|
Town of Dunkirk
Dane County, Wisconsin
Town Board Meeting Minutes
June 15, 2020
7:00 PM
Dunkirk Town Hall
654 County Highway N
Chairman Monsen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Also present were Supervisor Ted Olson, Supervisor Daniel Jenks, Constable Greg Holte, Treasurer Bonnie Smithback, Plan Commission and Clerk Melanie Huchthausen. See attached sign-in sheet for others present.
1. Welcome and Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge was led by Constable Greg Holte.
2. Approval of Agenda. Supervisor Jenks stated a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Motion was seconded by Supervisor Olson. Motion carried 3-0.
3. Minutes: Chairman Monsen asked if everyone read the minutes. Supervisor Olson stated a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 1, 2020 and the special meeting minutes of May 21, 2020 and May 27, 2020. Motion was seconded by Supervisor Jenks. Motion carried 3-0.
4. Report on Bills: Supervisor Jenks stated a motion to accept and approve the bills payable in the amount $26,879.96. Motion was seconded by Supervisor Olson. Motion carried 3-0.
5. Public Comment: District 43 Representative Don Vruwink was in attendance. He is running for re-election in the fall. He is currently working with the unemployment problems and getting State residents paid. The unemployment system is 40 years old and out of date. The responsibility lies with both parties and needs to be fixed immediately. Every call that comes into his office receives a personal phone call back from Mr. Vruwink. If there are problems in the Municipality, please let him know and he will do his best to assist in any way he can. He has spoken with the DOT regarding the resurfacing of Highway 14 from Evansville to Janesville, and the Governor approved the request today. He wrote a letter in attempt to assist the residents of the Town of Fulton to get better internet service. He is working not just with that Township, but the State as a whole. The State rates 49th in internet accessibility. Mr. Vruwink is working with bankers to determine a plan to reduce student loans with private money, instead of taxpayer money. He is also working with the Tourism and DATCP Secretaries to promote Rock County agriculture. He is also proposing increasing the sales tax to reduce property taxes. The Governor is hoping to avoid a tax repair bill. More information on that will be forthcoming in July.
6. Clerk's Report: None.
7. Road Crew: Road work on Taylor and Oak Lawn will begin June 23rd and continue through July 3rd. The roads will be closed to non-local traffic. Gretebeck will contact emergency services and the Clerk contacted the Dane County Sheriff. They are working with the Towns of Rutland and Dunn to each townships’ road projects done.
8. Constable Report: (1) Holte responded to stray dogs on a Saturday morning. The owners were located through social media. (2) He received an email regarding a resident of the apartment complex having a dog running at large. Holte spoke with the owner of the apartment complex and the owner of the dog to keep her dog from running at large. He gave her 10 days to get her dog licensed.
9. Plan Commission Report. The Plan Commission met on June 10, 2020, to hear the Petition of Robert Lange. Falligant explained he has had numerous conversations with Robert Lange and Majid Allan at Dane County Zoning. The Commission unanimously recommended approval of rezoning 2.2 acres to create one residential parcel.
10. Complaints: None.
11. Unfinished Business:
a. Discussion and necessary action on appointment of rural
preservation committee. Chairman Monsen continues to contact potential committee members.
b. Discussion and necessary action on EMS Agreement with the City
of Stoughton. No action taken.
c. Discussion and necessary action on refinancing current loan.
The Clerk received an email from Richard Sneider at Board of Commissions of Public Lands. He recommends refinancing the current loan and obtaining a new loan at a lower rate. The Town Board approved the Clerk obtaining the paperwork for obtaining the new loans.
d. Discussion and necessary action on revising the Town Hall Use
Policy. The Clerk researched surrounding Town hall agreements. The Clerk will prepare a revised Town Hall Policy similar to the Town of Cottage Grove with a waiver.
