ended up at these scenes and why he was there. Ratzel said that if this is what
the board wants, him not going to the scenes, he will abide by it. Where do you
draw the line? Webb said that it goes back to what was said before that we either
need to set up some sort of incident command for the town board or have Mr.
Pukema come here and go through it so that it’s clear in everyone’s mind what
our role is. Mr. Barnes said that your role as a town board member is as a
citizens and you don’t have any authority being at those scenes. Motion
(Chermack / Scharlau) to open the floor to discussion. Motion carried.
Donna Porter said that she only wanted to respond to the one incident. There
were not enough people to lift and that Gene was asked, as a bystander, to
assist. Mr. Barnes then discussed the comparison of this incident to the
Friermood incident where the board did the investigation and there were
reprimands for it. Why was this different? There was discussion on this. The
board made the decision on what they saw and found in that investigation. Mr.
Barnes asked what the board is going to do about the letter. Ratzel said he
wanted to see the letter first and then we would take this issue under
advisement. It is not on the agenda to act on tonight. Scharlau said he would like
to have the Fire Chief available when we discuss this. Marilee Ludgatis said
that for years people have been asked to get stuff out of the ambulance and did
not understand the big to do about all of this. Chermack said that just because
it has been done for years, doesn’t mean that it should continue. Webb said it
has been brought to our attention now. Mr. Barnes asked if our town’s insurance
covers a non-licensed EMT acting as an EMT. Webb was supposed to have checked
this out. Ratzel said that the attorney indicated that all are covered under
the umbrella policy. Webb said we need to check with the insurance company
tomorrow. Motion (Chermack / Scharlau) to close the floor to discussion.
Motion carried.
Constable
Report- The Constable was not here at
this time so the Clerk gave the report as follows:
There were ten calls since the last meeting-5 alarms,
4 snowmobile / vehicle complaints, 1 assist motorist.
Garage
Report- Garage Supervisor Len
Schiller was not in attendance at the meeting. The report was given by the
Clerk as follows:
Since the last meeting, the crew has been performing
routine winter road maintenance such as plowing, salting and sanding and doing
routine vehicle and equipment maintenance. Fabco was called out to repair two
problems with the 140G grader. More salt /sand mix was ordered from
Chermack asked what the board was going to do about
the fire department. Are we going to make a decision now while we are here or
set up a meeting with Renz? A meeting date will be set up with the chief. Jerome
said he would try to be at the meeting. Webb said to set the meeting for after
February 18th, but not on the 22nd or 23rd.
There was discussion on having it on the 17th along with the DNR
meeting. This was not ok with most of the members. Meinke said that if we
include it on the meeting for the driveway ordinance, we could combine the
meetings. Webb said she would get the information she has on incident command
and have us look at that first. If she doesn’t have it she will contact Pukema
and get it.
Employee
Policy Handbook-Ratzel said that he
had met with Sandra Martindale of CEP and went over the changes from the last
meeting. Ratzel had given the board members an updated draft of the handbook
for the board to go over. The board will make any corrections or changes deemed
necessary. Chermack said she would like to have her old copy back to compare
the changes. This copy was at CEP. Ratzel said that Renz and Jerome would have
to get their input into this also. Webb said that she has quickly gone over
Jerome’s material and wants to go through it again, but it looked good to her.
We need to get a hold of Renz on his plans, basically Com 30. Any of the
Medical Director’s information has to be included in our handbook also. There
was discussion on the drug policy. Our policy mostly addresses CDL holders, but
the Ambulance Director and Fire Chief could get the Reasonable Suspicion
Training and with a few modifications, the policy in the handbook could be
written to cover all employees and departments. The handbook is going slowly,
but everything needs to be in place before we accept it. The attorney will do
the final ok before we can accept it.
Issues
Timeline-Chermack went over the
timeline and updated the information as follows:
1. Driveway
Ordinances-Meinke asked all of the
board members to go over the sample ordinances and forms that the town has
received from the county before we have the meeting on the Driveway Ordinance.
Between them all, Meinke felt that we could create a simple, but effective
Driveway Ordinance. This could be ready to go at the next meeting and we
wouldn’t have to have it drag on meeting after meeting. Ratzel asked if there
should be some legal input. It was noted that all of these other ordinances
have already been reviewed by attorneys and this would not be necessary.
