Town of Blooming Grove Board Meeting Minutes – August 10, 2004

Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Board members in attendance were Chair Anderson, Supervisor Linzmeier, Supervisor Johnson, and Supervisor Stube. Supervisor Berg was absent and previously excused.

Others in attendance were: Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Mike Wolf (on behalf of Audrey Rue), Louise Foster, Carole Kovatch, Nancy Hasse, Theresa Taylor, Jessica Sexton, Kelly Sexton, Harold Curley, Gertrude Hall, Cynthia Hauge, Mark McLaughlin, Hung Nguyen, Diane Dzikowski, Leah Christensen, Ed McDermott, Greg Thompson, Lynn Smith, Kathy Newhouse, Glenn Birrenkott, John Miller, Alice Miller, Tom Enders, Colleen Wincentsen, Gina Toalino, Fire Chief Glenn Linzmeier.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Review Agenda – The agenda was reviewed, with no changes made.

CUP at 3579 Siggelkow Road – Supervisor Johnson stated that the Public Hearing for the Conditional Use Permit for a daycare/pre-school at this location took place last Tuesday, and the Plan Commission voted unanimously in favor of it. Supervisor Stube asked if the capacity increased at some point in time in the future, would they have to come back to the Board for approval – or an amendment to the CUP. Leah Christensen, the representative of the school, said they are licensed from the state to serve up to thirty children. Supervisor Johnson made a motion for approval of the CUP. Supervisor Stube seconded, and the Board voted unanimously in favor of it. Chair Anderson then recessed the meeting for two minutes, while Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Mike Wolf completed the paperwork for the CUP and gave it to Ms. Christensen.

CUP at 4108-4116 Milwaukee Street – Supervisor Johnson reported that the Public Hearing for the Conditional Use Permit for the 12-unit apartment building at this location took place last Tuesday, and the Plan Commission voted against it by a vote of 3-2. He further stated that the three Commission members who voted against it included two people who live in the condominiums directly across the street from the proposed apartment, and one who owns property adjacent to the proposed apartment.

Several people spoke against the apartment, citing concerns with regard to traffic congestion, parking, snow removal, kinds of tenants the building may attract, the amount of monthly rent being charged, stormwater runoff, the noise of air conditioning units, having written permission from the owner that they are acting on his behalf, and too many unanswered questions. When asked for a show of hands for those against the apartment, about 18 people did so. Only one person raised their hand in support, and that was the developer, Greg Thompson.

Mr. Thompson explained that he is meeting all of Dane County rules and regulations as it pertains to parking, snow removal, and stormwater runoff. He said the apartment is in line with the County's land use plan for this location. He further stated that the site is more conducive to residential as opposed to business, because it has no frontage on Milwaukee Street , and the apartment would be across the street from existing residential units. He said that the owner is well aware of what is happening, and if either the Town or County needs a formal letter, that can easily be attained.

Chair Anderson made the point that this development would increase the property tax base of the Town, and if turned down there is a risk of the entire property being annexed into the City of Madison If that occurred, not only would the tax base be lost, but residents would then have little or no control over what goes on that property.

More residents in attendance voiced their opposition to the project.

Chair Anderson made a motion to approve the CUP. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded, and the Board approved the CUP by a vote of 3-1. Supervisor Stube voted against it.

4002 Alvarez Avenue Property Complaint – The owner of this property, Hung Nguyen, said he has started the process of getting this property rezoned so that he can build a duplex on the site. Once the rezone has been approved, he plans on demolishing the building that is there now.

Several residents in attendance, and Board members, expressed concern about the appearance of the building as well as the problem of transients getting inside the house. Mr. Nguyen said he will have the grass and weeds cut by this weekend. He said that he doesn't want to demolish the building now, because if the rezone doesn't go through he will rebuild the existing structure. Glenn Linzmeier attested to this plan and the viability of it.

Chair Anderson made a motion to defer this issue to the August 24 Board Meeting. Supervisor Johnson seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Unregistered/Inoperable Vehicles in Gallagher Plat – Mike explained that the office has received numerous complaints from residents about these vehicles. The Town's ordinance specifies that residents cannot have unregistered or inoperable vehicles on their property if they can be seen by the public from the sidewalk or street. The office has a list of about twenty properties where this problem is evident. Per the ordinance, a letter will be sent to residents (and owners, if it's a rental property), giving them 30 days to rectify the situation.

Chair Anderson made a motion to allow the office staff to send these letters. Supervisor Johnson seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Supervisor Johnson asked that the issue of who has authority to issue citations for the Town be taken up at a future Board meeting.

Municipal Court: Town of Dunn or North East Community Court – Supervisor Linzmeier said that she believes the cost of the North East Community Court will be substantially below the $4,400 originally budgeted for this year – thus the $3,000 in savings that Mike Wolf alluded to in his memo to the Board may not be a valid assumption. She went on to say that she believes the accounting problems that the court previously had are now better. Glenn Linzmeier said that the court has a prosecutor that works well with us, and moving to the Town of Dunn 's court offers no such assurances. He further stated that there is an issue on the horizon with regard to the EMS contract with the Town of Burke that could indirectly be a concern here. Supervisor Linzmeier said she would know more about the potential costs of the court when they meet again on October 19.

Chair Anderson made a motion to defer this issue to the first Board meeting after October 19. Supervisor Johnson seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

WTA Proposed Changes and Resolutions – Chair Anderson made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Dane County Towns Association on all of the resolutions. There was no second, and Chair Anderson subsequently withdrew his motion.

After some discussion about the merits of each of the issues, the Board decided to take no formal action on them.

Board Meeting Minutes of July 27, 2004 – Supervisor Stube recommended a few minor changes to the minutes. Supervisor Linzmeier made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Supervisor Johnson seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Board Meeting Minutes of July 29, 2004 – Supervisor Stube made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Supervisor Johnson seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Adjournment – Chair Anderson made a motion to adjourn. Supervisor Stube seconded, and the motion passed unanimously at 8:20 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mike Wolf, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator