Meeting Minutes

Page 1 of 4 9/9/25 TOWN OF LA POINTE REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING September 9th, 2025 at Town Hall at 5:00PM Minutes Town Board Members Present: Chair Glenn Carlson, Supervisor Samantha Dobson, Supervisor Sue Brenna, Supervisor Mike Anderson Staff Present: Town Clerk Alex Smith, Town Administrator Max Imholte, Zoning Administrator Rich Kula, Interim MRF Supervisor Evan Erickson Public Present: Paul Brummer, Charley Brummer, Jim Peters (via zoom), John Carlson Call to Order: 5:00pm I. Public Comment A*: Paul Brummer questioned where the money would come from to buy the Bell Street Tavern for a community center, low-cost housing, etc. and compared it to the lack of funds available for long-term repair to Mondamin Road. He stated it wouldn’t be just the town’s spending but the school district, the sanitary district, and the taxpayers. He noted that the town needs to separate wants from needs. John Carlson stated that instead of granting the Grutzner Easement, hopefully there will be some discussion and follow-up before approval. He is concerned about the other property owners who have had problems this past year. He mentioned there were two other property owners that dealt with zoning issues but had to apply for variances and or deal with delayed building, mentioning the reimbursement for Dobson’s. John stated it's not that the Town Board did not know that the prior Zoning Administrator was doing things wrong but turned a blind eye to it, which cost taxpayers money. Sue Brenna mentioned anyone watching the Town meeting on YouTube, to make sure you turn on the closed captions to follow along. Glenn Carlson thanked John Carlson for his EMS service, which ended in late spring. II. Administrative Reports A. Town Administrator’s Report: Prepared by Max Imholte. B. Public Works Director’s Report: Prepared by Pete Wiggins. C. MRF Supervisor’s Report: Prepared by Evan Erickson. D. Airport Manager’s Report & Checklist: Prepared by Paul Wilharm. E. Planning and Zoning Administrator’s Report: Prepared by Rich Kula. F. Accounting Manager’s Report: Prepared by Liz Brown. G. Police Chief’s Report: Prepared by Thom Rossberger. H. Fire Chief’s Report: No report presented. I. Ambulance Director’s Report: Prepared by Sarah Schram. Monthly Reports placed on file by unanimous consent. III. Public Works: Nothing to discuss in the Public Works Department at the time. IV. Committees Page 2 of 4 9/9/25 A. Planning and Zoning 1. Grant Easement for Grutzner Property: Town Board Chair, Glenn Carlson, discussed with the Town Board the reasoning for granting the Grutzner Easement. The Zoning Administrator had recommended approval of this easement, and it was rejected by the Town Plan Commission on a 3-2 vote. The Town has given easements for public safety before, on town property, including on Schoolhouse Road and the easement for the driveway across the strip of land that the town owns and easements between private property owners for setback purposes. The surrounding neighbors agree with allowing this easement and do not see any issues. Granting this easement would allow the Grutzner property to meet setback requirements. Motion to approve the Grutzner Easement, G. Carlson/M. Anderson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. 2. Discussion of Zoning Ordinance Public Hearing: The Town Board discussed the response from the Zoning Ordinance Public Hearing with townspeople being dissatisfied with public input/discussion at the meeting. Given the length of the Ordinance, the Town Board suggested the Town Plan Commission split it up into sections for discussion, allowing for more in-depth conversations and opinions from the public, possibly doing several workshops. No action was taken by the Town Board. V. Town Hall Administration Motion to move V. Town Hall Administration Letter A to before ‘New Agenda Items’, S. Brenna/S. Dobson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. A. Consider Possible Negotiation and Purchase of Property for Public Use The Town Board may go into closed session during the meeting for the deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business in which it is or is likely to become involved in accordance with to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85 (1)(e). After the completion of the closed session, the Board will come back into open session to act upon the discussion in the closed session or otherwise complete the business of the meeting before adjourning. B. Approve Job Description for Public Works Laborer: Motion to approve the job description for Public Works Laborer with