REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING, May 17, 2023
The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls was called to order by Chairman Mike Dorsey at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at the Town Hall.  Proper notice was given as the agenda was posted at the town hall and on the town’s website May 12, 2023, and the amended agenda was posted at the town hall and on the town’s website May 16, 2023.  The Pledge of Allegiance was said.  Present by roll call were Chairman Mike Dorsey, supervisors Katie Appel, Will Bergmann, Jeremy Hall and Sharon Kelly.  Also present were town clerk Janet Krueger, public works employee Steve Jacobs and legal counsel Adam Jarchow.  Others in attendance were Ron and Deb Micek, Loren and Tracy Dusek, Kaitlynn Peper, Kris Hartung, Karen Mickelson and Michelle Schoefer.  Appel/Kelly moved to approve the agenda; motion carried. Kelly/Appel moved to approve the minutes as printed for the April 19, 2023, town board meeting; motion carried.

Public comment – Ron Micek asked for consistency for transient lodging regulation.

Committee, Commission and Employee Reports: Mr. Jacobs gave the highway report and stated ninety percent of his time has been spent patching potholes.  Ms. Krueger presented the clerk/treasurer’s report.  Receipts for the period ending April 30, 2023, amounted to $337,883.16, cash balance on April 30, 2023, was $582,021.68.  Hall/Bergmann moved to approve payment of vouchers #23-106 through #23-129 amounting to $194,099.73; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.  The 2023 year to date budget summaries were reviewed.  The planning commission minutes and zoning permit logs were reviewed.  Supervisor Hall stated due to scheduling conflicts, he is unable to continue serving on the cemetery board.  The board will try to find a town resident to fill the open cemetery board position.  There was no chairman report.

New Business:  A special exception request to operate a professional office for women’s health in a nonconforming structure at 2048 US Highway 8 was presented.  Bergmann/Hall moved to adopt Resolution 23-13 granting a special exception to Options for Women/Tri-County Inc. dba Options on 8 to operate a professional office for women’s health in a nonconforming structure; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 23-13

A RESOLUTION GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION

TO OPTIONS FOR WOMAN/TRI-COUNTY INC. DBA OPTIONS ON 8 TO OPERATE A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH IN A NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

WHEREAS Karen Mickelson, agent, Options for Woman/Tri-County Inc dba Options on 8, filed an application with the Town of St. Croix Falls Zoning Office to operate a professional office for woman’s health at 2048 US Highway 8, located in the NW ¼ of NE ¼ of Section 34, T34N, R18W, and identified as Tax Parcel No. 044-00927-0000, and

WHEREAS Chapter III, Section C, 3. Commercial District, c. (2) changes of use in non-conforming structures or property requires a Special Exception; and

WHEREAS per Chapter I, Section I, (3) the Plan Commission did conduct a public hearing on the matter and did recommend approval on May 10, 2023, for the special exception with conditions to operate a professional office for woman’s health in the NW ¼ of NE ¼ of Section 34.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls, Polk County, Wisconsin, does hereby concur with the Town Plan Commission to grant a special exception to Options for Woman/Tri-County Inc, dba Options on 8 to operate a professional office for woman’s health at 2048 US Highway 8, located in the NW ¼ of NE ¼ of Section 34 and identified as tax parcel #044-00927-0000 subject to the following conditions:

1. The business will be on a one year probationary period during which any complaint will lead to an automatic review of the special exception and/or conditions by the Plan Commission and/or Town Board; and
2. The Business must obtain and maintain all proper permits.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this special exception is conditioned on the applicants obtaining the necessary and required permits, if any, from Polk County and various agencies of the State of Wisconsin; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this special exception must be exercised by application for the necessary permits within twelve (12) months of the date of this Resolution.

