Town Board Meeting — Minutes

1 DRAFT MINUTES TOWN OF PLOVER BOARD MEETING SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Garbe called the meeting of the Town of Plover Town Board to order at 6:01 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present were Supervisors Bentley, Firkus, and Pavelski; Clerk/Treasurer Weller; Superintendent of Highways William Honaker; Town of Plover residents Priscilla Garbe, Theresa Lasota, and Michael Schoenholz; and contracted roadside brushing equipment operator Brian Ball. Supervisor Tuttle was excused. 2. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS: Chairman Garbe reported on the cancellation of his registration for the Wisconsin Towns Association fall workshop in Stevens Point, the 2026-2027 Local Small Structure Improvement Program (LSSIP) State Municipal Project Agreement pertaining to the replacement of the bridge over Crooked Rift Creek on Biron Drive East, the possibility of the Town acquiring some of Portage Solar’s stockpile of gravel from laydown yards and parking areas, and a zoning workshop that Town of Plover Plan Commission members are encouraged to attend. Supervisor Bentley noted recent tree trimming near utility lines and the need for debris cleanup. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. 4. HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT AND AUTHORIZATION FOR PURCHASES: Superintendent of Highways William Honaker reported on a possible new hire for snow plowing, upcoming sign installation, ditch mowing and equipment repairs, retrieving shoulders in preparation for the Kennedy Avenue project, damage to Forest Drive by the ATC switchyard under construction, and uncertainty surrounding an existing employee’s wintertime availability. Chairman Garbe mentioned his intent to implement a temporary emergency weight limit posting on Coolidge Avenue both north and south of State Highway 54 to discourage heavy truck traffic from detouring on Town of Plover roads while railroad crossings are closed. 5. PURCHASE OF GRADER BLADE TEETH: Board members reviewed three quotes for grader blade teeth. Supervisor Pavelski made the motion to authorize the purchase of one hundred grader blade teeth from John Fabick Tractor Company for $1,224.85 including shipping. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 6. STATUS OF GRAVEL ROAD PROJECTS: After Kennedy Avenue project rain delays, employees tentatively scheduled retrieving shoulders on September 10 and grading on September 11 before overlaying ten loads of road material the following week, with the Town of Plover contributing three loads and local farmers donating seven loads. Future ditching was discussed. 7. STATUS OF 80TH STREET RESURFACING PROJECT: In conjunction with the jurisdictional transfer of the roughly nine-tenths-mile section of the former Wood County Highway U (80th Street) between North Biron Drive and State Highway 54, Wood 2 County finished resurfacing the roughly three-tenths-mile section of the former Wood County Highway U (80th Street) covered by the 2019 jurisdictional transfer agreement; shouldering and seeding are yet to be completed. 8. STATUS OF ROADSIDE CLEARING OF OBSTRUCTIONS AND GROWTH: Brian Ball, operator of the tractor and mulching head boom cutter from Serwe Implement Municipal Sales Co. LLC, delivered an update on roadside brushing, shared suggestions and discussed work direction with board members, and offered recommendations for follow-up treatment to prevent regrowth. 9. ORDINANCE IMPOSING CLASS “B” WEIGHT LIMITS ON BIRCH DRIVE, ISHERWOOD ROAD, PRAIRIE DRIVE, AND TAFT AVENUE: Board members considered details of the Class “B” road weight limit designation, including its use to qualify for future Agricultural Roads Improvement Program funding and certain exemptions. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to adopt Ordinance 20260906, Designating Class “B” Town Roads, to apply to Birch Drive (from Taft Avenue east to State Highway 54), Isherwood Road, Prairie Drive (from Hoover Avenue South to Taft Avenue), and Taft Avenue. Supervisor Pavelski seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously in a roll call vote. 10. ORDINANCE IMPOSING 7.5-TON WEIGHT LIMITS ON KENNEDY AVENUE AND SHADY DRIVE: Chairman Garbe provided background on weight limiting on Kennedy Avenue and Shady Drive. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to adopt Ordinance 20260906a, Designating Special Weight Limits on Town Roads, to apply weight limits of seven and a half tons on Kennedy Avenue (from State Highway 54 north to Shady Drive) and Shady Drive (from County Road R east to Kennedy Avenue). Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously in a roll call vote. 11. CROSS CRACK LEVELING ON FOREST LAKE DRIVE, MEEHAN DRIVE, RIVER RIDGE CIRCLE, AND WOODLAND COURT: Board members discussed cross crack dip leveling on roads scheduled to be chip sealed in 2028. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to accept the Scott Construction, Inc., proposal for cross crack dip leveling on Forest Lake Drive, Meehan Drive, River Ridge Circle, and Woodland Court, not to exceed $14,935.00. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 12. MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETINGS AND ANY OTHER MINUTES TO BE PRESENTED: Supervisor Pavelski made the motion to approve the minutes of the August 26, 2026, town board meeting as presented. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 13. RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS AND CASH SUMMARY: • RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS OF AUGUST 31, 2026: The Portage County Bank NOW checking account reconciled at $279,485.14 on August 31, 2026. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the Portage County Bank statement 3 reconciliation as presented, Supervisor Pavelski seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. The Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) committed and uncommitted accounts reconciled at a total of $1,254,242.98 on August 31, 2026. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the LGIP statement reconciliation as presented, Supervisor Firkus seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. • CASH SUMMARY AS OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2026, AT 6:00 PM: Town of Plover cash totaled $1,446,291.67 consisting of $225,367.39 committed funds and $1,220,924.28 uncommitted funds. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the cash summary as presented, Supervisor Pavelski seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 14. BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS: There were no budget adjustments presented. 15. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT, SIGNING OF VOUCHER LIST, AND AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSFER OF FUNDS: Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the payment of $9,454.98 to cover Checks 28496 through 28515 and electronic funds transfers EFTSW0726, EFTETF0726, and WIRE083126. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 16. FUTURE MEETING DATES AND AGENDA ITEMS: The next regular town board meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, September 22, and Tuesday, October 6, at 6:00 PM. Future agendas will include consideration of the 2026-2027 Local Small Structure Improvement Program (LSSIP) State Municipal Project Agreement and engineering work relating to the replacement of the bridge over Crooked Rift Creek on Biron Drive East, introduction of the new executive director of the Plover Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and 2027 budgeting. 17. ADJOURNMENT: Supervisor Pavelski made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 PM, Supervisor Bentley seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. Respectfully Submitted By: Patricia Weller, Clerk/Treasurer Approved: