TOWN OF RIVER FALLS REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Monday, June 21, 2010; River Falls Town Hall

Elected officials & staff present:  Diana G. Smith, Chair; LeRoy Kusilek, Tom Sitz, Brad Mogen, Supervisors; Ruth Stern, Clerk; Caroline Hamilton, Treasurer; Jerome Rodewald, Zoning Administrator; Michele DeLong-Reiter, Recycling Administrator

The meeting was called to order at 8:08 P.M. by Chair, Diana Smith.   Brad moved to approve the minutes of the May 25, 2010 closed session board meeting to work on employee contract reviews.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.  Tom moved to approve the regular town board meeting minutes from the June 7th meeting.  LeRoy seconded.  Motion carried.  Brad moved to approve the June 15th Board of Review minutes.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.

Caroline presented the June 21st treasurer’s report.  There is a money market balance of $174,735.99; CD’s of $112,263.82 and total funds of $286,999.81.  LeRoy moved to approve the June 21st treasurer’s report.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.  Brad moved that the board renew both the Recycling Center #1 and Happy Valley Bike Path CD’s for a six month period.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.

Communications:  Diana reported on recent Rural Fire Association issues including a request that the member towns repeal all current ordinances relating to fire protection and replace them with revised standardized ordinances that will be the same for all of the member towns.  The City of River Falls has proposed to purchase all of the Rural Fire Association equipment at a price of $250,000. 

Michele presented information on the state E-Cycling Program.  Brad moved that the board utilize Waste Management’s Recycling America (WMRA) services to remove applicable electronics from the Town of River Falls Recycling Center at a cost of $70.00/hr.  LeRoy seconded.  Motion carried.

Planning Committee Recommendations:  Mark Miller, N7379 Cty. Rd. E, was present at the Planning Committee meeting to inquire about establishing a home based occupation that would involve selling small trailers out of his existing pole shed. 

Animal Control Issues:  Diana reported on calls she had received regarding animal control complaints.  She will ask residents to photograph stray animals when possible and safe to help provide documentation in these types of complaint cases.

Mobile Home Court License for Blair’s Court:  The town received the required fee to renew the Blair’s Court Mobile Home license, however it did not receive the requested bond in the amount of $5000.  Brad moved that the board approve the renewal of the Blair’s Court Mobile Home Court license for a period of one year with the stipulation

that no additional trailers besides the two existing trailers owned by members of the Blair family be allowed into the trailer court.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried. 

Town Hall Maintenance Work:  Ruth reported that the Energy Grant to install insulation into the town hall roof had been signed and submitted to the Dept. of Commerce.  Diana reported on other town hall maintenance items needing to be completed including:  removal of dead/diseased trees around the town hall, replacement of cracked windows, filling in basement window holes, restaining the deck and handrails, and fixing the chipped concrete entrance pad.  At a future date the board will need to make a decision on patching the basement foundation and possible shingle work. 

Town Fee Schedules:  Michele provided recommended changes to the Recycing Center fee schedule.  They were as follows:  Bulk Waste – increase from $36.00 to $40.00 and up for a full size pick up truck; increase from $20.00 to $25.00 and up for a small size pick up truck; Appliances – Decrease from $25.00 to $20.00 for air conditioners and water softeners; Riding lawn mowers – Decrease from $30.00 to $20.00; Tires establish a fee of $25.00 for both small and large agricultural tractor tires.  Brad moved to approve these recommended changes to the Recycling Dept. fee schedule.  LeRoy seconded.  Motion carried.

LeRoy moved that the board accept the current Zoning and Building Dept. fee schedule with no changes incorporated.  Brad seconded.  Motion carried.

Brad moved that the board revise the Highway Dept. fee schedule by increasing the fee for salt/sand from $24.00 to $26.00.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.

Brad moved that the board approve the General Service/License/Permit fee schedule with the addition of a $90.00 Animal Control Officer Fee in cases where an animal is impounded by the town’s Animal Control Officer (currently LeRoy Kusilek)  rather than being transported to the Woodbury Animal Shelter.   LeRoy seconded.  Motion carried.  A resolution will be brought forward at the July 5th meeting to establish these fee schedule changes.

Brad moved to approve the June 21st listing of bills.  LeRoy seconded.  Motion carried. 

LeRoy moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 P.M.  Brad seconded.  Motion carried.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Ruth Stern/Clerk

TOWN OF RIVER FALLS REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Monday, June 7, 2010; River Falls Town Hall

Elected officials & staff present:  Diana G. Smith, Chair; Siri Smith, LeRoy Kusilek, Tom Sitz, Brad Mogen, Supervisors; Ruth Stern, Clerk; Caroline Hamilton, Treasurer; Jerome Rodewald, Zoning Administrator; Brian Weber, Highway Dept; Michele DeLong-Reiter, Recycling Dept.

The meeting was called to order at 8:06 P.M.  Brad moved to approve the May 17th Board of Review minutes.  Siri seconded.  Motion carried.  Siri moved to approve the May 17th regular board meeting minutes.  Brad seconded.  Motion carried.

