Town of Barnes
Town of Barnes, WI

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Home > Town Digital Library > Town Board Meeting Minutes > 2011 Town Board Meeting Minutes > Regular Town Board Meeting September 20, 2011

Regular Town Board Meeting September 20, 2011

 

MINUTES OF THE
PUBLIC HEARING AND
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 at 6:00PM
 
 
Chair Lu Peet called the Public Hearing to order at 6:00PM for the discontinuance of Smart, South Call O Wild and a portion of Cranberry Lake Roads. Peet read the Notice of Public Hearing and Brustad verified the notice had been posted as required. Several residents of Cranberry Lake Road spoke and were generally not in favor of discontinuance or widening the road. They felt the town should be agreeable to a third option, that of leaving it the way it has been for years. They also felt the town trucks should be able to back into a driveway to turn around rather than creating a large turn-around at the end of the road.
No-one spoke for or against discontinuance of South Call O Wild Road
Bob Johnson spoke on the discontinuance of Smart road. He felt the person at the end of that road would feel the most from the discontinuance. There were several letters received from residents on Smart road who felt discontinuing the road would pose a burden for them.
 
Chairperson Lu Peet called the Regular Board Meeting to order at 6:30PM. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited. A Roll Call was taken to establish a quorum and verification of public notice was asked of Clerk-Treasurer Brustad by Peet. All board members were present. Peet asked for a motion to approve the September Agenda, approve the minutes of the Last Regular Board meeting and to dispense with reading of the minutes.
 
Motion (Webb/Meinke) to approve the agenda, the minutes of the last Regular Town Board meeting and to dispense with the reading of those minutes. Motion carried. The agenda is as follows:
 
NOTICE
TOWN OF BARNES
PUBLIC HEARING AND
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 at 6:00PM
 
AGENDA
Call Public Hearing to order at 6:00PM for the discontinuance of Smart, South Call O Wild and a portion of Cranberry Lake Roads in the town of Barnes
 
Call the Regular Town 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 September Agenda, approve the minutes of the Last Regular Board meeting and a motion to dispense with reading of the minutes.
Voucher’s Approval
Treasurer’s Report
Clerk Correspondence
                Approval of Resolution # R-xx for an Employee Grievance procedure
                Approve proposal for propane purchase for the 2011-2012 season     
Public Comment Session – 3 Minute limit for those not on the agenda 
Department Head Reports:
                Highway
                                Highway Order for discontinuance of Smart Road
                                Highway Order for discontinuance of South Call O Wild Road
                                Highway Order for discontinuance of a portion of Cranberry Lake Road            
Discussion and possible approval of a launch fee for the Upper Eau Claire Lake landing
Discussion and possible approval for the Conservation Club to construct a fishing pier at the Birch Lake channel/Upper Eau Claire Lake Bridge
Discussion and approval to hire Kevin Dudley as a new seasonal employee for brushing
                Cemetery
                                Approval of new committee member
Approval of increase in grave opening charge for winter rate of $600.00 per opening                    
                Fire and Ambulance Department
                                Update Fire and Ambulance pay policy
                Constable
Committee Reports           
                Eurasian Water Milfoil committee
                                Approval for treatment this fall for EWM on Tomahawk Lake                               
                Parks Committee               
Land Use Planning Commission
Citizen’s Request for Service: 
                Request by Debra Soar for ditching or culvert at her driveway on Broken Arrow Trail
Request by Connie Balcom to place two memorial benches by the swimming area off the Upper Eau Claire and Birch Lake channel bridge
Request by Jeanne Riese to place a bench in memory of her husband Randy along his walking path near his home on Lake Road
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 the 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 19th day of September, 2011
 
 
Voucher’s Approval
 
Motion (McGee/Porter) to approve the voucher’s as presented. Motion carried.
 
Treasurer’s Report
 

General Fund
Checking Balance from last meeting
$84,064.57
Receipts
$1,028.45
Direct Tax Payments, Ck #'s 394-395
($5,587.53)
Check #'s 26320-26418
($54,436.49)
Service Charge August
($17.47)
Interest Earned August
$8.84
0.15%
CHECKING BALANCE
$25,060.37
Money Market
Money Market Gen'l Fund Balance from Last Meeting
$152,381.81
Interest earned July
YTD Interest $719.59
$53.52
0.20%
Sub-Total Money Market Gen'l Funds
$152,435.33
Highway Dept. Sinking Fund
$30,072.92
BES Sinking Fund
$40,464.05
Park Savings
Deposit $268.58 water
$11,718.06
Ski Trail Savings
$1,032.47
Building Maintenance & Repair Fund
$109,858.54
Bridges Maintenance Fund
$12,000.00
Waterways Maintenance Fund
$10,000.00
ACT 102 Fund
$3,441.61
Total all Money Market Funds
$371,022.98
Hayward Community Credit Union
Savings
Interest
1.27
August
$3,747.24
0.40%
 
18 Month CD
Interest
48.98
August
$52,766.54
1.099%
18 Month CD
Interest
270.46
August
$156,678.06
2.055%
18 month CD
Interest
183.21
August
$106,135.11
2.055%
18 month CD
Interest
110.40
August
$100,717.42
1.299%
35 month CD
Interest
165.31
August
$100,855.61
1.951%
YTD Interest $5,782.27
 
Total Hayward Community Credit Union
$520,899.98
TOTAL ALL ACCOUNTS
$916,983.33

 
Motion (Meinke/McGee) to approve the Treasurer’s report as read. Motion carried.
 
