Town Board Meeting — Minutes

TOWN OF ROME BOARD MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026 5:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order Chairman Carl Hasdal called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present: Chairman Carl Hasdal; Supervisors Cyndee Lewis, Vito Giardino, Mark Samelstad and Tim Reppen; also present Clerk Wendy Newsom and Finance Director/Treasurer/Interim Administrator Robbie Schaub-Ruemler 3. Certify Posting of Meeting Wendy Newsom certified that on, Friday, August 7, 2026, the Agenda for the Town of Rome Board meeting for Thursday, August 20, 2026 was posted at: Posted at the Rome Town Hall 11:55 a.m. Posted at Kwik Trip, LLC 12:01 p.m. Posted at Nekoosa Port Edwards State Bank 12:09 p.m. Emailed to the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune 2:03 p.m. 4. Approve the Agenda Motion by Samelstad/Giardino to approve the agenda. Motion carried. 5. Pledge of Allegiance 6. Citizen Comments – During the Citizen Comment period of the agenda the Town Board welcomes comments from any town resident, not a member of the Town Board, on any item not on the agenda. Please know that pursuant to State law the Board cannot engage in conversation with you but may ask questions. The Board may refer the item to staff, a standing committee or a future board agenda for discussion and action. Each person wishing to speak will have up to 3 minutes to speak. Speakers are asked to submit a card to the Clerk providing their name, address and topic for discussion The board will also take comment from the public on agenda items as called by the Chair, but not during Citizen Comment. Please note that once the board begins discussion on an agenda item no further comment will be allowed from the public on that issue No citizen comments. Town of Rome Nekoosa, WI 54457 www.romewi.gov NO ACTION CONTEMPLATED EXCEPT POSSIBLE REFERRAL TO FUTURE AGENDA: 7. Information Updates, Meeting Recaps, Recent Correspondence, Current Events, Announcements Lewis: Updated gave an update on the Comp Plan Sub-Committee and announced that there are two concerts this weekend in the Rome Town Center sponsored by Visit Rome. Giardino: In his effort to try to start a taste of Rome he only received one response back and he has decided to discontinue this effort. The blood pressure monitors are in at the library. Hasdal: Spoke regarding the Camelot Frolics and people parking on the dam. Newsom: The Clerk gave announced that the Lake Sherwood Property Owners Association sent a thank you letter to the Town for the donation to the their 4th of July festivities. Also, we received a thank you letter from the Adopt A Husky organization for the donation made in honor of Joyce Frantz. 8. Department and Committee Reports ☐ Administration ☐ Rome Police Department ☐ EMS District/Lifestar ☐ Rome Public Works Department ☐ Lester Public Library of Rome ☐ Public Works and Utility Committee ☐ Parks Committee ☐ Community Development Authority ☐ Police and Fire Commission ☐ Visit Rome, WI ☐ Rome Fire Department ☐ Zoning Department ☐ Town Clerk ☐ Finance Director/Treasurer ☐ STR Report ☐ Court Report Supervisor Giardino thanked the Clerk for her efforts in the short-term rental complaints. Chairman Hasdal asked if there were any reports regarding the wake boat ordinance. The Police Department is educating the offenders on the new ordinance and giving warnings and will issue tickets for subsequent offences. He also asked about the Court violations for the camping permits. DISCUSS AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: 9. Discussion and possible action – Approval of the August 6, 2026 meeting minutes Motion by Lewis/Giardino to approve the August 6, 2026 meeting minutes. Motion carried. 10. Discussion and possible action – Checks, Vouchers, Receipts and Journal Entries - approve checks #50756 – 50861 totaling $414,664.04; Auto-payments totaling $161,051.78; State / Social Security / Medicare / Withholdings totaling $45,615.54; Payroll Vouchers V25653 – V25778 totaling $125,753.77; Receipts #27518 – 27602 totaling $797,446.33 Motion by Samelstad/Reppen to approve as presented. Motion carried. 11. Discussion and possible action – Parking in the Rome Town Center Supervisor Giardino stated that the Rome Town Center committee did not want to do anything for this. There is concern about an emergency vehicle getting down those roads when there is an emergency. Supervisor Reppen mentioned having a shuttle between the Town Hall parking lot and the Rome Town Center during events. Director of Public Works Cody Knoblock presented an option for a parking lot in the Rome Town Center next to the splash pad. Motion by Lewis/Reppen to table to the next meeting. 12. Discussion and possible action – Approval of a request from the Rome Fire Department Fund for a donation to their Annual Golf Outing Motion by Samelstad/Lewis to approve a request of $75.00 from the Rome Fire Department Fund for a donation to their Annual Golf Outing. Motion carried. 13. Discussion and possible action – Solar Farm update Chairman Hasdal asked if anyone has heard any more about this. Very little has been put out there about the Solar Farm and when/if they will start it. Donna Hasdal, 241 Penhurst Way, wanted to mention that WE Energies signed a document a long time ago with an intent to purchase but has not followed through on it. 14. Discussion and possible action – Approval of the appointment of Mark Lewis to the Board of Appeals for a term to expire on June 1, 2029 Motion by Giardino/Reppen to approve the appointment of Mark Lewis to the Board of Appeals for a term to expire on June 1, 2029. Motion carried. 