TOWN OF RIVER FALLS REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Monday, April 7, 2008; River Falls Town Hall
Board Members & Staff Members Present: Diana G. Smith, Chair; Siri Smith, Tom Sitz, Brad Mogen, Supervisors; Caroline Hamilton, Treasurer; Ruth Stern, Clerk; Jerome Rodewald, Zoning Administrator; Michele DeLong-Reiter, Recycling Center Administrator
Brad moved to approve the minutes of the March 17th meeting. Siri seconded. Motion carried.
Caroline provided the April 7th treasurer’s report. There is a money market balance of $238,890.83; CD’s of $54,766.63 and total funds of $293,657.46. Siri moved to approve the report. Tom seconded. Motion carried.
Comments & Requests: Mike Moody requested that the town mark the boundaries of the Halverson Park property as people have been walking beyond park property and on to his land.
Study to Determine Future Fire Hall Needs & Locations: Russ Kiviniemi and Josh Miller of Cedar Corporation and Mike Moody, Assistant Fire Chief of the Rural Fire Association provided the board with information on a study that the City of River Falls is undertaking to analyze existing and future fire protection needs within the River Falls Fire Response Area. The study will look at projected growth patterns over a 20 year period with the goal of maintaining a low ISO rating for insurance purposes. This is expected to be a six month project with a final presentation to be made in September. Mike Moody reported that the fire department currently has most of the equipment necessary to equip a satellite fire station. He also reported that the city is currently looking to hire a full-time fire chief.
Temporary Liquor Licenses for Kusilek’s Hillside Farm & Harvest Fest Organization: David Kusilek was present to provide the board with further information on his request for a temporary one day liquor license on May 17, 2008 for a tractor pull, and a three day temporary liquor license from August 22 – August 24, 2008 for the annual Harvest Fest event that he sponsors on his farm. Siri moved that the board approve both applications with the following criteria being met: 1) Certificate of insurance for both events will be provided to the town; 2) Updated bartenders licenses will be provided to the town; 3) List of security officers will be provided to the town; 4) Road signage is easily readable; and 5) Music is done by 12:30 A.M. (Harvest Fest). Brad seconded. Motion carried.
Safe Routes to School Grant Program (SRTS): Jim DeBenedet of Stevens Engineers was present to discuss the recent SRTS grant applications that were completed in conjunction with the City of River Falls. One of the applications requested funds to connect the Heartland Montessori School/South Valley subdivision to the City of River Falls trail system along Cemetery Road. The second application requested funding for construction of a trail and a 12’wide bridge crossing Mann Valley Creek. This would allow children to get from the Hillwood Drive area through Hillwood Park and eventually to Westside Elementary School thereby reducing foot/bike traffic along County Road M. If the grants are approved they would be totally federally funded, however the town would be responsible to have the work completed up-front and then request reimbursement funding.
Request by Ray Magnuson to Reclassify Outlot: The town has not received a response from the city on this issue.
Western Wisconsin Intergovernmental Collaborative (WWIC): Siri moved that the River Falls Town Board join the WWIC. Cost is $50.00/year with the group meeting approximately four times a year. Tom seconded. Motion carried.
2008 Roadwork Bids: Pierce County is reporting an approximate 25% jump in oil prices for roadwork purposes. This will affect how much roadwork the town can complete in 2008. Tom moved that Brian Weber send out requests for road work bids to contractors with the bids to be opened at the May 5th meeting. Diana seconded. Motion carried.
Recycling Center CD: The Town of River Falls Recycling Center made $3825.75 of profit in 2007. Siri moved that this money be set aside in a money market account for future improvements at the Recycling Center. Brad seconded. Motion carried.
Town Roadside Clean-up: Two hundred plastic bags have been donated by General Plastic Extrusions of Prescott for the upcoming roadside clean-up days on Saturday, April 19th and Saturday, April 26th. Diana signed a letter on behalf of the board thanking the business for their donation to the town.
Planning Committee Recommendations: Peter Stern’s term has expired on the town Planning Committee and he has asked to have another individual replace him at this time. Diana will contact Terry Kusilek to find out if he would be interested in being on the Planning Committee.
Communications: The Pierce County Land Management Dept. will be hosting a Pierce County Comprehensive Plan meeting on April 29th at the River Falls Town Hall. Diana reported on citations that have been issued to Kevin Schaar on manure spillage issues. Diana suggested that the town study a couple of issues including revisiting the town’s impact fee ordinance and overnight camping rules so that the town will be prepared for Wisconsin Farm Technology Days in 2010.
Future Agenda Items: Impact fee ordinance; town policies, town committees.
Tom moved to approve the April 7th listing of bills. Siri seconded. Motion carried.
Siri moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 P.M. Tom seconded. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Stern/Clerk
TOWN OF RIVER FALLS REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Monday, April 21, 2008; River Falls Town Hall
Board Members & Staff Present: Diana Smith, Board Chair; LeRoy Kusilek, Siri Smith, Tom Sitz, Brad Mogen, Supervisors; Caroline Hamilton, Treasurer; Ruth Stern, Clerk; Jerome Rodewald, Zoning Administrator; Michele DeLong-Reiter, Recycling Administrator
The minutes of the April 7th regular board meeting were approved on a motion made by Siri and seconded by Brad. LeRoy stated that he would talk to David Kusilek to clarify to David that the temporary liquor license issued to him will expire as of midnight on May 17th.
