Annual Meeting — Minutes

Town of Lincoln Annual Meeting April 16, 2024 Chairman, Bill Hassey, called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance, Present, Hassey, Supervisors, Bill Marshall, Ken Fox, Bruce Richter and Kim Simac, and Clerk/Treasurer, Shelly Sauvola and Deputy Clerk/Treasurer, Sherry Schmidt. Fourteen other interested persons were in attendance. The Open Meeting Statement and Verification Media Notice given by Chairman Hassey. The Annual Meeting Agenda was approved on a motion by Michael Anderson, seconded by Cindy Burzinski, motion carried. The 2023 Annual Meeting minutes were approved on a motion by Michael Anderson, seconded by Barb Leveille, motion carried. Michael Anderson and Steve Burr were present on behalf of the Joint Municipal Fire Department to answer any questions from residents. Animal Control Officer, Melissa McDonald, was present and gave an update on calls in 2023. Laurie Stoegbauer and Barb Leveille, Board of Trustees for the library, were present to give an update on the Walter E. Olson Memorial Library. Chairman Hassey gave an update on the Room Tax Commission and announced that a $35,000 grant was awarded to the town from the Eagle River Tourism Promotion and Development Committee to improve the snowmobile crossings on town roads. Hassey also reporting that the new pier placed at the Braywood Boat Landing last summer was due to a donation from Mohr Construction and the balance of the expense was picked up by Headwaters Muskies Inc. Hassey also announcing that the town is now participating in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and announced that the brush site has opened on Elm Drive. The site is shared with the City of Eagle River. Hassey announced that the town expecting to borrow approximately $525,000 to blacktop roads in 2024, the town borrowed $500,000 last year. A 5-year road plan is in place and the board will continue to try and get caught up. Supervisor Marshall gave an update on the progress with Broadband Expansion in the town. Charter Spectrum expected to have the project completed by November of this year. The town has $130,000 remaining in American Rescue Plan Act funding that is committed to the project. Marshall also gave an update on the Planning Commission Comprehensive Plan progress. Annual Committee appointments for the 2024-2025 were announced. MAIN DEPOSITORY, INCREDIBLE BANK, TOWN ATTORNEY, STEVE LUCARELI, AIRPORT COMMISSION, GARY MUELLER & ROGER SHADICK, LIBRARY BOARD, LAURIE STOEGBAUER & BARB LEVELLE LANDFILL VENTURE GROUP, KENFOX- TOWN BOARD FIRE COMMISSION, BRUCE RICHTER - TOWN BOARD, AMBULANCE COMMISSION, KIM SIMAC - TOWN BOARD, RECYCLING AGENT, KEN FOX- TOWN BOARD, PLANNING COMMISSION, PETER ANDERSON 111, JOHN HEALY, KURTHARTWIG, KEN FOX- TOWN BOARD, BILL MARSHALL- TOWN BOARD, EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT LIASON, KIMSIMAC - TOWN BOARD, ROOM TAX COMMISSION, RONALD VAN DUSEN, PARKS & RECREATION, BRUCE RICHTER-TOWNBOARD, AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES, BILL LOCHTE & BILL MARSHALL (ALTERNATE)- TOWN BOARD COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN, MICHAEL ANDERSON. 2023 year-end budget report was presented and the Annual Financial Report from KerberRose for 2023 was available. A question-and-answer session was opened up. Chairman Hassey called for any Public Comments. Dick Stoegbauer made a motion to increase the wages for Town Board Supervisors $2,000 per year and the Town Board Chairperson by $4,000 per year, motion seconded by Michael Anderson, a hand count vote was conducted, 12 approving the increase and nobody opposed, motion carried. Laurie Stoegbauer thanked the town board for all their hard work and cooperation within the community. Dan Kramer, County Supervisor, District 21 was present to give a 2023 Vilas County recap report. Residents discussed the new Vilas County Short Term Rental Ordinance. Town Resident Jim Meiers phoned in (unable to attend the meeting due to illness) to Chairman Hassey. Meiers advocating for the River Trail, Fritz Laeser was in attendance and presented promotional materials in favor of connecting the bike trail in St. Germain to Eagle River. A motion was made by Meiers that the Town of Lincoln join the River Trail Commission, seconded by Cindy Burzinski, a hand count vote was conducted, 2 were in favor, 12 were opposed, motion failed. A motion was made by Michael Anderson requesting the town to authorize the addition of mandatory fire inspections to Tourist Rooming Housing in conjunction with Vilas County Short Term Rental Ordinance, motion seconded by Dick Stoegbauer, a hand count vote was conducted, 13 approving of the addition, nobody opposed, motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. on a motion by Roger Williams, seconded by Dick Stoegbauer and carried. Shelly D. auvola, Clerk/ Treasurer