Town of Sevastopol, Door County, Wisconsin : Town Board : Town Board Minutes

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TOWN OF SEVASTOPOL
Jul 21, 2008
TOWN OF SEVASTOPOL
Door County, Wisconsin
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING MINUTES
Monday, July 21, 2008 - Meeting Room, Modular Building at Sevastopol
Schools 
4550 STH 57, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Call to Order:
Chairman Leo W. Zipperer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance:  Chairman asked all to rise and join in the
Pledge of Allegiance.

Establish Quorum/Roll Call:
Roll call was taken.  Chairman Leo Zipperer, Supervisors John
Staveness, Chuck Tice, Dan Woelfel and Tom Girman, along with
Clerk/Treasurer Linda Wait were in attendance. 

Also In Attendance:  Laddie Chapman, Victoria Cerinich, Carol Scholz,
Steve Johnson, Dawn Johnson, Dick Shappell, Dick Baudhuin, Joan
Baudhuin, Pat Miller and Biz Virlee.

Meet the Deputy Program of the Door County Sheriff’s Department:  No
one was available.

Citizen Concerns:
Pat Miller felt that the Town should be able enforce its ordinance
dealing with alcohol beverage licensing and the 15-day filing
requirement.  Pat was concerned with the legal fees incurred by the
taxpayers in defending the ordinance and State laws and the Board’s
liability coverage.  

[deviation from order]

New Business:
1)	Petition for Grant of Variance – Steve and Dawn Johnson at 3806
Glidden Drive.
Supervisor Woelfel explained the Johnsons’ petition for a grant of
variance to construct a first floor addition and second story on their
existing home.  The proposal would require a variance from the road
right-of-way and the highwater mark.  Woelfel indicated that the
addition would not be any closer to the road nor the highwater mark
than the present structure.  The Johnsons indicated that the
improvements will add needed living space for a more year-around
residence.  Following discussion, motion by Supervisor Tice and
seconded by Supervisor Girman to recommend approval of the Johnsons’
petition for grant of variance.  Motion carried, unanimously.
2)  Town Mowing Policy.  Zipperer indicated that Dick Baudhuin and
Richard (Biz) Virlee requested
the Town review its mowing policy.  Dick felt there seemed to be
varying degrees of mowing along roads and said the cost of fuel is
also more of a factor now but would not want to see the woody stem
plants encroaching into the right-of-way.  He felt periodic mowing
would still control the plant growth and address visibility, while
retaining critter habitat and Door County’s natural beauty of
wildflowers.   Costs over the past few years have been between $13,000
to $15,000 annually.  
	Zipperer said the spring cutting uses a single mower with side mower
going out 5 feet.  In the fall, the cut has been fence line to fence
line, following by a rear mower.  Safety is a major concern and the
cutting of long grass helps avoid drifting and blowing snow in the
winter.   A check with other Town chairmen indicated that most use a
single cut in spring and fence line to fence line in the fall, with
more attention to intersections. 
	Biz Virlee agreed with Dick and felt the mowing should be less
aggressive, that a 4 to 5-foot swath would be plenty.    A more
aggressive cut in the fall would give wildlife and flowers more of a
chance in the spring.   Woelfel indicated that, as a motorcycle rider,
safety and visibility were important.  Carl Scholz inquired if the
Department of Transportation had recommendations for mowing. He felt
that excessive mowing, be it along roads or lawns, was not a wise use
of money, labor, time or fuel and caused pollution.  He would like to
see a roadside mowing policy in writing.
	Zipperer thanked the gentlemen for their good suggestions and will
check with the DOT and other Towns.  The matter will be brought back
in a month or two.   Dick said he was not here to criticize, but to
call attention to the costs we have incurred, that all this mowing may
not be necessary, and that the appearance may be detrimental to how we
view Door County.  Victoria Cerinich suggested this type of issue
could also be covered in the Comprehensive Plan and perhaps
implemented to keep the Town a beautiful place.  All agreed that
intersections needed to be visible and free of brush.

Special Reports:
Greg Coulhurst, Conservationist III, with the Door County Soil & Water
Department presented a powerpoint program on Door County’s fragile
setting and water resources. Greg indicated our primary water supply
comes from rain and snow.  There are definitely pollutant problems
along the way, due to our Karst features and fractures, bedrock, 
shallow soil and development, resulting in issues with groundwater
recharge and quality.  Greg indicates that the Soil & Water Department
is in the process of adopting policy and criteria to comply with NR
151, the Door County Zoning Ordinance and the Land Division Ordinance
to address runoff that apply to smaller site projects.  He felt a
simple solution would be to slow down runoff (using buffers), storage
(rain barrels), keep our water clean (storm sewers flow straight to
the bay), and accountability.  The County is running an educational
effort right now to determine stormwater runoff plans and hopefully
work with landowners to develop their own solutions.  Greg also
presented a short video on rain gardens.

Presentation of Agenda/Properly Noticed:
The Clerk stated that the agenda was properly noticed.   Motion by
Staveness and seconded by Tice to adopt the agenda, as proposed. 
Motion carried, unanimously.

Minutes:
 Motion by Girman and seconded by Woelfel to approve the June 23, 2008
Board of Supervisors’ meeting minutes and the June 30, 2008 Special
Board meeting minutes.  Motion carried, unanimously.  

Clerk/Treasurer Monthly Report:
Motion by Tice and seconded by Woelfel to approve the June 2008
account balances, budget vs. actual and transaction report.  Motion
carried, unanimously.  Wait also reported that (i) Temporary Class B
“Picnic” licenses had been granted to the Northeastern Wisconsin
Antique Power Association for the annual Thresheree to be held on
August 15-17 and to S.S. Peter & Paul for its annual fish boil to be
held on August 3; (ii) cigarette license granted to Roadside Market;
(iii) received room tax collections of $1,334.85 for April and
$3,490.02 for May; (iv) fire dues distribution received $14,616.25;
and (v) quarterly transportation aids received $41,017.32.

