DECEMBER 2023 TB MINUTES

TOWN OF DEERFIELD MONTHLY MEETING MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023, 7:00 P.M., DCC CENTER, 10 LIBERTY STREET MIKE SCHLOBOHM CALLED THE DECEMBER MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:07 P.M. WITH ALL OFFICERS EXCEPT FOR BOB RIEGE PRESENT. THE TOWN’S ATTORNEY, DAN EVANS, WAS ALSO PRESENT. ON A MOTION BY RANDY BEHLKE, SECONDED BY DAN KELLY, THE DECEMBER MEETING AGENDA WAS APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. ON A MOTION BY KATIE MICHEL, SECONDED BY RANDY BEHLKE, THE NOVEMBER MEETING MINUTES WERE APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. THE NEXT HOUR OF DISCUSSION CENTERED AROUND THE POWER OUTAGE ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023. REPRESENTATIVES OF WE ENERGIES ALONG WITH MANY AFFECTED HOMEOWNERS WERE PRESENT TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS OVER PERCEIVED NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF WE ENERGIES WHEN A POWER SURGE CAUSED BY TOUCHING HIGH VOLTAGE LINES DID SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO 167 HOMES. MANY HOMEOWNERS EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS THAT ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES WERE DAMAGED OR LOST DUE TO THE SURGE. THIS HAD PREVIOUSLY HAPPENED IN OCTOBER, 2022, AND THE SAME HOMEOWNERS LOST ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND WIRING DAMAGES. THE HOMEOWNERS EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERN THAT NEITHER THEY OR THEIR HOMEOWNER INSURANCE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS LATEST DAMAGE. WE ENERGIES STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE PAPERWORK BY THE HOMEOWNERS TO BE FILED FOR DAMAGE CLAIMS. THE VALUE PAID WOULD BE ON THE DEPRECIATED VALUE OF THE ITEM LOST. HOMEOWNERS FELT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE. DISCUSSION THEN LED TO THE TOPIC BEING DISCUSSED AT THE JANUARY MEETING FOR UPDATES. MINUTE NOTES AND ATTENDEES ARE ATTACHED TO THESE MEETING MINUTES. DISCUSSION WAS HELD IN REGARD TO THE TOWN BUILDING A SEPARATE NEW TOWN HALL WITH A MEETING ROOM, BATHROOMS AND OFFICE AREA. THE ESTIMATED COST WOULD BE $500,000.00- $600,000.00 ACCORDING TO CLEARY DESIGN BUILDINGS. THERE WOULD BE NO SALE OF THE CURRENT TOWN GARAGE FACILITY AND LAND. THE BOARD REQUESTED THAT JIM MAPLE DRAFT A LETTER TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION DETAILING THE EVENTS OF THE POWER OUTAGE AND POWER SURGE ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023. RANDY BEHLKE HAS BEEN MEETING WITH THE QUAD COUNTY RUNNERS FOR ALLOWING MORE ROADS TO BE OPEN FOR ATV/UTV TRAVEL. NOTABLE POINTS ARE NECESSARY SIGNAGE AND THE PARTIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE SIGNS AND INSTALLATION. ON A MOTION BY NICK BRATTLIE, SECONDED BY RANDY BEHLKE, THE BOARD APPROVED THE TREASURER’S REPORT AND A GENERAL FUND VOUCHER OF $87,584.59. MOTION CARRIED DAN KELLY DID A RIDE ALONG WITH CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL TO OBSERVE AND CHECK ON DAMAGED AREAS OF CONSTRUCTION AND THE NEED TO REPAIR THEM ACCORDING TO TOWN SPECIFICATIONS. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: WE ENERGIES, ATV/UTV PUBLIC HIGHWAY ACCESS, PROPOSED SALE OF TOWN DUMP ACREAGE, TOWN GARAGE RENOVATIONS UPDATES, 2024 TOWN ROAD PROJECTS, DEERFIELD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. TRUCK NEEDS. ON A MOTION BY DAN KELLY, SECONDED BY KATIE MICHEL, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:19 P.M. MOTION CARRIED. BOB RIEGE-CLERK