Caroline presented the April 21st treasurer’s report. There is a money market balance of $195,028.68; CD’s of $58,701.89 and total funds of $253,730.57. Siri moved and Tom seconded that the bike path repair fund be placed into a six month CD with a higher interest rate than the .75 percent that it currently receives in a money market account. Tom moved to approve the April 21st financial report. Brad seconded. Motion carried.
Communications: LeRoy recently took one stray dog to the Woodbury Animal Shelter and had another dog reclaimed by it’s owner. Siri reported on the recent roadside clean-up day. She stated that there is a town resident interested in providing a bid to the board for completion of mortar work on the foundation of the town hall. She also received a complaint concerning junk collecting on a town residence west of the town hall.
Diana received a call from someone who would like to breed puppies, thus the board will need to review the dog ordinance. She also received a call regarding whether the town had a street sweeper. The town does not currently own this piece of highway equipment.
Diana asked for the board’s input regarding citations issued to Kevin Schaar for manure spillage on 910th St. The board felt that since Schaar had purchased a new manure spreader to rectify the problem that their recommendation would be to have Diana drop the existing citations as long as the problem is taken care of through proper management by not overfilling the manure spreader.
Approval of Town Road Plan: Jim DeBenedet & Charlie Wiemerslage of Stevens Engineers were present to report on the final road plan. Brad questioned if there is a need to include a section in the plan covering the decommissioning of town roads. The town road plan can be amended as needed based on the road funding situation. Jim DeBenedet agreed to complete a study on the cost of gravel, blacktop, decommissioning roads, and abandoning roads. Siri moved and Brad seconded to approve the town road plan. Plan approved.
2008 Engineering Contract: Diana commented that the board signed an ongoing engineering contract with Stevens Engineers in 2007. Diana will be the town’s official contact person with Stevens Engineers.
Request by Ray Magnuson to Reclassify Outlot: Jerome advised that the issue remain tabled as the City of River Falls is still working on ordinance modifications that relate to this issue.
2007 Recycling Program Accomplishment Report: LeRoy moved that Diana sign the 2007 recycling program accomplishment report on behalf of the town board. Brad seconded. Motion carried. LeRoy suggested that Michele check into the possibility of the town getting a better price for its scrap metal. The 2008 recycling grant provided by the state was increased by 20% to a figure of $10, 276.38.
Employee Contract Reviews: Highway and Recycling Dept. employee contract reviews will be completed on Wednesday, May 14th at 4:00 P.M. at the town shop. The board will complete an electrical and heating inspection of the town shop and town hall following the contract reviews.
Bidding out of Town Insurances: The town had a recent inquiry from an insurance company wishing to provide a bid for the town insurances. The board felt as long as their current insurance rates have remained about the same and that the town has been receiving good service from its current insurance carrier that they would remain with the current company.
Review of Town Policies: Siri moved that item #11 of town policy be revised to state: “All town employees and officers are allowed the federal mileage reimbursement rate for travel outside the Town and/or City of River Falls. The Town may provide for reimbursement of expenses for travel, mileage, meals, and costs associated with programs of instruction related to the officer’s or employee’s office or employment, with prior approval.” Item #26 shall read, “To encourage public participation at meetings, the agenda shall include Public Comments & Requests, and if time allows the public can participate on items on the agenda. The Town Board can, if appropriate, limit public participation through proper motion.” Brad seconded. Motion carried. It was also noted that future agendas should specify Board/Staff Communications to clarify that this part of the agenda relates to the communications of town representatives.
Town Committees: Brad moved to reappoint Siri to the Plan Commission, LeRoy to the Rural Fire Association, and LeRoy to the Parks & Recreation Committee for one year terms. Siri seconded. Motion carried. Siri moved to extend Joe Mahoney’s appointment to the Plan Commission to 2011; Mike Yde’s appointment to the Board of Appeals to 2011, Mike Cobian’s appointment as a Board of Appeals member until 2010; and Ed Thornton’s appointment to the Plan Commission until 2009, based on these individual’s acceptance of the reappointments. The motion included finding an alternate to fill Mike Cobian’s position since he will be asked to move up from being an alternate to being a member of the Board of Appeals. Brad seconded. Motion carried.
Diana stated that we still need to find an individual to serve on the Plan Commission to fill Peter Stern’s position. The Comprehensive Plan Committee shall return to being officially titled the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee to better reflect the work of this committee.
Plan Commission Report: Ed Thornton provided the committee with a report on the state Livestock Siting Ordinance and what the town needs to do to comply with the state regulations.
Review of Impact Fee Ordinance: The town has started to collect impact fees. Review of the impact fee ordinance was tabled to the May 5th meeting.
Future Agenda Items: Agenda items for a combined town meeting with local legislators; Zoning Administrator contract; Building Inspector contract; Impact Fee Ordinance; Road work bids; Ray Magnuson outlot; Wood Burning Stove Ordinance; Town Fee Schedule; Fence Ordinance in ETZ
Siri moved to approve the April 21st listing of bills. LeRoy seconded. Motion carried.
Siri moved to adjourn the meeting. LeRoy seconded. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ruth Stern/Clerk