Town Board Meeting — Minutes

TOWN OF ROME BOARD MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY, MAY 7, 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, May 1, 2026, the Amended Agenda for the Town of Rome Board meeting for Thursday, May 7, 2026 was posted at: Posted at the Rome Town Hall 3:50 p.m. Posted at Kwik Trip, LLC 4:10 p.m. Posted at Nekoosa Port Edwards State Bank 4:20 p.m. Emailed to the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune 2:50 p.m. 4. Approve the Agenda Motion by Giardino/Reppen 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 Giardino: Reminder about the Military Honor Walk celebration on Sunday, May 24th at 12:00 in the Rome Town Center. The banners will be on display from Memorial Day – Veteran’s Day. The Andrew Mueller Memorial Benefit will be held on June 13th to raise funds to equip Police Departments with EPI pens at Golden Sands Speedway at 11:00 a.m. Hasdal: He welcomed Cyndee Lewis to the Town Board. He announced that the sound system has been improved in both rooms. He and Mark met with a company called Biochar Now last week about putting in a facility that will produce biochar that can be used to help clean up the lakes. Interim Administrator Robbie Schaub-Ruemler mentioned that this is Professional Municipal Clerk’s week and thanked the Clerk for all her hard work. DISCUSS AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: 8. Discussion and possible action – Approval of the April 16, 2026 and April 28, 2026 meeting minutes Motion by Samelstad/Lewis to approve the April 16, 2026 and April 28, 2026 meeting minutes. Motion carried. 9. Discussion only – Brush and Timber Ordinance Chairman Hasdal asked the Public Works Director if we pick up 5 acres or more? Yes, we pick up from all parcels that put the brush out during the Firewise project. Chairman would like to have a meeting with Amy Penn from the DNR about asking them to help get some of the owners of these larger parcels to get them cleaned up. Supervisor Giardino spoke with the Administrator from the County and there are programs that can be reached out to for volunteer opportunities. He will get that information to Mark Lubecke to look into. Chairman Hasdal will try to get a meeting set up with Amy Penn from the DNR. 10. Discussion and possible action – Solar Farm decision and next steps Chairman Hasdal announced that the PSC filed their decision on May 1st and presented additional information on why the Town should continue the fight against the Solar Farm. Supervisor Giardino asked what the next step is. The appeal would go through the Adams County Court. Jerry Tadysak, 1518 Sumac Trail, asked if there are appealable issues. Chairman Hasdal answered that yes there are appealable issues. Motion by Lewis/Giardino to continue to fight against the Solar Farm based on the vote at the Annual Town Meeting. Motion carried. 11. Discussion and possible action – Review information and costs from EOR for Endangered Species study and/or utilize another source for the study of the 2,000 acres solar farm project. Waiting to hear from UWSP about interest and costs Chairman Hasdal presented the information regarding hiring EOR for an endangered species study of the 2,000 acres that NextEra is proposing to use for the solar farm. Motion by Reppen/Giardino to move forward with a study to find endangered species in the 2,000 acres proposed by the solar farm company. Motion carried with Samelstad voting no. 12. Discussion only – Review Wellhead Protection Zone for the Wisconsin Trapshooters as compiled by the Wisconsin Rural Waters Association. Wellhead Protection Zone is also due for the 2 Town wells on Leisure Lane. Review Wellhead Protection Ordinance as approved by the Wisconsin DNR Chairman Hasdal presented information on a proposed Wellhead Protection Ordinance for the Town of Rome. This ordinance would protect our drinking water from any contaminants that could seep into the soil. Zac Schaeren, 1001 Kings Way, stated that it is about 730 acres that would not be able to used by the solar farm. He also pointed out that if they lost that acreage it would put the project under what the PSC has authority to approve. Mark Lubecke, 931 Sussex Ct, asked if those are EPA regulations. 13. Discussion only – Public Fire Protection charges Jerry Tadysak, 1518 Sumac Trail, spoke regarding the Public Fire Protection charges that he pays. Finance Director/Treasurer Schaub-Ruemler explained that in order to change the way they charge the Fire Protection Charge the Town would have to go back to the PSC for a rate change. 14. Discussion and possible action – Wake Boat Ordinance Chairman Hasdal presented the proposed ordinance and explained that this ordinance would need to be sent to the DNR for approval. 15. Discussion and possible action – Responsibilities of various zoning and ordinance enforcements. What department handles what areas of enforcement Chairman Hasdal spoke regarding who handles enforcement of different ordinances. Bill Noltemeyer, 1373 Sawgrass Dr., spoke regarding a short-term rental property and stated that there hasn’t been any resolution to the problem. Discussion was had regarding the short-term rentals. 