12-3-2024

TOWN BOARD MEETING, December 3, 2024 – 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Chair Green, Supervisors, Eric Olson, Faith Schuck, Melanie Miller and Clerk/Treasurer Maria Hougan. ABSENT: Supervisor Renee Gouaux OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Audra Dalsoren & Ryan Dalsoren, 2280 County Rd. N, Joan Kellerman, 2301 Williams Dr., Aaron Joseph, 2591 Door Creek Rd., Jeff Janowski, 2323 Williams Dr., Don Denner, 2323 Williams Dr., Jeff Winge, 2426 Wildflower Rd., Matt Haugh, 2928 County Rd MN., Kalvin Barrett, Dane County Sherrif CALL TO ORDER Chair Green called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Green announced a closed session at the end of tonight’s agenda. PUBLIC COMMENT: The Board listens to residents speak on any issue (three-minute time limit) Kenneth Schuck, 1616 Spring Rd., spoke regarding the ATV/UTV ordinance. Stated he has concerns with the proposed ordinance. First concern is regarding law enforcement, he wondered if citations would end up in court. Second concern is regarding the state statutes references in other ordinances to be considered. Audra Dalsoren, 2280 County Highway N., stated concerns with the draft ordinance regarding helmets, snow removal devices, who will be posting the reduction in speeds, could she be ticketed on her private property? Also referenced highways opening highways only and not town roads? Would like clarification. County enforcement and citing state statues. Don Denner, 2323 Williams Dr., does not see on the ordinance where the machines need to be registered/licensed, include this in the ordinance. Jeff Winge, 2426 Wildflower, signage in regards to speed, is this a requirement to have posted? Will this be on the entrance to the township or will there be a sign on all roads. Is there an exception in the law for ATV/UTV or will we now have to pay for research on speeds for ATV/UTV ordinance. Wonders why the board chose to use the ordinance we have now, instead of using a bordering township ordinance. Chair Green stated they used Cottage Groves ordinance to start with, this draft ordinance is now what we have as modified by the town’s attorney. This can be still be revised. Any item listed on the agenda is subject for action. CONSENT AGENDA: Items listed under consent agenda will be approved in one motion without discussion unless any Board member requests that an item(s) be removed for individual discussion. That item then can be considered at an appropriate time during the Board’s regular order of business. 1. Approval of minutes of the November 19, 2024 public hearing on 2025 budget & tax levy, special Town Board meeting adopting the tax levy, and Town Board meeting. 2. Approval of the check register dated and November 20, and December 3, 2024. 3. Approval of the return of driveway damage deposit(s) for: (Public works inspected, no issues found, approval recommended) • Robert & Carol Naylor, 2539 Brown Deer Rd. • Chad Sorenson, 2375 Williams Pt. Dr. • Eric Gryttenholm, 2785 Spring Hill Rd. Motion by Supervisor Miller, second by Supervisor Schuck, to approve the consent agenda items as listed. Motion carries 4-0. BUSINESS. Discussion and possible action with the Dane County Sheriff’s from the South East precinct regarding speeding on Williams Drive and Skaalen Road . Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett was in attendance. Chair Green started with Skaalen Rd. Certain speed limits in areas are at 55, then 35, then back to 45. Some people are passing at the 55-speed limit, how do we enforce this? Sheriff Barrett explained there could be a presence, enforcement, and asked if they have been in contact with the SE precinct. There could be a speed study and they would go off of the data collected. They could do traffic stops, and ways to educate speeders. The goal is to lower the speed. Sup. Schuck stated this road borders where she lives. The road is hilly and it could be very dangerous for ATV/UTV’s etc. if people are going 60 miles per hour. She feels the speed should be dropped to 45 miles per hour. A discussion followed. Sheriff Barrett assured the board they are here to help and support with any decision which is made. Chair Green suggested a speed study. A discussion followed on speed studies and the data it collects. Sheriff Barrett stated the main goal is to make it safe for everyone. A discussion took place regarding speeding on Williams Dr. It is mostly 45 but there are some stretches that are reduced to 35. People are passing going 55 or more. Sheriff Barrett will look into this and get some Deputies in the area. Further discussion followed. Motion by Supervisor Miller, second by Sup. Schuck, to do a speed study in Williams Dr. between Highway B and LaFollette Park, friendly amendment by Chair Green, accepted by Supervisor Schuck, to add with a suggested location area close to the 1900 block of Williams Dr. Motion carried 4-0. It was mentioned the cost of the speed study is $500.00. Motion by Supervisor Schuck, second by Sup. Olson, to do a speed study on Skaalen Rd. between County Highway N and Red Oak subdivision at the top of the hill. Motion carried 4-0. A discussion took place on speed studies. Discussion and possible