Town Board Meeting — Minutes

1 MINUTES TOWN OF PLOVER BOARD MEETING SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Garbe called the meeting of the Town of Plover Town Board to order at 6:00 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also present were Supervisors Bentley, Firkus, Pingel, and Tuttle; Clerk/Treasurer Weller; Superintendent of Highways William Honaker; and Jonathan Baker of Doral Renewables LLC. 2. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS: Chairman Garbe mentioned his review of the Town of Plover PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating) report which was completed by North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and his attendance at a building project design meeting for the Portage County Jail and Law Enforcement Center. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. 4. STATUS UPDATE ON VISTA SANDS SOLAR PROJECT WITH Q&A – JONATHAN BAKER: Jonathan Baker of Doral Renewables LLC provided updates on the Vista Sands Solar Project, including ongoing meetings with engineering and procurement companies to select a contractor, the legal settlement with the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, the commitment to not install solar panels in Village of Plover areas designated for development, the pending third and final MISO study to identify necessary transmission system upgrades, finding a buyer for the power prior to beginning construction in 2026, and the anticipation that the project will qualify for federal tax credits despite changes to legislation. He answered questions about acreage and modifications, nuclear energy, potential buyers of the power, the transmission system, and future communications. Jonathan Baker also shared that there are no immediate plans for the construction of battery storage and noted that proposed data centers in Wisconsin will increase the demand for energy. Chairman Garbe indicated that authorized road routes to the Vista Sands Solar Project for heavy vehicles will need to be finalized and encouraged Doral Renewables LLC representatives to be proactive with enforcement of routes as well as procedures to minimize soil erosion and blowing sand in windy conditions during construction. 5. DECISION REGARDING PURCHASE OF USED TRUCK AND TRADE-IN OF PICKUP: After viewing and test driving the 2021 Ford Super Duty F-600 XL on the lot at Stevens Point Auto Center, board members and Superintendent of Highways William Honaker discussed concerns regarding maintenance issues and serviceability, the large size and visibility, and the style of snow plow on the truck. Given that the dealer was only willing to reduce the sales price by a small amount, board members agreed to pass on the purchase. 6. HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT AND AUTHORIZATION FOR PURCHASES: Superintendent of Highways William Honaker reported on a melter repair, a local business parking equipment on a road and in the road right-of-way, a stolen sign, the Buena Vista Drive project, the condition of Kennedy Avenue, semis using nonauthorized roads for solar farm deliveries, and crack filling. He asked about the status of Town parking lot improvements and roadside brushing; 2 Chairman Garbe recommended that employees crack fill the parking lot as an estimate for repaving is pending and mentioned that brushing equipment has been reserved for later this year. 7. STATUS OF STP GRANT APPLICATION FOR HOOVER AVENUE WITH VILLAGE OF PLOVER: Village of Plover officials previously suggested pursuing Surface Transportation Program funding for a joint Hoover Avenue project between Maple Drive and State Highway 54 which would include the realignment of the Hoover Avenue and State Highway 54 intersection. An award is unlikely after the Stevens Point Urban Area Surface Transportation Committee recently ranked the project second to the City of Stevens Point’s reconstruction of a portion of Business 51. 8. COMMERCIAL BUILDING INSPECTOR: Due to Wisconsin Commercial Building Code updates, Town of Plover Building Inspector Michael Bembenek relinquished authority over new commercial building inspections effective September 1, 2025. He will see his permitted projects through to completion, but new ones will fall under the jurisdiction of the State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. The Town of Plover’s ordinance and fee schedule relating to building inspections will need to be revised to reflect this change. 9. ENGAGEMENT OF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR TOWN ROAD ISSUES: Equipment lying in the road right-of-way of Parcels 030230834-01.04A and 030230834-01.04E was removed or relocated by September 1, 2025, so Chairman Garbe did not contact Attorney Shane VanderWaal to pursue legal action. Board members found the effort satisfactory and agreed to not take further action against the landowner at this time but will monitor compliance going forward. 10. APPOINTMENT OF TOWN REPRESENTATIVE TO COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Chairman Garbe provided background on the Portage County Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Advisory Committee, and Supervisor Tuttle volunteered to serve as the representative for the Town of Plover. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to appoint Supervisor Tuttle to the Portage County Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Advisory Committee. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 11. BUDGET PLANNING: Supervisor Pingel shared that resident Debra Sniadajewski was willing to help with the 2026 budget, and Chairman Garbe will follow up with her to confirm interest and availability. Chairman Garbe, Clerk/Treasurer Weller, and possibly Supervisor Tuttle will hold a budget workshop in the near future and then present the draft budget to other board members for review and feedback before the public hearing. 12. MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETINGS AND ANY OTHER MINUTES TO BE PRESENTED: Supervisor Tuttle made the motion to approve the minutes of the July 21, 2025, joint meeting of the Town of Plover Town Board and the Town of Buena Vista Town Board as presented with the removal of the word “planned” in the second sentence under agenda item two. Supervisor Bentley seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 3 13. RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS AND CASH SUMMARY: • RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS OF JULY 31, 2025, AND AUGUST 31, 2025: Clerk/Treasurer Weller previously distributed copies of the July and August Portage County Bank statements and reconciliations to board members. The Portage County Bank NOW checking account reconciled at $25,404.13 on July 31, 2025. The Portage County Bank NOW checking account reconciled at $28,886.23 on August 31, 2025. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the Portage County Bank statement reconciliations as presented, Supervisor Tuttle seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. Clerk/Treasurer Weller previously distributed copies of the July and August Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) statements and reconciliations to board members. The LGIP committed and uncommitted accounts reconciled at a total of $1,146,780.54 on July 31, 2025. The LGIP committed and uncommitted accounts reconciled at a total of $1,278,649.04 on August 31, 2025. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the LGIP statement reconciliations as presented, Supervisor Tuttle seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. • CASH SUMMARY AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2025, AT 2:30 PM: COMMITTED FUNDS: $ 216,931.67 UNCOMMITTED FUNDS: GENERAL ACCOUNT $ 881,717.37 NOW CHECKING $ 31,576.83 TOTAL UNCOMMITTED FUNDS: $ 913,294.20 TOTAL CASH FOR TOWN OF PLOVER: $ 1,130,225.87 Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the cash summary as presented, Supervisor Tuttle seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 14. BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS: Clerk/Treasurer Weller reported overages of $1,153.49 in State Fire Insurance Dues relating to forwarding the dues revenue to the Village of Plover Fire Department and $143.47 in Building Number Signs due to signs. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to adjust the overages by transferring $1,296.96 from Contingency Fund. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 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 $59,377.65 to cover Checks 27961 through 28001 and electronic funds transfers EFT083Q25, EFTSW0725, EFTETF0725, and WIRE090225. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 16. WTA MEETING LOGISTICS: Board members discussed meal preparation and room organization for hosting the Wisconsin Towns Association Portage County Unit meeting on September 22 at 6:15 PM. 4 17. FUTURE MEETING DATES AND AGENDA ITEMS: The next regular town board meeting is scheduled for October 8 at 6:00 PM. Chairman Garbe shared charts comparing actual Town of Plover Public Works Department employee hours and wages to budgeted amounts. 18. ADJOURNMENT: Supervisor Bentley made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 PM, Supervisor Tuttle seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. Respectfully Submitted By: Patricia Weller, Clerk/Treasurer Approved: 11/19/25