April 16, 2024 Annual unapproved

Town Annual Meeting Minutes 7:00 PM April 16, 2024 UNAPPROVED Stockbridge Community Hall Joe Kuhn (Chairman) called the meeting to order at 7 PM . Present w ere Supervisors Mark Ecker and Jon Groeschl, Clerk Steve Phipps, Treasurer Andrea Ortlieb, Ralph Schmid, Jan Nadler, Jennifer Nadler-Lont, Chris Poppy, Sue and Paul Ludwig, Diane Hoerth, Gerry Steffen, Kenneth Schaefer, Jim Zahringer, Terry Ecker, Josh Woelfel, Dean Woelfel, Judy and John Hartl, Penny and David Hoerth, Barbara Fett, Robert Bowe, Karl Freimuth, Collyn Eis, Leo Schampers, Kathy Meyer, Todd Ludwig, Joel Portmann, David Woelfel. Two non-residents present were Bob Heller and Rose Moehn. Chairman Kuhn introduced selling two small parcels to the WI DOT needed for Hwy 55 reconstruction. After general discussion and history of the negotiations between the town board and the DOT, Chris Poppy moved to sell the small parcel by 205 S. Military Road for $1250.00 and the parcel by N4331 Hwy 55 for $1800.00 to the state of Wisconsin. Steve Phipps 2nd the motion. M/C via voice vote. Chairman Kuhn proposed adjusting the salary of the clerk and treasurer for the next term starting in April of 2025. After a brief comparison to neighboring municipalities, Gerry Steffe ns moved to increase the clerk’s annual salary to $30,000.00 and the treasurer’s salary to $10,000.00 starting the next term of office. Josh Woelfel 2nd motion. M/C via voice vote. Judy Hartl thanked the board for being a friend of the Stoney Brook stream project for the work done and sign. Judy indicated Stony Brook is a trout reproducing waterway in the town. Josh Woelfel asked if the Town of Stockbridge had increased salt usage. Ken Schaefer shared that he thought salt usage would decrease. Gene ral discussion occurred about hills, salt, and road conditions. Jennifer Nadler-Lont spoke about the need for wind turbine licensing due to health and safety concerns and feels there is more power with people other than threats of lawsuits from developer s, landowners and the PSC. Chairman Joe shared that he has spoken with 3-4 attorneys, and they all think an ordinance like or similar to the “Farmland First” ordinance is a bad idea and even the author told him, you will need a sympathetic judge. Supervisor Groeschl read a communication(s) from a Wisconsin Town’s Association attorney addressing the difficulty of town’s regulating wind turbines and spoke about failed state legislative efforts to increase local oversight on the issue. Leo Schampers spoke about liability from the health side-effects. Kathy Meyers spoke about the water aquifer contamination from wind turbines. Sue Ludwig addressed the lack of oversight on the decommissioning of wind turbines. Josh Woelfel thanked the board and shared he spoke with T. Wilcox and this person said the cost of litigation was well worth the effort to protect property and health. Supervisor Groeschl did share the cost of litigation could get very expensive. Josh Woelfel stated the majority are opposed to wind tu rbines and would hope the developers will leave on their own and moved to have the town adopt a health and safety ordinance to prevent industrial wind turbines. Diane Hoerth 2 nd. Joel Portmann thought wind turbines were a bad idea. After general discussion and Ken Schaefer expressing disapproval of only having health and safety ordinances with regard to wind turbines. The motion was withdrawn by the maker. Josh Woelfel moved to have the Town of Stockbridge adopt a health and safety ordinance. Jennifer Nadler-Lont 2nd. General discussion as follows: Joel Portmann thought the meeting tonight should not discuss the “how” rather just “act” as obstacles are needed via ordinance. Gerry Steffen indicated there are approx. 11 different sites for wind tur bines in the county and the efforts to oppose wind turbines are worth the effort. Dave Hoerth said the county will be enforcing the county ordinance that Supervisor Groeschl had indicated after hearing from county staff that the county would not be enforc ing existing county ordinances. Ken Schaefer indicated reaching out to the Niagara Escarpment advocacy groups may help the cause. Chairman Joe Kuhn read a description of the powers that electors have at an annual meeting to help prevent incorrect assumpt ions. Diane Hoerth said there will be health issues. Finally, a paper vote was cast and 24 people voted for the Town of Stockbridge to adopt a health and safety ordinance. 6 people opposed. M/C. While the votes were tabulated, the town’s 2023 financial statement and minutes from the November 15, 2023, Town Meeting were pointed out and available for all. Dave Hoerth moved to approve the minutes of November 15, 2023, and John Hartl 2nd the motion. M/C via a voice vote no opposing votes expressed. Dave Hoerth asked about the comprehensive plan and whether the residential nature of the town could keep wind turbines out. Clerk Steve Phipps asked everyone to look farther into the future at a time when Fond Du Lac and Appleton grows and land which may/may not host wind turbines gets sold and the likely change of usage would be helped or hindered by zoning and the type of redevelopment that would likely result near or adjacent to such areas. Dave Hoerth moved to advise the Town of Stockbridge board to ut ilize powers granted to them through the Comprehensive Smart Growth Plan and by the Public Service Commission to deny any wind energy company to obtain permits to place wind turbines in the Town of Stockbridge. Sue Ludwig 2nd. Ken Schaefer expressed disagreement over this motion. M/C via a voice vote. Leo Schampers reminded everyone the current president in encouraging wind turbines. Dave Hoerth indicated the Town of Brighton; Marathon County has successfully passed similar ordinances. At 8:35 PM, Ralph Schmid moved to adjourn with a 2nd by Josh Woelfel. M/C. Respectfully submitted, Steve Phipps, Clerk