The Town Board of the Town of Sun Prairie met on Monday, December 10, 2007, at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, 5556 Twin Lane Road, Marshall, WI.

 

Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by chairperson Lyle Updike.  Supervisors Vernon Pogue and Doug Yelk, clerk Claudia Quick and highway patrolman Dennis Farrell were present.  Jerry Bradley was present for a portion of the meeting.

                               

Statement of Public Notice The chair directed that the minutes show notice of the meeting was published in the December 6, 2007 issue of The Star; notice was also faxed to the Capital Times.  Copies were also posted on the three town bulletin boards on November 7, 2007.

 

Pledge of Allegiance Vernon Pogue led the pledge.

 

Approve Minutes of Prior Meetings   Moved by Vernon Pogue, second by Doug Yelk to approve the minutes of the November 26, 2007 Budget Hearing, Electors Meeting and Town Board Meeting.

Voting AYE:  Updike, Pogue, and Yelk

Voting Nay: none

Absent:  none

Motion carried

Presentation from the Public  None. 

Report on Town Roads  Dennis Farrell, Road Patrolman, described various snow related problems they have been encountering in the last 10 days.  The two major problems are vehicles parked in the right of way and people pushing snow from their driveway across the road.  There have been several storms, and large ice blocks from the earliest storm are causing problems with the plow blades.  They have been able to move some of the ice with the loader. 

 

Consider and Take Action re: Enforcement of Town Ordinance Related to Parking Restriction on Town Roads  Denny indicated that he and Wes have not been able to plow several roads because of vehicles parked in the roads.  A school bus was not able to get to houses for the same reason.  The roads are posted but people continue to park in the roads.  The discussion centered on the enforcement. some of the County Deputies have been helpful; hiring them to patrol the roads would be expensive though.  People that are leaving their vehicles in the right of way need to be warned/ticketed from the beginning of the prohibited period, being December 1.  Enforcement cannot be put off until the day we want the roads clear for the snowplows.  Consensus was to make the penalties for violations stiffer and to have the constable do the ticketing.  Moved by Doug Yelk, second by Vernon Pogue to increase the penalty for the first violation not less than ten nor more than twenty-five dollars.  The second violation shall be not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than fifty dollars.  The third violation and all subsequent violation shall not exceed one hundred dollars.  The item will be on the January 14, 2008 Town Board agenda. 

Voting AYE:  Updike, Pogue, and Yelk

Voting Nay: none

Absent:  none

Motion carried

 

Discussion, Consider and Take Action re:  Conservation Ordinance Court Case.  The Town received the Summary Judgment Decision of the Judge O’Brien.  She invalidated the ordinance on the grounds that it is a zoning ordinance, which requires County approval before being effective.  There was general discussion as how to proceed; consensus was to have discussion with Attorney at the next meeting.

 

Audit and Pay Bills  The Board reviewed the list of invoices for December.  Moved by Vernon Pogue, second by Doug Yelk to pay the bills, with the addition of the handwritten items.  Voting AYE:  Updike, Pogue, and Yelk

Voting Nay: none

Absent:  none

Motion carried

 

Authorize Clerk and Chairperson to pay end of year invoices, in absence of regular meeting.  Moved by Vernon Pogue, second by Doug Yelk to pay the end of the year bills.

Voting AYE:  Updike, Pogue, and Yelk

Voting Nay: none

Absent:  none

Motion carried

 

Consider and Take Action re:  Permit Cost for Accessory Buildings  The Building Inspector has asked for clarification on the permit cost for accessory buildings when they are used for animals.  Accessory Buildings include garages; storage sheds etc. that may have cement floors, heat, insulations etc. and are not used for animals.  These buildings require several construction inspections.  In addition there are buildings used for livestock which are not insulated, no cement floor and do not have heat.  These buildings can be on actual farms of 35 acres or more, or they can be on smaller farmettes.  Those on actual farms obtain a  $40.00 Site Permit with no inspections.  Those on farmettes are the issue, the inspector would like to be able to use the agricultural rate (.04 cents/ square foot) for any buildings used for livestock on properties smaller than 35 acres as compared to the .11 cents/square foot for the regular accessory building.  Consensus of the Board was that accessory buildings for animals should have the .04 cents per square foot rate since it is an agriculture building.  Those on properties of less than 35 acres would still require an inspection.  (They do not fall into the Town Ordinance Site Permit Fee category.)

 

Old Business/New Business  none

 

Set Next Meeting Date/Adjournment.  The next meeting date was set for January 14, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.  Moved by Vernon Pogue, second by Doug Yelk to adjourn the meeting at   9:40 p.m.

Voting AYE:  Updike, Pogue, and Yelk

Voting Nay: none

Absent:  none

Motion carried

 

Correct Attest,

 

Claudia J. Quick, Municipal Clerk

Town of Sun Prairie