Town Board Meeting — Minutes

AMBERG TOWN BOARD MEETING Minutes Tuesday, December 13, 2022 6:00 pm Chairman Mattison called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm with the entire board and twelve citizens present. The pledge of Allegiance was recited before Chairman Mattison opened the floor for audience comment. During open floor Mark Wisinski questioned signatures on the nomination papers of two people running for Town office in the spring stating that he checked the requirements for circulating nomination papers and reported that they were not being adhered to. A board decision was made that those signatures collected incorrectly would be discarded and not counted. George Kloppenburg asked about garbage can placement and the notification of any changes in routes and delivery of receptacles. The clerk read the minutes from the November meeting into the record and Treasurer Suzawith reported that Cash on Hand was currently $181,816.82, Tax money market account $152,188.49, Employee benefit account $53,419.95, Equipment CD $189,654.77, vouchers paid tonight $67,075.81, and we received the November shared revenue. Both reports were approved on a motion by Supervisor Magley with the second by Supervisor Campbell. It was unanimous. ON-GOING/CONTINUING BUSINESS Fred Smeester reported that the Plan Commission meet at 6:04 on Nov. 2, 2022 with four members present. Two members of the public were in attendance. The minutes were read from the October meeting and accepted. After a review of the building permits, the discussion centered on the 200 foot frontage with the discussion to continue at the December meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:43 pm on a motion by Mike Churchill and a second by Sue Maes. At the December meeting the consensus was that frontage should be measured along the right of way. It was also mentioned that all town roads would be open to ATV/UTVs. The Fire Department report is on file in the clerk’s office for review. Shawn Sagan, treasurer for the fire department, requested that the fire department report be submitted quarterly instead of monthly since the rescue squad report was only turned in quarterly. Mark Wisinski the Town Rescue Squad representative stated that he was unaware of the monthly report requirement and said that he would also comply with the monthly report. The board opened the bids for the sale of the old equipment van and announced the amounts bid. The bids ranged up to $1500. After discussion the board decided that from this day forward anything to be sold will be advertised. They decided to publish and rebid the van and look at the issue again. Supervisor Campbell made a motion that from this day forward anything for sale will be advertised in the paper allowing the public to look at the item before bidding. The Rescue Squad Report was provided by Mark Wisinski with nothing new to add to last month’s report. The Road Department Report was presented by Chairman Mattison who said that Scott Mathis was coming to look at the door frame, door, and roof edge at the shop that needs replacing. A request was received to look at the uneven division of work done in plowing the Town roads with the east side of highway 141 with almost double the amount of road miles to be plowed on the west side of 141 including the in-town streets and ask for a more equitable division of labor. After a brief discussion the board took no action. The clerk reported that a GFL representative told her that the missing garbage containers were delivered and should be delivered to those in need of them within the next week. Clean gym wall carpeting and installation of electrical outlets on west wall was tabled. NEW BUSINESS The doors in the gym and other outside entry doors have gaps in them allowing unwanted mice, snakes, etc. to enter the building. (There is evidence of mice dirt visible on kitchen counter.) Tabled. A proposal to stop winter burials between December 1 and second week in May with storage of remains with undertaker or in a building on site was the next topic. Digging graves in the winter is hard work and can take up to a week to complete with frozen ground. Treasurer Suzawith said we had always used the Wausaukee Cemetery mausoleum with the undertaker’s permission in the past and asked why it isn’t still an option. We could also reach out to Pembine about using their mausoleum or build one on site in the cemetery. George Kloppenburg added that the board should also look at security for the mausoleum if it is the chosen option. Also discussed was the purchase of a mini tractor with backhoe, bucket and/or mower deck similar to that used by Scott Kemmerling for use digging graves rather than continue to dig them by hand. Consensus was they the board needs more information before proceeding. Scott Kemmerling is retired and doesn’t want the number of hours he is getting filling in for Verlyn Giguere who is on sick leave. He also requested a one – two dollar an hour salary raise from the current hourly rate he is getting for part time work. Discussion included what additional jobs were added to/or replaced his original duties and the difficulty of those jobs. Supervisor Magley suggested that a $1-$2 raise be added to his salary until Verlyn Giguere comes back from sick leave starting this Thursday, Dec. 15. It was also suggested that an ad be placed in the paper for help in case someone is unable to return to work or retires. The meeting adjourned on a motion by Supervisor Magley with a second by Supervisor Campbell. Pat Boshen, clerk