Town Board Meeting — Minutes

MEETING MINUTES TOWN OF LAFAYETTE Aug 4, 2025 5765 197TH ST. CHIPPEWA FALLS WI 54726 Call To Order / Roll Call - The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. A roll call was conducted confirming the presence of Supervisors Brennan, Larson, Mathwig, McIlquham, Chair Staber, Clerk Konwinski and residents. Approval of Town Board Minutes - Supervisor McIlquham made a motion to approve the town board minutes from July 21, 2025, and the consent agenda for tonight's meeting. Larson seconded the motion. Financial Report - None PUBLIC COMMENTS - A resident inquired about regulations for electric scooters, asking whether they are treated like bicycles. Board members discussed that they believed scooters are treated like bicycles, though concerns were raised about the lack of reflectors on many models. OLD BUSINESS Cemetery ordinance update - Chairman Staber presented the updated cemetery ordinance that was discussed at the previous meeting. He explained that the only change was related to finders' fees. The amendment was necessary because some areas of the cemeter y are old and difficult to nav igate, making it challenging to locate gravesites. He noted that it can be unclear whether headstones are at the foot or head of graves in certain sections. Chairman Staber emphasized that this was an amendment to the existing ordinance rather than a complete rewrite. Motion by Supervisor McIlquham, seconded by Larson, to approve the cemetery ordinance as amended. Motion carried. Codebook Fee Schedule - Chairman Staber presented the codebook fee schedule, which was last updated in 2022. He noted that there were items that needed to be changed, particularly regarding town equipment usage. He clarified that while the town doesn't r ent equipment, they do charge when equipment is used for non -town business. The board discussed getting updated figures on equipment rates by checking with the county for their fee schedule for similar equipment. There was additional discussion about rental fees for facilities, with uncertainty about the current tournament rental rate. It was suggested that Bruce or Doug be consulted for t he correct figures. Motion by Supervisor Mathwig to table the codebook fee schedule until a future date when updated equipment rates and rental information could be obtained. Motion was seconded by Supervisor Brennan. NEW BUSINESS Lafayette ATV Club Petitioning for 3 new ATV Routes A representative from the Lafayette ATV Club presented a petition for three new ATV routes: 1. County Road K S-curve intersection of 72nd Avenue to 70th Avenue 2. County Road K from 72nd Avenue to County Road X 3. County Road J from the intersection of X where Family Fare was to 40th Avenue and Brad's Automotive The board discussed safety concerns, particularly regarding the curve on County Road K where the speed limit is 55 mph with n arrow shoulders. The representative explained that a previously planned route across airport property had been rejected because the DNR determined the crossing angle was too steep. The board discussed traffic count thresholds for ATV routes, noting that routes with traffic counts over 1,000 vehicles per day were typically not approved. It was mentioned that the county was considering raising this threshold to 1,500 next year. The representative confirmed that county approval would be needed for the routes. The board also discussed safety concerns at the 70th Avenue crossing near Pine Harbor, where visibility is limited due to trees. The representative noted thi s was a 35- mph zone but remained dangerous for crossing ATVs. Supervisor McIlquham suggested putting the section from X to 40th Avenue on hold until the roundabout construction in that area is completed. The representative agreed with this modification. Motion by Supervisor Larson, seconded by Mathwig, to recommend the Lafayette ATV Club's petition for new routes to the county, with the exception of delaying the section from X to 40th Avenue until after roundabout construction is completed. Motion carried unanimously. Gosse CSM - combining lots into 1 so they can build an accessory building - A representative presented a certified survey map (CSM) to combine two lots owned by the buyers of the former Stewart Maple property. The buyers had purchased both the house a nd an adjoining lot and now wished to build on the adjoining lot. When they applied for a county building permit, they were informed they needed to officially combine the two lots since one was a platted lot and one was created by survey. The representative explained that the CSM would need to be signed by the Town Clerk and Chair, similar to a subdivision plat. He pointed out on the map where t he property was located and clarified that a 66 -foot access had previously been left in case of future development behind the prope rty. Motion by Supervisor Mathwig, seconded by Brennan, to approve the Gosse CSM combining the two lots. Motion carried. Chamber Tourism Yearly update from Sue Leonard - Sue from the Chamber presented the annual update. Key points included: • Chippewa County had $192 million in economic impact from tourism in 2024, a 4.9% increase over 2023 • Three major events contributed significantly to hotel occupancy, including a "dart ball" tournament that brought 800 -1,200 people to the area • Geo-targeting data showed that Lake Wissota area had approximately 55,000 visits from January to July, with some visitation metrics down 1-3% compared to the previous year • The Chamber's website saw a 22% year -over-year traffic increase, with top visitors coming from Chicago, Minneapolis, Eau Claire, Dallas, Chippewa Falls, and Milwaukee • Marketing initiatives included movie theater advertisements in Minneapolis/St. Paul and Milwaukee areas, social media campaigns reaching 20,000 followers on both Instagram and Facebook, and targeted campaigns during the Packers draft event • Two large groups are booked for mid-June 2026, including the HOG (Harley Owners Group) returning to the area • Hotel occupancy was down about 1% compared to last year, which aligned with national trends attributed to economic conditions and reduced travel • Upcoming events included a partnership with the Village of Lake Hallie on a pickleball tournament and sponsorship of the Mad Dog and Merrell grilling show during the Jubilee event Leonard also mentioned that as part of their sponsorship of the grilling show, they would receive drone footage of Lake Wisso ta and other local attractions for promotional use. Vicious Dog Ordinance update discussion - Chairman Staber reported that the Sheriff's Department had visited a resident regarding a dog that had been the subject of complaints. The board reviewed the current dog ordinance which already contained provisions for vicious dogs. The board discussed enforcement mechanisms, noting that while the ordinance allows for confiscation of vicious dogs, they questioned whether this would be effectively enforced. They discussed the need for cooperation between the Animal Control Officer and the Sheriff's Department to confiscate a dog. Chairman Staber mentioned they would need documented complaints of a dog bi ting someone or attacking another dog to take action. The board also discussed the fine structure for violations, noting the current ordinance sets fines between $15 -50 for first offenses and $30 -100 for subsequent offenses. Some board members expressed concern that these amounts might not be sufficient deterrents. Chairman Staber reported that he had met with the Sheriff's Department, and they expected to have officers available to allocate 20 -30 hours per week to the township by mid -August once two additional officers completed training. He also noted that the county would be able to enforce town ordinances. The board agreed that the current ordinance was sufficient but emphasized the need to document violations and ensure enforcement. They discussed sending form letters to docu ment each violation and potentially involve the Sheriff's Department in more serious cases. Town Communications from Board & Road Supervisors, Town Clerk & Town Chair - Various communications were discussed: • The Sheriff's Department meeting was productive, and additional law enforcement coverage should begin by mid -to-late August • The house near Bateman Tavern may need to be razed, noting complications with bank liens and illegal sheds on the property • Road work on 203rd St would be completed by Thurs, with parking lot work to follow the week after, expected to be complete by mid-August • The township's current valuation report showed $1,327,000,000 • Inquiries about rumors of Piggly Wiggly buying Family Fare stores, but no confirmation was available. • The old rescue boat is for sale at a boat dealer across from Golden Eagle. • The Town Clerk reported that the new QuickBooks financial system was working well, though training on the revenue side was still needed to complete July receipts’ entry. Motion To Adjourn was made at 7:51pm Respectfully submitted by: Laura Konwiski / 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.