April 15, 2025 Annual Meeting of Electors (PDF)

Town of Fence Annual Meeting of Electors April 15th, 2025 Present according to the sign in sheet: Lee and Linda Brickheimer, Julie Johnson, Rich Wolosyn, Bill and Carol Winsand, Gerry and Lila Tibbs, Frank Nichols, Brandon Lucas. Also present were Gordy McLain, Randall Harrison, Tom Harrison, Victoria Smith, Ronald Woehler. Town of Fence officials present: Chairman Jim Mclain, Supervisor 2 Terry Woehler, Clerk/Treasurer Theresa Smith. Chairman Jim Mclain called the meeting to order. Board members present are Supervisor Terry Woehler and Jim Mclain. Jeanette has resigned. It will be up to the new board to make the decision on filling the position. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Supervisor Terry Woehler announced the newly elected officials, during the April 1,2025 are as follows: Chairman - Frank Smith Supervisor 1-Jeanette Larison who resigned April 2, 2025 Supervisor 2 -Terry Woehler Clerk/Treasurer- Theresa Smith Chairman Mclain said congratulations. Motion to approve last years annual meeting was met with a few conversations. Tom Harrison noted that the motion to separate the position of clerk/treasurer was denied as it was stated on bottom of page two of last year's annual meeting minutes. Lila Tibbs stated that Levi Tibbs made a motion to separate with 15 yes votes. Lila doesn't understand why there was no record of how many people voted. It was stated 17 plus 9 and Levi said it passed. Chairman McLain said it should have passed 17+9=26 people. Clerk/Treasurer Smith stated if it was voted on to separate the clerk/treasurer position, that is what she will do. Chairman McLain stated it would be on for the next term. Richard Wolosyn questioned if it was legal to combine the positions. Chairman McLain stated that the town was supposed to contact the town attorney but wasn't sure if that happened. Then a comment was made that something should have been done before this election. Richard Wolosyn wondered why there was concern for separating it now and that other townships have the combined position. Chairman McLain said he would pass the accountant information to the new clerk/treasurer. Richard Wolosyn noted that the accountant reconciled the books. Clerk/Treasurer Smith explained that he went off of the town documents and they were inaccurate numbers as she cross referenced some of the town numbers in specific categories with actual deposits from different agencies and the numbers didn't match such as GTA. Bill Winsand asked what that was and clerk/treasurer Smith stated general transportation aids and explained that this is a percentage the town gets for road aids. Linda Brickheimer was concerned about an audit cost. She stated Julie Johnson had things going in the right direction. She advocated for this election ,~, and said we will see good things. She requested to see financials. Clerk/Treasurer Smith assured her this will get done but it will take a little time. Clerk/Treasurer Smith asked what banks were used by the township and was told Laona and Nicholet in Niagara. There was a question if we voted for a combination position or one position. The election was for the combination clerk/treasurer position. Richard Wolosyn wants to see a detailed financial report. Clerk/Treasurer Theresa Smith explained that the budget she will be working on is 2024 and for that she will request from the board permission to get duplicates of the deposit and withdrawal checks. The reason is the budget needs years 2022, 2023, 2024 but she is also requesting to date 2025. Richard Wolosyn said that the 3rd year in a budget is an estimate. Clerk/Treasurer Smith noted that while this is correct these years have already finished so the numbers will be accurate in all columns and in November, she will have the 2026 budget prepared. She stated that once she goes through and enters the checks into the register, she can categorize them and this will help with various items such as the budgets, the annual financial statement, the ct report. Lee Brickheimer made a motion to approve last years annual meeting minutes with a second from Supervisor Woehler with 1 nay. Rich Wolosyn proposed a motion to set a special project by the town board for the 2025 proposed budget to give clerk/treasurer Smith $30/hr. not to exceed $1,200. He wants clerk/treasurer Smith to keep an accurate account of hours worked on this project. He says he knows it takes many hours to accomplish this task. Lila and Levi Tibbs seconded the motion. 17 yes votes. Motion carried. Bill Winsand asked if we back up our computer and chairman Mclain said we have a computer guy. Clerk/Treasurer Smith stated that she will always back up the computer after she has been on it. Chairman Mclain discusses the tree damage and that it will be a while until it's cleaned up. He stated that Glen Meyer and his son are willing to help clean up. There might be ways to defer the cost. A grant in June was mentioned. Clerk/Treasurer Smith stated depending on availability there might be help from the national guard. Tom Harrison asked if they heard anything on the little truck and chairman Mclain said he will hear tomorrow. Tom Harrison's other concerns were about the garage time clock and employee wages needed to be addressed possible a wage increase. Clerk/Treasurer Smith explained that it will be revisited and she is working on new employee contracts. The contracts will be reviewed yearly by the board and wage increases v\/lll be determined by job performance. He also had concerns about the phones that don't work in the garage or hall. Clerk/Treasurer Smith explained that she bought a new phone and it worked and then it didn't. It will be a future item on an agenda. There is no road overseer and we need to either have a foreman or garage manager. He feels employees should use the punch clock. Rich Wolosyn said the equipment is getting old and we need to think about a long range plan for equipment purchase. Tom Harrison noted problems with the grader including the faulty lights and door. Chairman Jim Mclain said the date on the loader was 1985, Tom Harrison didn't think so. Chairman Mclain continued when you keep plugging it in the injectors are going bad. The 5 yard truck between purchase price and repairs has cost $50,000 and it's not worth $8,000. He found a nice 2012 for $39,000. Levi Tibbs asked what it costs and chairman McLain said $250,000. Grants were ,, ;.-..., mentioned. Popple River has two new trucks and grader due to getting grants. Brakes on the front end loader don't work. Gerry Tibbs questioned if the town still has an equipment fund. Chairman McLain said we still have it and between all cd's there is $235,000. Bill Winsand notified the board that the brush truck bill for Iron Mountain Automotive in the amount of $900 hasn't been paid yet. Clerk/Treasurer Smith will give them a call. Lila Tibbs hasn't received checks from working the election. Chairman McLain said the checks were written out. He signed them and they were awaiting former clerk/treasurer Samantha Pyrcz's signature. Levi Tibbs requested the board look at Gerry Tibbs Road. Chairman Mclain stated that no trees on the road sucking up the water made it that way. Linda Brickheimer mentioned the damage done by fiber optics to roads. Lila Tibbs made a motion to send out quarterly reports with a second from Lee Brickheimer. Linda Brickheimer asked if we were doing the website. Clerk/Treasurer Smith said we will be doing something about a website. Lila Tibbs asked about rental fees and Clerk/Treasurer Smith noted that she and Supervisor Woehler had talked about this as the supervisor wants to make some revisions. The next Annual Meeting will commence on Tuesday, April 2't, 2026 at 6p.m. Fra~kJichols made a motion to adjourn with a second from Lila Tibbs. '\ ~ 6u-?~ Theresa Smith, Town of Fence Clerk/Treasurer These minutes are unapproved until the next annual meeting.