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TOWN OF ROCHESTER Link to Town Board Meetings
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Link to Town Board Meetings |
July 14, 2003 REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 7:30 p.m.
Meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. with Gary Beck, Paul Beere and Mike Weinkauf present.
Betty Novy, Clerk, and Colleen Holder, Treasurer, were also present.
Paul moved, 2nd by Mike to approve minutes of the June 9 and June 18, 2003 meetings of the Board as printed. Motion carried.
Mike moved, 2nd by Gary to approve July disbursements as follows. Motion carried.
General Fund Disbursements:
Rochester Sewer Utility District #1:
Department Reports: Treasurer’s Department. Colleen read the Treasurer’s Report as follows:
Public Works Department. Gary Chart was not present.
Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Prochaska reported the following statistics for June: six speeding citations, twenty-five traffic citations and thirty-two warnings were issued. Complaint statistics are as follows: twenty originated through calls directly to Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Prochaska assisted with twenty-six additional complaints, performed follow up on thirteen and originated thirty seven on his own. Nineteen foot patrols were conducted.
Report was also given on multiple overnight theft investigations. Property has been stolen from several unlocked cars in area subdivisions. A computerized call system was utilized to warn residents of thefts and ask for information. Follow up on last month’s junk vehicle complaint at 33228 Washington Avenue was provided. Visual inspection verified cars are being cleaned up. Report of a major accident occurring on STH 36 and STH 20 led to questions on timing of yellow lights at the intersection; several individuals stated the yellow light changes too fast. Deputy Prochaska will check into it.
Kennel License Application: Andy & Christine Mitchell, 410 Shervin Dr.
Deputy Prochaska reported positively on site inspection. The dogs will primarily be kept inside. He recommended approval of the license. Concern was expressed by Ray Najdowski, 430 Shervin Drive, about kennel license procedures and whether a limit is stated for the number of dogs. He indicated there are already fourteen dogs on that block. Ray was informed the Mitchells’ will be limited to the number of dogs stated on the application. Any increase requires approval. Mike moved, 2nd by Gary to approve the application for four dogs. Motion carried.
Estimated cost for resurfacing Fairview and Langmaid Street (Payne & Dolan)
The estimate was broke into two portions: one amount to resurface Fairview and Langmaid Streets with a 16 foot driving surface and one foot shoulder: $19,672.00; and a second amount to construct an extension of Fairview with a 22 foot driving surface, three foot shoulder and a “T” type turn around: $9,214.50. The second cost is to be borne by Leonard Arnouts (as required for approval of a recent land division). Leonard Arnouts expressed concern over discrepancy between width requirements of the area he needs to construct and the area the Town wishes to resurface. Jim Schilling, Town Engineer, clarified the existing width of Fairview and Langmaid Street (16 feet) is substandard according to Town ordinance. When only resurfacing a road, substandard width can be maintained. However, new construction and/or reconstruction must meet town minimum requirements (by ordinance) of twenty-two feet with three foot shoulders, unless exception is granted by the Town Board. That is why there is discrepancy between the two widths. Jim recommended not accepting Payne and Dolan’s estimate to resurface or construct the new portion of road because unit prices were higher than offered for the N. Honey Lake Road project. He felt the project might cost less if bid as part of a larger package next year. He indicated the Town Board will have to decide on what width to require for each section of Fairview. Another section was discovered in Town ordinances allowing reduction of the minimum width to 20 feet if a subdivision was platted before 1980. The section applies to this situation.
Consensus of the Board was to have the Town engineer visually inspect both roads to see whether increasing the width of the driving surface to 20 feet would infringe on many existing trees and/or other improvements of residents. If not, road plans should be devised pulverizing the existing road and spreading base course to create a 20-foot driving surface and minimum one-foot shoulder. The 20-foot driving surface should be maintained throughout both old and new sections of road, however in the area of new construction, three foot shoulders should be required. Actual construction of the project should be held off until next year.
Leonard Arnouts indicated agreement to giving the Town an amount equal in value to completion of his required improvements (with a revised 20 foot driving surface) and having the Town complete construction next year. Leonard questioned whether he should proceed with laying the base course material down. He had arranged to have that part of the project completed this week. Jim indicated Leonard should proceed. The base course should be laid wide enough for a three-foot shoulder on both sides.
Gary moved, 2nd by Mike to create a uniform 20 foot width of driving surface along both new and existing portions of Langmaid and Fairview Streets as allowed by Section 4.46 Subdivisions Prior to 1980 in the Town of Rochester Code of Ordinances. Motion carried.
Recommended 2003 Street Maintenance: Jim Schilling, Crispell-Snyder Engineering
Jim reported this is the last meeting he will attend as Town Engineer. Jim resigned his position with Crispell-Snyder Engineering effective July 18, 2003. Sarah Wilfert was introduced as newly appointed senior project engineer for the Town of Rochester. Jim wanted to follow up on a previously proposed five-year improvement plan for the Town before he left. That plan made recommendation that several roads be slurry sealed this year using a “Flex-Seal” product introduced to the Wisconsin market last year. The product is different from chip sealcoat applications in that it does not use loose aggregate, rather trap rock and crumb rubber are mixed in with the sealcoat material. Its use is viewed as preferential due to complaints made in the past by residents when using chip seal applications. A test patch was placed on Vergon Drive last year to see how the product held up through winter. After viewing the test patch, Jim recommends the product not be used on roads that were deteriorated to the point he originally recommended for this treatment. Instead, he recommends use of this product on roads rated “7” or higher (PASER rating) to increase the life of the road. He further recommends switching the focus of maintenance plans to roads that are rated “7” or above; to extend their life by use of shouldering, crack-filling, patching and seal coating. He suggested roads with ratings less than “6” be allowed to simply deteriorate until resurfacing is necessary. Maintenance for this year should consist of shouldering and crack-filling where needed. The Clerk reported Gary Chart indicated need of shouldering for Rowntree Road and crack-filling for Oak Knoll and N. River Roads (the portion between CTH D and STH 20). Consensus of the Board was to solicit quotes on these jobs. Jim Schilling indicated a new five year maintenance program can be established after new PASER ratings are issued this Fall. It was suggested Gary Chart take the new Town Engineer along when rating the roads. This would allow Sarah to become familiar with roads and also help create uniformity in the rating process.
