Regular January Town Board Meeting — Minutes

Regular January Town Board Meeting Minutes Monday, January 12th, 2026 The meeting was posted on January 7th, 2026 at the Bayfield Town Hall and the town website. Chairman Craig Hoopman and Supervisors Robert Meierotto, Karen Boutin, Fred Erickson, and Carol Fahrenkrog were present. Clerk Kelly Faye, Treasurer Billie Hoopman, and Road Foreman Carl Butterfield were also in attendance. Chairman Hoopman called the meeting at 6:30 PM, immediately following the Special Town Board Meeting (Executive Session) and the Caucus. Public Comment: Chairman Hoopman explained that the Town Board held a Special Town Board meeting at 5:00 PM during which they went into Executive Session to meet with the Town Attorney related to the Pike’s Creek Trail Land Issues. Hoopman stated that Attorney Lindsey advised that it is his viewpoint that the dispute is not a town issue. He suggested the trail stay open at this point. Public Comments…1) Jacob Dickey spoke on behalf of the local snowmobile club and requested snowmobile trail access off of Meyers Olson Road. He suggested closure to walkers from December-April to prevent any problems for non-motorized users. 2) Bill Bussey commented on the Pike’s Creek Trail Land Issue suggesting that it is a good to follow the Town Attorney’s advice. 3) Joyce Kiel stated she had prepared comments related to the Pike ’s Creek Trail Land Issue but will not be commenting if the town will not be taking any action. 4) Kate Kitchell of Bayfield Area Trails suggested that the issue of snowmobiles access to trail(s) should be placed on a future agenda for further discussion. She suggested that snowmobiles and walkers can co-exist. They could be separated. She suggested people not jump to the conclusion that the trail needs to be closed to walkers. She suggested that the options be discussed by the Plan Commission. She also commented that it is wise to follow the advice of the town’s attorney related to the P ikes Creek Land Issue. Chairman Hoopman commented that it was always the agree d upon that the trai l would be for everyone, but it could become a liability issue. Supervisor Erickson stated the land he grants an easement on has been in the family for a long time. He suggest ed there is a way to co-exist on the trail. He noted that he would like to see insurance policies for the snowmobile club and trail group. He stated it is good for all or nobody and that there should be no fighting over access or he will shut it down. He wants to support winter revenue in the area. He also commented on the need for speed enforcement on the trail. 5) Joel Weber stated that the snowmobile discussion should not be pushed onto future meetings but dealt with as soon as possible. 6) Rich Ryan stated he is a former sno wmobiler and believes that people walking will hear the snowmobiles coming in the distance. He thinks there should be signs in place stating that it is a multi-use trail. Hoopman suggested that there should be signs requiring dogs to be leashed. 7) Mary Finn stated that a lot of people walk their dogs off lea sh on the trail because there are not a lot of places to let their dogs run. 8) Chuck Finn added that he is concerned about the snowmobile’s speed having seen them on Meyers-Olson Road, suggesting there needs to be a good way to slow them down. He shared concern about kids getting hurt and doesn’t believe this would be safe. Supervisor Erickson stated that there are also safety concerns by using Meyers -Olson Road. 7) Jeremy Erickson suggested that speed limit signs should be in place. Items for Future Agendas: None. Discussion and possible approval of minutes of the Regular Tow n Board Meeting of December 8 th, 2025: A motion was made b y Fahrenkrog, seconded b y Boutin , to approve the minutes. Motion carried. Receive and Place on File Treasurer’s Report: 1/12/2026 GENERAL CHECKING ACCT. 50062 CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE $196,218.09 Less Checks Outstanding (To Date) $171,775.03 CURRENT AVAILABLE BALANCE $24,443.06 MONEY MARKET ACCT. 150375 LOANS: NOTES: 1. 2025 Tax Collections: mailed tax bills on December 11th, receiving tax payments daily and responding to calls about increased tax rates, and made the December settlement to other tax jurisdictions. 