Clerk Correspondence
Brustad received 6 notices to cut, all in Township 44North, Range 9 west; Section 20 on property owned by Jay Young, Section 17, on property owned by Marlys McCullough. Section 19 on property owned by the Warren Heller Life estate, Section 19 on properties owned by David Scharlau, Wayne Kofal and Tom Notebaart.
Brustad received a letter from Thomas Toepfer, Bayfield County Highway Commissioner regarding an informational meeting to be held on September 26th at 7:30PM after the Town’s Association meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to distribute informational packets and to elect TRIP and MSIP committees.
 
                Approval of Resolution # R-11-11 for an Employee Grievance procedure
Wisconsin Act 10 enacted the requirement for all municipalities to establish an Employee Grievance Procedure. Brustad said the procedure must be in place by October 1st of this year. She then read the resolution to the audience:
Resolution # R-11-11
Resolution for Adopting an Employee Grievance Procedure
           Whereas s. 66.0509(1m), Wis. Stat. requires local governmental units to adopt an employee grievance procedure;
           Whereas the Town of Barnes, Bayfield County, Wisconsin has thoughtfully considered this requirement and prepared an employee grievance procedure that contains the required elements;
Now, therefore be it resolved, that the town board of the Town of Barnes, Bayfield County, Wisconsin adopts the attached employee grievance procedure pursuant to s. 66.0509(1m), Wis. Stat.
Adopted this 20th Day of September, 2011.
 
 
__________________________                             _________________________
Lu Peet, Chairman                                                Jack Meinke, Supervisor
 
 
__________________________                             _________________________
Christine Webb, Supervisor                                Donna Porter, Supervisor
 
 
__________________________
Mitch McGee, Supervisor
 
 
_________________________________
Attest:                     Elaine J. Brustad, Clerk-Treasurer
 
 
 
Webb said since she was just seeing this for the first time this evening she wanted to table this until the Special Town Board meeting on the 27th, so she would have time to look it over.
 
Motion (Webb/Meinke) to table the passage of the resolution until the September 27th Board meeting. Motion carried.  
 
Approve proposal for propane purchase for the 2011-2012 season     
Proposals were received from 5 fuel companies. The range was from $1.769 to 1.83 per gallon. Polar Gas was the lowest at $1.769. The contract was faxed and somewhat illegible so the board wanted to get a cleaner copy before signing.
 
Motion (McGee/Porter) to accept Polar Gas’ proposal for fuel at $1.769 per gallon, bearing there are no surprises on the contract. Brustad to obtain a legible contract for Peet to sign. Roll call vote taken: all responded yes. Motion carried.
 
Public Comment Session – 3 Minute limit for those not on the agenda 
Bill Patza spoke on the Cranberry Lake Road discontinuance. He would like to see the town grade the road and leave it in good shape if the town decides to discontinue it.
Marvin Harsvick spoke on Smart road
Joe Martel and others spoke on the Cranberry Lake Road issue
 
Department Head Reports:
 
                Highway
 
                                Highway Order for discontinuance of Smart Road
 
Motion (McGee/Webb) to not discontinue Smart Road. Roll call vote taken: all responded yes to not discontinue Smart Road. Motion carried.
 
                                Highway Order for discontinuance of South Call O Wild Road
 
Motion (Meinke/McGee) to discontinue South Call O Wild Road. Roll call vote taken: all responded yes to discontinue.  Motion carried.
 
                                Highway Order for discontinuance of a portion of Cranberry Lake Road
 
Motion (McGee/Porter) to table until the budget meeting on September 27th for more discussion.
The actual decision will be done then at the October regular Town Board meeting. Motion carried.
 
Discussion and possible approval of a launch fee for the Upper Eau Claire Lake landing
 
Motion (Porter/Meinke) to not approve a launch fee being instituted on Upper Eau Claire Lake. 
It was generally felt they could not have a launch fee on one lake and not the other. Webb felt it was not needed to make a motion to that effect; it should be a discussion issue only.
Porter and Meinke rescinded their motion.
 
Discussion and possible approval for the Conservation Club to construct a fishing pier at the Birch Lake channel/Upper Eau Claire Lake bridge
It was felt the board would like to see some place to allow fishing, but there was not parking there, and it is very congested especially in the summer. Where they would like to put the pier is on private property, so nothing will be done.
 
Discussion and approval to hire Kevin Dudley as a new seasonal employee for brushing
This was previously discussed at the last budget meeting.
 
