Annual Meeting — Minutes

TOWN of BELVIDERE ANNUAL MEETING APRIL 18, 2023 – 7 PM COCHRANE VFW POST 10406 Chairman Ron Speltz called the 2023 Annual Meeting to order at 7:00 PM. The Annual meeting was noticed in the Buffalo County News on April 6, 2023 and also posted. Attending the meeting were all re-elected Board Members & appointed Clerk and Treasurer, 6 resident and 3 non-residents. Copies of 2022 Annual Meeting minutes, 2022 Financial Reports, Herold Cemetery Report, and 2023 3-YEAR Road Plans reports were made available. The Minutes from the 2022 Annual Meeting were presented in lieu of reading. Matt Biesterveld made a motion to approve with Lonnie Ruff seconded. Motion carried. The 2022 Financial Report was presented in lieu of summarizing. Ben Schams made a Motion to approve and Matt Biesterveld 2nd. Motion carried. ASSOCIATION REPORTS: TRI-COMMUNITY FIRE DEPARTMENT – Fire Chief Matthew Biesterveld reported there were 5 runs – 4.5 hrs in Town of Belvidere. Total runs were 34 (54.5 hrs) which included Mutual Aid to other Fire Departments. They have 28 members and average 14 members at practices and 15 members at meetings. The fire truck will hopefully be complete and operational this fall. Still awaiting delayed parts. Scenic Valley Swimming Pool – Shawn Mann – presented the 2023 Budget. Town of Belvidere residents had a total of 10 paid memberships = 27 swimmers in 2022. He reported that past fundraisers have been good. Shawn requested a Town donation of $3,000 for 2023. SCENIC VALLEY EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE – Director Ron Olson reported that SVEMS had 122 calls with 87 being transports. There presently are 4 Drivers in training. They presently have 21 members of which 9 are EMTs, and EMRs and drivers. Of the 21 only 13 are actively covering shifts. They have used Tri-Community FD for lift assistance, which is much appreciated. SVEMS has ordered a powered stair chair which will be very user friendly for female staff. They will have a July 4th fundraiser again this year. BBC&M RECYCLING/LANDFILL – Ron Kazmierczak reported that BBC&M has contracted with Waste Transport taking over all recycling effective January 1, 2023. New hours will be Tuesdays – 1 pm to 7 pm and Saturdays - 8 am to 2 pm. The Skidsteer was sold on an auction site for $41,500 and deposited into BBC&M’s account. The operation is working well. A Clean Sweep will be held at the Mondovi Highway Shop on Saturday, May 13th. HEROLD CEMETERY – Curtis Noll, Treasurer, provided a written financial report for the Cemetery. He requested $2,500 from the Town of Belvidere to operating next year. J&K Lawn Service will again be mowing this year. The Cemetery has a net worth of $14,374.51 up from 13,999.90. CDs totaling $9,500 will be renewed with higher interest rates this year. All reports were accepted into record by the Town of Belvidere. Matt Biesterveld made a motion to give the Township “AUTHORITY TO BORROW” for emergency situations – no limit. Ben Schams seconded the motion. Motion carried. Lonnie Ruff made a motion to set the next ANNUAL MEETING for the 3rd Tuesday in April 2024 (April 16, 2024). Matt Biesterveld seconded the motion. Motion carried. 3-YR Road Plan: Ron Speltz presented the plan. He summarized the planned 2023 road work and is hopeful for TRIP (LRIP) funding for 2024 project (yet to be determined). Town Roads are in good shape and will continue to be maintained to keep good. Siefert Hill Road has always been a challenge to maintain and last fall was damaged again by crop harvesting. New discussion held on a BRANDBAND project for the northern portion of Belvidere by CCT. Buffalo County has allocated $100,000 ARPA funds for each Town to use by 2026 or lose. Matt Biesterveld noted that the next Federal Grant cycle will open in July so time to start the project application is now. TDS no longer will block CCT’s servicing high speed internet to residents. The Board will start discussing in May to work on the Broadband project with CCT. It was noted that Open Book will be “VIRTUAL” on May 10th – 9 am – 11 am with Assessor Eric Kleven by phone or by appointment and in-person BOARD OF REVIEW will be MAY 17, 2023 - 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Cochrane VFW. At 7:28 pm, Ben Schams made a motion to close the Annual Meeting with Matt Biesterveld seconding the motion. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Deborah M Ruff Deborah M Ruff, Town Clerk