16. Discussion and possible action – Approval of request from Lake Sherwood Property Owner’s Association on sponsorship of the 4th of July festivities Clerk Newsom explained that the Town donated $250.00 as a White Sponsor to this event last year. Motion by Samelstad/Reppen to donate $250.00 to the Lake Sherwood Property Owner’s Association for sponsorship of the 4th of July festivities. Motion carried. 17. Discussion and possible action – Approval of Ordinance No. 26 – 06; Amendment to Code Section 314-2; Solid Waste; Requirements and Prohibitions Supervisor Giardino explained that this was brought forth because there are more people in Town with garbage pickup and some are leaving their cans by the road for a week at a time and the neighbors are complaining. Motion by Giardino/Lewis to approve Ordinance No. 26 - 06; Amendment to Code Section 314-2; Solid Waste; Requirements and Prohibitions. Motion carried. 18. Discussion and possible action – Approval of appointment of Cyndee Lewis as Town Board Representative to the Parks and Recreation Committee and to Visit Rome, WI LLC Motion by Samelstad/Reppen to approve the appointment of Cyndee Lewis as the Town Board Representative on the Parks and Recreation Committee and to the Visit Rome, LLC Board. Motion carried. 19. Discussion and possible action – Approval of reappointment of Tim Reppen as Town Board Representative to the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Plan Commission Motion by Samelstad/Lewis to approve reappointment of Tim Reppen as Town Board Representative to the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Plan Commission. Motion carried. 20. Discussion and possible action – Approval of change in E-Con Electric bill for the electrical work at the Bandshell for the Food Truck path from $14,944.00 to $15,582.00 Public Works Director, Cody Knoblock explained that the cost has increased slightly from the original quote that we received last year. Motion by Samelstad/Reppen to approve the increased bill for the Food Truck path at the Bandshell from $14,944.00 to $15,582.00. Motion carried. 21. Discussion and possible action – Approval of Resolution No. 26 – 04; Resolution for Authorization to Participate in Outdoor Motorized Recreation Trail Aids Clerk Newsom explained that this Resolution is needed in order to apply for the Grants for Dyracuse. Motion by Reppen/Lewis to approve Resolution No. 26 – 04; A Resolution for Authorization to Participate in Outdoor Motorized Recreation Trail Aids. Motion carried. 22. Discussion and possible action – Approval of recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of a site plan/plan of operation for Scenic Valley Properties, LLC d/b/a Crate & Pines for construction of a small-home resort development for the property located at 315 Geneva Trail, also described as lot 1 of CSM 7001, located in NE ¼, NW ¼, & NW ¼, NW ¼ Section 17 Town 20N Range 6E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI Tim Reppen explained that this is for the Crate & Pines project in the Rome Town Center and has been approved by the Plan Commission. Motion by Giardino/Reppen to approve the recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of a site plan/plan of operation for Scenic Valley Properties, LLC d/b/a Crate & Pines for construction of a small-home resort development for the property located at 315 Geneva Trail, also described as lot 1 of CSM 7001, located in NE ¼, NW ¼, & NW ¼, NW ¼ Section 17 Town 20N Range 6E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI. Motion carried. 23. Discussion and possible action – Approval of a Temporary “Class B” Beer and Wine license for the Rome Sno-Bandits Car Show in the Rome Town Center on June 20, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Motion by Samelstad/Reppen to approve a Temporary “Class B” Beer and Wine license for the Rome Sno-Bandits Car Show in the Rome Town Center on June 20, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Motion carried. 24. Discussion and possible action – Approval of Temporary Class “B” Beer licenses for Visit Rome, WI for the Gather By the Bandshell events to be held at the Bandshell in the Rome Town Center on June 9, 2026, July 14, 2026 and August 11, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Motion by Samelstad/Giardino to approve Temporary Class “B” Beer licenses for Visit Rome, WI for the Gather By the Bandshell events to be held at the Bandshell in the Rome Town Center on June 9, 2026, July 14, 2026 and August 11, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Motion carried. DATES AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA/MEETINGS 25. Next agenda items ➢ Wellhead Protection Ordinance ➢ Borrowing Resolution ➢ Discussion on enforcement of ordinances ➢ Wake Boat Ordinance ➢ Brush and Timber 26. Next meeting date and time Thursday, May 14, 2026 – 3:00 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 2026 – 12:30 p.m. Town Board Training Thursday, May 21, 2026 – 5:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Lewis/Reppen to adjourn the meeting at 6:11 p.m. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Wendy Newsom Wendy Newsom Town of Rome Clerk