Town of Blooming Grove Board Meeting Minutes – May 8, 2007

Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. 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, Dean Larson, Dan Ampe, Patti Gusbach, 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.

2a. Rezone Request for Property on Highway T: Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the rezone from RH-1 to LC1 at 3471 County Highway T. Supervisor Young seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2b. Traffic Concerns at Corner of Swinburne and Carncross: Dan Ampe said that a couple of weeks ago a couple of cars were racing around the neighborhood – speeding and blowing through the stop sign on Swinburne at the Carncross intersection. He said that he almost was hit by one of the cars, and that something needs to be done before someone is seriously hurt or killed. Several ideas were discussed, including removing one of the Carncross stop signs, stepping up traffic enforcement using either the Dane County Sheriff or the Dane County Traffic Enforcement Team, putting speed humps or speed bumps on Swinburne, and installing a roundabout at the intersection. It was decided that Mike Wolf will contact the Dane County Sheriff's Department to have one of their deputies attend a future Board meeting to discuss this issue.

2c. Approval of Regas Road Sanitary District Annual Report: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the 2006 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report for the Regas Road Sanitary District. Supervisor Young seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2d. Approval of Sewer District #10 Sanitary District Annual Report: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the 2006 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report for the Sanitary Sewer District #10. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2e. Large Assembly Permit for Harley-Davidson: Supervisor Young made a motion to approve the Large Assembly Permit for the Juvenile Diabetes Fundraiser at Harley-Davidson, 6200 Millpond Road , on July 13-14, 2007. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2f. Restaurant License for McDonald's: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the 2007-2008 Restaurant License for McDonald's at 4020 Milwaukee Street . Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2g. State Bill regarding Cable TV Franchising: Supervisor Berg expressed several concerns about the current bill, including the fact there would be insufficient oversight, what oversight there is would be done by four different State departments (i.e., not the PSC), the license would be granted in perpetuity, the license could be transferred without state approval, and the cost to the state would likely range from $500,000 up to $1,000,000. Supervisor Berg's biggest concerns are inadequate safeguards, and the fact that a license transfer can take place without any authority from the state.

Chair Johnson said that the bill is not yet a done deal, and it is likely it will go through more changes before becoming law. Supervisor Stube pointed out that he and the rest of the Board like the idea of competition in this market, but that changes to the bill are needed.

Supervisor Berg made a motion to have Mike draft a letter to State Legislators (cc'ing the governor) outlining these points. Supervisor Young seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0. Mike will e-mail the Board with a draft of the letter for their input. After revisions, the Board will sign the letter and it will then be sent to State Legislators and the governor.

2h. Town's Insurance Policy / Provider: The Board was given the analysis of coverages and premiums prior to the meeting. After some discussion, Chair Johnson made a motion to keep VFIS as the Town's insurer. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2i. 10-Year Road Maintenance Plan: Mike Wolf explained that the Town is currently putting $90,000 per year into the Outlay Fund for roads. If we stick with the current plan, over the next 10 years the Town would collect about $1,000,000 – but will need over $1,800,000 to adequately repair the roads over that time.

There was discussion about specific roads, especially how Femrite, Meier, and Siggelkow are in need of expense repairs – but they are primarily used by non-residents, AND they may get annexed to the City of Madison within a few years.

In the end the Board asked Mike Wolf to coordinate a driving tour of the Town's roads in August of this year. That will give the Board an opportunity to see first-hand the condition of the roads – and allow them to better make decisions about what roads to do in 2008. The suggestion was made to get a vehicle big enough so that the Board, Tony and Mike can make the tour together.

3a. April 24, 2007 Meeting Minutes: Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the April 24, 2007 meeting minutes as presented. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

3b. Vouchers: Supervisor Stube expressed some concern about the expenditures listed on the Town's credit card account. Mike Wolf explained that department heads (Tony Reigstad and Glenn Linzmeier) keep all receipts, match them up to the bill, and sign off on them. Mike Wolf invited Supervisor Stube, or any other Board member, to stop in to the office any time to learn more about the system that is in place.

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

4. Public Comment: Deborah Sellers asked about the condition of the PDQ property on Milwaukee Street , and Mike Wolf said a letter had already been sent on this.

Deborah Sellers asked about the lilac bushes, tree stumps, and vehicle ruts in Thurber Park . Mike Wolf said he would check on these concerns.

Deborah Sellers asked whether or not the Town would mow the north side of Commercial Avenue, east of N. Fair Oaks Avenue ; Mike Wolf said he would talk with Tony Reigstad about that.

Supervisor Berg asked about the new Fire Department day room, and Mike Wolf explained the general design and purpose. Supervisor Stube asked if there would be any cost to the Town and Mike Wolf said no.

Supervisor Berg and Chair Johnson briefed the Board on the meeting they had earlier in the day with Dane County Supervisor Dave de Felice. Mr. de Felice intends on introducing a change to a County Ordinance that would subject Yahara Quarry (and only Yahara Quarry) to several conditions before they could blast. Assuming this goes through the County process as expected, this issue will be back on a future Town Board agenda.

5a. Going Into Closed Session: Chair Johnson made a motion to go into Closed Session. Supervisor Young seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

Chair Johnson made a motion to approve a 4-week unpaid leave of absence for Mike Wolf, and to provide additional staffing for Chris Astrella during the last two weeks of December. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

5b. Coming Out Of Closed Session: Chair Johnson made a motion to come out of Closed Session. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

6. Adjournment – Chair Johnson made a motion to adjourn. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded, and the motion passed 5-0 at 9:48pm.

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