2. Road Name
Changes-Chermack said that this was
accomplished, but the Clerk said that there was a problem with it. There is a
section of that road that is named White Pine Trail and it is recorded in the
plat of that subdivision. The Clerk has contacted Jan Victorson of Emergency
Government and Victorson is looking into this matter for us.
3. Ambulance
Investment Plan-Webb and Jerome will
be getting together on this shortly. There are two members who have retired
from the force. We have taken care of what we need to do on that issue in the
ambulance report
4. Employee
Policy Handbook-See notes from the
agenda item for this meeting.
5. LZ Zone-We still have to wait for the completion of this one.
6. Purchase
Order and Voucher System-This has been
taken care of.
7. Web Page-Ratzel said he had been down to CCS several times and
met with Chris. The Web Page should be up by Monday Ratzel said. The Minutes
for 2004 and those from 2005 are on the blind site now. The conversion should
take place at the end of the week. Chris [from CCS] has given us some printed
material to study and Ratzel has looked through some of it for the editor so
that we, on this end, can make the changes accordingly. We will need a list of
department heads and people involved with the various changes –the parts that
they would be eligible to change such as the fire department, BADC, the
ambulance and their schedule- that isn’t created yet, but we’re working on it-
the Centennial group, etc. We have to find out the individual that is going to
be putting the information up and give them a login and password. Chermack
asked if the clerk could create a form saying what we need for this and then
have them fill in the blanks and have a set date for the return of this
information. We would give it to the department heads. Those people designated
would only have access to that portion of the web site that pertains to their
area. There will be training set up for those that need to have access. Chris
from CCS will come up to assist us. CCS wants to be paid for the work by the
conversion time. The added cost of having the Ambulance Department site will be
added later. We will be able to add or edit our pages for data content.
8. Welcome to
Barnes signs-Scharlau said that he
has had some problems getting the landowners to sign the agreements. He is
working with Wausau Paper Company to get their agreement signed. Several of the
other landowners do not seem interested in having a sign on their property. The
town will have to keep looking for sites. The signs have to be put up in the
Town of
Snowplowing
of Kickapoo Trail-The clerk read the
letter on the attorney’s opinion on this issue. The clerk will get a copy of
the letter to all board members. It was just received this afternoon. [The
letter may be read in its entirety in the clerk’s office] The attorney noted
state statutes referring to this process. The town has the duty to make the
roads passable, but there is a three week time frame according to the statutes
and then it has to proven that the conditions have existed for those three
weeks. Meinke asked to have his motion on this read. The clerk read the motion
from the Minutes of the
Contracting
out of Janitorial Services- Meinke
asked to have more time to look at the costs and other issues related to this
issue. The clerk had given a copy of the expenses that the town had incurred to
all board members. The total, including wages, Social Security, Medicare and supplies,
came to roughly $3,500.00 for 2004. Someone was to look into the cost of
getting a janitorial service. Motion (Webb / Meinke) to open the floor
to discussion. Motion carried. Marilee Ludgatis, the town’s janitor
asked to speak. She said it would have been “nice” seeing that she is the
janitor, to have called her to let her know that the town was looking at
different avenues for this service as she is employed here. Ratzel said that
the board is looking at all different aspects of the town’s employment in this
regard. Ludgatis asked if this would even be for the highway department and
other jobs in town. Webb said that we were looking at all alternatives. Webb
indicated that several board members were unaware of this issue or wondered why
it was there, when it appeared on the agenda for the special town board meeting
on the 1st of February. This was the first time most of board
members were aware of the issue. Mr. Barnes asked when this all came about and
who decides this. Ratzel said that the issue came up through the handbook investigation
and revision. The town board is working on this. Ratzel said that he ultimately
ends up screening what goes on the agenda each meeting with the clerk. The
question came up when the board was looking at covering all employees in town [in
the handbook] and the janitorial position came up. There was a question on the
job description and what department was responsible for that position. Ludgatis
said that there was a job description when she was hired. This document cannot
be located in the town office at this time, but we will continue to look for
it. The cost of getting an outside service was discussed. This was not a factor
in the decision to look at this option. Mr. Barnes asked what other departments
were being considered for this. Ratzel said all employees. We are looking at
all aspects. We haven’t decided anything at this point. A decision is being
called for when no decision has been made. We’ve just started to look at this. Ludgatis
said that she had decided something. She said the town really can look for
somebody else to clean as of tonight. Ludgatis said she was sure Chermack or
somebody can come up with somebody good. Chermack said she wanted to apologize
for this. Ludgatis said it was a slap in the face. Chermack said she wanted to
apologize on behalf of the rest of the [board] because we did not know any of
this and when someone comes up to her and said that they saw this on the
bulletin board at his [Ratzel’s] store about the janitorial thing-how did it
make her [Chermack] feel. Webb said she had heard nothing about this issue. Mr.
