Town Board Meeting — Minutes

MEETING MINUTES TOWN OF LAFAYETTE DECEMBER 16, 2024 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 Mathwig, Brennan, Larson, McIlquham, Chair Staber, clerk Konwinski, and residents. Approval of Town Board Minutes – Supervisor McIlquham made a motion to approve the minutes for the December 2nd meeting along with the current agenda and was seconded by Brennan. Financial Report - The revenue report was reviewed by the board members. Several questions were raised about specific line items: • A board member inquired about the Faris equipment and supply charge for recycling, which was clarified to be for sealer for the sidewalk and concrete around the building due to heavy use of salt. • There was a question about a circuit for a vending machine, which the chair explained was for a planned Narcan dispenser that was still under discussion. • A charge for access security was discussed, with the chair explaining it was for setting up usernames and passwords for a new system. • The station 3 detector monitoring charge was explained to be for smoke alarms in the bunkhouse quarters, which the town pays for as the building owner. The total bills to be paid amounted to approximately $95,000, with about $420 ,000 remaining in the checking account. Supervisor Brennan made a motion to approve the financial report and pay the bills and Mathwig seconded the motion. The motion carried Gougar CUP – Daycare Business in R1 District for Reconsideration - The applicant for the daycare Conditional Use Permit was present. She explained that she has been doing daycare for 26 years and recently relocated to Chippewa. She is in the process of getting licensed in Chippewa County for a maximum of 8 children, though she plans to have 5. The daycare is hoping to operate Monday through Thursday only. Board members discussed that there is a shortage of daycare in the area and that the traffic impact would be minimal. It was confirmed that the applicant's yard is fenced with gated access. A motion was made by Supervisor Larson to approve the conditional use permit for the daycare in the R1 district and was seconded by McIlquham Possible Sale of Township Property - The PRTLU (Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Land Use) commission had previously discussed this property and decided to retain it for future recreational opportunities. The board discussed that as the official planning commission, the PRTLU's recommendation should be followed. A resident who had made an offer on the property explained his reasons for wanting to purchase it, including preserving it in its current state and providing tax income for the township. Board members acknowledged the residents’ points but felt more information was needed about potential uses for the property. They discussed scheduling a walk-through of the property in the spring to evaluate it further. Supervisor Brennan made the motion to recommend holding off until at least spring when a walk-through of the property can be conducted, and the two groups can decide on a future venue for what to do with this land and was seconded by Mathwig. Steward CSM – To Separate Residences into Individual Lots - Jason, representing the Stewards, presented the Certified Survey Map (CSM) to separate residences into individual lots. He explained that they had gone through the rezoning process and submitted a preliminary CSM, which had been approved by the county. Supervisor Mathwig made a motion to approve the Steward CSM and was seconded McIlquham. Travis Hakes To Discuss with Board on Sheriff Patrol In Lafayette - Sheriff Travis Hakes and Sergeant Clark presented information about a proposed contract for additional sheriff patrols in Lafayette with key points: • The contract would provide 383 hours of service, or about 8 hours per week. • The services would focus on municipal enforcement and targeted patrols. • The contract would not cover regular emergency calls or investigations. • The sheriff's office would provide monthly reports on incidents, citations, and warnings. • The board discussed the need for increased presence in subdivisions and less patrolled areas. • The contract would allow for enforcement of town ordinances. • The total cost of the contract would be $20,000. The board discussed the need for a press release to inform residents about the new arrangement. Sheriff Hakes offered to assist with this communication. Resolution To Transfer $20,000 From Paving to DIB Law Enforcement - A resolution was presented to transfer $20,000 from the paving account to the law enforcement account to fund the new sheriff patrol contract. Supervisor Larson made a motion to approve the resolution to transfer $20,000 from the paving account to the law enforcement account and Brennan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously in a roll call vote. Culligan Water System for Station 3 - The board discussed a proposal from Culligan for a hot and cold-water system at Station 3 to address hot water issues, particularly for the dishwasher. The proposed system would cost $199 to install and $119 per month for service. The board felt this was too expensive and suggested exploring alternatives such as an on-demand hot water heater or a small unit under the sink. Supervisor Mathwig made a motion to reject the Culligan proposal and explore other options and was seconded by McIlquham. January Meeting Date - The board discussed moving to one meeting per month for January, February, and March, to be held on the third Monday of each month. The board agreed to this schedule, with the option to hold special meetings via Zoom if needed. Town Communications from the Board, Road Supervisor, Town Clerk & Town Chair • A board member inquired about the vandalism of the ice rink, which was to be addressed the following day. • Issues with a contractor not wanting to install a proper driveway approach were discussed. The board affirmed that the contractor must comply with town regulations. • Plans to have Bohl & Proulx Plumbing inspect the rec building for fixture replacements and to look at the hot water heater situation were mentioned. • The need to review and update PRTLU bylaws was discussed, with revisions to be considered at the January meeting. Motion To Adjourn was made at 7:52 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.