Town Board — Minutes

Town of Rutland Board Minutes October 8, 2025 – 6:30 pm. 785 Center Road, Stoughton WI This board meeting was held via Zoom and in person. 1. Call to Order and roll call. Town chair Kent Knutson called the meeting to order at 6:31 pm. Present in addition to the chair were supervisors Mark Porter, Nancy Nedveck, Sue Williams, and Jim Dorn. Also present in addition to the board were Clerk Dawn George, Treasurer Kim Sime, Deputy Clerk Amanda Bartlett, and Rutland IT technician Derek Nedveck. The attendance list of others present is on file. 2. Certification and compliance with open meetings law. The clerk verified that all notices were posted and we are in compliance with the open meeting law. 3. Racetrack monthly report from Gregg McKarns. The board received the monthly report. There were no adds or changes. No action taken. 4. Patrolman Ace’s report. Ace reported on the progress of the 2025 road work. They have also been doing fall mowing. 5. Public Comment. For items on or off the agenda. 1. Amy Ziebell – Thank you for the tree trimming on Sunrise Road 2. Dave Frankson – Chair of Oregon Parks gave update on playground 6. Chairs report. The chair touched briefly on the New Fire Station progress and options. 7. Planning Commission Report. a. Preliminary inquiry by John Olson regarding rezoning of part of a parcel on Hwy 138 to commercial zoning (currently 2 zoning districts on one parcel.) Discussion only. No Action Taken. b. Discussion on creating an event permit. Perz presented information from surrounding municipalities on their events permit guidelines. PC members feel the need for the events permit for liability of the Town and knowledge of larger events happening. Perz will continue with getting a draft written for November PC mtg. No Action Taken. c. Discussion on adopting a dark sky ordinance Boerigter presented information and a draft of the ordinance. Discussion on the need and some guidelines. Boerigter motioned to recommend the Town Board approve the ordinance as presented. Knutson second. MP 5-0 Board action: Motion and seconded by Williams and Nedveck to approve dark sky ordinance with change to VIII. Installation paragraph ... OR with a motion sensor or dusk to dawn; motion carried 5-0 d. Discussion and possible recommendation on Escrow Ordinance. Discussion only. No Action Taken e. Discussion and possible recommendation to add Class B weight limit to Franklin Road Franklin Rd in the Town of Union is a Class B and this would continue into the Town of Rutland. Knutson stated that this is Ag exempt. Knutson motioned to recommend the Town Board approve the Class B weight limit on Franklin Road. Second by Boerigter. MP 5-0 Board action: Motion and seconded by Knutson and Williams to approve Class B weight limit to Franklin Road; motion carried 5-0 f. D iscussion and possible recommendation on Resolution for the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT), Legislation wants to raise the Heavy trucks limit from 80,000 lbs to 91,000. This may cause heavy impact on the local bridges and roads. National Association of Engineers is asking the municipalities to sign off on this resolution to stop the increase of heavy trucks weight limits. Knutson motioned to recommend the Town Board to sign off on this resolution to keep the heavy trucks weight limit at 80,000 lbs. Second by Nedveck. MP 5-0 Board action: Motion and seconded by Williams and Knutson to approve letters to Legislation; motion carried 4-1 g. Discussion and recommendation to make Michele Perz a voting member of the PC and make Kent Knutson the alternate. The term dates of the members do not change Perz agreed to step into the voting PC member seat. Knutson will now be the alternate, if in need. Knutson will explain the change to the Town Board at the Oct 8, 2025 Board meeting. Discussion only. No V oting action needed. Board action: Motion and seconded by Knutson and Dorn make Michele Perz a voting member and Kent Knutson an alternate; motion carried 5-0 h. Discussion and possible recommendation on Rutland’s ATV sunset clause. The ordinance was discussed at the 1 year time limit. PC members are satisfied of no issues and recommends the ordinance to remain as written. Knutson motioned to recommend the Town Board sustain the ordinance as written. Boerigter second. MP 5-0 Board action: Motion and seconded by Williams and Knutson approve ordinance to remain as written with the removal of the sunset clause; motion carried 5-0 8. Meetings attended. The Board members reported on meetings attended. 9. Discussion of future use of the Town Hall. Discussion on who will be able to use the Town Hall and what for, what the fees might be. There needs to be a calendar for reservations. 10. Trust Fund loan application for 2025 Roadwork with lower interest rate. Chairman Knutson read the preamble and the resolution which read as “Therefore be it resolved that the Town of Rutland, in the County of Dane, Wisconsin, borrow $330,000 for the purpose of financing the 2025 road work and no other purpose. The loan is payable within 10 years from the 15th day of March preceding the date the loan is made. The loan will be repaid in annual installments with interest at the rate of 5.5 percent per annum.” The complete resolution is on file. Chairman Knutson moved adoption of the foregoing preamble and resolutions and was seconded by Supervisor Williams. A roll call vote taken with 5 ayes and 0 noes. 11. Discussion and possible action on SBA (cell tower) lease extension. Motion and seconded by Knutson and Williams to send letter to SBA letting them know the Town is not interested in extending lease or buyout and will keep the current lease; motion carried 5-0 12. Discussion on Town Hall Cleaning. Discussion on how to clean Town Hall, who will clean, and when to clean. Discussion on getting floor mats replaced every month or more depending on the month. Knutson would like to purchase a power mop. Motion and seconded by Williams and Nedveck to allow Knutson to purchase power mop up to $300; motion carried 5-0 13. Discussion regarding traffic complaints on Sunrise Road. Discussion on speed limit signs on Sunrise Road, Patrolman Ace will put a new speed limit sign on Sunrise Road on South End by Hwy 138. He will also add a blind driveway sign with 35 mph before hill heading north. Williams and Knutson will have a meeting with Captain Porter to discuss further. 14. Consent Agenda. a. Approval of September Minutes., b. Approval of Checks and V ouchers – Discussion/Board action. c. Approval of Treasurer’s Report – Discussion/Board action. d. Budget Summary. Motion/seconded by Williams/Nedveck to approve the consent agenda as presented; motion carried 5-0 15. Correspondence. Discussion on Newsletter. 16. New Business. a. Discussion of reconciliation of new Town Hall, $24,000 under budget b. Discussion and possible action on Rutland Town Hall identification signage. c. Oregon Rotary is having a E waste collection on October 25, 2025 d. Collection Center’s budget meeting changed the fees for large item disposal e. Dorn looked at possible Tree Service companies 17. Upcoming meetings. Dates: October 21 and October 28 – budget work meetings; November 5 – board; November 12 – budget hearing. 18. Adjournment. Motion/second by Williams/Dorn to adjourn the October board meeting; motion carried 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Amanda Bartlett, Deputy Clerk