Budget Hearing, Electors Meeting, and Regular November Town Board Meeting — Minutes

2026 Budget Hearing Meeting Minutes Monday, November 24th, 2025 Bayfield Town Hall, 85450 County Highway J The meeting was posted on November 18th, 2025 at the Bayfield Town Hall and the town website. Chairman Craig Hoopman and Supervisors Robert Meierotto, Fred Erickson, Carol Fahrenkrog were in attendance. Karen Boutin was attending on Zoom. Clerk Kelly Faye, Treasurer Billie Hoopman, and Road Foreman Carl Butterfield were also in attendance. Chairman Hoopman called the meeting at approximately 6:00 PM. Review Summary of Year-End 2025 and Estimated 2026 Revenues and Expenses: Clerk Faye noted that summaries were available on the back table for those in attendance. Copies of the proposed budget were also available to review. Faye read the summary including the following information… Estimated Year End 2025 Income $1,361,754. Estimated Year End 2025 Expenses $1,792,188. Estimated Retained Earnings to be used by Year End 2025 $430,434 Budgeted 2026 Income and Expenses (balanced) $2,126,396 Estimated Retained Earnings to be used by Year End 2026 $280,558 Receive public input on Proposed Budget: Clerk Faye asked if anyone had any questions on the summary or the proposed budget. Adjourn Public Hearing: A motion was made by Meierotto, seconded by Erickson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Regular October Town Board Meeting Minutes Monday, November 24th, 2025 Immediately Following the 2026 Budget Hearing The meeting was posted on November 18th, 2025 at the Bayfield Town Hall and the town website. Chairman Craig Hoopman and Supervisors Robert Meierotto, Fred Erickson, Carol Fahrenkrog were in attendance. Karen Boutin was attending on Zoom. Clerk Kelly Faye, Treasurer Billie Hoopman, and Road Foreman Carl Butterfield were also in attendance. Chairman Hoopman called the meeting at approximately 6:15 PM. Public Comment: None. Items for Future Agendas: None. Discussion and possible approval of minutes of the Budget Workshop and Regular Town Board Meeting of October 13th, 2025: A motion was made by Meierotto, seconded by Erickson, to approve the minutes. Motion carried. Receive and Place on File Treasurer’s Report: 10/13/2025 GENERAL CHECKING ACCT. #50062 CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE $88,633.50 Less Checks Outstanding (To Date) $40,387.82 CURRENT AVAILABLE BALANCE $48,245.68 MONEY MARKET ACCT. #150375 CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE $1,012,529.26 Less Designated Funds: • Growth Incentive Fund $39,664.00 • Pileated Woodpecker (Hatchery) Trail (for bridge & trail remedies) 12200.04 - $120 legal bill) $12,080.04 • Economic Study/ Other Trails (assumes carry over/tranfer of funds): $2,249.17 • Salmo Trail Project (Essential and Tamarack Health) $10,000.00 TOTAL of Designated Funds $63,993.21 CURRENT AVAILABLE BALANCE $948,536.05 LOANS: BREMER BANK LOANS Loader Star Route Project • Issue Date 2/21/2020 2024 • Maturity Date 2/21/2029 12/05/2028 • Interest Rate: 2.5% 4.2% Original Balance $433,918.28 $1,587,286.00 Last Payment Amount 9/21/2025 - $4,998.52 • $4,686.03 • $312.49 12/23/2024 - $1,123,888.65 Current Balance $140,470.93 $487,286.00 Next Payment Due 10/21/2025 = $4,998.52 12/05/2025 - $121,821.00 NOTES: 1. The Town of Bayfield 2024-2025 Snowplowing invoices were mailed on September 5, 2025, along with the 2025-2026 request forms. Receiving payments and deposits. 2. The Town of Bayfield received their General Transportation Aid Payment on October 6, 2025, in the amount of $49,861.31. 3. I contacted Attorney Lindsay to inquire about making final payment to Anderson Bridges. The settlement amount is $6250.00. The original check in the amount of $33,750 remains uncashed and is represented in the outstanding check value noted above. 4. The Town’s Savings and Checking accounts will be changed to Old National Bank beginning on October 0, 2025. We’ve been given new account numbers and on-line banking login instructions. I will be paying particular attention to make sure the October 21, 2025 loan payment is made. A motion was made by Fahrenkrog, seconded by Meierotto, to approve the report. Motion carried. Town Hall Rental Approval: Treasurer Hoopman requested approval of a Town Hall Rental application for a birthday party to be held by a town resident on December 7th, 2025. A motion was made by Fahrenkrog, seconded by Meierotto, to approve the request. Motion carried. Report from Pikes Bay Sanitary District: Sean Heckman, who was recently appointed as a PBSD Commissioner, was in attendance. He stated the final 2026 Budget will be approved at their meeting on December 3rd. Fahrenkrog questioned the status of the upcoming tax levy. Heckman reported there would be a tax levy from PBSD but it was significan tly lower than in years pas t. Discussion also took place about whether Ag-1 land was meant to be included in the boundaries of the Sanitary District. It was noted that Phil Peterson is requesting to be removed as he has Ag- 1 land and believes he should not have been included. Heckman explained that this issue will also be discussed at the December 3rd PBSD meeting. Update from