TOWN BOARD MEETING — Minutes

MEETING MINUTES TOWN OF LAFAYETTE FEB 16, 2026 5765 197TH ST. CHIPPEWA FALLS WI 54726 Call to Order / Roll Call The meeting was called to order on Monday, February 16, 2026 at 7:00 PM. Roll call was taken with Chairman Staber, Supervisor Brennan, Larson, Mathwig, and McIlquham all present. Approval of Town Board Minutes from January 19, 2026, Regular Board Meeting & Current Agenda: Supervisor Larson requested a correction to the January 19, 2026, minutes regarding communications. He clarified that the minutes incorrectly credited him with doing a good job with the roads during icy conditions, when the credit should go to Mark, Kyle, and Matthew. With this correction, Supervisor Larson moved to approve with corrections and seconded by Supervisor McIlquham. Financial Report: The financial report was presented. It was noted that the township was paying $4.7 million to the school district as part of tax payments, with other townships also contributing. The end-of-month balance was $207,006.28, with approximately $1.2 million that would be coming into the checking account, which currently earns 4.1% interest. Moved by Supervisor McIlquham, seconded by Supervisor Brennan. Public Comments: None New Business: Employee Handbook Update - Health Insurance and Continuation of Coverage: An amendment to the health insurance section of the employee handbook was presented, which had been discussed at the previous meeting. Supervisor Mathwig moved to approval and seconded by Larson. 2026 Medica Insurance Premium Renewal for Approval: The Medica insurance renewal for 2026 was presented, with the township continuing to pay 88% of premiums while employees pay 12%. The new rates would be effective March 1, 2026. Moved by Supervisor McIlquham, seconded by Supervisor Brennan. Repainting Town Hall: A quote from Kaddy Enterprise LLC of $16,100 to repaint the town hall was presented. The steel siding was installed approximately 20 years ago and is now fading and chipping badly, particularly on the west and south sides. The board agreed that while the painting is needed, they should obtain additional quotes before deciding. They decided to table the matter and bring it back to a future meeting. Moved by Supervisor McIlquham and seconded by Supervisor Mathwig, to table the town hall repainting proposal until additional quotes can be obtained. Possible Amendment to the Liquor Ordinance – Joel Jacobson: Joel Jacobson, from Lakeside Liquor, requested an amendment to the township's liquor ordinance. He explained that since the "wedding barn law" changes, a business can serve and sell alcoho l with a Class B license, with the exception of spirits (hard alcohol). His request is to switch from a Class A to a Class B license for Lakeside Liquor only (not the meat market). Mr. Jacobson explained that under current Wisconsin law, selling open containers of beer and wine is permissible with a Class B license without a special ordinance. However, to sell spirits by the glass ("pours"), the towns hip would need to create an ordinance allowing the sale of spirits under a Class B license. This ordinance would app ly to any business in the township, not just Lakeside Liquor. The business plan includes selling limited "pours" of spirits (maximum 5 ounces), beer (32 -36 ounces in bottles/cans only, no tap lines), and wine (10 ounces). This would allow them to offer tastings of special bourbon and allocated spirits that they currently can only sell by bottle to a limited number of customers. Mr. Jacobson also requested extending their licensed premises to include additional space in the hallway area, allowing building customers to access the liquor sto re internally and permission for an outdoor patio area for bourbon and cigar tastings. Board members expressed concern about the patio and the potential for people to leave with alcohol but acknowledged that someone could already buy a bottle and drink it after leaving the store. Mr. Jacobson offered to reroute the sidewalk that currently runs between buildings to accommodate the patio. The board agreed to research the ordinance amendment further, particularly looking at examples from other municipalities like the Town of Neenah. The board would also consult with their attorney about preparing an appropriate ordinance. Town Communications from Board & Road Supervisors, Town Clerk & Town Chair: Supervisor McIlquham reported visiting the recycling center on Saturday, noting it was steadily busy and the workers were enjoying the nice weather. Scott Faris shared information about: • The town sign honoring Sandra Harvey's years as town clerk and as a Lafayette resident, which was prepared with a photo from the family • The brick boat landing committee's recommendation to continue having it manned on weekends, holidays, and during fishing tournaments to help manage conflicts • Questions about room tax money expenditures that would need to be addressed through the town board representative Supervisor Mathwig reported attending the WTA meeting, noting about 40 people attended. He encouraged other board members to attend future meetings as they provide valuable updates on state-level information and funding programs. Chairman Staber provided several updates: • The county highway department bridge program manager is retiring, and the county will be issuing an RFP for bridge inspections. Lafayette Township has 7 bridges requiring inspection, with underwater diver inspections needed every two years for bridges over the lake • The MS4 stormwater group meeting revealed an upcoming increase in costs this year and next year. The MS4 report is due to the state at the end of March 2026, and Trenton Shutter from Land Conservation is working on it and should have no issues. • Confirmed that the township's annual cleanup day will be held on the last Saturday of April (April 25th) Motion To Adjourn was made at 7:50 PM Respectfully submitted by: Jami Carter / Clerk These minutes are intended to reflect the discussed topics and propositions during the Lafayette Town Board Meeting, ensuring transparency and providing a clear understanding of the deliberations and decisions made.