The next issue of discussion was judgment issued by the courts in favor of the Town of Rochester requiring Richard Reesman to complete connection between Westwood Avenue and Way-Mar Lane. Jim suggested the Town do the work as part of a bigger project getting rid of the circle on Westwood; resurfacing and straightening the road and making the connection. It was suggested a determination be made of costs for Reesman to complete the connection as ordered and to have him deposit those monies with the Town to complete improvements next year. Consensus of the Board was to have the Town Attorney contact Reesman and have him present two bids within 30 days to complete the ordered work.
Request for anticipated amendments to Sewer Service Area
Survey results from residents along N. River Road and the Mather subdivision were reviewed showing 20 agreeable; fourteen not agreeable; and two “other” type responses as to preference for their area to be included in the Sewer District. Further discussion and review of the service area map resulted in the following action: Gary moved, 2nd by Paul to request amendment of the Sewer District Boundaries to include the remainder of Section 14 and Northwest Quarter of Section 12 of the Town of Rochester. Motion carried.
Proposal for carpeting side entrance: Davis Designs
Gary moved, 2nd by Mike to accepts the proposal for $438.00. Motion carried.
Resignation from Plan Commission: Maureen Eckert
Gary moved, 2nd by Paul to accept the resignation. Motion carried. A letter is to be drafted thanking Maureen for her service. The letter is to be personally signed by all Board members.
Period for Public Comment. There was none.
Gary moved, 2nd by Mike to adjourn at 8:50 p.m. Motion carried.
Submitted by:
Betty J. Novy Clerk
July 19, 2003 BOARD OF REVIEW 9:00 a.m.
Meeting was called to order with Gary Beck, Paul Beere, Mike Weinkauf and Nancy Klemko (alternate) present.
Kathy Romanak, Assessor, and Betty Novy, Clerk, were also present.
Publication and posting dates were verified as follows:
A CLASS 1 LEGAL NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED JUNE 26, 2003 IN THE BURLINGTON STANDARD PRESS. WRITTEN NOTICE WAS POSTED JUNE 26, 2003 ON TOWN HALL FRONT DOOR, TOWN HALL POSTING BOX, LIBRARY POSTING BOX AND MAAS AND SONS .
Kathy Romanak, Assessor, was sworn in by the Clerk.
GOLDEN FIELDS DEVELOPMENT, Fox River Prairie Subdivision Jim Kupfer, agent, was called by the Clerk and sworn in. The following assessed values were contested with a requested value change to $25,000.00.
Parcels # Assessed Value: Requested Value Change:
Parcels # Assessed Value: Requested Value:
Jim presented evidence in the form of statements of assessed values and/or tax bills from other communities where the corporation had developed subdivisions. It was stated these subdivisions were at approximately the same state of completion on January 1 of each respective year as the Fox River Prairie Subdivision was on January 1, 2003. Sales prices of these lots were presented for comparison to assessed values. Jim indicated assessments averaged about 50% of the sales value. He feels Town of Rochester assessments should be at the same percentage.
Kathy Romanak reported new tax key numbers for the subdivision came through in August 2002 as seventy one lots and three outlots. Five sales occurred between August and September of 2002. They all sold at asking price. All lots were assessed at 92% of asking price based on the fair market vs. assessed value ratio prescribed by the State. When originally assessed, Kathy was under the assumption the subdivision was complete. After discussion with Jim and the Town Clerk on July 16th, she adjusted values based on the subdivision being 85% complete. An average was applied to reduce each value by $4,000.00. She went on to explain that the 85% was applied to the original value already reduced by 8% (92% value).
It was clarified that Jim did not necessarily request a $25,000 value on all lots, but that he requested each one be assessed at half of the asking price.
Deliberation on the requested reduction resulted in the following action: Paul moved, 2nd by Gary to support the Assessor’s values. Votes were: Weinakuf: Aye; Beere: Aye; Beck: Aye. Motion carried. The assessor’s value was upheld.
Kathy reported 250 assessment notices sent out resulting in $7,013,760 of new value. $3,057,300 was due to new construction; $3,578,800 was due to new land values in the Fox River Prairie Subdivision and the remaining was due to land splits and sales. She indicated the State will begin charging for manufacturing assessment in 2004 based on a percentage of the assessed value. At this time the percentage amount is unclear. Two assessment classes, forest and swamp; and waste, will be changing yearly based on a uniform value prescribed by the State. She intends to charge $5.00 per parcel annually just like she charges for Agricultural values now.
No other residents appeared to contest values. Paul moved, 2nd by Mike to adjourn at 11:00 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Betty J. Novy, Clerk
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