12. New Business:
a. Discussion and necessary action on adoption of ordinance for the
Town of Dunkirk Rural Preservation Program. The Clerk provided the draft ordinance. A public hearing will be held on July 6, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. prior to adoption at the regular Board meeting on July 6, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Supervisor Jenks requested the ordinance be amended such that the Committee consist of at least seven members, no more than nine members, and that four of them be Town electors. Bill Delehanty requested a grammatical change in section F. in Rural Preservation Fund. He also requested an amendment be made that does not require all conservation easements be approved by the majority of electors at a Special Town Meeting or Annual Town Meeting. Bill is concerned about electors with no knowledge of the process vote in opposition. Supervisor Olson stated it is the electors’ money so they should have a say. Chairman Monsen stated the Board will review that section and take that into consideration.
b. Discussion and necessary action on Robert Lange, south of 1026
County Highway N, Stoughton, WI, Dane County Petition No. 2019-11444, as amended by the Plan Commission, to rezone 2.2 acres to create a residential lot. Falligant stated the Commission has been working with Mr. Lange since 2017. A density study has been performed that allows for one residential lot for the remaining land that is owned by either solely by Robert Lange and he and his business partner. After significant time and many discussions with Mr. Lange and Majid Allan at Dane County Zoning, it is Mr. Lange’s desire to rezone 2.2 acres to create one residential lot. The remainder will be deed restricted ag land. There is already an easement to get to that ag land. Supervisor Olson stated a motion to approve Petition No 2019-11444, on behalf of Robert Lange for the purpose of creating a developable parcel on land suitable to build on. There have been a number of discussions with Dane County Planning and Zoning and Robert Lange, and a number of preliminary survey maps generated in association with this Petition. These were associated in Robert Lange’s desire to construct an ag building for the maintenance of the approximate 41.8 acres that he owns. Lot 1 CSM 5599 has the development right on 9.14 acres, but there is no suitable building site on the parcel due to wet conditions. The proposed Lot 1 2.2 acres is directly adjacent to CSM 5599 and has a suitable building site. In discussion between Kent Falligant and Majid Allan we allowed the development right to be moved to the adjacent 2.2 acres, as this could have been achieved through land purchase ultimately. In the end, it is Robert Lange’s verbal instruction to Kent Falligant during a telephone conversation on June 9, 2020, that he would like to revert back to the original petition filed on May 21, 2019, to rezone 2.2 acres to RR-2. That preliminary CSM associated with the original petition also included another Lot 1 CSM 5599 and Lot 2 for 30 acres. In discussion with Dane County Planning and Zoning, and in keeping with the Town of Dunkirk’s Land Use Plan, it is not desirable to create a land-locked parcel with no road right-of-way. Therefore, it is suggested by Dane County, with Town concurrence, to see Lot 1 CSM 5599 combined with Lot 2 30.0 acres, zoned as FP-35 and deed restricted for no further residential development, as a separate lot that has road right-of-way access. This is also consistent with an email sent to Robert Lange by Majid Allan dated June 10, 2020, stating the same. Lot 1 CSM 5599 and Lot 2 30.0 acres when combined will be approximately 39.1 acres. That lot shall maintain right-of-way easement for the approximate 68 acres of agricultural land and that easement shall exit the 39.1acre lot south, just to the east of the 2.2 acre Lot 1. The June 10, 2020 email from Majid Allan to Kent Falligant recommended a condition that a deed restriction be placed on the remaining approximate 68 acres of ag land, indicating no more splits are available. That land is not included in this petition so Town is only recommending that the approximately 39.1 acres (assumed Lot 2) be deed restricted for new further single family residential development. If Dane County confirms that deed restriction is applicable and appropriate on the larger agricultural parcel, then Town concurs. The Town does not currently have a preliminary certified survey map that accurately represents this Petition, but we do have a preliminary survey map that accurately describes the entire boundary of the two parcels for which we are recommending approval. A preliminary survey map would need to be created for Dane County review and approval to create the 2.2 acre lot and the 39.14 acre lot. Motion was seconded by Supervisor Jenks. Motion carried 3-0.
c. Discussion and necessary action on Town summer newsletter. The
Clerk indicated the mailing a newsletter is costly. The Board discussed placing an article in the winter newsletter asking residents to provide their email address if they would like to receive the newsletter digitally. The Clerk will place on the website and Facebook that there will be no summer 2020 newsletter.
13. Future Agenda Items.
14. Adjournment: No further business, Supervisor Olson stated a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 p.m. Motion was seconded by Supervisor Jenks. Motion carried 3-0.
Submitted 07/06/2020
Melanie Huchthausen, Clerk
Attachments:
|