correction to last page, S. Brenna/S. Dobson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. C. Update on Madeline Island Museum (Presentation by Mike Wiggins): Mike Wiggins was not present to give presentation. Item deferred. D. Special Event Permit for Native American Education Technologies for Treaty Days: Motion to approve the Special Event Permit for Treaty Days, M. Anderson/S. Dobson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. E. Approve Revised Budget Timeline: Motion to approve the revised budget timeline, S. Brenna/S. Dobson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. F. Approve Lease Agreement for MJ Electric: Motion to approve the lease agreement with MJ Electric, M. Anderson/S. Dobson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. Page 3 of 4 9/9/25 VI. Vouchers A. Town of La Pointe: Motion to approve the town vouchers in the amount of $61,262.07, M. Anderson/S. Dobson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. VII. Minutes A. Special Town Board Meeting – August 22nd, 2025 B. Regular Town Board Meeting – August 26th, 2025 Motion to approve the minutes from 8/22 and 8/26 as presented, S. Brenna/S. Dobson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. VIII. Emergency Services A. Police Department 1. Hire Part Time Officer: Motion to hire Richard Lankonen as part time police officer at $26.68/hr starting October 1st not to exceed 800 hours, S. Brenna/M. Anderson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. 2. Purchase order for 20ft Range Storage Container (#2025-21): Motion to approve the purchase order for a storage container in the amount of $4.747.47, M. Anderson/S. Brenna, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. IX. Public Comment B** Paul Brummer complimented the Parks Department this season in regards to mowing the ballpark grass. He also suggested thoughts on the Zoning Ordinance and how it can be handled moving forward by breaking it up into sections, having the writers give a presentation on the changes, having meetings in the evening where the public can attend, etc. John Carlson said there was no discussion during the Zoning Ordinance Public Hearing, so he is confused where all of this feedback is coming from. He states there were only about 5 people that had something to say other than that everybody was quiet. X. Liquor Licenses 1. Temporary Class “B” Picnic License with the Madeline Island Preservation Association for the Codger Game: Motion to approve the Temporary Class “B” License for the Codger Game on September 14th, S. Dobson/S. Brenna, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. XI. Lawsuits & Legal Issues The Town Board may go into closed session during the meeting for the purpose of conferring with legal counsel with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved in accordance with to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85 (1)(g). After the completion of the closed session, the Board will come back into open session to act upon the discussion in the closed session or otherwise complete the business of the meeting before adjourning. A. Petition with Ashland County Circuit Court case Regarding Ashland County Tax Levy B. Sargent Claim vs Town of La Pointe Nothing new to discussion at this time. Motion to go into closed session, S. Brenna/S. Dobson, Roll Call Mike Anderson yes, Sue Brenna yes, Aimee Baxter absent, Samantha Dobson yes, Glenn Carlson yes, Motion Carried. 5:38pm A. Consider Possible Negotiation and Purchase of Property for Public Use: Item discussed in closed session. The Town Board may go into closed session during the meeting for the deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of Page 4 of 4 9/9/25 public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business in which it is or is likely to become involved in accordance with to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85 (1)(e). After the completion of the closed session, the Board will come back into open session to act upon the discussion in the closed session or otherwise complete the business of the meeting before adjourning. Motion to return to open session, S. Brenna/S. Dobson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. 6:02pm XII. New Agenda Items for Future Meetings Open Propane Bids Community Award appointment Harbor Commission appointment Update on Madeline Island Museum Consider Possible Negotiation and Purchase of Property for Public Use – (Future Meeting) XIII. Adjourn: Motion to adjourn, S. Brenna/S. Dobson, 4 Ayes, Motion Carried. 6:03pm Submitted by Town Clerk, Alex Smith. Approved as submitted, 9/23/25.