Motion (Porter/McGee) to hire Kevin Dudley for 1 season only at $16.00 per hour for approximately 6 weeks. Roll call vote taken: all responded yes. Motion carried.
 
                Cemetery
Sexton Dave Schiess was not present. Donna Porter said at the last meeting Henry Norton tendered his resignation, and Florence Prickett asked to become a new member of the committee. They also spoke about increasing the winter rate for a regular burial, as it has become too costly to heat up the ground and dig a grave when the ground is frozen. They thought the new rate should be from December 1st through March 30th and would increase to $600.00 from $300.00.
 
 
                                Approval of new committee member
Motion (Meinke/McGee) to approve Florence Prickett as a new Cemetery Committee member. Motion carried.
 
Approval of increase in grave opening charge for winter rate of $600.00 per opening    
Motion (Porter/McGee) to approve the increase of a burial to $600.00 per opening from December 1st through March 30th of each year. Roll call vote taken and all responded yes. Motion carried.
 
               
                Fire and Ambulance Department
Since the last Town board meeting the ambulance has had 7 calls since the last meeting.
 
1 - Transport to Hayward
1 – Transport to Ashland
3 – Transported to St. Lukes
1 – Barnes Fire Stand-by
1 - Highland Fire Stand-by
 
There have been 2 Fire Calls
1 – Mutual Aid truck Fire to Drummond
1 – Propane Leak
Budgets are completed and turned in. Wage form change to reflect current procedures. Narrow band radio change over will be done on September 28th. State Ambulance Inspection was completed by State Patrol. Inspection passed with no issues.
 
                                Update Fire and Ambulance pay policy
Brustad said she had given copies of the updated wage policy to the board. The only changes were from the first responder wages, as they were previously the same as for trainees. The new policy as stated will increase the pay to be more in line with what a firefighter gets paid if responding to an ambulance call. 
 
Motion (Meinke/Webb) to approve the wage policy as presented. Roll call vote taken: all responded yes. Motion carried.
 
Motion (Webb/Meinke) to increase first responders transport and intercept wages. Roll call vote taken: all responded yes. Motion carried.
 
                Constable
( 3 ) animal complaints..........( 1 ) Fireworks complaint...........( 1 ) assist motorist : from sheriff : Found nothing.........( 1 ) Check property : out of town homeowner thought he may have left garage open .
 
Committee Reports           
 
                Eurasian Water Milfoil committee
Ingemar Ekstrom spoke on the proposed treatment for Tomahawk lake to be done this fall. The approximate costs will be $3000.00 and will be taken out of the grant monies.
 
Approval for treatment this fall for EWM on Tomahawk Lake               
 
Motion (Meinke/Porter) to approve costs of $3,000.00 for treatment of Tomahawk Lake this fall and the permit fee of $145.00. Roll call vote taken: all responded yes. Motion carried.
 
                Parks Committee               
The pup tent, spring animal and 8 foot picnic table have been ordered. There will be room to put the pup tent in the new area.
 
Land Use Planning Commission
No meeting held nothing to report.
 
Citizen’s Request for Service: 
 
Request by Debra Soar for ditching or culvert at her driveway on Broken Arrow Trail
Bob has not talked with her but will contact her and work something out with her.
 
 
 
Request by Connie Balcom to place two memorial benches by the swimming area off the Upper Eau Claire and Birch Lake channel bridge
Since there is only a small sliver of land there and it is not enough room to place a bench there the board thinks they should not allow a bench to be placed there.   They asked if Connie would like to place them in the park or elsewhere she can fill out another request.
 
Request by Jeanne Riese to place a bench in memory of her husband Randy along his walking path near his home on Lake Road
Jeanne’s first thought was by the bridge along the Upper and Birch Lake channel, but another thought was to place one by the Upper Boat landing on Peninsula road. She had drawings to show approximately where she thought it could be placed. Webb said since that boat landing was going to be re-done next year we could ask the engineer what he thought and if it could be incorporated into their plans. 
 
Issues Timeline Update    
Town owned land – work in progress
Town Hall Maintenance Plan – send letter to Martinson construction regarding concrete patch job on top of ramp
 Boat landings – work in progress
Town roads – Highway order issued for South Call O Wild Road.
Town Policy – Citizen’s request for action policy to be on October meeting agenda.
 
Renz also asked to place the Employee of the Year Award on the October agenda.
 
Motion (Meinke/Webb) to adjourn the Regular Town Board meeting of September 20, 2011. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:40PM.
 
 
 
Respectfully Submitted,
 
 
 
Elaine J. Brustad,
Clerk-Treasurer
Dated this 27th day of September, 2011
 
 

 
The notices, agendas, minutes and postings on the Town website are for informational purposes only. They may not be the most current version and therefore are NOT considered the official or legal copy.
CONTACT THE TOWN
715-795-2782
Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 8:00 AM - Noon
[email protected]
3360 County Highway N, Barnes, WI 54873

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