Town Board Meeting Minutes December 8, 2020

Chairperson Stan Hauser called the Town Board Meeting to order on December 8 2020 at 6:06 p.m. at the Town of Onalaska, Town Hall, N5589 Commerce Road and zoom digital platform. Present were Chairperson Stan Hauser, Supervisors: Dave Balduzzi, Frank Fogel, Jerry Monti and Sandy Thompson. Mary Rinehart, Town Clerk was also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Motion to approve the agenda made by Thompson; seconded by Monti. Motion passed unanimously.

Motion to approve the minutes November 13 budget meeting, November 30, 2020 budget hearing and board meeting made by Monti; seconded by Thompson. Motion passed unanimously.

Public Comment: Tim Reagles, N6712 Sun Valley Drive, spoke in support of approving the clerk title and salary adjustment agenda item number 26.

Correspondence: Letter from the U.S. Armey Corps of Engineers regarding needed maintenance on the leased land was read. Email regarding the winter use of sand versus salt from Dave Drazkowski was read.

County Board Report: Vicki Burke via zoom platform reported up to $5,000 matching funds for weed harvesting is being requested. Burke also reported the county mill rate has decreased for the 2020 property tax cycle.

Presentation by Peter Fletcher relating to La Crosse Area Planning Commission grant relating to Town of Onalaska Comprehensive Plan update: Fletcher advised the $6,000 grant is available to the town, with a staff time match of $6,000 from the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission if the MRRPC is utilized for the plan updates and addresses the long-range transportation plan goals. The adoption of those goals is not a requirement to receive the funding. The Town Comprehensive Plan should be updated every 10 years.

Town Chairperson report: Chairperson Hauser reported he has been in contact with La Crosse County in regards to possible contracting for road brining on specific roadways. Cost was reported as $88 per hour to apply plus $45 per hour for the labor to apply. He also reported he is researching what would be needed to equip the town to self-spread the brine. The brine could be purchased from La Crosse County at a cost of $.15 per gallon. Eighty to one hundred twenty gallons per mile is needed to be effective. Brine is best for light snow or frost conditions.

Items Relating to Public Works (Town Shop) Department Shop Report: Hank Fogel reported maintenance is current on all the trucks. The chipper truck has been equipped for use as a plow truck if necessary, this winter. Park chips continue to be installed within the parks. Hank proposed possible purchasing a spare set of tire rims for the trucks to allow for summer tires to be utilized is effort to have the snow tires last longer. Cost of the rims from Runde Recycling is $25 per rim for used rims.

Discussion on repair/replacement of John Deere mower engine: Motion by Thompson; seconded by Balduzzi to replace the mower engine, have the crew do the replacement work and spend $200 for extended warrantee if the warrantee is in effect with the crew installing. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion on purchase of tires for Ford pickup: Motion by Monti; seconded by Thompson to purchase ties for the truck. Discussion regarding which tires to purchase. Motion amended to include purchasing Terra Grappler G-2 tires from Holmen Custom Service at cost of $1268.52. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion on repair or replacement including but not limited to pressure tank: Eric Lysaker of Lysaker Well Drilling and Repair, LLC presented three options to the board. Option one was to replace the tank, option two was to replace the well and system to current technology, option three was motor tank and fittings. Motion by Balduzzi; seconded by Fogel to accept option one at a cost of $800 to $900. Motion passed unanimously.

Items Relating to Public Safety Holmen Area Fire Board report: Chief Buck Manley reported on the November 18 HAFA Board of Directors meeting. Manley summarized the minutes from the meeting. Reported that two department members tested positive for Covid-19, have recovered and returned to duty. The BRICER contract has been signed. The fire department budget has been agreed upon by the three member communities with a five percent increase. Town of Holland and the Town of Onalaska voted in favor of five percent, Village of Holmen was in favor of a nine percent increase.

Discussion relating to Holmen Area Fire Association amended agreement and bylaws: Motion by Fogel; seconded by Monti to defer to the next monthly meeting. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion on appointment of Sandy Thompson as Town representative and Jerry Monti as alternate representative to the Holmen Area Fire Association Board of Directors: Motion by Fogel; seconded by Thompson to appoint Sandy Thompson as representative and Jerry Monti as alternate to the Holmen Area Fire Association Board. Motion passed unanimously.

Items Relating to Shoreline Committee Discussion on recommendation regarding Town purchase and installation of lake visible fire number signs for placement on shoreline lots: Robin Schmidt Committee Chairperson (via Zoom) and Thompson advised there is approximately 180 on the shoreline and approximately 115 docks. The signs, posts and labor have not been budgeted in 2021 but believed funds could be found, possibly utilizing a fire and rescue grant. Fogel brought concern regarding placement on and working on private property. Visibility from the water was also a concern; suggesting placing buoys in water the as a possible alternative. Thompson advised in the water would no longer be a shoreline issue. Thompson and Schmidt will research possible funding sources and report back the committee for recommendations.

Discussion on recommendation for purchase and placement of dock permit renewal sticker for placement on permitted docks: No action. Included with the discussion on the preceding item.

Items from General Government Approve the bills and finance book: Motion by Monti; seconded by Thompson to approve the bills and finance book. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion regarding Town Hall roof including but not limited to repair or replacement: Separation of the roof membrane has occurred on the west side of the building causing leaking. Proposals for both were reviewed as submitted by Interstate Roofing. Motion by Thompson; seconded by Monti to fix (repair) the roof as soon as possible accepting the $8,000 estimate. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion regarding Halfway Creek Trail funding including but not limited to ongoing participation: Details of the contract relating to the trail were reviewed by the board. Motion by Thompson; seconded by Fogel to refer the contract to the town attorney to do what is necessary to legally terminate the contract as soon as possible. Motion passed unanimously. The clerk will follow up with the town attorney.

Update on grant applications and submissions: The routes to recovery grant funds will be deposited into the town accounts before year end. The FLAP grant is still pending. No new updates are available relating to the FLAP grant. The town has received $264,202.21 inclusive of the Routes to Recovery funds, in calendar year 2020.

Discussion on bartender license application for Zelda Blake (Angry’s Way Out): Motion by Thompson; seconded by Fogel to approve the bartender license for Zelda Blake. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion on appointment of members to ordinance committee: Motion by Thompson; seconded by Hauser to appoint Sandy Thompson, Jerry Monti, Tim Reagles and Jon Rinehart to the ordinance committee. Motion passed unanimously. Meetings will begin the fourth Tuesday in January.

Discussion on use of town cell phones including but not limited to distribution and/or compensation for town use of cell phone: The town currently has three cell phones on the plan. One is carried by the Chairperson, two assigned to the town crew. Motion by Thompson; seconded by Hauser to eliminate one crew phone. Compensate each of the four crew members $25 per month for use of personal phone and responsibility of carrying the town cell phone one week per month. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion on overtime compensation for town treasurer: Motion by Fogel; seconded by Balduzzi no overtime to be worked unless approved by the Town Chair. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion relating to town clerk including but not limited to title and 2021 compensation adjustment: Motion by Thompson; seconded by Monti to change the title to Clerk/Administrator beginning the first of January 2021 with approved pay raise. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion relating to reorganization of the town clerk and treasurer positions: No action. Item to be discussed further at the January 2021 meeting.

Board Member Comment on items to be added to next Town Board agenda: Thompson: Possible combining of clerk/treasurer/ administrator positions and possible change of town attorney. Balduzzi: Discussion on legality of hunting on town owned property and at the superfund site property. Fogel: Possible sale of town property 10-1419-0. Hauser: update of employee handbook and employee evaluations.

Motion to adjourn by Monti; seconded by Thompson passed unanimously at 9:54 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Mary Rinehart Town Clerk