Town Board Meeting — Minutes

Town of Brooklyn Est. 1849 Green Lake County WI Town of Brooklyn N5988 County Road A | Green Lake, WI 54941 (920) 294-6600 | clerk@tn.brooklyn.wi.gov | www.townofbrooklyn.com Town Board Meeting December 10, 2024 6:00 P.M. Minutes 1. The December 10, 2024, meeting was called to order by Chairman Wuest at 6:00 p.m. Present: Wuest, Reabe, Mc Connell, Radke, Deputy Clerk Mueller, and Clerk Wesenberg 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all in attendance. 3. Review of the minutes from the November 12, 2024, meeting. Minutes were approved with corrections. 4. Monthly Financial Report: a. Treasurer’s Report was read by Clerk Wesenberg. Horicon Bank was inadvertently charged a “paper statement fee” that was reversed. The ARPA account is now is at a zero balance as those funds have all been spent on approved expenses. Tax bills were mailed on December 10th. In-person collection times will be on December 28th and January 25th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The reduction in collection times is due to low turnout last year. 5. Library Report – Christina Lyon, Director: Report was received and read. 6. Building Inspector Report – There was no report for the month 7. Fire Commission Report – Ron Triemstra – absent. No report was given. 8. County Board Supervisor Report – Harley Reabe: The budget was passed. The levy was $18,578,421 to cover the 16 municipalities in the county. 9. Road Report – Mike Wuest: There was nothing out of the ordinary to report. 10. Supervisor Reports: a. Recycling Report – Harley Reabe: November had 9.12 tons of co-mingled recycling, which is average. Garbage was not excessive. b. Sanitary Report – Kristin Radke: The Board of Commissioners met on November 19 and voted to approve an ordinance regarding sewer connection requirements. Two component systems considered impaired would be required to be connected withing one year. Systems older than 8 years from date of permit allowed 2 years for hookup. The lawyers from the Sanitary District do not want systems to age out past 10 years. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Cedar Corporation was authorized to prepare easements for Area 9 (Hickories) at a cost not to Town of Brooklyn Est. 1849 Green Lake County WI Town of Brooklyn N5988 County Road A | Green Lake, WI 54941 (920) 294-6600 | clerk@tn.brooklyn.wi.gov | www.townofbrooklyn.com exceed $30,000 for permanent easements. McAfee Road sewer extension bids will be out by the beginning of 2025. c. Plan Commission – Sue Mc Connell: The Plan Commission met November 7th. Letters regarding the Sanitary District have been mailed. The Green Lake County Farmland Preservation Committee will be holding meeting the last Mondays in January-March and will consist of a 12- person committee selected by the Committee. Separate open meetings will be allowed for questions. The October 18th Board of Adjustment meeting heard an appeal regarding a retaining wall constructed within 75 feet of the shoreline. The appeal was denied. 11. Chairman Wuest reported that there were multiple issues with contamination of the green waste which leads to verbal altercations when the workers try to prevent people from disposing materials incorrectly. The DNR inspects the pile before issuing a burning permit and fines can be imposed. Due to the abuse of green waste collection, it was determined that it will no longer be collected effective immediately. A discussion was held regarding alternatives to shutting down the program, such as additional signage or better policing and fines. A request was made to look into how other communities handle their collections. Alternative possibilities will be looked into and discussed at a future time. 12. Chairman Wuest introduced an Ordinance to move the Treasurer’s position into an appointed position rather than an elected one. It would go on the April ballot and be a binding referendum. If the position is an elected on, we are required to select someone from the township who might not be the best qualified person while an appointed position would allow the town to look at all candidates and their qualifications. The candidate would go before the board for approval. The pay for appointed verses elected would be similar. This would go into effect after the 2025-2027 term. M/S: Reabe/Mc Connell. Reabe: yes; Mc Connell: yes; Radke: yes; Wuest: yes. 13. The next Town Board Meeting will be held on January 14, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.