Town Board Meeting — Minutes

1 MINUTES TOWN OF PLOVER BOARD MEETING JULY 15, 2025 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, Sara Halbur, Debra Sniadajewski, William Sniadajewski, and Robert Steinke; and Thomas Trzinski of Lampert-Lee & Associates. 2. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS: Chairman Garbe reported on the upcoming Wisconsin Towns Association Portage County Unit meeting hosted by the Town of New Hope, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin scheduling two public hearing sessions regarding the Porchlight Solar Project for August 14, and the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission 2024 Annual Report. Clerk/Treasurer Weller mentioned a Plover Area Convention and Visitors Bureau meeting to be held July 16. Supervisor Pingel shared that the Portage County Highway Department is soliciting public input for the reconstruction of County Road R between County Road B and State Highway 54; Clerk/Treasurer Weller will forward that correspondence to other board members. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. 4. LOVE CREEK NAVIGATIONAL BUOY PERMIT: Town of Plover resident Sara Halbur provided background information on invasive weeds in Love Creek and described plans to install up to eight navigational buoys in Love Creek to direct boat traffic with the intent of eliminating weeds and deepening the channel. On behalf of residents living along Love Creek, she completed a Waterway Marker Application and Permit but needs local government authorization prior to submitting it to the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Town of Plover is not responsible for purchasing, installing, or maintaining the buoys. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the Waterway Marker Application and Permit as presented, Supervisor Firkus seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 5. CSM FOR CB HOME SOLUTIONS – 5753 SHADY DRIVE, PARCEL 030230836-09.04: Surveyor Thomas Trzinski of Lampert-Lee & Associates presented the preliminary certified survey map to divide Parcel 030230836-09.04 into three separate parcels; he indicated that the Portage County Planning and Zoning Department is requiring an additional note regarding minimum civil elevation due to past flooding issues in the area and may also require a note regarding nitrate levels upon the receipt of water testing results. Chairman Garbe made the motion to approve the certified survey map for CB Home Solutions as presented, contingent on the completion of Portage County Planning and Zoning Department requirements. Supervisor Bentley seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 2 6. HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT AND AUTHORIZATION FOR PURCHASES: Superintendent of Highways William Honaker reported on employee scheduling, crack filling, garbage dumped on roads, a new truck washing business in the Town of Plover, grader repairs, and preparation for the gravel overlay project. He inquired about roadside brushing, and board members discussed both renting equipment and contracting out the work. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSIGNMENT OF KWIK TRIP PIN TO DESIGNATED TOWN EMPLOYEE: Supervisor Bentley made the motion to authorize the assignment of a Kwik Trip PIN to Town of Plover Public Works Department employee Bernard Klasinski. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 8. FIVE-YEAR ROAD PLAN: Chairman Garbe shared his draft 2025-2030 capital road plan for board member review and feedback, detailing future road work, referencing historical data, and highlighting road grant opportunities. Board members recommended an asphalt overlay in the parking lot area around the town garage. A joint town board meeting with the Town of Buena Vista is tentatively scheduled for July 21 to consider improvements to Buena Vista Drive. 9. STP GRANT APPLICATION FOR HOOVER AVENUE WITH VILLAGE OF PLOVER: Chairman Garbe provided background information on the Surface Transportation Program. Village of Plover officials have suggested pursuing a grant application for a joint Hoover Avenue project between Maple Drive and State Highway 54 which would also include the realignment of the Hoover Avenue and State Highway 54 intersection; estimation of the total cost and the Town of Plover’s portion is pending. Board members expressed interest in further investigating participation in the possible joint project. 10. SNOW PLOW CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR 2025-2027: Board members discussed the proposed snow plowing contract rates, historical snow plowing contract costs, Town of Plover Public Works Department staffing, timeliness of service, the road salt contract with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the liability for damage to mailboxes, plowing backup options, and issues with plowing gravel roads. Supervisor Firkus made the motion to accept the Town of Plover Snow Plowing Contract with Zblewski Bros. LLC for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 winter seasons as presented. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously in a roll call vote. 11. MOBILE HOME PARK INSPECTION REPORTS: This item will appear on the next town board meeting agenda. 12. PORTAGE SOLAR – CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: Chairman Garbe reported on road damage on Forest Drive and Monroe Avenue and pending repairs, delivery of steel pilings and heavy trucks using nonauthorized roads, and gravel from laydown yards being applied to internal roads that will be in service for the life of the solar farm. 13. VISTA SANDS SOLAR – NEW PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FILINGS: The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation has withdrawn its appeal of the permitting for the Vista Sands Solar Project in exchange for monetary consideration and the agreement to move some of the solar arrays away from prairie chicken habitat; Vista Sands Solar LLC has filed new documents with the 3 Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to modify the project area and add land released from the Portage Solar Project. 14. MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETINGS AND ANY OTHER MINUTES TO BE PRESENTED: This item will appear on the next town board meeting agenda. 15. RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS AND CASH SUMMARY: • RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS OF MAY 31, 2025, AND JUNE 30, 2025: Clerk/Treasurer Weller distributed copies of the May Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) statement and reconciliation to board members. The LGIP committed and uncommitted accounts reconciled at a total of $1,302,061.88 on May 31, 2025. 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. Clerk/Treasurer Weller distributed copies of the June Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) statement and reconciliation to board members. The LGIP committed and uncommitted accounts reconciled at a total of $1,086,700.52 on June 30, 2025. 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 JULY 15, 2025, AT 5:50 PM: COMMITTED FUNDS: $ 215,333.34 UNCOMMITTED FUNDS: GENERAL ACCOUNT $ 930,193.75 NOW CHECKING $ 18,661.12 TOTAL UNCOMMITTED FUNDS: $ 948,854.87 TOTAL CASH FOR TOWN OF PLOVER: $ 1,164,188.21 Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the cash summary as presented, Supervisor Tuttle seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 16. BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS: There were no budget adjustments presented. 17. 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 $27,217.34 to cover Checks 27888 through 27922 and electronic funds transfers EFT062Q25, EFTSW0525, EFTETF0525, and WIRE063025. Supervisor Firkus seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 18. FUTURE MEETING DATES AND AGENDA ITEMS: A joint meeting with the Town of Buena Vista Town Board is tentatively scheduled for July 21 at 7:00 PM. The next regular town board meeting is scheduled for August 5 at 6:00 PM. Future agendas will include mobile home park inspection reports and road project updates. 4 19. ADJOURNMENT: Supervisor Bentley made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:24 PM, Supervisor Firkus seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. Respectfully Submitted By: Patricia Weller, Clerk/Treasurer Approved: 08/26/25