15. Discussion and possible action – Approval of the appointment of Tina Verdin to the Community Development Authority for a term to expire on May 1, 2027 Motion by Lewis/Reppen to approve the appointment of Tina Verdin to the Community Development Authority for a term to expire on May 1, 2027. Motion carried. 16. Discussion and possible action – Approval of recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of an amendment to the findings of fact for the Site Plan/Plan of Operation for Foss’s Garden Center, for the property located 1135 CTH D, located in, Section 8, Town 20N, Range 06E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI, with a parcel number of 030-00674-0000 Motion by Reppen/Lewis to approve the recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of an amendment to the findings of fact for the Site Plan/Plan of Operation for Foss’s Garden Center, for the property located 1135 CTH D, located in, Section 8, Town 20N, Range 06E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI, with a parcel number of 030-00674-0000. Motion carried. 17. Discussion and possible action – Approval of recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of an amendment to the Site Plan/Plan of Operation for DCM Landscaping, for the property located at 258 Oak Dr, also described as Lots 3-4 of Fiesta Wood Unrecorded Subdivision, located in NE ¼, SW ¼, Section 12, Town 20N, Range 06E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI, with a parcel number of 030-01490-0000 Motion by Lewis/Giardino to approve the recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of an amendment to the Site Plan/Plan of Operation for DCM Landscaping, for the property located at 258 Oak Dr, also described as Lots 3-4 of Fiesta Wood Unrecorded Subdivision, located in NE ¼, SW ¼, Section 12, Town 20N, Range 06E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI, with a parcel number of 030- 01490-0000. Motion carried. 18. Discussion and possible action – Approval of recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of a Final Plat for Luke’s Bluff, to be located in the NW ¼, SW ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 29, Town 20N, Range 6E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI; with parcel numbers of 030-00275-0000 and 030-00276-0000; total area 80 acres Motion by Reppen/Lewis to approve the recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of a Final Plat for Luke’s Bluff, to be located in the NW ¼, SW ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 29, Town 20N, Range 6E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI; with parcel numbers of 030-00275-0000 and 030-00276- 0000; total area 80 acres. Motion carried. 19. Discussion and possible action – Approval of recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of a Site Plan/Plan of Operation for Central Bistro, for the property located at 1144 County Road D, also described as Lot 1 of CSM 6905, located in SW ¼, NE ¼, Section 08, Town 20N, Range 06E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI, with a parcel number of 030-00637-0020 Motion by Reppen/Samelstad to approve the recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of a Site Plan/Plan of Operation for Central Bistro, for the property located at 1144 County Road D, also described as Lot 1 of CSM 6905, located in SW ¼, NE ¼, Section 08, Town 20N, Range 06E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI, with a parcel number of 030-00637-0020. Motion carried. 20. Discussion and possible action – Approval of a Temporary Class “B” Beer license for Visit Rome, WI for the August 22, 2026 Concert in the Park Series to be held at the Bandshell in the Rome Town Center from 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Motion by Samelstad/Reppen to approve a Temporary Class “B” Beer license for Visit Rome, WI for the August 22, 2026 Concert in the Park Series to be held at the Bandshell in the Rome Town Center from 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Motion carried. 21. Discussion and possible action - The Board may go into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) for the purpose of considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, to discuss Town Administrator candidates Motion at 5:31 p.m. by Giardino/Samelstad to go into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) for the purpose of considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, to discuss Town Administrator candidates. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. The Board exited closed session at 6:12 p.m. 22. Discussion and possible action - The Board reserves the right to come out of closed session and go into open session authorized by Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(2) to possibly take action from the closed session and continue with the agenda Motion at 6:12 p.m. by Reppen/Lewis to come out of closed session and go into open session authorized by Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(2) to possibly take action from the closed session and continue with the agenda. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. DATES AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA/MEETINGS 23. Next agenda items ➢ Amber Danielski, CLA to present the final audit ➢ Tanya Burrows, Adams-Friendship Times newspaper ➢ Solar Farm update ➢ Administrator Search closed session ➢ Short-term rental clarification on short-term rental ordinances ➢ Rome Town Center parking lot 24. Next meeting date and time September 3, 2026 – 5:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Lewis/Giardino to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Wendy Newsom Wendy Newsom Clerk