Caroline presented the May 17th financial report.  There is a money market balance of $186,273.07, CD’s of $112,263.82 and total funds of $298,536.89.  Brad moved to approve the report.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.   Diana moved that the board renew the Roof Fund CD.  LeRoy seconded.  Motion carried. 

Communications:  Jerome presented a draft letter that will be sent to town property owners that have land zoned as exclusive agriculture.  On July 8th Peter Kling, St. Croix County UWEX Resource Agent, will be available at the Town Hall to provide information on how the state’s Working Land’s Initiative/Programs will affect those that hold exclusive agriculture zoned lands.  The July Ad Hoc Meeting will be moved from July 1st to July 8th to facilitate this meeting. 

It was reported that Greg & Denise Snow had their variance request approved by the joint town/city Board of Appeals on June 2nd.  Bob Loberg will be asked to draft ordinance revisions to Chapter 17 that will allow height exemptions for ham radio towers and also reduce the minimum lot sizes in light industrial zones.  Michele brought forward issues she has been having at the Recycling Center with heavy items such as concrete, rocks, and brick quickly filling up the dumpsters and adding extra removal expense for the town.  Michele noted that these types of items are not allowed at the Pierce County Recycling Center and that there are local private excavators and waste haulers that will handle these items.  Siri moved that the Town of River Falls not allow rocks, dirt, cement or brick to be disposed of at the Town Recycling Center.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.

Planning Committee Recommendations:  Joel Cordes of Lake & Pond Aeration Systems was present to discuss the business he would like to establish on Lot 6 of the South Park Light Industrial Park.  The business will employee 1.5 employees and will utilize 1.143 acres of land.   Siri moved that the board approve the Cordes site plan for Lot 6 of South Park Development.  Brad seconded.  Motion carried.

Animal Control Issues:  David Wilken was present to discuss steps he has taken to address dog barking complaints that have been received.  He stated that he is in the

process of putting up fencing as well as has taken other steps to deal with the problems.  The board completed a questionnaire provided by an organization that is researching the possibility of establishing an animal shelter in Pierce County. 

Salvage Yard Issues:  Darrell Hubbell, N7988 920th St., was present to discuss the business that he operates (St. Croix Septic).  He explained that the vehicles on his property were licensed vehicles and while he oftentimes brings his work truck home at night for convenience purposes he does not operate a walk-in business from the 920th St. address.   It was noted that Tom and Diana will complete a walk through inspection of business activities at N8057 920th St. (Schaar/Sweeney). 

2010 Roadwork Bids:  Brian presented recommendations for 2010 roadwork.  Siri moved that the following projects be approved for 2010 roadwork:   Chip sealing by Scott Construction on 690th ($11,916); 710th ($15,647) and 975th ($13,032).  Crack Sealing by Allied Blacktop on 690th, 710th, and 975th ($2132) and Flex patch on 830th ($7500);  Paving by Pierce County on Happy Valley – 770th ($26,034) and Scenic View – 920th ($6837).  Other materials approved will be cold mix of $7000, gravel of $40,000, culverts of $6700 and other prep work on Happy Valley Road at a cost of $10,000.  Total cost of these projects will amount to $146,798.  Tom seconded to approve the road work bids.  Motion carried.

Employee Contracts:  Diana moved that effective June 1, 2010 the highway employee wage rate be increased by a 3% cost-of-living adjustment.  It was noted that there were no increases granted in 2009.  Siri seconded.  Motion carried.  Diana moved that the Recycling Center employee wage rates be changed as follows:  Michele DeLong- Reiter – 2% cost of living adjustment effective June 1, 2010; Julie Mielke and Cathy Peterson – wage rate adjusted to $10.00/hr as of June 1, 2010.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.  The Zoning Administrator wage rate will remain the same at $17.50/hr. for 2010. 

Mobile Home Court License for Blair’s Court:  It was noted that the town had not received a signed application form or a bond.  A letter will be sent to the Blair family explaining the implications if the mobile home court license is dropped so that the family can decide if they want to continue licensing. 

Update on ATV/UTV ordinances:  Tom met with the Pierce County Corporation Counsel, who has indicated that at this time Pierce County does not plan to carry out any changes to its ATV/UTV ordinances. 

Legislative Update on Levy Limits:  It was noted that the town received responses from both Kitty Rhoades’ office and Senator Sheila Harsdorf stating that there are no changes in levy limits regulations as they pertain to increasing fire protection costs proposed at this time.

 Future agenda items: Animal control, Salvage yards, Obstructions in town road right-of-ways, Mobile home court license, Town Hall upkeep, Energy grant; Mulch for town parks; Fee schedule update

Tom moved to approve payment of the June 7th listing of bills.  LeRoy seconded.  Motion carried.

Siri moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 P.M.  LeRoy seconded.  Motion carried.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Ruth Stern, Clerk