OCTOBER 13, 2008—7:30 P.M.—SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Harold Krantz. Publication of this meeting was on September 18 and September 25, 2008 in the News Sickle Arrow, Shopper, Mt. Horeb Mail and on the website. Approximately 21 people were present. The Clerk read the Notice that had been published. Attorney Hazelbaker talked about the situation with unnumbered seats. Amelia Williams asked if there was any advantage to unnumbered seats and Mark indicated that numbered seats creates more accountability. Jeff Baylis moved to adopt a plan under Sec. 5.60(6) of the Wisconsin Statutes to elect Town Board Supervisors to numbered seats, Amelia seconded. Motion passed. Jeff moved to adjourn at 7:46 p.m., Carl Jones seconded. Meeting adjourned.

OCTOBER 13, 2008—8:00 P.M.

The Town of Cross Plains Board of Supervisors met for their regular monthly meeting. Notice of the meeting had been published in the October 9th issues of the Shopper, Mt. Horeb Mail, News Sickle Arrow and on the website. All Board members and approximately 40 citizens were present. The Clerk read the September 18, 2008 minutes and Jeff asked that on page 439 paragraph two the name of the Plan Commission document be included, Vera moved to accept the corrected minutes, Jeff seconded, and the minutes were approved.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Attorney Mark Hazelbaker updated the group on the Kitt’s Korner appeal. Carl Jones felt that all matters coming before the Board should include the names of the authors and the presenters of the information; he further stated that the reporter from the newspaper should not be passing notes to various citizens in attendance. Harlan Walden spoke about the Clerk’s qualifications for the job and her receipt of a threatening anonymous phone call. Katy Reeder stated she had nothing to do with that phone call. Bob Brunner, Arnie Harris, Rick Hollfelder and Greg Haack spoke of the Clerk’s competence. Amelia Williams wondered about the driveway Ordinance pertaining to clear cutting of trees.

Mike Zach, Dane County Deputy Sheriff gave a report of the citations since June 1. He indicated that many robberies in the area are the result of homes not being locked.

The next item was discussion and possible action on contracting with an accountant to review financial concerns. Mark had memo with information from two firms. The firms are: Virchow Krause & Company which is one of the top accounting firms in the County and many times works with municipalities that have a water and sewer utility. The other firm is Johnson & Block who Mark recommended for our Town. They will make a report and come up with their opinion which could probably be done by the end of November. Jeanne Poast recommended Johnson & Block as she had worked with them previously. Todd Krattinger indicated that his wife is an accountant and charges $30 per hour. Mark stated that he will get an engagement letter that will determine how much would be paid for the accounting services. Jeff moved that the Board explore the services of Johnson & Block to go over the Town’s books, make an assessment about any improvements needed and get Quick Books, Vera seconded. After some discussion the motion passed.

Item 4 was appointment of an Ordinance Development Committee. The Town had received ten applications and the Resolution had provided for seven. Vera felt that the Board should rate the applicants and that all applicants come to an organizational meeting. Jeff moved that the Board expand the size of the Committee the motion died for lack of a second. Vera would like to go with Mark’s suggestion of an organizational meeting and that meeting was set for Wednesday, October 22 at 4:30 pm.

The snow plowing policy was discussed with questions about whose driveway would be done and the need to write down under what circumstances a driveway is being plowed. Bob Brunner wondered about the Town’s liability when they go into a driveway. Todd Krattinger asked about where the school buses turnaround. This item will again be on the November agenda.

Discussion and action on a policy of signing checks was next. Jeff moved that no check will be signed by any Town officer until the amount is filled in. Vera seconded, motion passed.

Item 7 on the agenda was discussion on reimbursement per meeting and mileage expenses for the Board. It was reported that Wisconsin Towns Association did a survey of Towns concerning reimbursement. Jeanne Poast and Louise Klopp have done much work on this item and presented some choices. It was noted that a decision on this item would be done at the Budget hearing. Jeff stated that he is not here for the pay, but that pay could be an incentive for someone to serve. Vera seconded what Jeff has said. She felt that the mileage should be higher. Bob Bowman and Bob Boehnen each felt that it was important to pay people to attend meetings and receive the information from those meetings. Greg Griswold would like to see the Board and Clerk better compensated.

The budget hearing was set for November 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Harold stated that he had talked to Mike Schutz Village President concerning the Intergovernmental Committee. The Capital Area Regional Planning Commission has passed the Mt. Horeb petition, but not the Mazomanie petition. The next meeting will be October 23. The Oak Valley Park Bond action was tabled until November.

Jason DeNoble appeared for Hart & DeNoble Builders for a culvert permit on Gils Way. Jason had a diagram of the area and it was determined that the driveway needed an 18” culvert. Vera moved that we approve the 18” culvert indicated on the diagram and that the owner is responsible for the upkeep of the culvert as needed. If the owner does not do the upkeep, the Town has the right to come in and clean out the culvert and charge the homeowner an appropriate fee, Jeff seconded, motion passed.

Vera moved the Board approve the Planning Commission Contract with Dane County in the amount of $12,000 to assist the Commission in doing the Comprehensive Plan Jeff seconded, motion approved. Jeff moved that we accept the Public Participation Plan of the Plan Commission for development of a comprehensive plan, Vera seconded, motion passed.

Jeff suggested that the Board could invite American Transmission to come to a Board meeting and the citizens could ask questions. The earliest a decision will be made on a route for the line will be the middle of next summer. No action taken.

The Town received a service contract from Peterbilt for our two trucks in the amount of $1,452.24, Jeff moved to accept the contract, Vera seconded, motion passed.

At a recent meeting of the Dane County Town’s Association the Board learned that the Village of Merrimac had annexed property from the Town of Merrimac that is not contiguous to the Village’s boundary. Jeff moved that we adopt the Resolution of the town Board of the Town of Cross Plains requesting revisions to the annexation law, Harold seconded, motion passed. Jeff will take care of sending the resolution out. The Plan Commission had also passed on this resolution.

The Clerk Ann Walden announced that she was resigning. She cited several instances that led her to this decision and she felt that her health and family had to come first. She will work the election and cover the November 10th Board meeting.

Northwest Dane will have a needs assessment form for people to fill out at the election. The Roads are in pretty good shape. Mt. Horeb Fire District will have a raise of 3.6% in their levy for 2009. Gordy Lamberty thanked George Fjelstad, Pinky Esser and Bob Boehnen for the work they did on the picnic tables. Vera moved payment of the bills that were listed, Jeff seconded. Jeff moved to adjourn at 10:47 p.m., Vera seconded.

Ann E. Walden, Clerk