4/9/26

Town of Black Earth Minutes of Town Board Meeting Thursday, April 9, 2026 1. Meeting call to Order. Town Chair Tom Turk called the meeting to order at 6:53 PM. Supervisors Barb Parrell, Joann Bennett, Treasurer Brenda Kahl, and Clerk Stephanie Zwettler were present. Also in attendance: Steve Parrell, Vern Wendt, and Jason Handel. 2. Proof of Posting. An affidavit of posting was provided. 3. Approval of the Agenda. Tom Turk moved and Joann Bennett seconded the motion to approve the agenda, as amended, omitting 7(d) and 7(e). Motion carried. 4. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting – March 9 , 2026 . Joann Bennett moved and Barb Parrell seconded the motion to approve the minutes from March 9 , 2 026, as presented. Motion carried. 3-0 5. Comments by Town residents – non-agenda items. Resident Vern Wendt expressed concern that the town’s assessor is not capturing all recent home sales in the assessment roll; he presented a photo of his residence and noted inaccuracies in his property records. 6. Financial Report. a. Money Market: $481,897.60 Checking: $22,212.64 b. Approval of written checks. Barb Parrell moved and Joann Bennett seconded the motion to approve written checks numbered 12748-12762, including direct deposit paychecks . Motion carried. 7. Plan Commission. a. Eliot Butler and Rene Heiden, approx. 9525 Blackberry Rd – driveway permit application. Joann Bennett presented the Plan Commission's discussion and recommendation. Joann Bennett moved and Barb Parrell seconded the motion to approve the driveway construction permit and to require that the driveway be shared with the existing driveway, pending agreement by the other two property owners. Motion carried. b. GV Blackberry, LLC, west and south of 9554 Turkey Rd – zoning changes to create two residential lots. Joann Bennett presented the recommendation from the Plan Commission. Joann Bennett moved and Barb Parrell seconded the motion to approve the zoning changes for 6.22 acres from FP-35 to RR-4 and for 11.8 acres from FP-35 to RR-8, as amended. Motion carried. c. Turk Living Trust, 9533 Kahl Rd – zoning change for existing residence. Joann Bennett presented the Plan Commission’s recommendation. Barb Parrell moved and Joann Bennett seconded the motion to approve the zoning change for 30.86 acres from FP-35 to RM-16, as submitted by Anna Kraft for Turk Living Trust. Motion carried. d. Plan Commission appointments. Town Chair Tom Turk reappointed Chuck Bruhn and Tom Ripp as Plan Commission members through April 2029. Joann Bennett moved and Barb Parrell seconded a motion to ratify the appointments of Plan Commission members Chuck Bruhn and Tom Ripp. Motion carried. Minutes of Town Board meeting – April 9, 2026 8. Patrolman’s Report. Town Patrolman Jason Handel reported that the Mack plow truck needs a new apron chain and bearings; the brush mowing for 2026 is complete, and would like to request to rent again in 2027, if possible; the salt order for 80 tons was placed; the contractor f or TDS’ fiber optic installation to residential homes has possible line depth concerns - TDS has been notified; and road project priorities for 2026 were discussed. 9. 2026 Road repair projects – review bids, award projects. The Town Board reviewed the sealed bids that were opened at the bid opening on March 24, 2026. Town Board members discussed crackfilling town roads instead of sealcoating this year. Contractor Paving Sealcoating Payne & Dolan $49,100 Tri-County Paving $49,720 Wolf Paving $57,450 Scott Construction $48,072 Scott Construction $69,500 Fahrner Construction $63,418 The Town Board members reviewed a couple of performance issues with a project Scott Construction completed last year. The Town Chair and Town Patrolman reported that they had recently contacted the representative by email to express concern about the previous quality of work and noted that no visit had been made. The Town Board agreed that, although Scott Construction was the lowest bidder, given the prior work completed, it would be in the best interest to award the project to the next lowest bidder. Barb Parrell moved and Joann Bennett seconded the motion to award the paving project with TRIP funds on Midland Rd to Payne & Dolan for a total of $49,100. Motion carried. Tom Turk moved, and Joann Bennett seconded a motion to crackfill needed town roads up to $25,000. Motion carried. 10. Oakhill Cemetery Association – review financial report, contribution. The Town Board reviewed the annual financial report submitted by Trent Turk from the Oakhill Cemetery Association. 11. Set Open Book and Board of Review dates. Clerk Stephanie Zwettler reported that the assessor has not yet provided dates. 12. Reeve Rd bridge – update. No update this month. 13. EMS Board Report. Tom Turk reported that District One EMS has lost a couple of full -time employees due to other opportunities; reassignments and new employees will be announced soon. 14. Fire Board Report. Barb Parrell reported that the Mazomanie and Black Earth Fire Departments are working on an arrangement for the departments to collaborate to accommodate both service areas. 15. Future agenda items. New meeting location and date change; website update. Minutes of Town Board meeting – April 9, 2026 16. Adjourn. Joann Bennett moved and Barb Parrell seconded the motion to adjourn. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:26 PM. Respectfully submitted, Stephanie Zwettler, Town Clerk