Town Board Meeting — Minutes

1 MINUTES TOWN OF PLOVER BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 25, 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, Pingel, and Tuttle; Clerk/Treasurer Weller; Superintendent of Highways William Honaker; Town of Plover residents Priscilla Garbe and Eugene Pavelski; Town of Linwood resident and District 19 Portage County Board Supervisor Amberle Schwartz; and Town of Linwood resident and District 19 Portage County Board candidate Scott Soik. 2. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS: Chairman Garbe reported on scheduling the rental of roadside brushing equipment with an operator, conversations with representatives of Doral Renewables LLC concerning the commencement of work on the Nassau Boulevard Substation and designated road routes, the consolidation of solar project educational resources for upcoming events, the withdrawal of a Wisconsin Public Service request for a project service yard at the corner of County Road R and Black Oak Drive, and the fulfillment of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation salt contract for last winter and consideration of the salt contract for next winter. Clerk/Treasurer Weller gave updates regarding new computer setup issues and the Town of Plover financial audit. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Portage County Board Supervisor Amberle Schwartz reported on the pending livestock operations ordinance, federal BEAD (Broadband Equity Access and Deployment) Program funding for improving rural internet access, the sale of the Portage County Health Care Center, and the proposed revision of the Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Meeting attendees expressed frustration with Portage County’s lack of notice and timely dissemination of information to municipalities which prevents them from providing feedback before County action on possible ordinance changes. Incumbent Amberle Schwartz and challenger Scott Soik shared their desire to serve as District 19 Portage County Board Supervisor for the next term and answered questions about training and their endorsements for Portage County Executive. Scott Soik encouraged the Town of Plover to apply for FY27 Community Project Funding through the Office of Congressman Derrick Van Orden, and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) pedestrian crossing systems for crosswalks on Lincoln Avenue near the Boston School Forest were mentioned as a potential project for a funding request. Supervisor Pingel asked both Amberle Schwartz and Scott Soik for a commitment of periodic attendance at Town of Plover Town Board meetings if elected to the Portage County Board for the next term. 4. HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT AND AUTHORIZATION FOR PURCHASES: Superintendent of Highways William Honaker reported on a broken stop sign, snow plowing, roadside brushing needs, a vehicle that went off the road near the solar farm, equipment repairs, and follow-up work needed on Prairie Drive after chip sealing failed last year. 5. REVIEW OF THE 2026 PLAN FOR CHIP SEAL OF TOWN ROADS IN PREPARATION FOR DRAFTING BID DOCUMENTS: Board members reviewed updated chip sealing plans for approximately seven miles of road and discussed budget considerations. Chairman Garbe will draft bid documents for chip sealing on Birch Drive, Boston Drive, Hoover Avenue South, Isherwood Road, Pine Tree Avenue, Pleasant Drive, 2 Prairie Drive, and Weller Road, including some small segments of roads that will be cost shared with the Village of Plover. 6. REVIEW OF AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LOCAL SMALL STRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (LSSIP) FOR POSSIBLE GRANT APPLICATION: Chairman Garbe recommended applying for Local Small Structure Improvement Program funding for up to ninety percent of the repair or replacement cost of the bridge over Crooked Rift Creek on Biron Drive East by the deadline of May 1. Given that the structure has been given a rating of three of ten, is weight-limited, currently has a lane closure, and is on a road classified as a local collector, the project has potential to be selected. To establish a cost estimate, a design concept for a repair or replacement structure is needed. Chairman Garbe has reached out to Portage County Highway Commissioner Nathaniel Check and Engineer Dexter Kaetterhenry, Vice President of Gremmer & Associates, Inc., for further guidance. Any improvements may be subject to Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources requirements. Supervisor Bentley questioned the timeframe for fixing the bridge whether or not funding is received. 7. DISCUSSION REGARDING CHANGING REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING PERMITS: Since giving up commercial building inspections, Building Inspector Michael Bemebenek has reiterated his intent to retire but has expressed interest in continuing his role if the Town of Plover is willing to revise its contract and fee schedule to only cover new homes which would be similar to the outcome of residential inspections defaulting to the State of Wisconsin. Chairman Garbe will again reach out to the Village of Plover to see if they have excess capacity to service the Town of Plover. Some board members mentioned hesitation about losing local oversight of addition and alteration projects and accessory buildings, citing building code compliance issues and related safety concerns as well as loss of information for assessment purposes. Supervisor Bentley will ask an acquaintance that recently retired from building inspecting if she or any of her contacts might consider filling the position in the Town of Plover. Board members will continue to evaluate building inspection and procedure options at the next meeting. 8. TOWN WEBSITE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES: Town resident Priscilla Garbe identified areas of the website that she either recently updated or is still working on. 9. REPEAL OF ORDINANCE 140903 – AMENDMENT TO DUMPSTER POLICY ORDINANCE 110706: Supervisor Bentley made the motion to repeal obsolete Ordinance 140903 – Amendment to Dumpster Policy Ordinance 110706. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 10. REPEAL OF ORDINANCE 110706 – DUMPSTER POLICY: Supervisor Bentley made the motion to repeal obsolete Ordinance 110706 – Dumpster Policy. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 11. MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETINGS AND ANY OTHER MINUTES TO BE PRESENTED: Supervisor Tuttle made the motion to approve the minutes of the December 10, 2025, town board meeting as presented. Supervisor Pingel seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 12. RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS AND CASH SUMMARY: • RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS OF JANUARY 31, 2026: Clerk/Treasurer Weller distributed copies of the January Portage County Bank statement and reconciliation to board members. The Portage County Bank NOW checking account reconciled 3 at $36,023.87 on January 31, 2026. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the Portage County Bank statement reconciliation as presented, Supervisor Tuttle seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. Clerk/Treasurer Weller previously distributed copies of the January Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) statement and reconciliation to board members. The LGIP committed and uncommitted accounts reconciled at a total of $1,960,833.27 on January 31, 2026. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the LGIP statement reconciliation as presented, Supervisor Tuttle seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. • CASH SUMMARY AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 2026, AT 5:55 PM: COMMITTED FUNDS: $ 220,613.59 UNCOMMITTED FUNDS: GENERAL ACCOUNT $ 1,152,213.88 NOW CHECKING $ 728,554.37 TOTAL UNCOMMITTED FUNDS: $ 1,880,768.25 TOTAL CASH FOR TOWN OF PLOVER: $ 2,101,381.84 Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the cash summary as presented, Supervisor Tuttle seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 13. BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS: There were no budget adjustments presented. 14. 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 $1,085,935.20 to cover Checks 28169 through 28231 and electronic funds transfers EFT011Q26, EFTSW0126, EFTETF1225, and WIRE022326, including the voiding of Checks 28181 through 28184 due to a printer error. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 15. FUTURE MEETING DATES AND AGENDA ITEMS: The next regular town board meetings are scheduled for March 4, March 18, 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 repair or replacement of the bridge over Crooked Rift Creek on Biron Drive East, a possible jurisdictional transfer, chip sealing bid documents, and the Americold expansion. Several board members will be attending the Wisconsin Towns Association district meeting in Stevens Point on February 27 for Board of Review training. 16. ADJOURNMENT: Supervisor Bentley made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:01 PM, Supervisor Tuttle seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. Respectfully Submitted By: Patricia Weller, Clerk/Treasurer Approved: 04/15/26