Town of Blooming Grove Board Meeting Minutes – May 13, 2008

Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. Board members in attendance: Chair Johnson, Supervisor Berg, Supervisor Linzmeier, Supervisor McLaughlin and Supervisor Stube. Also in attendance: Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator Mike Wolf, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator Chris Astrella, State Representative Sheryl Albers, and town residents Deborah Sellers, Judy Bryan, Mike Burns, Lisa Burns, Louise Foster, Don Foster, Tom Streber and Michael Mullarkey.

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 slightly adjusted to accommodate those present, as presented below.

2c. Concerns about Assessments for Improvements on Sprecher Road : Don and Louise Foster expressed their discontent with the City of Madison 's back-assessments in the amount of $42,000. Louise said that the Town should pay for some or all of this amount, given that the Town has paid for other road projects.

Chair Johnson stated that the Boundary Agreement gives the City the legal right to improve border roads, like Sprecher Road, and back-assess Town residents just as they would back-assess City residents. He emphasized that this is not a Town project; this is a City project.

State Representative Sheryl Albers said that, while she does not represent the district in this area, she is on the State's Property Rights Committee. She expressed some concern about whether or not this assessment was “reasonable”, even by the City's own definition. Another concern about the back-assessment calculation was that an apron was being included, but that wasn't part of the language in the Boundary Agreement.

Mike Wolf will check with the Town's assessor to get an estimate of what these improvements may do to the Fosters' assessed value. The Board also asked Mike Wolf to contact the Town attorney, and have him join the meeting with Sheryl Albers and the City of Madison . That meeting is set for Wednesday, May 21 at 1:00pm at the City-County building, room 115.

2d. Property Maintenance at 4288 Severson Road : Tom Streber expressed his frustration at how long the process took to get this property nuisance abated. He also said that he shouldn't have to be the one making this complaint, but that Town staff should be patrolling the Town for nuisance violations.

Michael and Lisa Burns, who live at 4288 Severson Road , said they were disappointed that Tom hadn't talked with them about their property. They believe their property is in good order now. Tom Streber agreed that the property is in good condition now.

Chair Johnson thanked the Burns' for coming into compliance with the Town ordinance. He told Tom Streber that the Town ordinances worked, and that there was no reason to consider changing them.

2a. Public Hearing for Revenue Sharing Agreement with the City of Madison regarding PDQ's Connection to the City Water Utility: Chair Johnson opened the Public Hearing at 7:48pm. Mike Wolf explained that the process required this public hearing, and that the actual Board decision would be taken at the June 24 Town Board meeting.

A concern was expressed about section #2 (Term), specifically why it stated the agreement is ten years – when the revenue sharing was only for five years. Mike Wolf said he would check on that.

Chair Johnson closed the public hearing at 8:00pm.

2b. Resolution Approving Reimbursement Agreement between PDQ and Blooming Grove for PDQ's Connection to City of Madison Water Utility : Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the resolution as presented. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2e. Operators Licenses: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the 2008-09 Operators Licenses for Gary Breedlove, Jodi Fowler, Lynn Kosinski, Floyd Richmond Jr. and Donald Peterson. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2f. 2008-09 Liquor License for Wingate Inn: The renewal application has not yet been received. Mike Wolf stated that the room taxes on Wingate Inn are delinquent, and several months' worth are overdue. Supervisor McLaughlin made a motion to deny the 2008-09 Liquor License renewal for Wingate Inn due to these delinquent taxes. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0. Mike Wolf will write a letter to Wingate Inn letting them know of this decision and the reason for it.

The Board agreed that if all delinquent taxes were paid, they would then reconsider the liquor license.

2g. 2008-09 Liquor License for Jerry's Place: The renewal application has not yet been received. Chair Johnson made a motion to defer this item until the next Board agenda. Supervisor McLaughlin seconded the motion and it passed 5-0.

2h. 2008-09 Beer License for Hope Rod & Gun Club: The renewal application has not yet been received. Chair Johnson made a motion to defer this item until the next Board agenda. Supervisor McLaughlin seconded the motion and it passed 5-0.

2i. 2008-09 Class B Reserved Liquor License for Blue Plate Catering at Harley-Davidson: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve this license. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0. Mike Wolf explained that this reserved liquor license had a cost of $10,000, due to state statutes.

2j. Economic Development Grant: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the $10,000 Economic Development Grant to Harley-Davidson. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2k. Large Assembly Permit for Harley-Davidson: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the Large Assembly Permit for the American Diabetes Association Benefit at Harley-Davidson on July 11-12, 2008. Supervisor McLaughlin seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2l. Temporary Class B Beer and Wine License for Harley-Davidson: Supervisor McLaughlin made a motion to approve the Temporary Class B Beer and Wine License for the American Diabetes Association Benefit at Harley-Davidson on July 11-12, 2008. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2m. Establishing a Procedure for Town Budget Overages: Supervisor Berg made a motion that the Town Board should take action on the budget overage that occurred in 2007. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0. Mike Wolf will put this on a future Board agenda.

Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the following policy effective immediately:

Any and all appropriations made during a calendar year that exceed the budgeted amount in a general expense category must be pre-approved by a 2/3 vote of the Town Board*. General expense categories are those that appear on our Summary Budget Page (see copy attached).

*Note that as a practical matter this means 4 yes votes if 5 Board members are present, or 3 yes votes if 4 Board members are present, or 2 yes votes if 3 Board members are present.

Supervisor McLaughlin seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0, with Chair Johnson abstaining.

2n. Board Appointment of McFarland EMS Commission: Chair Johnson will ask his wife if she would be interested in being the Town representative on this commission. If not, Mike Wolf stated that Town staff could attend the meetings if necessary.

2o. 2007 CMAR for Regas Road Sanitary District: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the 2007 Compliance Maintenance Resolution for the Regas Road Sanitary District as presented. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2p. 2007 CMAR for Sanitary District #10: Supervisor McLaughlin made a motion to approve the 2007 Compliance Maintenance Resolution for Sanitary District #10 as presented. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2q. Hiring Brad Konkel: Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the hiring of Rick Konkel for temporary work this summer in Public Works. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

3a. Minutes of April 22, 2008 Town Board meeting: Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the April 22, 2008 minutes as presented. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

3b. Minutes of April 28, 2008 Town Board meeting: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the April 28, 2008 minutes as presented. Supervisor McLaughlin seconded the motion, and it passed 3-0 – with Supervisors Berg and Stube abstaining.

3c. Vouchers: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the vouchers as presented, and it was seconded by Supervisor Berg. The motion passed 5-0. The Board agreed that the office staff should provide a detailed list of items purchased with the Town's credit card from now on.

4. Public Comment: Deborah Sellers said that the street sweeper missed Commercial Avenue east of Fair Oaks . She also wondered who was responsible for mowing what portions of the grass that is between Commercial Avenue and Highway 30. Mike Wolf will share these concerns with Rick Konkel.

5a. Closed Session: Chair Johnson made a motion to go into Closed Session. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken, and every supervisor voted in favor of the motion. Discussion ensued about employee concerns.

5b. Open Session: Supervisor McLaughlin made a motion to come out of closed session. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0. No further action was taken.

6. Adjournment: Supervisor McLaughlin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0 at 9:45pm.

Minutes Written and Submitted by
Mike Wolf, Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator