DATE: May 12, 2009
Committee Members Present: Ashford, Gaalswyk, Netzinger, Lehman and Cassity.
Others Present: Mark Steward, Mary White, Steve Sorenson, Dave Tremble, Steve Pate, Brent Bailey, Alene Kleczek, Pam Leonard, Marvin Hartje, Lowell Haugen, Marty Krueger, Larry Volz, Ed Reimer, and Jim Birkmeier.
Meeting called to order by Chairman Cassity at 9:00 A.M.
Staff certified compliance with open meetings law.
Adopt Agenda: Motion by Cassity, seconded by Lehman to move item h. up to underneath Public Comment. Lehman amended the motion to also move item 7. To between 3 & 4. Motion carried, 5-0.
Motion by Lehman, seconded by Gaalswyk to adopt the minutes of the previous meeting with the following change. Change paragraph 10 on second page to read: Sorenson stated the minimum size "is" instead of "could be" 750 square feet. Motion carried, 5-0.
Mr. Steve Pate appeared with the Mapping Department report. He pointed out the difference in the records that the Mapping Department keeps and the records the County Surveyor is responsible for. Pate is planning to have an intern bring the mapping records up to date.
Mapping vouchers were reviewed. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Lehman to approve the vouchers in the amount of $5,236.35. Motion carried, 5-0.
Public Comment: Ms. Pam Leonard, owner of Crossroads Trading Post, appeared. She explained a situation she was having with the Planning and Zoning Department regarding signage and road setbacks. She stated she had complied with the requests of the Department and had removed her sign. There was an existing sign on County Road V which she felt was "grandfathered" in. She didn't feel there was a vision problem with the location on Highway 33 and stated the ordinance needed to be changed. She wanted to be sure everyone else complied with the ordinance also.
Ed Reimer appeared and stated consistency with the Department was a problem. He stated his septic system was not failing and Sorenson was insisting that it was and it needed to be replaced.
Pam Leonard appeared again. She stated she has respect for the staff but the system was not perfect. Everyone needed to comply not just specific individuals.
Lehman verified that the issue was that the sign was within the road right-of- way.
Reimer then appeared again. He explained that 4 years ago a person pumped sewage out of his tank and spread it on the ground without Reimer's permission. He applied for a permit for the house and mobile home. Supposedly, the permit and design were for the house only. He refused to put it in that way. Cassity stated there was nothing the Committee could do about his case at this time because citations had been issued and the matter was in court. Kleczek gave a brief overview.
Discussion followed on what "Public Comment" was. If the Committee wished to discuss this in detail it needed to be put on the next agenda. Lehman asked if the Committee didn't have the right to request information from staff. Krueger responded that if it was not on the agenda it can't be discussed in detail. Kleczek stated that "Public Comment" allowed for limited discussion.
Cassity asked if the Committee agreed to put Reimer on the next agenda. Gaaswyk proposed to move on to item h. and discuss Reimer at the next meeting.
Discussion followed regarding violations and information supplied to the Committee. It would be impossible for the Committee to be aware of everything the Department was involved in. The difference between ordinances and policies was discussed. The Committee should be made aware of situations that may cause future conflicts. These situations should have been discussed before reaching this stage. Are processes really working? These items should have been brought to the Committee 6 months ago. Steward asked how do you qualify a complaint. Just because the property owner called the newspaper, is that situation any different than other complaints. Krueger stated that there should be no surprises and he was seeing Committee surprises. Steward stated checking every single sign along a particular road is a frivolous complaint. Lehman stated if the Department was going to take someone to court, the Committee should be aware of it. The Committee needs to know what items could cause problems. Virgil Hartje then appeared. His suggestion was to cut staff so they don't have the time to go out to find problems and the staff should be reporting to the Committee. Juneau County has only two staff members in the Planning and Zoning Department. He also said the Department should follow state ordinances. The Department should report any fines before they are levied.
Larry Volz then appeared and briefly discussed the Town of Delton sign ordinance. He stated the 20 foot setback should be changed. It should be the state regulation as it was on a state highway. Discussion followed regarding the use of the word "may" instead of "shall" in the ordinance. The whole ordinance needs to be looked at. This should be an item for the next meeting. The ordinance as it pertains or doesn't pertain in the extraterritorial areas was discussed. The ordinance should be uniform County wide. Motion by Lehman, seconded by Netzinger to have the Corporation Counsel and Planning and Zoning investigate the possible creation of a uniform sign ordinance. Volz pointed out the some of the towns already have their own ordinance. Motion carried, 5-0.
Communications: Gaalswyk had information for zoning of wind turbines. Lehman had received a call regarding the rezoning of property in the Town of Woodland for a riding stable. Liquor and food would probably be sold which would require the rezoning, followed by a special exception permit. The Jeff Wise property in the Town of Ironton was discussed.
Steward received information on a meeting of the Natural Resources Board on May 26th at Ho-Chunk that the Committee may be interested in.
Management of the Committee agendas was then discussed. Ashford stated the public hearings are scheduled for the second meeting of the month and the agenda should not contain other things. Agendas need to be tightened up and not overloaded. Planning and Zoning is the only committee that meets twice a month. Lehman would rather come in for 3-4 hours. The Committee decided to move the public hearing to 10:00 instead of 9:30. They also requested to be advised what the agenda already included before they were asked for additional items.
The Register of Deeds' vouchers were reviewed. Motion by Lehman, seconded by Ashford to approve the vouchers in the amount of $4,392.21. Motion carried, 5-0.
The Planning and Zoning Department had no vouchers for review.
Steward appeared and gave the monthly report for the Planning and Zoning Office. Clean sweep was discussed. He will discuss this with land conservation. Possible new Board of Adjustment members will be discussed at the next meeting. The Committee requested a more complete citation report.
The Committee signed the resolution approving the Kenneth and Karen Hurtig rezoning request approved at the last meeting.
Dave Tremble appeared and they reviewed the Corporation Counsel's opinion regarding the Baraboo Range Natural National Landmark Protection Fund. He presented the ending expense report with a balance of $18,583.55. Discussion followed on future activity of the Baraboo Range Commission. A meeting is scheduled for the end of the month. Enforcement action for violations of easements was reviewed. Dissolving the commission was discussed. The Baraboo Range Protection Program doesn't deal with dissolving the Commission. Committee requested that Tremble supply copies of the Protection Program Plan to them.
Discussion followed regarding the farm consolidation process. The definition needs to be re-written. It was suggested to use the wording in State Statutes.
Ashford left the meeting.
Sawmills were then discussed. Cassity suggested eliminating portable sawmills from getting a special exception permit. Definition of sawmills was reviewed. If sawmills are commercial in nature they require a permit. Definition of farm was discussed. When does a mill become commercial? Making flooring is not part of the farming process. It was agreed that once you start processing the wood, i.e. flooring, it goes to a commercial use. Mr. Jim Birkmeier joined the discussion. He is processing down to a finished product. All the trees had to be from the owner's farm. Size of sawmill was discussed. Businesses need to pay fees to operate. A possible $50.00 land use permit was discussed. If you are sawing for other people you should get a permit. Sawmills as a cottage industry were reviewed. Motion by Lehman, seconded by Netzinger that this be taken to public hearing to amend Chapter 7 regarding sawmills. Steward to provide the language. Motion carried, 4-0. With Ashford absent.
A planning intern to work on the County Comprehensive Plan was discussed. County funding was cut for interns. Funding in the amount of $7,000.00 will come from the Wisconsin Department of Administration comprehensive planning grant. Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Netzinger to use this funding for a summer intern. Motion carried, 4-0.
The Border Riders' permit was discussed. Motion by Lehman, seconded by Gaalswyk to approve the Border Riders camping permit for 5/22/09 to 5/24/09. Motion carried, 4-0.
Motion by Gaalswyk, seconded by Netzinger to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Ashford, Secretary
Notes by mary white.