Town of Cooks Valley

Regular Town Board Meeting

January 9, 2012

Chairman Darrel Fehr called the meeting to order on January 9, 2012 at 8:02 pm.   The supervisor present:  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 December town board meeting was duly posted on January 3, 2012 and reposted on January 8, 2012 in the 3 designated places within the Town of Cooks Valley. 
PUBLIC COMMENT:  Nancy Schindler, whose land abuts Dennis Schindler’s mine, reported the blasting occurring at the mine site has caused cracking in her walls, drywall,  in the ceiling which is now wavy, and shakes the dishes.  She has contacted Dave Edmunds of Kraemer Mining the company that does the blasting for EOG who has leased Dennis Schindler’s land.  Dave Edmunds informed Nancy Schindler the blasting is within the legal limits.  She contacts Dave Edmunds every time they blast to report what is happening to her house from the blasting.  Nancy Schindler is very upset with the way things are proceeding.  She has had her house for sale for four years and is concerned about selling with the damage that has been done.  Chairman Darrel Fehr commented that EOG will give her a property value guarantee but she should document how her house looked prior to the blasting.  Nancy Schindler felt it should not be the owners responsibility to prove their side, however, since her house has been for sale she has had a number of realtors examine her house and the condition of the house would be on the disclosure.  A news reporter has interviewed Nancy and filmed at her house.  The news reporter also visited the mine site and the land conservation office.  Mark Berge verified that the blasting is loud at his residence and inside of his house.  The crew informs the residents when blasting will be occurring but it might be 2-3 hours later and it is not expected.  Mark Berge would like the town board to push for a moratorium on all sand mining and future sand mining within the town.  He felt their rights are being trampled on by the sand mine companies.  Rosemary Gehring said the blasting from Preferred Sands shakes her house.  She fears the shaking will disturb the water vein or burst her propane pipes. 
Darrel Fehr made a motion to move item #9-10 to item # 3-4.  John Sykora seconded the motion.  The motion carried 2-0. 
Contract for Humane Officer position:  Calvin & Sue Swartz reported since they have started the animal control position, the standards for maintenance have become stricter due to the enactment of the puppy mill law last summer.  They have to have the kennels approved, kennels must be inside with warm waterers, no animal may be chained without someone in attendance, a million dollar insurance policy is required, and numerous forms for surrendering, adopting, and picking up strays are required.  The Town of Cooks Valley would have to become a LLC and lease their property in order to have insurance coverage from the town.  Therefore, they will no longer be Animal Humane Officers.  They would like to be animal patrol officers and pick up strays which would require forms for picking up strays and surrender forms for strays.  They would like to contract with the Chippewa Humane Society.
Discussion and possible action on alternative animal control:  A contract to drop off strays with the Chippewa Humane Society for the Town of Cooks Valley would be $400.82 which is based on population.  Calvin and Sue Swartz gave an explanation of the intensive steps involved with the processing of dogs.  The legal ramifications are so involved they could be fined for minor infractions as placing a flea collar on a stray that was not wearing a flea collar when picked up.  Only designated people within the township would be allowed to surrender dogs from the town.  Other residents may drop off dogs but would need to pay for surrendering the dog.  John Sykora made a motion to approve a contract for service from the Chippewa County Humane Society.  Darrel Fehr seconded the motion.  The motion carried 2-0.  Darrel Fehr made a motion that Calvin & Sue Swartz will be the animal patrol officers until February 13, 2012.  John Sykora seconded the motion.  The motion carried 2-0.  A renewal of the contract for Calvin & Sue Swartz for the remainder of the year will be placed on the agenda for the February meeting.  Other towns will need to establish their individual contracts or services for the animal control issue. 
Discussion and possible action on budget categories:  no action was taken
Approval of the December 12, 2011 regular monthly town board meeting minutes and the minutes of the December
18 and 20, 2011 special town board meetings:  John Sykora made a motion to approve the December 12, 2011 regular monthly town board meeting minutes and the minutes of the December 18th and 20th, 2011 special town board meetings.   Darrel Fehr seconded the motion.  The motion carried 2-0. 
Approval of the January Financial Report:   John Sykora made a motion to approve the January financial report.  Darrel Fehr seconded the motion.  The motion carried 2-0. 
Reading and Approval of the December bills:  Darrel Fehr made a motion to approve the December bills.  John Sykora seconded the motion.  The motion carried 2-0.
Building Permits:   EOG building permit
Discussion and possible action on money transfer of certificate of deposit:  Treasurer Judith Prince cashed in two certificates of deposit to pay the Town of Cooks Valley’s share for the new fire truck.  With the remainder of the money, Treasurer Judith Prince created a new certificate of deposit. 
Update from WTA frack mining workshop:  Chairman Darrel Fehr commented the meeting was informative but redundant.  He felt there is not much the Town of Cooks Valley can do as long as the law suit is in the Supreme Court.  The WTA meeting gave an overall view of the sand mining and the history of mining.  Ron Koshokocek talked on how to write an ordinance or contract.  Tom Harnisch gave a talk on ethics.  A tool box of things a town can do was included in a packet along with the state statutes dealing with roads.  There was a question about the legal limits of blasting. 
Possible Approval of operators license applications:  John Sykora made a motion to accept the operators license applications for Lauralee Seidling and Michael Gullickson.  Darrel Fehr seconded motion.  The motion carried 2-0.
Chairman’s Report:

Dissemination of Information: 

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND BUSINESS

ADJOURN:  John Sykora made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:06 pm.  Darrel Fehr seconded the motion.  The motion carried 2-0.

Typed:  January 13, 2012                                                 Respectfully submitted,  
Approved:  February 13, 2012                                                   Victoria Trinko, town clerk