TOWN OF BLAINE
TOWN BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, February 11th, 2026
Blaine Town Hall/Northland Community Center
(PENDING TOWN BOARD APPROVAL)
I. OPENING
CALL TO ORDER: Mike Metcalf called the February 11th, 2026 town board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Chairman Mike Metcalf, Supervisor Josh Fornengo, Supervisor Bryan Holter, Clerk Ryan Brennan, Treasurer Mona Velebir, Ron Gallagher, Dan & Nicole Sear, Billy Fish, Matt Holter
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ryan Brennan made small improvements to the layout of future agendas & minutes. Josh Fornengo motioned to approve the January 14th, 2026 town board meeting minutes as submitted. Bryan Holter seconded. Motion approved.
II. STANDING REPORTS
CLERK’S REPORT: Ryan Brennan worked with Kevin Tidemand mid-January on NCC renovations and tasks, including installing the town clerk’s drop box, installing shelf brackets, adjusting office furniture, and moving the electric organ out of the hallway. With those tasks completed, Ryan Brennan then resumed additional NCC renovations by extending the clerk’s administrative postings bulletin board, painting the walls and fire-extinguisher cabinets, staining wooden mop boards and doors, and spray painting over rusted grates. After looking into the $0 debt amount listed in the 2024 Debt Margin Report released back in December 2025 despite the town taking out loans in 2024, Ryan Brennan was advised that updates aren’t currently needed due to the obscure timing and sources the data is pulled from. However, he will keep an eye on the report to be released later this year in December 2026 and contact the WI DOR for guidance should the amount still remain at $0. Multiple reports were also completed, including the Illness & Injury Report, 2% Fire Dues Report, and the U.S. Census Bureau Building & Zoning Permit Report.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Mona Velebir reported on bank balances for Community Bank of Siren. Our net balance is currently $438,709.35. She procured paperwork from Community Bank on establishing a money-market account for the town, acquired signatures from the supervisory board members of the town board, and will soon be submitting it to the bank. General approval was given for her to open a debit card for Dan Sear to assist in making roads-class expenditures on behalf of the town. Mona Velebir also applied & received for tax-exempt status with Menards, and Ryan Brennan then distributed copies of the necessary paperwork to all town board members & town employees for use. Josh Fornengo motioned to approve the treasurer’s report as submitted. Mike Metcalf seconded. Motion approved.
APPROVAL TO PAY EXPENDITURES: Ryan Brennan reviewed the expenditure & payroll summary of the prior month. He made improvements to the summary by separating purchases made directly through debit card from mileage & personal reimbursements. In addition to providing copies of the expense tracking & reimbursement forms as previously requested, he also decided to provide copies of the time sheets of town employees (i.e. transfer station attendant and roads-maintenance supervisor) to further enhance visibility of payroll activities for all town board members. He also explained how PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) payments function in relation to tax settlement payments, including tax settlement invoices being issued by the county treasurer and PILT invoices being issued by the DNR. Josh Fornengo motioned to approve the expenditure & payroll summary as submitted. Mike Metcalf seconded. Motion approved.
SUPERVISORS’ REPORT: Brian Holter printed out and signed a copy of the beaver damage management contract for Ryan Brennan to submit to the USDA. Josh Fornengo, Bryan Holter, & Dan Sear will be looking into transferring registration & licensing from the old plow truck, placing requisite DOT notices on the new plow truck, and the selling or disposal of the old plow truck.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Mike Metcalf discussed several topics and reviewed handouts with attendees, including updates to proposed road projects for 2026, documentation related to the purchase of the fire truck and new plow truck, updates to snow removal procedures dating back to 2014, management of the new plow truck loan funds and related accessories, status of TRI/TRIS grants, updates to the ATV ordinance, parking for the upcoming Cozy Corner Trails’ Booyah to be held in March, legal consultation for both Hillcrest Cemetery and the Chase Fornengo case, and more. Going forward, he emphasized the importance of supervisors needing to acquire proper documentation and permitting of minors before they begin any work for the town while communicating that information with the town clerk in a timely fashion, as failing to do so has caused undue difficulty for Ryan Brennan in filing tax documents for Elijah Sear. Thankfully, Nicole Sear was able to produce a copy of the permit for him to assist in his efforts to make the necessary corrections with the IRS. Mike Metcalf requested that Ryan Brennan include updates to the archiving of resolutions while he continues to update & archive minutes & ordinances. General approval was given for the following items: Cozy Corner Trails will add the Town of Blaine as an additionally-insured party to their liability insurance policy, parking at the transfer station will be allowed for the Cozy Corner Trails’ Booyah in March, any legal costs incurred as a result of working on the Chase Fornengo case will be billed to him directly, and the April town board meeting will be reschedule from the 8th to the 15th. Josh Fornengo motioned to approve including the fire truck levy adjustment in future tax levies through 2033. Bryan Holter seconded. Motion approved.
ROAD CONDITION REPORT: Dan Sear has been changing out old road signs with Ron Gallagher’s assistance. He has also begun cutting back hazard trees between Perkin’s Trail & Highway 35.
ROAD EQUIPMENT REPORT: Dan Sear reported that the old plow truck has a faulty battery which has required repeat charging in order to operate it. The new plow truck has now been delivered and put to immediate use. Quotes will be explored in the coming years on the possibility of constructing a new town garage, preferably near the NCC.
DAIRYLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Billy Fish completed the fire department’s portion of the 2% Fire Dues Report with the WI DSPS (Department of Safety & Professional Services) while Ryan Brennan also completed the municipality portion of the same report. Billy Fish will be coordinating a prospective date for he Fire Association meeting with Mike Metcalf, possibly on March 4th.
TRANSFER STATION REPORT: Ryan Brennan made copies of the garage keys, distributed them to Dan Sear, Mike Metcalf, Josh Fornengo, and Bryan Holter, purchased a new gate chain & padlock for installation, and billed the RCC (Recycling Control Commission) for attendant recycling service.
III. TOWN BUSINESS
1) Ryan Brennan looked into options for the disposal of excess furniture and equipment remaining at the NCC after last year’s initial clearance done with the assistance of the former NCC Advisory Committee. He received a quote from Burnett Transfer Station for $100 to dispose of the electric organ and $40 per cubic yard of additional items. Ryan Brennan will eventually coordinate with Dan Sear and Ron Gallagher to gather together all items set for disposal and deliver them in as few trips as reasonably possible to mitigate costs. Volunteers and regular users of the NCC are also welcome to assist.
IV. CLOSING
REVIEW OF PROJECTS: Town board members reviewed current projects as well as assignments and follow-ups to the old and new business items listed above.
ITEMS FOR NEXT MONTH’S AGENDA:
1) Annual municipal visit from REM Inspecting.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1) The Spring Election will take place on April 7th, 2026. Election inspector training provided by the county will soon be scheduled.
2) The town board meeting in April has been rescheduled from the 8th to the 15th.
ADJOURNMENT: Josh Fornengo motioned to adjourn at 9:05 p.m. Mike Metcalf seconded. Motion approved. Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Ryan W. Brennan, Town Clerk
Signed and dated this 11th day of February, 2026
By: __________________________________________
Michael C. Metcalf, Chairman