Meeting Minutes

Draft minutes: these minutes have not been approved by the Town Board and are subject to corrections/changes. TOWN OF HOLLAND BOARD MEETING August 13, 2025 MEMBERS PRESENT Chair Bob Stupi, Supervisors Rick Hauser, Jeff Herlitzke, and Michael Hoffman EXCUSED David Weber STAFF PRESENT Town Crew David Carlson, Clerk Marilyn Pedretti CALL TO ORDER Chair Stupi called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Notices were properly posted. Without objection, items 9A and 9B were moved to follow the Fire Study. MINUTES Motion by Hoffman/Hauser to approve the minutes of July 9th and 31st. MOTION carried. CITIZENS’ CONCERNS: none given. COUNTY SUPERVISOR REPORT: None given. PLAN COMMISSION CSM: Rena Patterson, W7443 County Road T, requested approval of a Certified Survey Map (CSM) to split/realign parcels 8-930-6, 8-932-04 and 8-932-5 that would result in four lots. Hoffman explained the Plan Commission had discussed this split for several months and the CSM was unanimously recommended for approval. Rena Patterson explained the need for the split. Discussion followed. Motion by Herlitzke/Hauser to approve the CSM for W7443 County Road T. MOTION carried unanimously. Report on 8/6/25 meeting: Hoffman reported they updated the Town’s Emergency Operations Plan and suggested conducting a table top exercise in the near future. FIRE SERVICES STUDY Stupi explained the grant the Town received to contract for a fire services study. Jess Wildes, Partner with Innovative Public Advisors, introduced herself and noted the first draft of the report was provided late Monday night. Paul Stephans, Innovative Public Advisors, provided background and history with the assistance of the stakeholders. Wildes pointed out the key findings: • Rising call volume trends • Staffing challenges • Governance and partnership dynamics • Referendum support and fiscal commitment • Collaboration opportunities exist Wildes and Stephans reviewed the study and answered questions. Onalaska Mayor Kim Smith and Village President Pat Barlow thanked Holland for the initiative and are open to partnerships in the future. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire station study: Stupi reported a joint meeting was held on July 31st to discuss the fire station study and asked for input from the board. Discussion followed concerning the fiscal restraints of additional fire stations, possible location(s) and the need to understand Draft 2 ramifications of collaboration with the four municipalities. Stupi suggested combining the data from the City of Onalaska and the Holmen Area Fire Department reports and Fire Chief Ryan Ostreng suggested Five Bugles could possibly add to the scope of the project. Chief Ostreng, City of Onalaska Fire Chief Pete Fletty and Assistance Chief Jeremy Southworth provided input concerning call run times vs call volumes and the multiple scenarios. It was the consensus to call another joint meeting in the near future to discuss next steps forward. Report on 7/15/25 meeting: Hauser reviewed the draft minutes from the July 15th meeting. Chief Ostreng noted the commander vehicle is close to completion and they continue to monitor the roof leakage issue. STORMWATER UTILITY COMMISSION Culvert clean-out project: Hoffman reported he and John Frauenkron, Town Crew Supervisor, have inspected approximately half of the culverts on the list and will continue to meet with residents to move the project forward. Fonstad Road: Hoffman reported the work should begin this Friday or next week. Culvert work at Walnut: Hoffman reported on a drainage issue north of Holland Drive on Walnut Street. Melissa Emery, N7128 Walnut Street, explained she has lived there eight years and outlined the drainage concerns on the neighboring property is more than water run-off from the road. Hoffman explained the engineer’s suggestion to install a culvert under Walnut Street and swale the area for better drainage. Discussion followed. Motion by Herlitzke/Stupi to go out for Request for Proposal (RFP) to add a culvert on Walnut Street. MOTION carried unanimously. Ditch work at Country and Garden: Hoffman explained the drainage issue by the culvert, which had end walls installed this summer. He explained the engineer’s suggestion to remove about a truck load of dirt to alleviate humps that prevent the water from flowing to the drainage area. Discussion followed. Motion by Hoffman/Herlitzke that the crew take care of project on Country Avenue and Garden Street. MOTION carried unanimously. Ditch work at Mary Court and Park Avenue: Hoffman explained that a contractor dug out, seeded/mulched the area and that shortly after the area washed due to a heavy rain. He noted three culverts in the area filled up about one-third with sand. He reported the engineer suggested adding a rock area on Park Avenue. David Carlson, W7705 Park Avenue and Town crew member, reported the rock area is on his property and will cause problems in the future because it was not constructed to drain. He also noted a frustration with these projects having to be redone after the initial work. Discussion followed. Motion by Herlitzke/Hoffman to fix the work at Mary Court and Park Avenue not to exceed $500. MOTION carried unanimously. Report on 8/6/25 meeting: Hoffman reported everything was covered. PARK COMMITTEE Walking trail: Stupi the trail has been installed and is very popular. He noted the crew is working to add dirt and shape the edges. Carlson noted an area south of the ball diamonds that is ponding and the clerk was instructed to contact Mathy to fix. Tree removal along bike path: Members reviewed the proposal submitted to remove a cottonwood along the bike trail at the corner of Sylvester Road and Highway 53. Discussion followed and the clerk was directed to check on options from the engineer. Motion by Hauser/Stupi to put back out for bid. MOTION carried unanimously. Draft 3 PUBLIC WORKS Repair – loader tractor: Carlson reported the outer seals are torn and, if not repaired, sand could infiltrate to the inner seals. Discussion followed. Motion by Herlitzke/Hoffman to authorize Hydromechanical Wizards to repair the loader tractor in the amount of $1,280. MOTION carried unanimously. Refueling options: Stupi explained the water infiltration concerns with the diesel tank and some of the equipment repairs as a result. He noted cards were issued for each truck to obtain diesel from Kwik Trip. Discussion followed. It was the consensus to end the use of Allied and direct the crew to use Kwik Trip. The clerk was directed to contact Allied to drain the fuel and seek options for the tank. Driveway policy: Stupi explained the issue on Maple Street brought forth a discussion with the stormwater engineer of revisiting the policy of when a driveway permit is required. He noted current policy does not require a permit if no change to the size or location of the driveway but the engineer suggested all work should go through the Town in order to evaluate whether culverts need to be added when the work is performed. Discussion followed. It was the consensus to update the driveway permit as suggested. A driveway amendment will be presented next month. Future road work: Stupi noted the boring, pavement design and construction work for Garfield Road, Amundson Coulee Road and Folkert Road as well as the boring and pavement design for Green Place, Oak Drive, Long Coulee Court and Wolfe Road is proceeding. Town crew report: Stupi referenced the written Town crew report and noted Carlson is out on medical leave for a few weeks. REGIONAL BLUFFLAND COALITION Stupi reported Weber is working on an application for grant funding to assist with matching the Town’s commitment on the bike trail. TREASURER’S REPORT AND BILLS The Treasurer’s report and invoices were reviewed. Motion by Herlitzke/Hoffman to accept the treasurer’s report and approve paying the bills in the amount of $220,186.15. MOTION carried. ANNOUNCEMENTS Herlitzke asked that a Levy Adjustment strategy for the Fire Department be added to the next agenda. Reported that Stupi and Pedretti will attend the WTA convention in October. ADJOURN Motion by Herlitzke/Hauser to adjourn. MOTION carried. Adjourned 8:22 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn J. Pedretti Town Clerk