Home Page: Meeting Minutes
March 10, 2008 Regular Monthly
Regular Monthly Meeting Minutes
Town of Apple River
March,10, 2008
Members: Chairman: Dan Carlson, Supervisors: Dave Waterman & Ansel
Johnson
Treasurer: Linda Peterson, Clerk: Ken Sample
Meeting called to order at 7:00PM with all members present and
verification of public notice duly noted.
Minutes of 2-11-2008 were approved 3-0.
Clerk Report: 1. Letter from Sara McCurdy/Amanda Nissan re parcel
platting presented to board for reference. 2. Question on replacement
of missing or damaged fire signs presented to board. Board will fund
replacement cost thru 2008. 3. Letter from Polk Cty Hwy Dept. on
road projects and important notice about plow blades provided board.
Chair has master copy with ordering info on blades. 4. Reference to
article in March Report of Wisc. Towns Assn. regarding recommendation
to develop an ordinance on subdivision and land division presented for
future discussion with Planning Commission.
Motion made and approved 3-0 to approve Clerks Report.
Treasurer Report: Treasurer gave overview of balances and revenues,
interests and expenses. Motion made and approved 3-0 to approve
treasures report.
Motion made and approved 3-0 to pay vouchers as submitted.
Public Comment: Fritz Coulter made note of need for Annual Meeting
date and requested that Fire Dept. and 1st Responders provide
reports.
Minor sub-division request from Carl Hetfeld of Polk County Land
Surveying presented on behalf of Dan Koehler. Motion made and
approved 3-0 to accept request.
Road Committee Report: Fritz Coulter reported road committee
reviewed 80th St. TRIP and recommends moving forward with project.
Also recommend purchasing $25,000 of crushed gravel at Swanson Pit.
Election Committee: Clerk reported on software error that rendered
Edge voting machine inoperative for 2-19-08 election . Error created
by clerk during trouble shooting process. Janice Frederickson gave
overview of election; 306 voters; Visit from Steve Pickens of the
Government Accountability Board, Election Division, for purpose of
verifying towns compliance with statutes. Positive feedback provided
but have need for a portable handicap access sign that reserves
parking closer to the start of the handicap ramp. Dave Waterman
handling this item; furnace unable to maintain temperature and
supplemental heaters purchased by clerk; next election is April 1.
Planning Commission: Met Monday February 25th, discussed Arnell,
demographics and survey results. Next meeting March 25th at 7:00PM
and they will review changes within the town, 2001 Planning Committee
data. Steve Arduser will be attending some training on zoning.
Alternate plan for Arnell presented by Dan Carlson that involved
moving entire proposed sight further south. Town would grant a
variance to resolution requiring that commercial identities be located
on state or county roads. Vote was 3-1 in favor of recommendation.
Old Business:
Arnell Humane Society: Dave Waterman introduced efforts made by
sub-committee of Dave Waterman and Clerk Ken Sample. Clerk made
report based on information provided by Polk County Zoning, Wisc.
Towns Assn., Polk County Comprehensive Land Use Ordinance, Statute
59.69, community input and previous discussion. Action had been
prompted by a request of Arnell Humane Society/Mary Bruckner and the
Amery Regional Medical Center /Michael Karuschak to have the board of
the Town of Apple River vote yea or nay on the willingness to have the
building project move forward. This request was made at the 2-11-2008
meeting. The board decided to review all pending issues to verify
that they had legal authority to move on such a motion. The following
outlines the boards position.
1. The Town Board of Apple River has no legal authority to approve or
disapprove of the process as it exists. Obligations required to be
satisfied are at the county level and are to provide a CSM, apply for
and pay fees for a sanitary permit, apply and pay for a building
permit.
2. Acknowledging the Town of Apple River has no legal authority to
halt the building project at this stage of the process the following
is submitted for consideration. Statute 59.69 is the statute that is
foundational to the ordinance “Polk County Comprehensive Land Use
Ordinance, Revised May 15, 2007. The purpose of both documents
express the need to promote items such as, public health, safety,
convenience and general welfare: to protect property values and the
property tax base; encourage uses of land and other natural resources
which are in accordance with their character and adaptability; provide
healthy surroundings for family life. Public input at the 2-11-2008
meeting indicated great concern that many of these items were being
compromised by moving forward with proposed building project. In that
the board accepts they have no formal authority to prevent the
building project from moving forward the board makes the following
informal request. In the spirit of being a good neighbor the Town
Board of Apple River made a motion and approved on a 3-0 vote to
request that the Arnell Humane Society/Mary Bruckner to consider
withdrawing their request to build at the proposed location based on
recent information provided by residents of the town indicating the
project is not consistent with local planning. Mary Bruckner
responded to the motion, that at this point, they are not interested
in withdrawing their request.
3. Motion was made and approved 3-0 for the sub committee of Dave
Waterman and Ken Sample meet with legal counsel to review current
position and get advice on possible legal recourse the board may
have.
Comments and questions from the public included issues of
notification, town representation, where property located, alternate
sites, and deciding factor of Land Use Committee in approving
exception.
Jim Duncan presented information on survey conflicts with north boat
landing on White Ash Lake. Appears it is privately owned land and
located in Town of Georgetown Jim will acquire aerial maps and
surveys for landings on north end of White Ash and bring to April
meeting for possible resolutions.
Road Mtce contract reviewed and discussed. Draft for bid requests
provided to clerk for publication and posting. Bring back at May
meeting.
Voting publications are currently posted in Amery Free Press.
Resident provided suggestion we do more. Board agreed on motion of
3-0 to publish election notices in Amery Free Press and The Tri County
North Advertiser.
Board made motion and approved 3-0 to adopt ordinance “Provisional
Operator’s License Ordinance”; adopt policy describing rates for
Liquor licenses and operators license; and approve background checks
on licenses upon application and/or renewal.
Board approved motion on a 3-0 vote to move forward with 80th street
project. Chairman Dan Carlson will draft bid notice and forward to
clerk.
Board made motion and approved on a 3-0 vote to purchase $25,000 of
gravel.
Town Hall building program referred to architect with state running
about 1 month behind.
April Meeting will be Tuesday April 8th with Annual starting a t
7:00PM with Regular to follow at 8:00PM.
Meeting adjourned at 9:22PM