Town of Blooming Grove Board Meeting Minutes – June 24, 2008

Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. Board members in attendance: Chair Johnson, Supervisor Berg, Supervisor Linzmeier, Supervisor McLaughlin and Supervisor Stube. Also in attendance: Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator Mike Wolf, Fire Chief Glenn Linzmeier, Public Works Supervisor Rick Konkel, Roxy Stillman, Attorney Jim Hamis, 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. Stormwater Management at 4122 County Highway AB: Roxy Stillman, and her attorney Jim Hamis, expressed their concerns about the flooding that occurred on her property on June 9. Chair Johnson explained that stormwater management is the County's responsibility, and then provided Mr. Hamis with a letter that the Town received from Dane County regarding this issue. The attorney said that he would likely be making a formal open records request for any other material the Town may have about this issue. Mike Wolf said he would comply with that request. Mr. Hamis said they would be taking this issue to the County.

2b. Resolution 2008-05 Regarding the Revenue Sharing Agreement with the City of Madison regarding the PDQ Connection to the Madison Water Utility: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve Resolution 2008-05 as presented. Supervisor McLaughlin seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2c. 2008-2009 Operators Licenses: Supervisor McLaughlin made a motion to approve the 2008-2009 Operators Licenses for Dennis P. McCaslin, Judith A. Hoffer, Carolyn T. Reis, and Jeffrey P. Kuske. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2d. Additional Designee to Issue Town Parking Citations: Chair Johnson made a motion to authorize Mike Meyers to issue parking citations on behalf of the Town. Supervisor McLaughlin seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0. Supervisor Berg asked that an article be placed in the Town's fall newsletter, informing residents of the alternate side parking ordinance and the need to enforcement of it.

2e. Consideration of a Snow Emergency Ordinance: Mike Wolf asked if the Board was interested in exploring this option. The Board agreed that we should move forward. Mike Wolf will get a template from a nearby town or city, and begin the process of posting a public hearing for this new ordinance.

2f. Parking Restrictions on Alvarez Avenue and Bruns Avenue : Supervisor McLaughlin and Rick Konkel explained the dilemma in this area of the Town. The competing interests are the ability to park cars on public streets, and the ability to properly plow snow. Several ideas were discussed, including not allowing parking on the affected streets at all during the winter, not allowing parking on these streets during certain times of the day/night, implementing a snow emergency of some kind, or leaving it as it is. Mike Wolf will see if this issue can't be resolved as a part of the snow emergency ordinance.

2g. Town Mailbox Replacement Policy: Supervisor Berg made a few suggestions for changing the proposed policy. Discussion ensued about whether the $75.00 limit was appropriate. Rick Konkel will investigate that, and Mike Wolf will modify the proposed policy. This will be brought back before the Board at a later date.

2h. Wingate Inn Delinquent Taxes: Mike Wolf explained that the overdue taxes now total over $39,000. The Board decided to take no action at this time.

2i. 2008-2009 Class B Liquor License for Wingate Inn: Mike Wolf informed the Board that the license the Town received isn't fully completed, isn't signed or notarized, and didn't include the payment needed; therefore the Board can't consider this license. Chair Johnson made a motion to defer this item until the next Board meeting. Supervisor McLaughlin seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2j. 2008-2009 Operators License for Randy Retzlaff: Mike Wolf informed the Board that the license the Town received isn't completed, isn't signed or notarized, and didn't include the payment needed; therefore the Board can't consider this license. Chair Johnson made a motion to defer this item until the next Board meeting. Supervisor McLaughlin seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2k. 2008-2009 Restaurant License for Wingate Inn: Mike Wolf said that the Town had received the completed license, but not the payment. He also said that in a conversation with Randy Retzlaff earlier in the day, that Randy would be sending the $50.00 check in today's mail for this license. Discussion ensued about whether or not to grant this license. Chair Johnson made a motion to defer this item until the next Board meeting. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion and it passed 5-0.

3a. Minutes of June 10, 2008 Town Board meeting: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the June 10, 2008 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, and it was seconded by Supervisor McLaughlin. The motion passed 5-0.

4. Public Comment: Deborah Sellers asked if there was any news on the lilacs being planted, or the stormwater drains being cleaned. Rick Konkel said no news on the lilacs, but that he was working on getting the drains cleaned.

Supervisor Berg asked that the notation at the top of the agenda about the new meeting start time of 6:30, remain there for another month or so.

Supervisor Berg suggested this may be a good time to work with the Wisconsin Towns Association and/or Clerks Network to apply pressure on the State about the 2% levy limit law. Given fuel prices, the harsh winter, and the record rainfalls and subsequent damage – keeping 2009 budgets inside a 2% increase will no doubt be problematic. Chair Johnson suggested a letter to our state legislators may be in order. Mike Wolf will work on different fronts to meet this objective.

Mike Wolf reported that the Blooming Grove Fire Department's Extrication Team qualified for Nationals in 2009. The BGFD Association will be raising money to send them to Washington for this event.

5. Adjournment: Chair Johnson made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Supervisor McLaughlin seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0 at 7:59pm.

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