Bayfield Area Trails including Pikes Creek Trail Land and Bridge issues : Chairman Hoopman reported that Anderson Bridges has now cashed the check for the bridge and the court case has been s ettled. The Casper Family, who own land adjacent to the trail and claim the trail trespasses their parcel, were present. Kevin Casper stood and read a statement expressing his viewpoint on what he called an “extremely exhausting and costly” two years of dealing with the land dispute . His statement expressed concerns with the letter from Terry Bay of the WI Department of Natural Resources sharing their findings related to Old St. Paul Road and their suggestion that the town still controls a 66 -foot right-of-way along the creek. He claimed that it states in the DNR letter that this is their summary is their opinion , not necessarily fact. He expressed concerns about the land potentially being taken away from his family. He requested that the town “remove the bridge and relocate it to an area downstream where it is 100% state owned and has zero property line issues ”. He also offered to gather a group of volunteers to help cut a new trail to meet the old one if needed. He stated that his family would give the town until December 5th to let them know if they would consider their option, and if not they will start legal proceedings. He added “We would also advise that the trail group closes this area of the trail until this dispute is resolved. All trespassers will be called into the Sheriffs Department for prosecution. We will also be seeking charges for whomever removed the sign s and survey stakes or gave authority to do so.” Casper stated that he does not want to go to court with his local community but feels that it is his last resort. Chairman Hoopman explained that he recently had a phone conversation with Terry Bay about the letter. At that time, Mr. Bay suggested that the town arrange to have their own survey done. Hoopman questioned whether the survey and/or legal proceedings were justifiable for the town. Hoopman claimed that people using the area was never an issue until it became a trail. Discussion took place about the option to move the bridge and close the tr ail effective immediately. Hoopman stated he has equipment capable of moving the structure and is willing to do so himself. Fahrenkrog brought up the issue of where the bridge would go if moved, and what the town would do with Old St. Paul Road. Hoopman stated he believes that the bridge should be removed once the ground is frozen and placed in another spot once a new location is identified. He also suggested the trail be closed effective immediately. A motion was made by Fahrenkrog, seconded by Erickso n, to approve removing the Pike’s Creek Trail bridge once the ground is froze n, until another location is found, and closing the trail effective immediately. Motion carried. Meierotto asked about how the town can prevent this type of situation happening in the future. OLD BUSINESS Discussion and possible action on recommendation from Plan Commission on trail proposals associated with the Bayfield Area Trails Long -Term Plan that would potentially occur on lands under the jurisdiction of the Town of Bayfield: Plan Commission Chairman Chuck Finn was in attendance. He explained that Kate Kitchell of Bayfield Area Trails recently presented the long-term plan to the Plan Commission members which included several new trails involving multiple townships. Four of the long-term plan’s proposed trails/bike routes would be located entirely in the Town of Bayfield . One proposal to have a bike route on Star Route Road was eliminated for the time being during the meeting due to safety concerns, which left three remaining proposals. The overall feeling of the members was supportive. Some concern was shared that the town not be res ponsible for the financial management of trails and that Bayfield Area Trails provide the town with a long-term maintenance plan. It was suggested that trails are good for the town but there is a limit of what the town can do. Fahrenkrog suggested that Bayfield Area Trails become a non-profit organization. Chairman Hoopman agreed that this is a good option. Erickson asked what the tax ramifications are of adding trails in the town. Update on Pikes Bay Sanitary District Boundary Issues : This issue was already discussed as part of the PBSD monthly report. NEW BUSINESS Discussion and possible approval of 2025 Town Tax Levy: A motion was made by Hoopman, seconded by Erickson, to approve the tax levy. A roll call vote was taken - Hoopman-yes, Fahrenkrog-yes, Meierotto-yes, Erickson-yes, Boutin-yes. Motion carried with a vote of 5-yes, 0- no. Discussion and possible approval of 2026 Budget: A motion was made by Fahrenkrog, seconded by Meierotto, to approve the budget. Motion carried. Discussion and possible approval of survey of land related to the Pike’s Creek Trail Land dispute, if determined to be necessary: The Pikes Creek Trail Land dispute was addressed earlier in the meeting. No survey was approved at this time. Discussion and possible action on Resolution: 2025-05 Obligation to Pay Taxes: The resolution was presented as follows… Resolution 