Barnes had words with the chairman and Mr. Barnes and Mrs. Ludgatis left the
meeting. Motion (Webb / Chermack) to close the floor to discussion. Motion
carried. Ratzel discussed this agenda item and why was this one
singled out. Webb felt that the board should have been notified. Webb said that
when somebody says why wasn’t she [Ludgatis] called and Webb didn’t know why
Ludgatis wasn’t called, what could she say as Webb didn’t know anything about
this. Chermack and Webb had thought it was an ad for the position, but Ratzel
said it was only the agenda notice for the
Barnes Area
Historical Association (BAHA)-The Centennial Committee report was given
by Dave Pease. Pease said that his assignment for the committee was to map out
the historical sites in the town. He showed the board members maps of the
proposed sites. The board indicated that this map was very interesting. Pease
said that signs have been made for most of these sites. [A sample sign was
shown] He would like the board’s approval to have these signs put up on the
right of way of the town roads. There was discussion on the old Fresh Air Post
Office and where it had been located. The Centennial Committee hopes to have a
book out on the history of Barnes by the end of March. There would be a smaller
pamphlet on the history that would be available for the Centennial.
Barnes Area
Development Corporation- Jack Meinke
reported on the BADC. There was a meeting on the 6th of February.
Bruce Lindgren has been working on getting grant money for infrastructure. A
cost estimate update on the project from Cooper Engineering was reviewed.
Ratzel said that CEP, the firm doing our policy handbook, is working with
Bayfield County Economic Development. They are involved in the business
planning service also.
Board Member
Reports:
Jack
Meinke-Jack had nothing more to report.
Chris Webb-Chris had nothing more to
add.
Dave Scharlau-Dave had nothing more to
add.
Gene Ratzel-Gene had nothing more to
add.
Motion (Webb / Chermack) to adjourn the regular
session to go into closed session pursuant to State Statute 19.85 (b) and (c).
Roll call vote was taken: Scharlau, yes; Chermack, yes; Webb, yes; Meinke, yes
and Ratzel, yes. Motion carried.
The regular session was adjourned at
MINUTES OF
THE CLOSED SESSION OF
Chairman Ratzel called the closed session to order at
No business was discussed other than that referenced
by State Statutes 19.85 (b) and (c).
No decisions were made in closed session.
Motion (Webb / Chermack) to adjourn the closed session
to return to the regular reconvened session. Motion carried. The closed session was adjourned at
MINUTES OF
THE RECONVENED REGULAR SESSION OF
Chairman Ratzel called the reconvened session to order
at
The board members decided to set a date to meet with
the Fire Chief and Ambulance Director. The Clerk would call the people to set a
date. A time of
There was discussion on what the various board members
would be asked to do. Ratzel and the Clerk will get together to create a report
form for the Appointed Clerk / Treasurer position and they will compose an
appraisal for the deputy clerk, Elaine Brustad. Scharlau would contact Tom Renz
and get the maintenance schedule for the fire department vehicles. Chermack
would investigate the janitorial duties and other related issues. Chermack will
also get the public feedback information documented. Webb will check on the
insurance issue brought up by Mr. Barnes in regard to the town’s liability if an
unlicensed EMT was doing an EMT’s work. Webb will also get information on
Incident Command for the Town Board Members.
Motion (Webb / Scharlau) to adjourn the reconvened
regular session. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at
Members of
the Town Board in attendance:
Chairman Gene Ratzel; Supervisors Dixie Chermack, Chris Webb, Jack Meinke and
Dave Scharlau. Also present were the Treasurer Debbie Sesko and Clerk Lu Peet.
Department
heads and committee people present:
Ambulance Director Del Jerome, Constable Mike O’Keefe, Cemetery Sexton Bud
Pease and Comprehensive Land Use Planning Committee Chairman Dave Pease (also
representing the Centennial Committee).
Citizens
present: Donna Porter, Marilee
Ludgatis and Fritz Barnes (representing the Fire Department)
Respectfully submitted,
Lucille J. Peet
Barnes Town Clerk
Dated this 11th day of February 2005