Vouchers/Bills/Claims:
Motion by Tice and seconded by Girman to approve the vouchers, bills
and claims for the period June-July 2008.  Motion carried,
unanimously.

 

Committee Minutes:   
The following Committee minutes were accepted and placed on file:
•  Ad Hoc Sesquicentennial Committee–May 15, 2008
•  Dam, Park & Rec Board–May 15, 2008
•  PEG Channel 19 Cable Advisory Committee –
       October 5, 2007.

Pending Business/Status:
1)  Tourism Zone Commission.  Tice reported on the May room tax
revenues, with total revenues of $212,047; room tax collected of
$11,633;  and 30% due the Town of $3,490.  Sevastopol has had a more
stable year-around rental income than most of the other municipalities
in the Commission.   Tice also reported that one instance of withhold
payments has been referred for legal action.
2)  Comprehensive Plan.  Staveness urged everyone to attend the Open
House/Public Hearing scheduled for Monday, August 11th, beginning at
6:30 and held in the multi-purpose at Sevastopol School.
3)  PEG Cable.  Girman reported that we will continue to look at
options for placing Town meetings on the internet.  He also said that
Charter will be moving our Channel 19 up to the 900 series, which will
require digital format, and will send out an informational sheet on
that move.
4)  Sesquicentennial.  Wait reported the parade route had been changed
slightly, but still proceeding south through Institute into the park
grounds.  We will most likely use the “ticket system” for food and
beverage sales.  We are hoping to secure the UW marching band for our
parade and 5th quarter entertainment.  Volunteers will be needed to
assist with serving, parking, games and cleanup.  If you have an
article and/or photos for our history book, would like to do a parade
entry, or assist in any fashion, please contact one of the Committee
members. 
5)  Town Hall project. Woelfel reported that the working drawings and
bid specifications have been completed by the architect, notice will
be published, and information available for bid purposes on Monday,
July 28th from either Henry Isaksen or Green Bay Blue.   The deadline
for submitting bids is August 22nd and the Committee will meet that
afternoon to open and accept bids, but no award of bid will be made at
that time.  The Committee will review the bids and then make a
recommendation to the Board.  Preliminary approval for the loan has
been received by the Commissioners of Public Lands.  Woelfel invited
suggestions as to color choices, flooring and other items.
6)  Road Work 2008 and WPS/Whitefish Bay & Harder Hill.  Zipperer
reported that Reynolds Road, from Town Line to HH, has been completed
and that Windemere will be done mid-August.  He is waiting to hear
from Northeast Asphalt as to North Cave Point and South Cave Point.  
Zipperer met with Mike Wolesky/WPS to discuss possible relocation of
the utility pole at Whitefish Bay and Harder Hill intersection.  There
is a safety concern as to the pole and also gravel from the shoulder
flying onto the roadway.  We will also check with the Highway
Department to see what can be done to secure the shoulders on Old
Highway Road and take care of the water problem.
7)  Alcohol Beverage Licensing.  Zipperer reported that two licenses
were denied at the Board meeting held on June 30th, in that filing
and/or ordinance requirements were not met.  Valmy Happy Hour has come
into compliance; however, the McClellan Holdings/Hitching Post
application did not meet the 15-day filing deadline, as required by
Wisconsin Statutes, and the license was denied.  McClellan filed a
civil action, wherein Judge Ehlers on July 3rd ordered that a
temporary license be issued.  Negotiation are pending on dismissal of
the suit and reimbursement of legal fees incurred by the Town. 
 
Correspondence:
The following correspondence was accepted and placed on file:
1)  Notice from Administrator Michael Serpe urging people to take the
2008 Citizen’s Survey for Door County.
2)  City of Sturgeon Bay Fire Department May and June 2008 fire
report.
3)  Door County Planning Department zoning/building permits for June
2008.
4)  Independent Inspections billing recap for June 2008.
5)  Notice of Timber Cutting – Nolan.
6)  Amendatory zoning ordinance – Liberty Grove text amendment to
increase density and reduce minimum lot size.
7)  From Schenck, notice of IRS increase in mileage rate to $.585
beginning July 1, 2008.
8)  Wisconsin DNR – payments for Managed Forest Law and Forest Crop
Law - $446.17
9)  Wisconsin Department of Revenue – manufacturing real estate and
personal property assessments.
10)  Door County Sheriff’s Office incident and history report for
January-April 2008.
11)  Wisconsin Department of Administration – State contracts
available to local governments.
12)  WE Energies – “Call Before You Dig” fact sheet.
13)  Wisconsin Liquid Waste Carriers – benefits of land application of
septage.
14)  Wisconsin Taxpayer – monthly review 
15)  Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission – 2007 annual report. 
16)  Wisconsin Department of Commerce – statement of fire dues payment
- $14,616.25.
17)  Charter Communications – new channel line-up.

Announcements:
•  WTA Door County Unit meeting – July 24th at 6:30 pm – KC Hall
•  Open House/Public Hearing – August 11th at 6:30 pm – multipurpose
room at Sevastopol School
•  Board of Supervisors – August 18th at 7:00 pm
•  Board of Review – August 22nd at 3 pm

Agenda Items for Next Meeting:
•  mowing

Adjourn:
Motion by Tice and seconded by Girman to adjourn.  Motion carried,
unanimously.  Meeting adjourned at 9:20 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda D. Wait, Clerk	  

[approved 8/18/08]
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