Chairman Darrel Fehr called the meeting to order on May 14, 2012 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 May town board meeting was duly posted on May 7, 2012 in the 3 designated places within the Town of Cooks Valley.
Public Comment: the Cooks Valley town board welcomes public comments on matters pertaining to township issues. Because it is important to maintain order during the meeting, it is the policy of the town board that all public comments on an issue shall be limited to three (3) minutes per person, no person may make more than one (1) comment per subject and the session is no more than thirty minutes long. (We apologize for the tight time restrictions. They are necessary to ensure that we complete our business). Comments may be made on any subject pertaining to township issues, however, comments on matters not appearing on this agenda can only be discussed but may not be acted on at this meeting. If the board desires, the matters may be placed on a future agenda for action. No debating between residents. Calvin Swartz reported the garage chimney is pulling away from the building and needs attention. Sheila David related that Eugene Sarauer may be testing for sand. The Land Conservation Dept. had no information about it. Sheila David asked, “Does the township get anything financially from the sand mines?” Mine companies are financing the roads 100% for reconstruction. If the land owner sells mineral rights and pays income tax, does that come back to the township? Property owners pay their income taxes but that money does not come back to the town.
Gene Pagel- Concerning the people buying leases “Are they taking it for granted that they will get a permit? Will there be compensation for people on the haul route if more trucks travel on the haul route?
Sheila David, “Is there a way to notify the neighbors that mining is possibly going to happen and so a homeowner would not invest more money into their property?
Discussion and award of bids on 40th Street reconstruction-pulverizing, paving, shouldering: Monarch Paving submitted a bid of $144,059.10. Senn Blacktop submitted a bid of $146, 703.80. David Clements made a motion to accept Monarch’s bid for the 40th Street reconstruction project of $144,059.10 .John Sykora seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Discussion and possible action on replacement of residential culverts on 40th Street reconstruction: A bid was submitted by David Michels for per culvert $210.00; ¾ inch base coarse delivered per yard $12.50; ditch cleaning per hour; - excavator $100.00; dump truck $75.00. David Clements made a motion to accept David Michels’ bid for the residential culverts on 40th Street. John Sykora seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0. John Sykora made a motion tor the Town of Cooks Valley to purchase the residential culverts for 40th Street reconstruction from PK FOREST PRODUCTS @ 6.75 per foot. David seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Discussion and possible action on budget categories: John Sykora made a motion to move $800.00 from non-allocated funds into T-093 Treasurer Mileage. Darrel Sykora seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Approval of the April 9, 2012 regular monthly town board meeting minutes and April 26 special meeting minutes: David Clements made a motion to approve the April 9, 2012 regular monthly town board meeting mining and the April 26, 2012 special meeting minutes. John Sykora seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Approval of the May financial report: Darrel Fehr made a motion to accept the May financial report. David Clements seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Reading and approval of the April bills: David Clements made a motion to approve the April bills. John Sykora seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Building permits –Darrel Fehr, Brad Gerrits, and Pete Sarauer submitted building permits.
Discussion and possible action on concerns of the plan commission: Shaun McCurdy’s request for a variance was denied due to lack of vision from the driveway entrance. The plan commission gave him some options of moving the corner post about 20 ft back, buy some land to slope the hill, or move the driveway 250 ft. Nonmetallic mining –Chairman of the plan commission Doug Zwiefelhofer stated, “For the record, the plan commission needs to convey officially to the town board that we recommend that you accept the application/permit of Chapter 19 Non-Metallic Mining and continue the permitting process with professional assistance under the conditions and modifications discussed at our meetings on May 1, 2012 with EOG Resources, on May 2, 2012 with Chippewa Sands and the preliminary meeting on April 18, 2012 and final meeting on May 14, 2012 to legally with Preferred Sands.” Chapter 20- the plan commission feels there are changes needed to the format of the request form and the need to inform the community of its existence. The DOR definition of agricultural land use will be investigated and discussed at the next plan commission meeting. Preparation for the meetings-Dan Masterpole wants to do an update on mining projects for example, in February of each year, he would attend the town meeting to give an update of what is happening or going on in regards to reclamation and/or rate of progress. The Colfax Messenger had an article of suggestions –one of the suggestions was for the mining companies to place 300 ft. of asphalt on driveways coming onto the roadway and consistency of the operating hours. Future agenda for the plan commission is to contact Dave LaGesse and start possible permitting. The plan commission will talk with Attorney Glenn Stoddard about this matter.
