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December 8, 2009 Regular Town Board Meeting
Town of Highland December 8, 2009 Regular Town Board Meeting Sue Ann Bruce called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll Call was taken and all Board Members were present. Sue Ann Bruce – Chairperson, Scott Khalar – Supervisor, Sherrie Craft – Supervisor, Nora Anne Moss – Clerk, and Rose Graves – Treasurer. No one had any comments during the public comment section. The Clerk verified that the meeting was posted and published. Discussion was held on the possibility of audio/video recording of the meetings. S. Bruce would like to audio record the meetings. This was tabled until next month to look into costs and a policy for public requests of the recordings. These would need to be retained for 90 days after approval of minutes. S. Craft made a motion to approve the minutes from the Regular Town Board Meeting on November 10, 2009, The Budget Hearing/Meeting on November 17, 2009 and Driveway Inspections on November 4, 2009. S. Khalar seconded the motion and motion carried. Tom Stewart was in attendance and gave a brief statement regarding property taxes. Tom Renz was not in attendance. Discussion was held on the email received from him requesting the Town accept liability for Barnes ambulance costs not paid by the patient. S. Bruce will contact Tom Renz to discuss this further with him. It will be put on the January agenda. Correspondence received: Timber Sale Notice on Anderson Road, Douglas County Planning and Zoning regarding the Comprehensive Plan (this will be forwarded to Will Kiefer). A letter from John Prohaska regarding records and dismissal from the Fire Department will be put on agenda for the January meeting for further review. S. Craft made a motion to have the Douglas County Variance Committee decide on the Variance request by Robert Brennan at 11642 S Beauregard Lake Rd. S. Khalar seconded the motion and motion carried. Later in the meeting S. Craft made a motion to rescind the motion. S. Khalar seconded rescinding the motion and motion was rescinded. S. Craft made a motion to approve the Variance Request. S. Khalar seconded the motion and motion carried. S. Khalar made a motion to approve Donna Khalar, Chief Election Inspector, Doreen Schaller, Election Inspector and Diane Benson, Election Inspector. S. Craft seconded the motion and motion carried. This will be for 2010 and 2011. S. Khalar made a motion to renew the contract with Joe Mihalek for legal services for 6 months. S. Craft seconded the motion and motion carried. S. Bruce will research alternatives in the upcoming months. S. Craft made a motion to designate the Town Chairperson to be contact person for the attorney. S. Khalar seconded the motion and motion carried. S. Craft made a motion to amend the Budget as presented. S. Khalar seconded the motion and motion carried. The remaining funds will be designated as follows: $60,000 – General Fund for 2010, $16,529 – Highway Dept, $1,922 - Fire Department Brush Truck, and $1,420 for Fire Department EMT and Training. S. Khalar made a motion to accept the Joint Powers Agreement with Douglas County. S. Craft seconded the motion and motion carried. S. Bruce gave a statement regarding purchases for the office at the hall including a laptop, chair and a light. Discussion was held on the current public comment policy at meetings. S. Craft made a motion to leave the public comment agenda item at the beginning of the meeting and adding another one towards the end of the meeting. Signing up will no longer be required. This will be put into effect immediately under a trial period. S. Khalar seconded the motion and motion carried. S. Khalar gave the Equipment and Roads report. The OJA grant was approved for 2 new radios for the Highway Department. S. Craft gave the Grounds, Buildings, and Recycling Report. She is still waiting for two quotes on the motion light for the Town Hall entrance. S. Bruce submitted a quote she requested from Rowe’s Northern Water Electric for $586 for a dusk to dawn light to be installed. S. Craft made a motion to accept this quote. S. Khalar seconded the motion and motion carried. S. Bruce will contact them. Constable’s Report was two calls. Will Kiefer gave the cemetery report of 1 lot sold. W. Kiefer gave the Town Plan Commission Report of no activity. Ron Cairns gave the Fire Department report of 1 EMS call. Kally Ross has been appointed the new Safety Officer. The Fire Department is currently looking into a joint grant to be used for a storage tank on the south end of Highland. DNR grant has been approved, but he has not seen any paperwork yet. It appears the OJA grant was not approved. During the Chief’s absence the Assistant Chief will be in control of the Fire Department. S. Khalar made a motion to approve the disbursement requests of food for the Association Meeting and a Safety Officer’s Handbook. S. Bruce seconded the motion and motion carried. S. Craft objected. S. Khalar made a motion to approve R. Cairns sending in Early Bird Registrations for the training in Cable. Cost and number of people attending is not known at this time. S. Craft seconded the motion and motion carried. There will be a Special Town Board Meeting held to discuss the Fire Department By-Laws. This will be Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the Highland Town Hall. S, Khalar made a motion to approve having Fire Department Records (Training, Certifications, Grants, and Stipend information) kept in two places. One of these being the hall and one being off site. S. Craft seconded the motion and motion carried. S. Khalar made a motion to approve the disbursement requests. S. Craft seconded the motion and motion carried. S. Craft made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report as read by R. Graves. S. Khalar seconded the motion and motion carried. Beginning Balance $113,738.58 Total Receipts $ 7,495.08 Total Expenditures $ 41,362.56 Ending Balance $ 79,871.10 The next Regular Town Board Meeting will be Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 7:00 p.m. at the Highland Town Hall. S. Craft made a motion to adjourn the meeting. S. Khalar seconded the motion and motion carried. Meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted by, Nora Anne Moss Town Clerk Also present: Jim Kotera, Bob Brennan, Jim Benson, Jim Dechambeau, Ron Cairns, Marvin Landreth, Sandra Carlson, Jessica Carlson, Bernie Human, Tom Stewart, Andy Moss, Will Kiefer, Goerge Kornstad, Kally Ross, Justine Ross, Jake Melin.