Town Board Meeting — Minutes

TOWN OF ROME BOARD MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 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 Cheryl Evenson, Vito Giardino, Mark Samelstad and Tim Reppen; also present Clerk Wendy Newsom and Interim Administrator/Finance Director/Treasurer Robbie Schaub-Ruemler 3. Certify Posting of Meeting Wendy Newsom certified that on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the Amended Agenda for the Town of Rome Board meeting for Thursday, April 16, 2026 was posted at: Posted at the Rome Town Hall 2:05 p.m. Posted at Kwik Trip, LLC 2:30 p.m. Posted at Nekoosa Port Edwards State Bank 2:20 p.m. Emailed to the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune 1:50 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 Reppen: On Saturday the Camelot Board will have their monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Hasdal: Announced that this is Cheryl’s last regular Board Meeting and thanked her for her service to the Town. Spoke to the flooding in the Town and warned people to use caution on certain roads. 8. Discussion only – Update from Sue Giardino on the Veteran’s Walk Honor Banners and celebration Sue Giardino spoke to the number of banners to be displayed in the Rome Town Center and in September, she will open the application period for new banners. This year’s banners will be displayed by Memorial Day weekend and there will be a celebration on Sunday, May 24, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Rome Town Center to honor the veterans. Donna Hasdal, 241 Penhurst Way, thanked Sue for all her work on this project. 9. Department and Committee Reports ☐ Administration ☐ Rome Police Department ☐ EMS District/Lifestar ☐ Rome Public Works Department ☐ Lester Public Library of Rome ☐ Rome Water Utility 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 Chairman Hasdal asked about the kitchen and when the work will be done on that. The Public Works Director stated that he has reached out to a designer to get this done. DISCUSS AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: 10. Discussion and possible action – Approval of the April 2, 2026 meeting minutes Motion by Evenson/Giardino to approve the April 2, 2026 meeting minutes. Motion carried. 11. Discussion and possible action – Checks, Vouchers, Receipts and Journal Entries - approve checks #50441 – 50517 totaling $746,593.09; Auto-payments totaling $94,232.52; State / Social Security / Medicare / Withholdings totaling $40,860.10; Payroll Vouchers V25074 – V125193 totaling $106,657.19 and checks 21707 - 21708 totaling $1,481.65; Receipts #27241 - 27286 totaling $130,753.74 Motion by Samelstad/Giardino to approve the financials as presented. Motion carried. 12. Discussion and possible action – Presentation from Greg Johnson from Ehler’s on proposed 2026A General Obligation Promissory Notes Greg Johnson from Ehler’s presented the options for the 2026A General Obligation Promissory Notes that the Town is considering. Motion by Giardino/Evenson to authorize Ehler’s to proceed with option number two. Discussion was had regarding the two options. Motion failed. Motion by Reppen/Samelstad to authorize Ehler’s to proceed with option number one. Motion carried with Evenson and Giardino voting no. 13. Discussion and possible action – Approval of Resolution No. 26 – 03; A Resolution providing for the Sale of Approximately $3,575,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2026A Motion by Reppen/Samelstad to approve Resolution No, 26 – 03; A Resolution providing for the Sale of Approximately $3,575,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2026A. Motion carried. 14. Discussion and possible action – Review the Brush and Timber Ordinance Supervisor Giardino spoke regarding asking the Sheriff’s Office and/or the Scouts to come help with the cleanup. Mark Lubecke, 931 Sussex Ct, spoke regarding the community service aspect of getting help with cleanup and also having the local Boy Scouts help with this endeavor. It doesn’t sound like this would be a feasible option for the Boy Scouts as this is a large project. Tim Schumacher, 876 Prescott Ct, spoke about getting volunteers from the LCPOA and he has reached out to the DNR and there aren’t any funds available from the DNR other than what we already get. Their funding was cut and therefore so was the funding for the Firewise project. Chairman Hasdal reminded them that the Town’s hands are tied regarding the private properties over five acres. The Town cannot go onto private property to clean up the property and can only ask those owners to clean up. Tabled to the next meeting. 15. Discussion and possible action – Review the Wake Boat Ordinance Chairman Hasdal stated that he is waiting to hear from the attorney on this ordinance. 16. Discussion and possible action – Approval of an Adams County Special Exception Permit for 846 Manchester Ct Motion by Samelstad/Reppen to approve the Adams County Special Exception Permit for 846 Manchester Ct. Motion carried. 