2025-05: Obligation to Pay Taxes WHEREAS, the Town Treasurer is required by statute to furnish a bond to the County Treasurer in a sum of double the amount of state and county taxes apportioned to her town conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of her office and that she will account for and pay over according to law all state and county taxes which shall come into her hands, and WHEREAS, the Town Board is given the power under Section 70.67 (2) of the Wisconsin Statutes, to obligate the Town in case the Town Treasurer shall fail to pay all state and county taxes required by law to be paid by the Town Treasurer to the County Treasurer, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of the Town of Bayfield, at its regular meeting held this 24th day of November 2025, that the Town of Bayfield does hereby obligate itself to pay in case the Town Treasurer shall fail to do so, all state and county taxes required by law to be paid by such Treasurer to the County Treasurer. Adopted by the Town of Bayfield Board of Supervisors by a vote of - . Dated this 24th day of November 2025. TOWN OF BAYFIELD ___________________________ ____________________________ Craig Hoopman, Chair Fred Erickson, Supervisor ___________________________ ____________________________ Robert Meierotto, Supervisor Karen Boutin, Supervisor ___________________________ Carol Fahrenkrog, Supervisor THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly and legally adopted by the TOWN OF BAYFIELD at a regular meeting held on the 24th day of November 2025. ___________________________ Kelly N. Faye, Clerk A motion was made by Erickson, seconded by Fahrenkro g, to approve Resolution 2025 -05. Motion carried. Discussion of possible insurance claim related to Valley Road gravel placement inciden t: Chairman Hoopman gave an overview of the incident in which a vehicle ran into a mound of gravel as it was being prepared to be spread on Valley Road. There is no new information to report from insurance at this time as the claim is in process. Approve and place on file the Clerk’s Report for November 2025: A motion was made by Fahrenkrog, seconded by Meierotto, to approve the Clerk’s Report. Motion carried. Approve and place on file the Correspondence: November 2025 Received 1. School Levy Tax Credit, Lottery Credit, First Dollar Credit Notices from WI Department of Revenue. 2. Dismissal Order for legal dispute with Anderson Bridges related to Pikes Creek Trail Bridge from Attorney Max Lindsey. 3. Tax Levy Documents from the following: PBSD, Bayfield School, Northwoods Technical College, and Bayfield County. 4. Notices from WPS and SunLife Insurance Companies noting bank changes caused automatic payment to be denied and need of new bank routing number. 5. Request for Town Hall rental from Bryce Albrecht. 6. Notice of availability of 2025 paperwork for Ambulance Length of Service Award (LOSA) reports on the online portal from Glatfelter Specialty Benefits. 7. Notice of 2025 Shared Revenue Payment from WI Department of Revenue. 10/10/2025 - 11/18/2025 DISBURSEMENTS Checks written Range 22469 22531 BUDGETS vs. ACTUAL October 2025 Y-T-D Budget % of Budget Revenue 175,534$ 1,204,670$ 1,921,624$ 63% Expense 231,174$ 1,217,918$ 1,921,624$ 63% Balance (55,640)$ (13,249)$ 8. Copies of two approved Land Use Permits in the Town of Bayfield from Bayfield County Zoning Department. Outgoing 1. Federal Payroll Taxes for End of October and Beginning of November to US Treasury. 2. WI Payroll Taxes for October to WI Department of Revenue. 3. Copies of Resolutions and Town Board Minutes related to PBSD expansions in 2002, 2005, and 2009 to Bayfield Town Board and PBSD Commissioners. 4. Letter addressed to Paul Piszczek and Greg Behling of the WI Department of Natural Resources announcing resolution of dispute with Anderson Bridges as was required for the settlement. 5. Copy of letter from Terry Bay of the WI Department of Natural Resources related to their findings of a town easement for Old Saint Paul Road along the Pikes Creek Trail, to adjacent landowner Kevin Casper. 6. Email response to Heidi Zimmer of Wild Rice Retreat related to their interest in obtaining a Class B Liquor License (due to the quota, none are currently available). 7. Notice to HeyGov online application program manager requesting cancellation of subscription due to cost and decreased need since Short-Term Rental Applications are no longer being processed. 8. Budget Summary for publication in Ashland Daily Press. A motion was made by Meierotto, seconded by Erickson, to approve the correspondence. Motion carried. Chairman and Supervisor Reports: Hoopman reported he plans to move to the City of Bayfield in the Spring and will need to step down from the town board at that time or before. He also noted that the roads are looking good. The road crew recently brushed the fire lanes. He stated they are doing a good job. Date and time for Regular December Town Board Meeting and Holiday Party: Monday, December 8th, 2025- 5:30 PM. Adjourn: A motion was made by Meierotto, seconded by Erickso n, to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:00 PM. Minutes presented by: Kelly Faye, Clerk.