Town of Blooming Grove Board Meeting Minutes – July 11, 2006

Chair Dwight Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:01pm. Board members in attendance were: Chair Johnson, Supervisor Berg, Supervisor Linzmeier, Supervisor Stube, and Supervisor Young.

Also in attendance were Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator Mike Wolf, Rob Anderson, Linda Hallman and Deborah Sellers.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Chair Johnson asked if the meeting notice had been properly posted, and Mike Wolf said that it had been. The agenda was reviewed, and no changes were made.

  2a. Christmas Tree Lot Permit Fee: Linda Hallman stated that she wanted the permit to be $1000, just as it has been for the past several years. Arnie said the change (from $1000 to $1500) was made at budget time last fall. Supervisor Stube pointed out that the lot uses the Town's electricity, and the cost of that has increased quite a bit in the last few years. Supervisor Berg made a motion to change the Christmas Tree sales permit to $1200 effective immediately. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2b. Public Hearing on Amending Town Ordinance 4.04 regarding Weight Limits on Town Roads: Chair Johnson opened the Public Hearing. Rob Anderson had a concern about allowing a 15-ton weight limit on Sprecher Road south of Cottage Grove Road . Mike Wolf will check with the City to see what their weight limit is on their portion of Sprecher Road .

Supervisors Berg and Johnson suggested that the Town's portion of N. Fair Oaks Avenue should be consistent with the City's weight limit on their portion of that road. Mike Wolf will check with the City for this information as well.

After some discussion, there was general agreement that Siggelkow Road should have a 15-ton weight limit from the east end of the McFarlane property east to County Highway AB; the rest of Siggelkow would have no weight limit.

Mike Wolf will find out what the State's fines are for overweight vehicles, and will see if the Town can synchronize its fine with that of the State. He will also find out the fines that Madison and McFarland impose for overweight vehicles.

Chair Johnson closed the Public Hearing.

2c. Board Action on Amending Town Ordinance 4.04 regarding Weight Limits on Town Roads: Chair Johnson made a motion to defer this agenda item until Mike Wolf has the information requested during the Public Hearing. Supervisor Young seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2d. Operators License for George T. Koltes: Supervisor Young made a motion to approve the operators license for George T. Koltes. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2e. Door-to-Door Transient Merchant's License for Badgerland Alarm: Supervisor Stube made a motion to deny the transient merchant license for Badgerland Alarm. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2f. Second Quarter Treasurer's Report: Supervisor Berg noted that there is an opportunity to save money this year in legal expenses, and the office staff should do what it can to use resources other than the Town's attorney. Mike Wolf agreed. Supervisor Berg asked about the Town's outlay accounts, and where they fit into the operational budget. Mike Wolf said that this is the first time the Board has received this document, and it's informational… as the Board should know how much money is in these various accounts. That said, there is no decision-making needed at this time.

3a. June 27, 2006 Meeting Minutes: Supervisor Young made a motion to approve the June 27, 2006 Town Board meeting minutes as presented. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

3b. Vouchers: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the vouchers as presented. Supervisor Young seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

4. Public Comment: Deborah Sellers expressed concern about 301 Powers Avenue, and that there seemed to be an extraordinary amount of children that congregate at this address.

Deborah Sellers asked about the status of the damaged guardrails. Mike Wolf said Tony Reigstad is meeting with a Dane County worker to get estimates on the five guardrails in the Town that need repair. Which ones get repaired when will depend on available money and prioritization.

Rob Anderson said the ditches and drains along Sprecher Road are plugged to the point where about 90% of the water doesn't drain where it is supposed to. Specifically the drain in front of Ninnemann's house ( 4279 Sprecher Road ) is clogged. Mike Wolf said he will tell Tony Reigstad about this.

Supervisor Linzmeier noted that on the next Northeast Municipal Court agenda there is an item which indicates that the Town of Burke will be discontinuing their deputy sheriff contract. This could have ramifications for Blooming Grove's cost of using the court. That meeting takes place on July 24, one day before the next Blooming Grove Town Board meeting. Mike Wolf will place this on the July 25 agenda, so Supervisor Linzmeier can provide the Board with an update based on the previous evening's meeting. Mike Wolf will also place an item on the August 8 Town Board agenda pertaining to the options of municipal courts that Blooming Grove might use in the future.

Supervisor Berg noted that the Cottage Grove Road Bridge over the Interstate will be closed starting next Monday. This could very well result in some increased traffic on some nearby Town roads.

Mike Wolf let the Board know that former Town Clerk Verlene Hendrix is very ill. The Board asked that Mike Wolf send a card to her on the Town's behalf.

5. Adjournment – Supervisor Young made a motion to adjourn. Supervisor Stube seconded, and the motion passed 5-0 at 8:20pm.

Respectfully Submitted by Mike Wolf, Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator.