Minutes

Town of Rock Elm Elmwood, Pierce County, Wisconsin MINUTES Town Board Meeting - Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Meeting called to order at 7:55 p.m. by Chairman Tim Bates; this immediately followed the annual meeting. Others present: Matt Holcomb, Supervisor; Chris Thibado, Supervisor; Dave Bechel, Patrolman; Pam Reitz, Treasurer; Monica Robey, Clerk; and 14 residents/guests. Motion to approve the agenda was made by Matt Holcomb, second by Tim Bates, motion carried. Minutes from previous meetings Minutes from the March 11, 2025, meeting were read. Motion to approve by Chris Thibado, second by Matt Holcomb, motion carried. Minutes from the March 20, 2025, meeting were handed out and read by the Board and the public. Motion to approve my Matt Holcomb, second by Chris Thibado, motion carried. Minutes from special meeting/road tour on April 4, 2025, were read. Motion to approve by Matt Holcomb, second by Chris Thibado, motion carried. Public Input Monica Robey was thanked for her service as clerk. Ridge Breeze Dairy stated that there is always an open-door policy at the facility and welcomed questions. Election results for local positions are as follows: Chairperson: Timothy Bates Supervisor 1: Matthew Holcomb Supervisor 2: Chris Thibado Clerk: Dawn Churchill Treasurer: Pam Reitz CAFO review of where we are at in the process Tim Bates stated this ordinance is a big deal with lots of things to consider. There is a 50/50 divide for and against and the board needs time to analyze. He suggested the next meeting take place in June or July, as schedules are busy; a public meeting will be on a Saturday. As a reminder, the Town falls under Pierce County controls. Chris Thibado stated he needs more time to digest it. Matt Holcomb stated there needs to be unification across the county and all towns need to be involved. Tim Bates stated the need for money for roads and had talked to Tim Baumgartner from Dairy Business Association. Some public opinion letters about the CAFO Ordinance have been received and will be reviewed with the committee and at the public meeting. Financial Report Monica Robey presented the financial report. Bills totaled $28, 327.30 with expected income of $38, 875.05. Motion to approve by Chris Thibado, second by Matt Holcomb, motion carried. The ARPA reporting continues to be a problem for the Clerk; she will ask for assistance from Hartung Accounting. Discussed need for a new laptop and printer for incoming clerk. Motion to purchase whatever is needed for Clerk transition made by Chris Thibado, second by Matt Holcomb, motion carried. Discuss changes in Election personnel Diann Holcomb resigned from Chief Election Inspector and Monica Robey has volunteered to take the training and take over the position. Motion to approve made by Matt Holcomb, second by Chris Thibado, motion carried. Discuss Bartender License application Two licenses were received from Exile Bar. Motion to approve by Chris Thibado, second by Matt Holcomb, motion carried. Reminder of Open Book date Open Book is April 24th, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Town Hall. Board of review is May 7th, 6:00-8:00p.m. Discuss Board of Review training Monica Robey has a CD to view that may suffice for this training and will clarify that it is acceptable. There may also be training through the Department of Revenue if needed. Highway Report Presented by Dave Bechel, Patrolman. • He has been dealing with the smaller snow and ice events, doing some hand patching, using tractor and back blade to fill potholes on gravel roads, switched grader equipment from winter to summer use. • Jean Spletstoser will be helping Dave with road projects this summer. • 3-25-25 Dave went to Pierce Pepin Coop for informational meeting on line clearing in our township • 4-4-25 Road tour with the Board • 4-10-25 Dave and Tim met with Elliot and Travis from PC Highway on 570th Ave road project and blade patching scheduled for week of May 5th or 12th. Tim and Dave also met contractors on culvert projects on 570th and dig out on 170th St • 4-14-25 Tim and Dave met with Kevin Fesenmaier from Ridge Breeze and Bill Bechel from Town of Union on 210th St. and 410th Ave on concerns of hauling manure • Pierce County will be sweeping roads soon. • Dave started discing shoulders on gravel roads. • Dave will be attending Mine Training with Greg Bechel Trucking on April 21. Tim Bates stated that the most recent estimate on a 3” (1 ½” times 2) pavement is $175,000/ mile. We have some LRIP funding to go toward paving 570th Ave. There is a spot on 170th that has “bubbled up” worse this year than in the past. An estimate to dig out the area was $13,500 plus rock and paving of $1000 per Greg Bechel Trucking. An estimate from Elbe Excavating for culverts on 570th Ave was $12,000 and the Town of Rock Elm provides culverts which cost $4,475. Pierce County Highway has an estimate of $48,300 for ditches, shouldering and staking. The total paving cost estimate is $185,000 +/- $5,000. Greg Bechel Trucking estimate on gravel needed for 570th is $25,000. The estimate from Greg Bechel for gravel on 50th is $22,000. After a lengthy discussion on road priorities and funding, Chris Thibado made a motion to revisit the idea of the dig out on 170th next month, but to approve the culvert projects and Pierce County work on 570th, Matt Holcomb seconded, motion carried with Tim Bates opposed. Correspondence Reviewed Next meeting The next board meeting will be May 13th at 8:00 p.m. Motion to adjourn made by Matt Holcomb, second by Chris Thibado, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Dawn Churchill, Clerk