2. On January 5, 2026, I responded to inquiry on the Valley Road Agricultural Road Improvement Project Grant Application that was submittal on December 15, 2025. Total Estimated Project Cost = $691,866.03. Potential Grant Award = $622,679.43 (90%). Potential Town Responsibility = $69,186.60 3. Received Wisconsin Department of Transportation Aid payment of $53,435.87 on January 5, 2026. CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE $1,077,916.09 Less Designated Funds: • Growth Incentive Fund $39,769.23 • Pileated Woodpecker (Hatchery) Trail $9,580.04 • Other Trails Balance from 2025 (Carry over to 2026 PWT?) $101.17 • Salmo Trail Project (Essential and Tamarack Health) $10,000.00 TOTAL of Designated Funds $59,450.44 CURRENT AVAILABLE BALANCE $1,018,465.65 NOTE: Balance includes 2025 Tax Payments that are due to other jurisdictions. BREMER BANK LOANS Loader Star Route Project • Issue Date 2/21/2020 2024 • Maturity Date 2/21/2028 12/05/2028 • Interest Rate: 2.5% 4.2% Original Balance $433,918.28 $1,587,286.00 Last Payment Amount 12/21/2025 - $4,998.52 • $4,725.49 • $273.03 12/5/2025 - $141,263.72 • $121,821.00 • $19,442.72 Current Balance $126,333.32 $365,465.00 Next Payment Due 1/21/2026 = $4,998.52 12/05/2026 - $141,263.72 A motion was made by Meierotto, seconded by Fahrenkrog, to approve the report. Motion carried. Report from Pikes Bay Sanitary Distric t: Sean Heckman reported that Phil Peterson’s request to be removed from the district has been tabled until fall. He suggested that the Town Assessor is the only one that can change the status. He also reported on the Moonshot plant replacement project due to aging equipment. OLD BUSINESS Discussion and Possible Action on issues related to Pike's Creek Trail/Pileated Woodpecker Trail/Angler Access Trail land dispute including: closure of Pike's Creek Trail and/or Pileated Woodpecker Trail and/or Angler Access Trail , moving the Pileated Woodpecker Trail Bridge to a new location , status of Town of Bayfield Public Record Request to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, abandonment/Discontinuance of Old St. Paul Road., potential of gifting Town's interest to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources : A motion was made by Fahrenkrog, seconded by Boutin, to not take action on these issues. Motion carried. Scott Clark, Attorney for the Casper Family, questioned the assessment that the town does not have authority over this issue. Chairman Hoopman stated that it is his understanding that it is not a town issue and that is all the information he can give at this time. NEW BUSINESS Discussion and possible action on inquiry by Kelly Westlund-Bayfield County Assistant Administrator to hold a Public Input Session on the Bayfield County Zoning Code Re-write Process at the Town Hall in early February (Possible Date and Time of Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at 5:00 PM): It was agreed that this date and time would work. A motion was made by Meierotto, seconded by Fahrenkrog, to approve the posting of this meeting. Motion carried. (Note: This Public Input Session has since been postponed, date and location to be determined). Approve and place on file Clerk’s Report for December 2025: 12/05/2025-01/9/2026 DISBURSEMENTS Checks written $774,212.97 Range 22544 22604 BUDGETS vs. ACTUAL December 2025 Y-T-D Budget % of Budget Revenue 2,226$ 1,320,823$ 1,921,624$ 69% Expense 355,174$ 1,606,973$ 1,921,624$ 84% Balance (352,949)$ (286,150)$ A motion was made by Boutin, seconded by Erickson, to approve the Clerk ’s Report. Motion carried. Approve and place on file the Correspondence for January 2026: Received 1. Public Comment Letter from Kathleen Russell related to the Pike’s Creek Trail Land Dispute. 2. Email from Kate Kitchell of Bayfield Area Trails with documents/research related to the Pike’s Creek Trail land dispute. 3. Email from Kelly Westlund, Bayfield County Assistant Administrator suggesting a Public Input Session on the Zoning Code Rewrite Process be held at the Town Hall in February 2026. 4. Follow-up Email from Roger Branham, Jr with information he obtained related to whether he will need to install fencing to keep cattle out of ravine on his Ag-1 property. Outgoing 1. Federal Payroll Taxes for End of December and Beginning of January to US Treasury. 2. WI Payroll Taxes for December to WI Department of Revenue. 3. Quarterly Federal 941 Report to US Treasury. 4. Numerous emails and documents related to Pike’s Creek Trail Land Dispute to Attorney Max Lindsey. 5. Email responses to Attorney Scott Clark’s Public Records Request related to any mention of Saint Paul Road in historical minutes (2). 6. Public Records request to Terry Bay of WI Department of Natural Resources for documents related to the Pike’s Creek Trail land dispute. 7. Email to Bayfield County Clerk Lynn Divine with the planned Caucus date. 8. Training materials and instructions to Chief Election Inspectors to allow them complete required courses by end of 2025. 9. Signed Branham Rezone Application to Bayfield County Zoning Department. A motion was made by Meierotto, seconded by Fahrenkrog, to approve the Clerk’s Report. Motion carried. Chairman and Supervisor Reports: Chairman Hoopman expressed appreciation that people are attending meetings. Date and time for Regular February Town Board Meeting: Monday, February 9th, 2026- 6:00 PM. Adjourn: A motion was made by Boutin, seconded by Erickson, to adjourn. Motion carried. Minutes presented by: Kelly Faye, Clerk.