Town Board Meeting — Minutes

TOWN OF ROME BOARD MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY, JULY 2, 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, Monday, June 29, 2026, the Agenda for the Town of Rome Board meeting for Thursday, July 2, 2026 was posted at: Posted at the Rome Town Hall 11:02 a.m. Posted at Kwik Trip, LLC 11:20 a.m. Posted at Nekoosa Port Edwards State Bank 11:26 a.m. Emailed to the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune 9:45 a.m. 4. Approve the Agenda Motion by Giardino/Lewis 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 Hasdal: Busy weekend coming up and the LSPOA has a huge event on Saturday and Camelot has a lot of things going on as well. Newsom: Told the Board about the trees that are going to be planted on the LCPOA grounds in memory of Don Fornasiere with the donations that were made in his name. DISCUSS AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: 8. Discussion and possible action – Approval of the June 18, 2026 meeting minutes Motion by Reppen/Lewis to approve the June 18, 2026 meeting minutes. Motion carried. 9. Discussion and possible action – Solar Farm update Chairman Hasdal gave an update on the solar farm. Donna Hasdal, 241 Penhurst Way spoke regarding the MFL land and asked if there is a way for people to notify the Town if there is any activity happening on those lands. It was explained that the owner can and must harvest the trees as scheduled. 10. Discussion and possible action – Wake boat ordinance update Chairman Hasdal talked about the signs that are in the packet. Wants to know if anyone has a preference on the signs. Motion by Lewis/Reppen to approve the second sign in the packet from the Town of Troy removing the bottom line and making it only for the three lakes. Motion carried. This ordinance will be on the next agenda for a vote. 11. Discussion and possible action – Discussion regarding a newsletter for the Town and podcasts Supervisor Giardino spoke to this. Wants to do a newsletter and sell advertising to offset the cost of it. Wants to see a Chairman’s corner and maybe a Department Head to do an article in each letter. Donna Hasdal, 241 Penhurst, stated that she understands what Mayor Petfalski is saying but Muskego is a much larger city than we are and doesn’t feel that we would be able to make up the cost with the businesses here in Town, especially since all 3 associations do newsletters with advertising. Supervisor Lewis stated that while she understands what Supervisor Giardino is saying she feels that we would be duplicating the information that is already being put out there. Supervisor Giardino will get a cost of doing the newsletter from the business that he was provided. 12. Discussion and possible action – Discussion regarding a parking lot in the Rome Town Center Supervisor Giardino spoke to this. The Town owns the property next to the apartments that could be turned into a temporary parking lot with gravel. Supervisor Samelstad stated that it would not be able to be gravel it would have to be paved. Chairman Hasdal asked if they could task the Rome Town Center Sub-committee to come up with a place for parking. Supervisor Lewis stated that the last concert was attended by approximately 800 – 1,000 people. The Clerk was asked to make sure it is on the next agenda for the Rome Town Center Sub- committee. 13. Discussion and possible action – Discussion about Parks and Rec Committee and update on Walden projects Dave Trudeau, 1060 So Archers Way, gave an update on the Walden Park project. The cost of the project is going to be more than anticipated. They are doing fundraising and have received a grant from Visit Rome and there is some money left from another grant that can be used for this project. This would obligate the Town to commit about $1,100 dollars to the project. 14. Discussion and possible action – Approval of Resolution No. 26 – 06; A Resolution Adopting the Adams County All Hazards Mitigation Plan Update Clerk Newsom explained that this came from Emergency Management in the County. Motion by Samelstad/Reppen to approve Resolution No. 26 – 06; A Resolution Adopting the Adams County All Hazards Mitigation Plan Update. Motion carried. 15. Discussion and possible action - Approval of a Temporary Class “B” Beer and “Class B” Wine license for Visit Rome at the Bandshell in the Rome Town Center for September 18 and 19, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Clerk Newsom explained that this is actually a one-night event but they are requesting for both nights in case of a weather delay. Motion by Samelstad/Giardino to approve a Temporary Class “B” Beer and “Class B” Wine license for Visit Rome at the Bandshell in the Rome Town Center for September 18 and 19, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Motion carried. 16. The Town Board may go into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(c) considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility; and (f) considering financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigation of charges specific persons except where par; for purposes of discussing employment matters involving the Town Administrator Motion at 5:43 p.m. by Giardino/Lewis to go into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(c) considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility; and (f) considering financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigation of charges specific persons except where par; for purposes of discussing employment matters involving the Town Administrator. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. The Board exited closed session at 6:00 p.m. 17. The Town Board reserves the right to enter into open session authorized by Wis. Stat. 19.83(2) to possibly take action from the closed Session and continue with the agenda Motion at 6:01 p.m. by Lewis/Reppen by to enter into open session authorized by Wis. Stat. 19.83(2) to possibly take action from the closed Session and continue with the agenda. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. Chairman Hasdal stated that they will move forward as discussed. DATES AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA/MEETINGS 18. Next agenda items ➢ Wake Boat Ordinance ➢ Solid Waste Brush and Timber Contractor permits ➢ Community Event to enhance public relations and goodwill Deb Schumacher, 876 Prescott Ct, asked if the Wake Boat Ordinance will take effect this year and asked if the ordinance could be reversed by a new board. 0 19. Next meeting date and time July 16, 2026 – 5:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Giardino/Reppen to adjourn the meeting at 6:05 p.m. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Wendy Newsom Wendy Newsom Clerk