Town Board — Minutes

Blooming Grove Town Board Meeting Minutes for March 11, 2026 Chair Bristol called the meeting to order at 5:48 PM. Other Town Board members in attendance were Supervisors Teuscher, Woznick, Schroeder, and Young. Also in attendance were Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator John Wright, Public Works Supervisor Cory Buske, Erin Pierce, and Deborah Sellers. Those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator Wright confirmed proper proof of posting. There were no changes to the agenda. 2a. Dane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Participation: C/T/A Wright stated that although the Town will be attached to the City of Madison at the end of the day on October 31, 2027, he nevertheless thinks it is important to create a local annex to the Dane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. Participation simplifies qualification for state and FEMA funding in the event of a natural disaster. The Town had adopted a local Emergency Plan previously. Dane County Emergency Management staff did not find data from the Town in the previously adopted version of their plan (2022). Wright stated that he had authored the 2017 Annex for the Town of Verona while employed there. Without objection, Wright can submit the intent of the Town of Blooming Grove to participate in the forthcoming Plan update. 2b. Review Cemetery Fees which have not changed since January 1, 2021 to reflect costs for Meitner services: The Board had previously considered this topic and deferred further discussion and action until this meeting. Wright presented a spreadsheet of adopted Town charges from 2021 in comparison with those presented by Meitner’s Land Service for traditional burials and inurnments. In the past, the Town typically received $50 more than Meitner except on Sundays and holidays when the Town lost money. With the fee change by Meitner, the Town stands to lose more funds with each burial. Buske and Wright emphasized the frequency that staff are called upon to manage the issuance and transfer of deeds, coordinate with funeral homes and Meitner, meet with families in the office and at the cemetery on Pflaum Road, maintain the cemetery, and be present at weekend inurnments after families depart. It was noted that staff attending on weekends are paid overtime, which further reduces any ability to break even when providing services other than the sale of spaces. Chair Bristol moved to authorize for fees collected by the Town to exceed Meitner’s charges by $200 and to adjust regular weekday hours to end at 3:00 PM; 2 nd by Supervisor Schroeder. Motion carried 5-0-0. Wright stated that he will need to post and should publish a notice of these changes. 2c. Consider recommendation from Town Plan Commission to replace roof on Thurber Park Shelter: Supervisor Young provided a brief review of discussions before the Plan Commission that included a recommendation to the Board to approve the replacement of the roofing on the Thurber Park shelter by RQ Roofing LLC with lifetime architectural shingles and to request that portable restrooms that are rented from GFL be upgraded to accessible versions. Supervisor Young moved to approve the quote of $4,700 received from Craig Ferguson of RQ Roofing for the Thurber Park shelter and to approve the rental of accessible portable restrooms from GFL that is dependent upon reasonable cost and availability; 2nd by Supervisor Teuscher. Motion carried 5-0-0. Portable restrooms are typically rented somewhere between March and April until Halloween each year. It was noted that the contract with GFL provides a $1,000 stipend that can be applied towards these rental costs for Severson and April Hill parks. 2d. Annexation notice received by Town Clerk for April Hill subdivision: Chair Bristol asked C/T/A Wright to provide a brief overview. Wright reported that he received the notification of the intent to circulate a petition from Justin Verhulst on Thursday, February 26, 2026 which included a metes and bounds description of the approximately 80 acres contained within the initial subdivision and first addition along with copies of both recorded plats. Wright provided a review of the memo from the City of Madison Planning Division to the Alders of the City of Madison Council about the circulation of the aforementioned petition. The memo lays out a rationale, presumably targeted to the Wisconsin Department of Administration staff tasked with reviewing the proposed annexation, for staying the current course of annexation by the City of Madison in 2027. It was noted that the WI DOA can make a recommendation to the Village of McFarland which is not binding upon their decision. 3a. Minutes of February 25, 2026: Supervisor Schroeder moved to approve the February 25, 2026 minutes, as presented; 2nd by Chair Bristol. Motion carried 4-0-1 (abstention by Supervisor Young). 3b. Approval of vouchers: Supervisor Young made a motion to approve the vouchers, as presented; 2nd by Supervisor Schroeder. Motion carried 5-0-0. Wright noted that Coro Medical LLC delivered an AED that was on March 11, 2026 prior to tonight’s Board meeting; the expense had been approved at a prior Board meeting so was paid after receiving of the AED. 4. Public Comments: Dave Young stated that the Plan Commission reviewed a Conditional Use Permit application; it has been referred to the Town Board for consideration with a recommendation to approve. Wright stated that the Spring Election is scheduled for April 7, 2026. He has yet to start the Spring newsletter. Wright is currently scanning property record cards so that the originals can be given to Accurate Appraisal as well as the City of Madison and Village of McFarland (for properties annexed in the past). 5. Adjournment: Chair Bristol moved to adjourn the meeting; 2nd by Supervisor Woznick. Motion carried 5-0 at 6:15 PM. Minutes written and submitted by John Wright Town Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator Approved: March 25, 2026