TOWN OF BLAINE

MEETING MINUTES

October 15, 2019

 

Chairman Drake called the October 15, 2019 monthly board meeting to order at 6:00 pm.

Present were Chairman Vern Drake, Supervisor Josh Fornengo, Supervisor, Jessica Estridge, Clerk Charla Zaccardi, Treasurer Larry Holter, Ron and Sandy Gallagher, Bonnie Young, Ron and Sharon Proffit, Dairyland Fire Chief, Bill Fish and Cole Fornengo.

Clerk’s Report:  Waste & Recycle Transfer Station: The board was advised that Wednesday evenings April 1 to November 30 from 4 to 7 pm are busy enough to keep open for residents. Under New Business #2 – a budget working session was held on October 10, 2019 and WI DOT on October 15, 2019. Supervisor Fornengo made the motion to approve the September 10, 2019 board meeting minutes as corrected. Supervisor Estridge seconded. Motion approved.

Treasurer’s Report was provided by Treasurer Holter.

Expenses:  Supervisor Fornengo made a motion to approve payment of the bills as submitted. Supervisor Estridge seconded.  Motion approved.

Citizen’s Input: Dairyland Fire Chief, Billy Fish shared a handout of a 50/50 grant application for communication equipment upgrades. He is asking the Town of Blaine for a monetary amount to share the cost. Half of this cost will be reimbursed to the Town in April 2020. There was a discussion of the radio upgrades involved. The board will revisit this request at the November 12, 2019 board meeting.

Chairman’s Report:

  1. Chairman Drake noted there will be a Wisconsin Towns Association quarterly meeting on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at 7pm. Chairman Drake will attend and thanked Ron Proffit for attending the last WTA meeting on the board’s behalf.

  2. Chairman Drake has ordered a 24×12 sign for the boat landing on Big McGraw Lake.

  3. Chairman Drake mentioned there was a budget working meeting on Thursday, October 10, 2019 and Clerk Zaccardi will make some adjustments before posting the budget.

OLD BUSINESS:

Road Equipment Update:  Ron Gallagher noted the John Deere tractor will need a new battery for mowing the road sides.

Road Condition Report: Ron Gallagher reported roads are in good condition. Supervisor Fornengo mentioned the screen on the State Line Road culvert was plugged again by beaver. Also, on the north end of the Low Water Crossing a large section of concrete is breaking off. Chairman Drake will take a photo of this damage. Chairman Drake inquired about a property line marker at the Perkins gravel pit, it was noted there is none, but we know we cannot go any further south.

Northland Community Center: 1) Cozy Corner Trails will hold their annual snowmobile safety training course at the NCC on November 16 and 17, 2019.

Waste & Recycle Transfer Station: None

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. Supervisor Fornengo stated the cost of a pole barn type of protection for the dumpsters would be approximately $2,500. There were other options discussed for keeping rain out and reducing unauthorized dumping as we pay by weight for the dumpster. Supervisor Fornengo will get an estimate for a car port type building and we will revisit this again at the November 2019 board meeting.

  2. Chairman Drake mentioned that many nuisance beaver have been removed but remain an ongoing issue. More beaver grates will be made and one will be installed on the culvert on State Line Road. He shared a letter he received from the MN Department of Natural Resources which stated we are allowed to trap beaver within 300 ft of a Township of Blaine (WI) road.

  3. Some minor changes will be made to the NCC table and chair loan policy and then forms will be available upon request.

  4. Tuckpointing of the NCC building was discussed. Ron Proffit noted this was previously done in 1990. Two potential bidders will be coming out to assess the building and give us an idea of the best plan of action.

  5. Chairman Drake noted that our long time culvert supplier, PK Forest Supply, out of Minong went out of business. Chairman Drake will check with Mike Hoefs the Burnett County Highway Commissioner to see if we could obtain culverts through them.

  6. Chairman Drake contacted Dave Grindell about parking on Town property and liability issues. He will get back to us, but in the meantime, Chairman Drake will order “No Parking” signs to be posted on town property and along Big McGraw Road.

Supervisor Fornengo made a motion to adjourn at 7:19 pm. Supervisor Estridge seconded. Motion passed.  Meeting was adjourned.                                        

Respectfully submitted, 
Charla Zaccardi, Clerk 

Signed and dated this _15th day of October 2019
  

By: ________________________________________

          Vern Drake, Chairman