Town Board Meeting — Minutes

1 MINUTES TOWN OF PLOVER BOARD MEETING MARCH 18, 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 Tuttle; Clerk/Treasurer Weller; Superintendent of Highways William Honaker; Town of Plover residents Gregory Dalsbo, Barbara Firkus, and Eugene Pavelski; Certified Building Inspector Ximena Christianson, James Hopp of Best Excavating & Trucking, LLC, Charles Roozekrans and Kevin Watkins of Fisher Construction Group, Daryl Wolfenbarger of Americold Logistics, LLC, and Alex Wong of the Point/Plover Metro Wire. Supervisor Pingel was excused. 2. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS: Chairman Garbe reported on uncertainty surrounding the rental of roadside brushing equipment in the spring and indicated it may be pushed back to the fall. Clerk/Treasurer Weller shared an email with board members from Weller Farms, LLC, requesting reimbursement for an Angus replacement heifer that died due to inaccessible roads from March 15 to March 16. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. 4. DISCUSSION WITH CERTIFIED BUILDING INSPECTOR REGARDING CONTRACTING WITH TOWN OF PLOVER: Ximena Christianson, an architect and building inspector recently retired from the City of Stevens Point, introduced herself and provided information and answered questions about her background, the startup of her building inspection business, interest and ability to meet Town of Plover needs, and contracting considerations. Board members agreed to move forward with Ximena Christianson and schedule a separate meeting to address the building inspector transition in detail. 5. HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT AND AUTHORIZATION FOR PURCHASES: Chairman Garbe thanked Town of Plover Public Works Department employees and Zblewski Bros. LLC for clearing roads of snow and mentioned a few complaints from board members and residents, communications with the Town of Plover Highway Superintendent in preparation for and during the storm, and Best Excavating & Trucking LLC opening drifted roads. Other board members and meeting attendees expressed the need for a snow emergency plan and voiced concerns about impassable roads, unused equipment, and lack of delegation of work. Superintendent of Highways William Honaker reported on snow plowing, missing signage by the bridge over Crooked Rift Creek on Biron Drive East, a downed tree on Taft Avenue, and sand and salt usage and inventory. 6. REVIEW OF PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND FORWARDING OF TOWN BOARD RECOMMENDATION TO PORTAGE COUNTY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT REGARDING THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION REQUEST TO BUILD A 324,320 SQ. FT. COLD STORAGE FACILITY ON INDUSTRIAL-ZONED LAND ADJACENT TO THE AMERICOLD FACILITY ON STATE HIGHWAY 54 EAST: Board members reviewed and discussed the proposed Americold Logistics, LLC, expansion project as well as feedback from the Portage County Planning and Zoning Department and the Town of Plover Plan Commission. 2 Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the special exception request to Portage County Board of Adjustment for the proposed cold storage facility on industrial-zoned land adjacent to the Americold facility on State Highway 54 East, as recommended by the Town of Plover Plan Commission. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried. Supervisors Bentley, Firkus, and Tuttle voted for the motion; Chairman Garbe abstained. 7. DISCUSSION REGARDING JURISDICTIONAL ROAD TRANSFER OF COUNTY HIGHWAY U (80TH STREET): The Town of Plover Town Board must decide whether to accept jurisdictional authority along with the Village of Biron for a roughly nine-tenths-mile section of the former Wood County Highway U (80th Street) between North Biron Drive and State Highway 54. The Village of Biron is willing to take on all maintenance responsibility for the road in exchange for the Town of Plover’s share of General Transportation Aids; incorporation of the 2019 jurisdictional transfer agreement for a roughly three- tenths-mile section of the former Wood County Highway U (80th Street) into a possible new jurisdictional transfer agreement may also be considered. Chairman Garbe asked for authorization to begin discussions with Village of Biron President Jon Evenson and Village of Biron Public Works Director Kayla Lumaye to explore shared road agreement options, and board members approved him proceeding. 8. UPDATE ON VISTA SANDS ACTIVITIES AND CONCERNS REGARDING JDA: Chairman Garbe expressed concerns about Doral Renewables LLC plans to commence work on the Nassau Boulevard Substation before designated solar traffic road routes have been finalized and pre-construction road inspections have been conducted. He anticipated meeting with Portage County Highway Commissioner Nathaniel Check and Doral Renewables LLC representatives the week of March 23 to address these topics. 9. AUTHORIZATION FOR ENGAGING COUNSEL: Chairman Garbe requested authorization to contact Attorney Shane VanderWaal of VanderWaal Law, S.C., to finalize road issues identified in the Joint Development Agreement between Town of Plover, Town of Grant, Town of Buena Vista, Village of Plover, Portage County, and Vista Sands Solar LLC. As Vista Sands Solar LLC reimbursed the Town of Plover for legal expenses incurred in the creation of the original agreement, he hoped that these additional legal expenses would be covered as well. Chairman Garbe noted that meaningful construction must start by July 3 for the solar project to qualify for $50,000.00 in subsidies per acre. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to authorize Chairman Garbe to engage legal counsel to finalize outstanding road issues with Vista Sands Solar LLC. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 10. REVIEW OF 2025 DRAFT AUDIT REPORT: Clerk/Treasurer Weller previously shared the draft management letter and the draft 2025 annual financial report with board members for review, and they recommended finalizing the documents. Auditor David Minch of KerberRose S.C. will deliver the audit report and answer questions at a future town board meeting. 11. OPERATOR/BARTENDER LICENSE APPROVALS: Supervisor Tuttle made the motion to approve operator/bartender licenses for Club Forest Bar and Grill LLC employees Jesica Pacyna and Jenna Quelle. Supervisor Bentley seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 3 12. RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A COMPREHENSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SOLUTION: The Wisconsin Towns Association is encouraging towns to adopt its proposed Town Board Resolution Supporting a Comprehensive and Sustainable Transportation Funding Solution. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to adopt Resolution 20260318, Town Board Resolution Supporting a Comprehensive and Sustainable Transportation Funding Solution, as presented. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 13. MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETINGS AND ANY OTHER MINUTES TO BE PRESENTED: Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2026, town board meeting as presented. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 14. RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS AND CASH SUMMARY: • RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS: February bank statements have not been reconciled. • CASH SUMMARY AS OF MARCH 18, 2026, AT 6:00 PM: COMMITTED FUNDS: $ 221,238.35 UNCOMMITTED FUNDS: GENERAL ACCOUNT $ 1,157,635.95 NOW CHECKING $ 19,912.59 TOTAL UNCOMMITTED FUNDS: $ 1,177,548.54 TOTAL CASH FOR TOWN OF PLOVER: $ 1,398,786.89 Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the cash summary as presented, Supervisor Firkus seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 15. BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS: There were no budget adjustments presented. 16. 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 $19,420.53 to cover Checks 28243 through 28254. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 17. FUTURE MEETING DATES AND AGENDA ITEMS: The next regular town board meetings are scheduled for April 1 and April 15 at 6:00 PM. The annual town meeting will be held Tuesday, April 21, at 6:00 PM, with a regular town board meeting to follow. Future agendas will include the road salt contract with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the replacement of the bridge over Crooked Rift Creek on Biron Drive East and a related grant application, a winter emergency plan, and employee performance evaluations. 4 18. ADJOURNMENT: Supervisor Tuttle made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:48 PM, Supervisor Firkus seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. Respectfully Submitted By: Patricia Weller, Clerk/Treasurer Approved: 05/05/26