ANNUAL MEETING
PURPOSE OF THE MEETING: The Annual Meeting is a meeting of town electors to vote on matters that by law are required or permitted to be decided by the annual meeting. The annual meeting may only act on those things specified by state law.
Call to Order – The 2012 Annual Meeting of the Town of Sun Prairie was called to order by Town Chair, L Updike on Tuesday, April 22, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Those present were Supervisors V Pogue and D Yelk, Clerk J Ramsfield, Treasurer C Yelk, Patrolman W Dorshorst, Deputy J Nelson, Lieutenant B Hayes, J Quimby, K Steele, and R Fetterly.
Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was led by W Dorshorst.
Statement of Public Notice – The chair directed that the minutes show that notice of this meeting was published in The Star and posted on the three Town bulletin boards April 18th.
Approve Minutes of 2012 Annual Meeting – Moved by D Yelk, second by V Pogue to approve the annual meeting minutes with corrections of dates on the agenda and printed in the 2012 annual report.
Voting AYE: All present
Voting NAY: None
Absent: None
Motion carried.
Presentation from the Public – Officer Nelson gave an in dept presentation of the Call for Services for 2012. Please see attached document.
Review the 2012 Financial Report – Town Chairperson, L Updike invited all present to review the 2012 Financial Report for the Town of Sun Prairie. R Fetterly asked for clarification on the state of indebtness, fund balance and expenditures. L Updike explained the repayment process for the monies borrowed for the new plow truck. There was also a comment of how glad the patrolmen are that the board decided to keep the plow truck that was replaced. The 3rd truck was needed many times this snow season. C Yelk commented that a copy of the cemetery map has been made and placed in the vault. In closing, any additional questions can be directed to the clerk by calling the office. Moved by J Ramsfield, second by R Fetterly to approve the Town of Sun Prairie 2012 Financial Report.
Voting AYE: All present
Voting NAY: None
Absent: none
Motion carried
Fire Unit Report – The department is into its second year 4 fulltime firemen for the day shift. These 4 firemen will also be performing fire inspection at businesses. L Updike stated that the Town of Burke has reconsidered its position with the volunteer fire department and will remain a partner. M Mlekush introduced himself to the board; he is very excited to be among the 4 fulltime firemen. Contract talks with the City of Sun Prairie and Volunteer Fire Department will begin Fall of 2013.
EMS Report – Supervisor Pogue gave the EMS report. EMS currently has 45 active members and 10 on a waiting list; only 2 are EMTs. The director continues to do a good job. EMS has purchased new ambulance.
Plan Commission Report – Summary of Land Use Decisions and Updating the Town’s Comprehensive Plan Annual Town Meeting April 22, 2013
In 1999 the State of Wisconsin enacted the most significant revisions to our land use laws in more than a generation, which has been referred to as “Smart Growth For Wisconsin.” Under this legislation, beginning in January 2010, local land use decisions must be consistent with the local government’s comprehensive plan and the local ordinances which are revised to conform to the comprehensive plan. After three years of work by the Town’s Plan Commission, with input from community survey and community participation at a planning seminar, the Town of Sun Prairie adopted a comprehensive plan in October 2003 to guide the governance and development of the Town for the next 20 years. As required by state law, the comprehensive plan addresses town issues related to land use, housing, transportation, economic development, utilities and community facilities, and agriculture, cultural and natural resources.
The two most significant guiding principles of the comprehensive plan are to: (1) Protect lands best suited for agricultural production, and (2) Limit residential development to densities and in locations that are best suited to preserving the Town’s agricultural heritage and rural character. Under these guiding principles the Town has limited residential rezoning requests to 10 parcels per year and the use of a Land Evaluation and Site Assessment System (LESA) to analyze rezoning requests from agricultural to residential. Additionally, the Town requires the creation of a 2-acre conservation easement for each acre rezoned from exclusive agricultural to residential.
Since 2003 the Plan Commission has considered 66 separate rezoning requests to create 323 residential or commercial/business lots. From these 66 rezoning requests, 44 were approved creating 55 residential lots and 8 business/commercial lots which resulted in 81 acres being removed from exclusive agricultural zoning to residential or business/commercial zoning. This also created 38 acres of conservation easements. Twenty-nine of the residential lots resulted from dividing larger existing residential lots into smaller residential lots.
Of the 15 rezoning requests that were denied, 13 requests were for rezoning 370 acres from exclusive agricultural to residential to create 252 residential lots. Most of these 252 residential lots would have been created in 5 large subdivisions. The 2 requests for business/commercial rezoning that were denied would have removed 8 acres from exclusive agricultural zoning or prime farmland.
For 2012, six rezoning request were receive and approved creating 6 new residential lots which resulted in removing 14.01 acres from the A-1(Ex) agricultural district.
The Plan Commission has adopted a resolution which amended the Comprehensive Plan for the 3rd time since it was originally adopted by the Town Board in 2003. On April 8, 2013 the Board adopted an amendment to Town Ordinance No. 2008 approving and incorporating the changes into the Comprehensive Plan. The amendment has been submitted to Dane County for review and incorporation into the Dane County Comprehensive Plan and the Dane County Farmland Preservation Plan. It is anticipated that the County will hold a public hearing on the plan before the Zoning and Land Regulation Committee on May 28, 2013.
Road Report – W Dorshorst reported that the roads have not wintered well. C Yelk & W Dorshorst is preparing the sealcoat proposal packets. The packets should go out by May 1st.
Report on Status of Discussions with neighboring communities.
Village of Cottage Grove – L Updike & R Fetterly will meet with the Village of Cottage Grove April 25, 2013.
Resolution to Dispose of Old and Outdated Equipment – Motion by, second by J Quimby to adopt resolution 4-22-13 which authorizes the Town Board to dispose of the old and out-dated equipment and machinery until the date of the 2014 Annual Meeting.
Voting AYE: All present
Voting NAY: None
Absent: none
Motion carried.
Set 2014 Annual Meeting Date/Adjournment – Consensus set the 2014 Annual Meeting date for the 3rd Tuesday (4/15/14) in April 2014 at 7:00 p.m.; Moved by R Fetterly, second by to V Pogue adjourn the meeting. The chair declared the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Voting AYE: All Present
Voting NAY: None
Absent: none
Motion carried.
Correct Attest,
Jo Ramsfield, Town Clerk