17. Discussion and possible action – Approval of recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of a site plan/plan of operation for John Olson for the construction of an office building at the property located at 1398 Alpine Dr, also described as lot 1 of CSM 5918, located in SW ¼, NW ¼, Section 7, Town 20N, Range 6E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI Motion by Evenson/Samelstad to approve the recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of a site plan/plan of operation for John Olson for the construction of an office building at the property located at 1398 Alpine Dr, also described as lot 1 of CSM 5918, located in SW ¼, NW ¼, Section 7, Town 20N, Range 6E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI. Motion carried 18. Discussion and possible action – Approval of recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of a final plat for Dyracuse Acres, to be located at the properties in Section 29, Town 20N, Range 6E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI; with parcel numbers of 030-00989-0000 and 030- 00991-0000; total area 77.77 acres Motion by Samelstad/Hasdal to approve the recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of a final plat for Dyracuse Acres, to be located at the properties in Section 29, Town 20N, Range 6E, Town of Rome, Adams County, WI; with parcel numbers of 030-00989-0000 and 030- 00991-0000; total area 77.77 acres. Motion carried. 19. Discussion and possible action – Approval of recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of proposed Planned Unit Development Project Plan amendment request for property owned by Wisconsin Dunes LLC (Sand Valley Resort) Motion by Reppen/Giardino to approve the recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of proposed Planned Unit Development Project Plan amendment request for property owned by Wisconsin Dunes LLC (Sand Valley Resort). Motion carried. 20. Discussion and possible action – Approval of Ordinance No. 26 – 06; Recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of proposed Ordinance – Article XXXIII Entitled “Data Centers” Motion by Samelstad/Giardino to approve Ordinance No. 26 – 06; Recommendation from the Plan Commission on consideration of proposed Ordinance – Article XXXIII Entitled “Data Centers” with the change from EIA to EIS. Motion carried. 21. Discussion and possible action – Approval of Temporary Class “B” and/or “Class B” Beer and Wine licenses for Visit Rome at the Bandshell in the Rome Town Center for the following dates: Class “B” beer licenses: ➢ June 12, 2026 – 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Southbound Concert ➢ June 19, 2026 – 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Chris Kroeze Concert ➢ July 10, 2026 – 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Tanner Gomes Concert ➢ July 31, 2026 – 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Allen Brothers Concert ➢ August 7, 2026 – 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. – The Blue Notes Concert “Class B” Beer license: ➢ August 21, 2026 – 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Art Stevenson and High Water Concert Motion by Samelstad/Reppen to approve all the Temporary “Class B” and Class “B” licenses for the concerts at the Band Shell sponsored by Visit Rome, LLC. Motion carried. 22. The Board may go into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. Section 19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session – conferring with energy legal counsel who is rendering advice to the governmental body concerning strategy on a proposed large-scale solar project 23. The Board may go into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. Section 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: ➢ Review Town Administrator applications and possible interviews Motion by Samelstad/Evenson to table number 22 until the Annual meeting. Motion failed with a unanimous roll call vote. Motion at 6:20 p.m. by Giardino/Evenson to enter into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. Section 19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session – conferring with energy legal counsel who is rendering advice to the governmental body concerning strategy on a proposed large-scale solar project AND The Board may go into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. Section 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: ➢ Review Town Administrator applications and possible interviews Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. The Board exited closed session at 7:25 p.m. 24. The Board reserves the right to enter into open session authorized by Wis. Stat. Section 19.85(2) to possibly take action from the closed session and continue with the agenda Motion at 7:26 p.m. by Evenson/Giardino to enter into open session authorized by Wis. Stat. Section 19.85(2) to possibly take action from the closed session and continue with the agenda. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. No action taken from closed session. DATES AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA/MEETINGS 25. Next agenda items ➢ Temporary “Class B” License for the Rome Sno-Bandits ➢ Presentation by Kyle Gulya for Board Member training ➢ Dyracuse Grant Resolution ➢ Brush and Timber ➢ Solar Farm ➢ Wake Boat Ordinance ➢ Public Fire Protection – Discussion only 26. Next meeting date and time May 7, 2026 – 5:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Evenson/Reppen to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 p.m. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Wendy Newsom Wendy Newsom Town of Rome Clerk