Town Board Meeting — Minutes

MEETING MINUTES TOWN OF LAFAYETTE JULY 21, 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, Chair Staber, Clerk Konwinski and residents. Supervisor McIlquham was in attendance vi a phone. Approval of Town Board Minutes - Supervisor Larson made a motion to approve the town board minutes from Ju ly 7, 2025, and the consent agenda for tonight's meeting. Brennan seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Financial Report - The routing reconciliation report was presented, with a balance of $308,429.00. It was noted that there was a credit of about $5,000 from Xcel Energy due to an overbilling issue from March when they changed meters. This credit is being applied against various accounts. The Xcel Energy billing process was discussed with clarification that accounts are still split up for different facilities like the fire station, shop, and recycling. Some large expenses were highlighted, including the Chippewa Fire District third quarter operating and capital costs of $127,000 and $56,000 respectively. Additionally, a $71,000 expense was mentioned, covering paving, patching, and mats. Motion to pay the bills as presented was made by Supervisor Mathwig and seconded by Brennan. The motion passed unanimously with a roll call vote. Public Comments - Barb Karlen, a resident of 176th Street, expressed concerns about traffic issues and parking problems related to the sandbar with the fireworks show . The lack of speed limit signs on the road, which previously had 25 mph signs. Karlen suggested implementing parking restrictions or finding alternative parking solutions to ensure safety and access for residents and emer gency services. The board acknowledged these concerns and indicated they would look into potential solutions, including possibly implementing one-side parking restrictions or exploring other parking arrangements. Old Business Fee Schedule for Code Book - The board discussed the need to create a comprehensive fee schedule that incorporates information from the code book and other sources. It was agreed that this document should be a living document, subject to annual review and u pdates. The board decided to move forward by compiling the information into a single document for review at a future meeting . New Business Vicious Dog Incidents Located on 45th Ave - The board discussed recent dog incidents on 45th Avenue. Chair Staber emphasized that dogs must be kept on their owners' properties or leashed when off property. He mentioned that the sheriff's department, dog catcher, and he himself had been involved in a ddressing the issue. Sheena Harings, speaking on behalf of concerned neighbors, requested that the town consider implementing a specific ordinance for vicious dogs, noting that this was the third dog attack since January inv olving the same dog. She express ed concern for neighborhood safety, especially for children. The board discussed the possibility of adopting a vicious dog ordinance similar to those in neighboring towns. They also addressed the challenges of enforcement and the need for better coordination between the town, the sheriff’s department, and dog catcher. The dog owner, Jill Bell, was present and acknowledged the need to keep her dog secured on her property. The board stressed the importance of compliance and indicated that further action may be necessary if issues persist. The board agreed to look into creating a vicious dog ordinance and to follow up on any further complaints. CSM for Jim Sheffler - Jim Sheffler provided a Certified Survey Map (CSM) for the combination of two properties. Motion to approve the combination of the two lots, including the CSM as presented, was made by Supervisor Mathwig and seconded by Brennan. The motion passed unanimously. Cemetery Ordinance Update - The board reviewed and discussed several proposed updates to the cemetery ordinance, including: 1. A 72-hour notice requirement for internments 2. Allow cemetery personnel or designated persons to dig cremation holes or full burial holes 3. Limiting only two cremations per gravesite, with exceptions for mass casualty events 4. Requirement for final disposition paperwork before burial 5. Disclaimer of responsibility for damage caused by elements or vandalism 6. Prohibition of artificial flowers and tree planting 7. Maintenance of overgrown plants by cemetery personnel 8. Reservation of rights to change policies 9. Implementation of a finder's fee for locating burial sites during winter months (November 1 to April 1) The board agreed to have the ordinance redrafted with these updates and to adopt it at the next meeting. Storm Water Cooperative Agreement Approval - The board discussed the annual review of the stormwater cooperative agreement with Chippewa County. Key points included: 1. The county's continued responsibility for stormwater management in townships 2. Additional charges for services 3. Development of individual township modeling by the DNR 4. Implementation of municipal stormwater quality management programs 5. An increase in costs from $6,223 last year to nearly $10,000 this year, partly due to modeling expenses 6. Annual or bi-annual meetings with town crews to review requirements and issues The board recognized the value of the county's expertise in handling stormwater management and the impracticality of managing it independently. Motion to approve the stormwater cooperative agreement with the county was made by Supervisor Larson and seconded by Brennan. The motion passed. Fence Along Tracks by Lemay Acres to Allow UTV Traffic - The board discussed a proposal to install fencing along the railroad tracks near Lemay Acres to create a route for UTV traffic. The estimated cost for the fence and wire was around $2,000. After discussion, the board decided to table the issue until the Au gust 4th meeting, when the ATV club representatives would be present to discuss their plans for opening county roads to ATV/UTV traffic. Town Communications from Board, PRTLU & Road Supervisors, Town Clerk & Town Chair - Various board members and supervisors provided updates and raised concerns, including: Neil Mathwig suggested considering annual reviews of town employees, including recycling staff and boat landing personnel, to get a better understanding of township operations. Tom Larson raised several points: • Suggested including supervisor reports in the meeting minutes • Requested moving a porta-potty at the pickleball court for better visibility • Noted dead trees in the school forest that need attention • Mentioned issues with old utility poles that haven't been removed Scott Faris discussed the July 3rd fireworks event and the boat parade, noting some organizational challenges and areas for improvement. Mark Brennan mentioned the near completion of a white house at the horse farm and raised questions about its orientation and driveway placement. Mark Sedlacek reported on ongoing road work, including shoulder work on 72nd and 73rd streets. The board also discussed potential changes to the agenda format to better capture supervisor reports and concerns. Motion To Adjourn was made at 8:15pm Respectfully submitted by: Laura Konwinski / 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.