action regarding Ordinance O-2024-001: Establishing All- terrain and Utility-terrain vehicle routes in Pleasant Springs. (first draft reading) The Board reviewed the draft ordinance submitted by the town attorney. A discussion followed. Certain areas of the ordinance were suggested for changes. Chair Green asked if there was a club and if we could get a contact list. He reported out he spoke with Dane County Board member Mike Engelberger earlier in the day regarding the two roads the county prohibits, and Mike stated they will not put up any signs on prohibited roads, if the road is not posted it is prohibited. More discussion followed and it was reiterated the draft ordinance presented tonight can be revised. Motion by Supervisor Olson, second by Sup. Schuck, to change item # 5 to say “ATV/UTV shall be operated no greater than the posted speed limit” and to remove all the other language. Motion carries 4-0. Chair Green asked about the area in the ordinance where it states the signs are posted by employees. Who will be installing the signs? It was reiterated there would be volunteers and club members installing the signs. More discussion followed. Motion by Supervisor Olson, second by Sup. Schuck, to change item 202.31 to say “All authorized ATV/UTV routes shall be designated by route signs meeting the requirements of State Statute NR64.12(7) shall be provided and installed by others as directed and approved by the Town”. Motion carried 4-0. Motion by Supervisor Olson, second by Sup. Schuck, to amend section 202.32 to add a provision that no open intoxicants will be allowed in operation of ATV/UTV’s on town roads or highways. The Board also wants to change/add wording throughout the ordinance to change the wording to add town roadways. Discussion and possible action regarding setting the date for the 2025 Caucus. (Per State Statutes, caucus date must be set between December 1 and January 1, and Caucus must be held between January 2 and January 21). Motion by Supervisor Shuck, second by Sup. Olson, to hold the caucus on January 14, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. Motion carried 4-0. Discussion and possible action regarding the remaining America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The Board reviewed the ARPA funds expense sheet. A discussion took place regarding use of the remaining ARPA funds. Motion by Supervisor Miller, second by Sup. Schuck, to purchase a metal detector for the approximate amount of $1000.00, and to utilize the remainder of the ARPA funds in the amount of $1520.87 to purchase shop tools. Motion carried 4-0. Discussion of Public Works projects and duties. Chair Green reported the Koshkonong Rd. project is now fully completed. The door at UpNet has been repaired and the hinges have been replaced. The roof on the cold storage building has been repaired, roadside mowing is done, the new flag pole has been installed and there has been a large rock placed near the flag pole. The plows and wings and sanders have been put on the 3rd truck, the 3rd part time driver will be available next week, UpNet will be asked to purchase a flammables cabinet. Clerk’s report of projects and duties. Clerk Hougan reported out staff have been working on the newsletter, preparing the documents for the tax bills, and the day-to-day responsibilities of the office. Discussion on items to be placed on the next and / or future agenda: • ATV/UTV Ordinance • Fee Schedule resolution • Future item as needed: Update/direction from Board to Plan Comm on Comp Plan • Other items as requested PLAN COMMISSION REPORT (Reports will generally only be reported upon after the Plan Commission has met between Town Board meetings; unless there is additional information to report). The Plan Commission did not meet. REPORTS Town Board Reports- Supervisor Schuck reported out she attended the Deer-Grove EMS meeting on Nov. 21., where they reported they have been updating maps for the contract, they provided mutual aid to Stoughton and Cambridge, radio changeover and searching for grant opportunities regarding this, holding paramedic interviews. She attended the Commission on Aging meeting this morning and reported out they have been accredited for 5 years, writing contracts for budgets next year. The Board reviewed the reports included in the packet. CORRESPONDENCE The Board reviewed the correspondence included in the packet. Motion by Supervisor Olson, second by Sup. Miller, to enter into closed Session at 8:05 p.m. pursuant to Wisconsin State Statutes 19.85(1)(c) “considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.” Motion carried on a roll call 4-0 with Supervisors Olson, Schuck, Millers, and Chair Green. A discussion took place. Motion by Supervisor Miller, second by Sup. Olson, to reconvene in open session. Motion carried 4-0. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Supervisor Olson, second by Sup. Miller, to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.. Motion carries unanimously. Respectively Submitted, Maria “Pili” Hougan Clerk/Treasurer Dick Green Town Chair – closed session minutes Note: These minutes are not considered official until acted upon at a future meeting, and, therefore, are subject to revision.