Town Board Meeting — Minutes

1 MINUTES TOWN OF PLOVER BOARD MEETING MAY 6, 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, Pingel, and Tuttle; Clerk/Treasurer Weller; Superintendent of Highways William Honaker; Town of Plover residents Priscilla Garbe and Michael Schoenholz; Town of Plover property owner Wayne Bushman; Ken Potrykus of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and James Zdroik of Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, LLC. Supervisor Firkus was excused. 2. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS: No correspondence or communications were presented. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Town of Plover property owner Wayne Bushman inquired about driveway permitting on Harding Avenue, and Chairman Garbe indicated that he’s in the process of issuing a driveway permit to Steven Brown of Badger Mobile Wash, LLC. 4. CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONAL CHIP SEAL FOR 2025 – RFP: Chairman Garbe opened and read aloud sealed bids from Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, LLC, and Scott Construction, Inc., for the chip sealing of Gil’s Drive and Old So-White Road in 2025. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to accept the Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, LLC, proposal for chip sealing Gil’s Drive and Old So-White Road according to bid specifications at a cost of $5,510.00, using 3/8” Dewey black aggregate. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 5. DATCP ACCESS AGREEMENT TO USE WELLS IN TOWN ROW FOR ADDITIONAL GROUNDWATER TESTING – KEN POTRYKUS: Hydrogeologist Ken Potrykus of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, shared background information about its Field-Edge Groundwater Monitoring Program. He requested permission to use the existing three nests of wells consisting of three wells each which were installed by the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey near the Portage Solar Project to test for pesticides and study water quality as the land use is changed from intensive conventional agriculture to solar farm. Potrykus described the process of gathering and disseminating data and noted that it is used more for policy than regulatory purposes. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to approve the Landowner Access Permission and Groundwater Monitoring Well Agreement as proposed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried. Supervisor Pingel abstained. 6. HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT AND AUTHORIZATION FOR PURCHASES: Superintendent of Highways William Honaker reported on crack filling and the condition of Kennedy Avenue. 2 7. PERSONNEL POLICY CHANGE FOR YEARLY BOOT ALLOWANCE AS AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT: Board members discussed whether protective toe boots should be mandatory and whether a boot allowance policy should be expanded to include other safety clothing and equipment but ultimately decided to delay action until soliciting additional feedback from employees. 8. DISPOSITION OF DIRECT FIRED TAR KETTLE: Chairman Garbe mentioned that the Town of Grant expressed interest in contracting with the Town of Plover for crack filling services and may consider purchasing a tar kettle to do its own crack filling. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to authorize Chairman Garbe to find a buyer for the old direct fired tar kettle for $2,000.00 or best offer, to include equipment training from Superintendent of Highways William Honaker. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 9. PORTAGE SOLAR REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL ROAD MAINTENANCE: While working to resolve the problem of sand blowing from solar project fields onto Coolidge Avenue, National Grid Renewables representatives inquired about compensating the Town of Plover for additional road maintenance and grading related to the heavy traffic around the Portage Solar Project; board members recommended further research to establish an appropriate hourly rate. Portage Solar, LLC, is drafting an amendment to the executed Joint Development Agreement to add additional road access to its project. National Grid Renewables will be billed for driveway and utility permits and signage related to fire numbers and traffic control. 10. GOLDEN SANDS FIREWORKS PERMIT: Supervisor Pingel made the motion to approve the Permit Application for Use of Fireworks in the Town of Plover for Golden Sands Speedway on June 27. Supervisor Bentley seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 11. OPERATOR/BARTENDER LICENSES FOR EMPLOYEES OF LAKE HOUSE BEACH CLUB LLC: Supervisor Pingel made the motion to approve the operator/bartender licenses for Lake House Beach Club LLC employees Bailee Collins, Brianna Hunt, and Jade Martin. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 12. PLAN COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS: Michael Baumann, Richard Pingel, Michael Schoenholz, Robert Slovensky, and William Sniadajewski were previously appointed to the Town of Plover Plan Commission; Jared Feltz was previously appointed as an alternate member. Feltz’s term, Pingel’s term, and Schoenholz’s term ended April 2025. Baumann’s term and Sniadajewski’s term end April 2026. Slovensky’s term ends April 2027. Supervisor Bentley made the motion to appoint Supervisor Pingel as the Town of Plover Town Board representative on the Town of Plover Plan Commission and to appoint Supervisor Pingel as the Town of Plover Plan Commission Chairman with a term ending April 2026, to appoint Jared Feltz to the Town of Plover Plan Commission with a term ending April 2028, and to appoint alternate Christopher Brooks to the Town of Plover Plan Commission with a term ending April 2028. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 3 13. BOARD OF REVIEW APPOINTMENTS: Supervisor Pingel made the motion to appoint Alyssa Newport, Melinda Osterberg, Debra Sniadajewski, and Robin Spindler as Board of Review citizen members, and to appoint Shannon Finnessy, Susan Groom, Cynthia Oligney, William Sniadajewski, and Allison Wood as Board of Review alternate members for the 2025-2026 term. Supervisor Bentley seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 14. MINUTES OF TOWN BOARD MEETINGS AND ANY OTHER MINUTES TO BE PRESENTED: Supervisor Pingel made the motion to approve the minutes of the March 26, 2025, town board meeting as presented. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 15. RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS AND CASH SUMMARY: • RECONCILED BANK STATEMENTS OF MARCH 31, 2025, AND APRIL 30, 2025: Clerk/Treasurer Weller distributed copies of the March and April Portage County Bank statements and reconciliations to board members. The Portage County Bank NOW checking account reconciled at $39,469.94 on March 31, 2025. The Portage County Bank NOW checking account reconciled at $33,443.23 on April 30, 2025. Supervisor Pingel made the motion to approve the Portage County Bank statement reconciliations as presented, Supervisor Bentley seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. • CASH SUMMARY AS OF MAY 6, 2025, AT 5:20 PM: COMMITTED FUNDS: $ 213,004.55 UNCOMMITTED FUNDS: GENERAL ACCOUNT $ 1,079,676.93 NOW CHECKING $ 30,689.43 TOTAL UNCOMMITTED FUNDS: $ 1,110,366.36 TOTAL CASH FOR TOWN OF PLOVER: $ 1,323,370.91 Supervisor Pingel 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: Clerk/Treasurer Weller reported an overage of $414.99 in Animal Control - Portage County Humane Society due to 2024 animal control. Supervisor Pingel made the motion to adjust the overage by transferring $414.99 from Contingency Fund. Supervisor Tuttle seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 17. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT, SIGNING OF VOUCHER LIST, AND AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSFER OF FUNDS: Supervisor Pingel made the motion to approve the payment of $13,872.03 to cover Checks 27793 through 27829 and electronic funds transfers EFTSW0325, EFTETF0325, and WIRE042325. Supervisor Bentley seconded the motion, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. 4 18. FUTURE MEETING DATES AND AGENDA ITEMS: Open Book will be held on Friday, May 9, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM; Board of Review will be held on Friday, May 16, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The next regular town board meetings are scheduled for May 20 and June 3 at 6:00 PM. Future agendas will include the 2024 financial audit report, the 2024 Plover Area Convention and Visitors Bureau annual report, and alcohol licensing. 19. ADJOURNMENT: Supervisor Bentley made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 PM, Supervisor Tuttle seconded, the question was called, and the motion carried unanimously. Respectfully Submitted By: Patricia Weller, Clerk/Treasurer Approved: 06/03/25