DATE: October 15, 2008
Committee Members Present: Cassity, Ashford, Gaalswyk, Lehman, and Netzinger.
Others Present: Mark Steward, Mary White, Lowell Haugen, Richard Grant, Tony Bries, Steve Pate, Brent Bailey and Birte Pforr.
Chairman Cassity called the meeting to order and staff verified compliance with open meeting law. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Netzinger to change the order of the agenda as presented.
Ashford requested that item 8e. be moved in front of item 6. Discussion followed. Motion carried 4-0. Lehman was not in attendance at this time.
Motion by Netzinger, seconded by Ashford to approve the minutes of the September 23, 2008, Committee meeting. Motion carried 4-0.
Public Comment:
Richard Grant, Town of Merrimac Chair, appeared regarding a change in wording in municipality annexation according to State Statutes. The word in question was "contiguous". The Wisconsin Counties Association and State Legislature were reviewing the matter.
Tony Bries, a project manager for Northern Exports, then requested to speak. He was a building contractor and expressed frustration in working with the Planning and Zoning Department during the last year. It was harder to obtain permits and problems arose resulting in violations and fines. He was asked if he actually heard a conversation between the director and his boss. He did not. The Committee requested Mr. Bries to come back at a later date to discuss these issues. "Discussion on possible complaints by Tony Bries of Northern Exports" would be added to the Committee agenda for November 11, 2008.
Lehman joined the Committee at this time.
Communications:
Gaalswyk wished to discussed a proposal for a conservation easement to be placed on the county farm before it is sold. He was willing to discuss this at the next meeting. The Town of Reedsburg should be notified of this meeting.
Cassity had received inquires from the Towns of Dellona and Excelsior on paying for per diems for the comprehensive planning committee. Discussion followed on the amount due from the Town of Dellona. This is also to be placed on the next agenda.
Discussion followed regarding land use and building permits. Steward stated that this is a flaw in the ordinance that needed to be changed. He also stated that replacement of a structure requires a permit. The groundwater fee was also discussed.
The next item for discussion was a request for a waiver to reduce the right-of-way dedication width on property owned by Steve Peetz. Steward explained the request. Grant stated that the town planning committee had approved the request and had forwarded it on to the town board for approval. The Town Board had also approved it and supported granting the waiver. Motion by Lehman, seconded by Gaalswyk to grant the waiver as requested. Motion carried, 5-0.
Steve Pate appeared and distributed his departmental report. A presentation was given by mapping staff to the WCA. Cassity requested that presentation to be given to the Towns Association. Pate responded that could be done. Preliminary floodplain maps were discussed. Interviews for GIS position were held. Cassity requested that the towns be included when the floodplain information becomes available. The Committee reviewed the vouchers. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Netzinger to approve the vouchers in the amount of $4, 045.29. Motion carried, 5-0.
Brent Bailey, Register of Deeds, appeared and reviewed his monthly report. Discussion followed on staffing in the department and budget figures were reviewed. The Committee reviewed the vouchers. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Lehman to approve the bills in the amount of $6,085.91. Motion carried, 5-0.
Mark Steward gave the monthly report for the Planning and Zoning Department. The new web site was discussed. A presentation on the issues will be given at a November 5, 2008 planning workshop. The steel septic tank program was discussed. Permits, certified survey map numbers and budget were reviewed. Discussion followed on fees for the maintenance program. Gaalswyk will be attending the meeting on November 5, 2008.
Flooding conditions on Clark Creek and the report done by FEMA was discussed.
The next item for discussion was outdoor wood burning stoves. Netzinger encouraged the local towns to regulate them. Motion by Cassity, seconded by Netzinger to allow towns to regulate the use of outdoor wood burning stoves. Motion carried, 5-0.
Motion by Netzinger, seconded by Ashford to authorize the Planning and Zoning Department to apply for a Wisconsin Department of Administrative Comprehensive Planning Grant. Motion carried, 5-0.
Steward reported that Bill Wenzel had been appointed Chairman, Al Cloud as Vice-Chairman and Dick Grant as Secretary-treasurer for the Badger Interim Oversite Management Commission. Updates on the dairy forage center were discussed.
Reimbursement of fees for a land use permit to Martin Senger was discussed. Fees were received and deposited for both a land use permit and a renewal. The Committee can authorize reimbursement. Motion by Ashford, seconded by Netzinger to refund the permit fees. Motion carried, 5-0.
The new floodplain maps and an open house planned to review them on October 21, 2008 was discussed.
Motion by Ashford, seconded by Gaalswyk to adjourn at 3:10 p.m. Motion carried, 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Ashford, Secretary
Notes by mary white.