Town Of New Hope Annual Meeting — Minutes

2025 Annual Town Meeting Minutes Note: These are the proposed Minutes that will be approved at the next Board Meeting. Minutes of the Town of New Hope Annual Meeting Tuesday, April 15, 2025 – 6:00 pm North New Hope Church, 845 County Road T North, Amherst Junction, WI Members present: Chair Todd Knepfel, Supervisors Timm Raddatz and Ray Reser Also present: Treasurer Dorene Stolpa, Clerk Pat Zellmer, Hal Barkdull, Glenn Coenen, Sally Ellenboe, Steve Ellenboe, Dave Eschenbach, Janet Eschenbach, Norman Groshek, Susan Groshek, Cyndy Irvine, Paul Klein, Lori Knepfel, Jim McKnight, Dean Onan, Mary Patoka, Robert Patoka, Rob Simpkins, Tim Stolpa, Laurie Stoltenberg, Dave Swenson 1. Call to order and Pledge of Allegiance. Chair Todd Knepfel called the Annual Town meeting to order at 6:00 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Review/Approval of the 2024 Annual Meeting minutes from April 18, 2024. Prior to the meeting, minutes from the Annual Town Meeting were distributed to the Board via email and were posted on the website. Dean Onan moved to approve the minutes as written, seconded by Norman Groshek. Motion carried (all aye, no nay). 3. Review/Approval of the Town of New Hope 2024 financial report. Chair Knepfel reviewed the 2024 financial report with brief explanations; there were no comments. Supervisor Ray Reser moved to approve the 2024 financial report as written, seconded by Supervisor Timm Raddatz. Motion carried ((all aye, no nay). 4. Persons who wish to address the Board. Supervisor Reser presented a resolution to authorize the Town Board to manage the existing Town Hall, located at 9485 Town Hall Road, including remodeling, sale, or demolition. In the November 2024 Regular Board Meeting, the Board agreed to a six-month moratorium to allow residents to investigate and present concrete options to the Board, with all options to be considered. Laurie Stoltenberg presented a remodeling proposal at the March 2024 meeting. Town residents’ input was requested and a discussion of options and pros/cons ensued. A number of carpenters and construction professionals were in attendance, bringing an additional level of expertise to the discussion. Supervisor Raddatz stated that this was just step one in this difficult and emotionally charged process. The land would retained, and if needed, a cleanup fund was in the 2025 budget. North New Hope Church remains open to its use by the Town for as long as needed. New Hope donates $3000 annually to the Church. The 2025 Budget included $30,000 as an annual building fund budget item, with plans to be determined in 5-7 years. Residents’ comments included the following: • The town hall stands on two combined lots, creating a potential problem with remodeling due to setbacks, and that any remodeling or construction must abide by commercial building codes and OSHA regulations. Building/remodeling costs continue to rise. • A request was made to keep the community apprised of plans prior to implementation. Chair Knepfel assured residents that the Board would remain transparent, open-minded, and responsible in its discussions and decisions; discussion will continue in May and be posted in upcoming minutes. • Following the annual financial report, it was pointed out that while most residents had a strong opinion about the hall, the Town simply did not have the budget to maintain it for historical preservation. • Several residents reiterated town’s trust in the Board, as evidenced by the recent election. Dave Eschenbach motioned to approve the resolution presented by Supervisor Reser as written, seconded by Norman Groshek. Motion carried. A vote on the resolution resulted in 21 Electors voting yes, 1 voting no. Motion carried. The resolution will be posted on the town website. Dean Onan asked about the status of Our Savior Cemetery; Chair Knepfel reviewed the recent history, and finished by saying that although church members continue to care for the cemetery, in the future maintenance may fall once again on New Hope. 5. Adjournment. Supervisor Reser moved to adjourn the Annual Meeting at 6:40 pm, seconded by Supervisor Raddatz. Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted April 20, 2025 by Pat Zellmer, Clerk