Chairman Darrel Fehr called the meeting to order on February 11, 2013 at 8:00 pm. The supervisors present were: David Clements and John Sykora. Other officers present were: Victoria Trinko-Clerk and Judith A. Prince-treasurer. See attached list for delegation present.
Certification of proper posting for the scheduled town board meeting: The notice for the February town board meeting was duly posted on January 24, 2013 and reposted on January 30, 2013 in the 3 designated places within the Town of Cooks Valley.
Public Comment: Tom Short reported since he has purchased a new computer he is able to open the home page of the Town of Cooks Valley website but is unable to open the buttons on the side of the website. He wondered if Earl Hassemer should be contacted to determine if a new program is needed.
Darrel Fehr made a motion to move item 9, 15 and 16 to item 4, 5, and 6. David Clements seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Discussion of concerns of the plan commission: Tom Short reported the plan commission recommended approval of the Chapter 24 ATV Routes with changes of defining “operate”, add an updated map, “sunrise” to “sunset”, and one hour before sunrise and one hour before sunset. There was discussion on the length of terms of the plan commission members.
Discussion and possible action on ATV trails in the Town of Cooks Valley: There was discussion of which roads would be included in the ordinance at this time and the process for people requesting additional roads to be added to the ATV route. Damien Prince presented maps indicating the routes being considered at this time. During discussion, additional roads were added: 65th Street; 40th Street to State Highway 40; 150th Avenue to County Highway DD; 148th Avenue to County Highway A; and 20th Street. Scott Decker explained the ordinance blankets all the town roads but the roads with signage are the ATV routes. Question: When will the signage and the route begin? Ans. The signage and routes will begin in the spring after more meetings with other town boards are completed, other towns involved [Woodmohr, Cooks Valley, Howard, Tilden, City of Bloomer, and possibly Wheaton], and the signs are ordered. Membership to the Eagle Point ATV Club is $20.00 per year per family. Darrel Fehr made a motion to approve the Chapter 24 ATV Route Ordinance with the change of one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset and a map of the designated roads. John Sykora seconded the motion. Roll call vote: John Sykora-aye, Darrel Fehr-aye, David Clements-aye. The motion carried 3-0.
Dunn Co. Land Conservation-resolution for Agricultural Enterprise Area: The representative of Dunn County Land Conservation, Dan Presteban, and Chippewa Co. Land Conservation representative, Dan Masterpole, explained the Agricultural Enterprise Area and distributed a map of the area now being petitioned. Question: Can you petition the whole township? Ans. Five landowners can petition for the Agricultural Ag. Enterprise Area, but the area must be contiguous. Areas that are designated as industrial sand mine areas would logically not be included in an Ag. Enterprise area. Question: What would this mean to farmers? Ans. Farmers would get tax credits, would not develop the designated land, and need to follow the state water conservation standards. Ques. Can a person get out of the program? Ans. You would have to pay a penalty to get out of the program. Ques. Would the per/acre fee remain the same? Ans. When you sign up for the program, you stay at the same rate. This allows a group of farmers to block out an area of land for farmland preservation. Farmers in Grant and Cooks Valley are still in the process of petitioning for the area. Ques. If a parcel of land is sold, would the new owner have to do a buy-out if the new owner does not want to be in the farmland preservation program? Ans. There is the possibility the new owner would have to do the buy-out. The board would like the plan commission to address this issue. Supervisor David Clements requested a representative from the Dunn Co. Land Conservation attends the plan commission meeting. Ques. How would other people besides the present people petitioning get into the program and do you know how many people are petitioning at this time? Ans. The number of people petitioning at this time is not known as the petitioning is in progress. If other people want to petition, it will take another year after March of 2013 to start another petition. Ques. How many acres are needed to be in the Ag. Enterprise area? Ans. There is no minimum of acreage but the petitioner has to have a minimum of $6000.00 gross farm product. The board requested the plan commission address this issue at the next plan commission meeting with a representative from the Dunn Co. Land Conservation attending the meeting. This item will be placed on the next board meeting agenda.
Discussion and possible action on budget categories: no action was taken.
Approval of the January 10, 2013 regular monthly town board meeting minutes: John Sykora made a motion to approve the January 10, 2013 regular monthly town board meeting minutes. David Clements seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Approval of the February financial report: David Clements made a motion to accept the February financial report. John Sykora seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0. The clerk reported the February tax settlement bills were paid this month and the January quarterly transportation aid check was included in this statement.
Reading and approval of the January bills: John Sykora made a motion to approve the January bills. David Clements seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0. Bills for extra sanding and plowing requested by EOG on 135th Avenue and 20th Street will be submitted to Tom Maul, representative of EOG at the mine site.
Building permits –David & Cheryl Helland-new home, Donald Swartz-shingle house
Discussion on progress of mining application, quarterly report: EOG would like a public hearing on March 18, 2013 with a permit published by February 25, 2013 to be placed on the website. Preferred Sands is working with the county and Dan Fedderly on the cost of an upgrade to 186th Avenue. The Gehrings are anticipating the planting of two rows of trees to happen in the near future. There has been no action on the Swinney [Loran Zwiefelhofer] sand mine.
Discussion and possible action on Chapter 7 Lot Size: John Sykora made a motion to approve the amendment in Chapter 7 Lot Size from the term right-of-way to center line. David Clements seconded the motion. Roll call vote: David Clements-aye, Darrel Fehr-aye, John Sykora-aye. The motion carried 3-0.
Discussion and possible action on Chapter 19 Non-Metallic Mining: David Clements made a motion to approve the changes to the Chapter 19 Non-Metallic Mining Ordinance and application. Darrel Fehr seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Darrel Fehr-aye, John Sykora-aye, David Clements-aye. The motion carried 3-0.
Discussion and possible action on Chapter 14 building Permits: no action was needed.
Discussion of future road projects: There was discussion of brushing in the township in regards to price, hourly prices, and designated roads. Ques. Could Dan Fedderly look at 60th Street from 186th Avenue to State Highway 40? Ans. Dan Fedderly has looked at 60th Street and does not feel there is $40,000.00 of work that can be contributed to the truck traffic from Preferred Sands. But we can fix the road with the money we obtained from Preferred Sands.
Chairman’s report –
Dissemination of Information- clerks report-
Future agenda items and business:
Discussion and possible action on budget categories
Building permits
Dunn Co. Land Conservation-resolution for Agricultural Enterprise Area
Discussion on progress of mining applications
Discussion and possible action on ambulance/fire reimbursement
Discussion and possible action on concerns pertaining to the Plan commission
Nomination and approval of plan commission members
Discussion and possible action on brushing in the township
Chairman’ report
Dissemination of information
The next meeting will be on Monday March 11, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Adjourn: John Sykora made a motion to adjourn at 9:24 pm. David Clements seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Typed: February 16, 2013 Respectfully Submitted,
Approved: March 11, 2013 Victoria Trinko-town clerk