Discussion on progress of mining applications: The chairman has talked with Glenn Stoddard but not much is happening with the proposed modifications. There was one response from Preferred Sands. Glenn Stoddard has not contacted EOG, but he has received the development agreement from EOG.
Discussion and possible action on traffic signs: This item was postponed until the next monthly meeting.
Discussion and possible action on speed limits on 135th Avenue, 20th Street, and 40th Street-EOG haul route: EOG would like a 45 mph speed limit from County Highway DD to State Highway 40 and would like a 35 mph speed limit from 20th Street to County Highway DD. There was discussion on the problem of the cemetery in the development of a 45 mph speed limit next to the cemetery. There was discussion of the possible lowering the hill 4-5 ft. to eliminate petitioning the state and getting 45 mph. There was discussion of engineering the road for 35 mph speed limit but leaving the speed limit posting at 45 mph. When the speed limit drops below 45 mph the town needs to petition the state for a change. There was discussion on having a road with two different limits and engineering for the road for those speed limits. Dan Fedderly explained the design speed vs. designated speed. There was a question of posting a speed limit west of 20th Street at a 45 mph speed limit. A 35 mph speed limit would have a lesser impact on the adjoining land owner’s property. A road design for 35 mph is conducive to a 45 mph speed limit. There was discussion of changing the corner to State Highway 40 to meet in the middle of the radius. The design of west end of 135th Avenue may be a 35 mph design. There was a recommendation of placing a stop sign on 40th Street. An application to the district office for a 35 mph speed limit would be done concurrently with the road design and road reconstruction. Grading is smallest portion of cost for the reconstruction of the road. John Sykora made a motion from the town line to County Highway DD and 20th Street to be a35 mph road design and posted speed and from County Highway DD to State Highway 40 to be a 45 mph design and posted speed. David Clements seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0. These changes will be drafted into the Town of Cooks Valley’s Traffic Ordinance.
Discussion and possible action on stop signs at 40th Street & 135th Avenue, at 135th Avenue & 20th Street: To amend the ordinance, Darrel Fehr made a motion to erect a stop sign and stop ahead sign coming from the west at the intersection of 135th and 20th Street and on 20th street and 135th street and a stop sign on 40th street and 135th avenue, a speed limit on 35 mph from the 135th and 20th Street and 45 mph from County Highway DD to State Highway 40. The motion failed for lack of a second.
Discussion and possible action on 60th Street between County Highway A and State Highway 40-culverts: Darrel Fehr had a bid for a 36 inch culvert from Wayne Krecji of the Chippewa Highway Dept. of $3100 with culvert aid to be applied for from Chippewa County. David Clements made a motion to have a 36 inch extra culvert placed on 60th Street between County Highway A and State Highway 40. John Sykora seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Discussion and possible action on ambulance/fire reimbursement: Darrel Fehr has not heard about a reimbursement. This item will be postponed until the next monthly meeting.
Discussion and possible action on road evaluation/committee: WSLER and PACER training is needed by members of the road evaluation committee. Dan Fedderly can do the training. A suggestion was made to have a meeting in the fall with other towns to defer the cost of the training. This item was postponed until the next monthly meeting.
Discussion and possible action on an ordinance for extension of terms of office: Chairman Darrel Fehr read the draft of the ordinance. David Clements made a motion to adopt Chapter 22 Extension of terms of Office into the Cooks Valley Code of Ordinances. John Sykora seconded the motion. David Clements- yes, Darrel Fehr-yes, John Sykora-yes. The motion carried 3-0.
Discussion and possible approval of picnic license for CCRH: David Clements made a motion to approve the application for a picnic license for CCRH. John Sykora seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Discussion and possible approval of operators license-Rose Sundstrom: David Clements made a motion to approve the operators license application for Rose Sundstrom. John Sykora seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Chairman’s report –
Dissemination of Information- clerks report- WTA certificate of certification, membership cards and password for training videos from WTA. A brochure from American Pavement Solutions.
Future agenda items and business:
Discussion and possible action on ambulance/fire reimbursement
Discussion and possible action on road evaluation/committee
Discussion and possible action on control burn on 4911 highway 40 $236.00
Discussion and possible action on traffic signs
Discussion and possible action on budget categories
Building permits
Discussion and possible action on concerns of the Plan commission
A special town board meeting on May 21, 2012 8:00 pm to amend Chapter 4-traffic ordinance
Adjourn: David Clements made a motion to adjourn at 10:24 pm. John Sykora seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.
Typed: May 27, 2012 Respectfully Submitted,
Approved: June 11, 2012 Victoria Trinko-town clerk