4/10/25

Town of Black Earth Minutes of Town Board Meeting Thursday, April 10, 2025 1. Meeting call to Order. Town Chair Tom Turk called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM following the public hearing. Supervisors Joann Bennett, Barb Parrell, Treasurer Brenda Kahl, and Clerk Stephanie Zwettler were present. Also in attendance: Jason Handel, Steve Parrell, Bill and Brenda Pulvermacher, Dan Meier, Peter Wood, and Jim Senzig. 2. Proof of Posting. An affidavit of posting was provided. 3. Approval of the Agenda. Joann Bennett moved and Barb Parrell seconded the motion to approve the agenda. Motion carried. 3-0 4. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting – March 4, 2025. Barb Parrell moved and Joann Bennett seconded the motion to approve the minutes from March 4, 2025, as presented. Motion carried. 3-0 5. Comments by Town residents – non-agenda items. Resident Bill Pulvermacher discussed a septic and property line matter with theirs and a neighboring parcel. Resident Brenda Pulvermacher inquired about the number of Amish families that can occupy one site. 6. Financial Report. a. Money Market: $486,299.93 Checking: $24,269.27 b. Approval of checks written. Barb Parrell moved and Joann Bennett seconded the motion to approve written checks numbered 12571-12596, including direct deposit paychecks . Motion carried. 3-0 7. Public Hearing – Solar Energy System Licensing Ordinance. Joann Bennett moved and Barb Parrell seconded the motion to approve the Solar Energy System Licensing Ordinance version dated April 10, 2024. Motion carried. 3-0 8. Plan Commission. a. Plan Commission appointments. Town Chair Tom Turk reappointed Steve Parrell and Peter Weil as Plan Commission members through April 2028 , and Joann Bennett through April 2027. Joann Bennett moved and Barb Parrell seconded a motion to ratify the appointments of Plan Commission members Steve Parrell and Peter Weil. Motion carried 3-0 Barb Parrell moved and Tom Turk seconded the motion to ratify the appointment of Joann Bennett. Motion carried. 3-0 Minutes of Town Board meeting – April 10, 2025 9. Patrolman’s Report. Town Patrolman Jason Handel reported on the salt shed inspection, the removal of trees on Lily Valley Road and Reeve Road, and mentioned that the Bombay Bicycle Club recently had a bicycle event on Reeve Road. He observed that cyclists were traveling in both directions while cars were passing, which created a potentially dangerous situation. Town Chair Tom Turk will contact the bicycle club to inquire about the event. 10. 2025 Road repair projects – review bids, award projects. The Town Board reviewed the sealed bids that were opened at the bid opening on April 8, 2025. Contractor Paving Sealcoating Ditching/Culverts Payne & Dolan $73,190 Tri-County Paving $78,520 Wolf Paving $101,115 Scott Construction $76,360 Scott Construction $131,050 Fahrner Construction $131,251 Boehnen, Inc $40,573 Tom Turk moved, and Joann Bennett seconded the motion to award both paving projects on Reeve Road to Scott Construction for a total of $76,360.00. Motion carried. 3-0 Tom Turk moved, and Barb Parrell seconded the motion to award the sealcoating project for Sutcliffe Road (2.91 miles) and Deneen Road (0.30 miles) only to Scott Construction for a total of $60,450.00. Motion carried. 3-0 Tom Turk moved and Barb Parrell seconded the motion to award the ditching/culvert project to Boehnen, Inc. for $40,573.00. Motion carried. 3-0 11. Reeve Rd bridge – review draft State Municipal Agreement. Lynch & Associates Engineer Dan Meier explained the change to utilize a standard bridge design and reduce the consultant hours by a third of the initial contract. With general inflation and a dditional requirements for new projects, the contract cost for the bridge design is now $104,003. The amount approved in the SMA for the design with the 100% state/federal funding is $80,000, leaving a a potential gap of up to $24,003 that the Town of Black Earth could be responsible for. Joann Bennett moved, and Tom Turk seconded the motion to approve covering an additional overage of $4,800 to $24,003 for the scope of work as outlined by the WisDOT Project Manager. Motion carried. 3-0 12. Oakhill Cemetery Association – review financial report, contribution. The Town Board reviewed the 2024 financial report of the Oakhill Cemetery Association as submitted. 13. Fesenfeld Rd – speed limit update. A draft ordinance will be proposed to reduce the speed limit to on Fesenfeld Road to 45 mph at the May town board meeting. Additional cautionary speed signs may be installed. Minutes of Town Board meeting – April 10, 2025 14. Noise disturbance – Fesenfeld Rd – update. No update. 15. Set Open Book and Board of Review dates. Open Book will be Monday, May 12, from 2:00-4:00 PM; the Board of Review will be Monday, May 19, from 4:00-6:00 PM. 16. Broadband internet service – update. No update. 17. EMS Board Report. The EMS Director is looking for a replacement. 18. Fire Board Report. The fire board discussed requesting a portion of supplemental shared revenue. 19. Discussion of future agenda items. Oakhill Cemetery, Fesenfeld Road speed limit ordinance , Fesenfeld Road noise disturbance, Reeve Rd bridge, road projects, .gov domain switch for email. 20. Adjourn. Barb Parrell moved and Joann Bennett seconded the motion to adjourn. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:46 PM. Respectfully submitted, Stephanie Zwettler, Town Clerk