A special exception request to operate a coffee shop/restaurant and gift shop in a nonconforming structure at 1984 US Highway 8 was presented.  Hall/Appel moved to adopt Resolution 23-14 granting a special exception to Tracy Dusek and Kaitlynn Peper to operate a coffee shop/restaurant and gift shop in a nonconforming structure; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 23-14

A RESOLUTION GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION

TO TRACY DUSEK AND KAITLYNN PEPER TO OPERATE COFFEE SHOP/RESTAURANT WITH GIFT SHOP IN A NON CONFORMING STRUCTURE

IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

WHEREAS Tracy Dusek and Kaitlynn Peper, filed an application with the Town of St. Croix Falls Zoning Office to operate a coffee shop/restaurant and gift shop at 1984 US Highway 8, located in the NW ¼ of NW ¼ of Section 35, T34N, R18W, and identified as Tax Parcel No. 044-00978-0000, and

WHEREAS Chapter III, Section C, 3. Commercial District, c. (2) changes of use in non-conforming structures or property requires a Special Exception; and

WHEREAS per Chapter I, Section I, (3) the Plan Commission did conduct a public hearing on the matter and did recommend approval on May 10, 2023, for the special exception with conditions to operate a coffee shop/restaurant and gift shop in the NW ¼ of NW ¼ of Section 35.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls, Polk County, Wisconsin, does hereby concur with the Town Plan Commission to grant a special exception to Tracy Dusek and Kaitlynn Peper to operate a coffee shop/restaurant and gift shop at 1984 US Highway 8, located in the NW ¼ of NW ¼ of Section 35 and identified as tax parcel #044-00978-0000 subject to the following conditions:

1. The business will be on a one year probationary period during which any complaint will lead to an automatic review of the special exception and/or conditions by the Plan Commission and/or Town Board;
2. The special exception shall terminate upon the sale or transfer of ownership of either the parcel of land or the business itself; and
3. The Business must obtain and maintain all proper permits.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this special exception is conditioned on the applicants obtaining the necessary and required permits, if any, from Polk County and various agencies of the State of Wisconsin; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this special exception must be exercised by application for the necessary permits within twelve (12) months of the date of this Resolution.

The maintenance assessment contract for 2024, 2025, and 2026 was reviewed.  Kelly/Bergmann moved to adopt Resolution 23-06 approving the maintenance assessment contract with Randy Prochnow for 2024, 2025, and 2026; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 23-06

A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CONTRACT WITH RANDY PROCHNOW AS ASSESSOR FOR THE TOWN OF ST. CROIX FALLS

FOR THE YEARS OF 2024, 2025 AND 2026

WHEREAS Wisconsin Statutes 60.307(4) states the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls may contract with an independent Assessor for the Town’s assessment maintenance, and

WHEREAS Assessor Randy Prochnow submitted a proposal of services for the assessment of the Town of St. Croix Falls for years 2024, 2025 and 2026.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls, Polk County, Wisconsin, does approve the Maintenance Assessment Contract with Assessor Randy Prochnow for assessment periods of 2024, 2025 and 2026 with an annual fee of $8,000.00; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that payment of services be as follows:  first payment of $3,000.00 by January 31^st, and second payment of $5,000.00 upon conclusion of the annual Board of Review.

The Polk County zoning ordinance regarding transient lodging was reviewed.  Consensus of the town board was to make no changes regarding special exceptions for transient lodging at this time.  Information on using temporary weight limits to protect local roads was presented.  Kelly/Hall moved to adopt Resolution 23-15 imposing seasonal weight limitations; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 23-15

A RESOLUTION IMPOSING SEASONAL WIEGHT LIMITIATIONS ON TOWN ROADS LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF ST. CROIX FALLS

WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls, Polk County, has specific statutory authority under Wisconsin Statutes 349.16 to impose weight limitations on highways within its jurisdiction to protect the constructional integrity and the safety of those individuals using the town roads; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls, Polk County, Wisconsin, wishes to use its statutory authority to reduce vehicle weights to five (5) ton per axle on all town roads annually in the spring until frost is gone; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town highway employee shall erect signs on town highways to give notice that a special weight limitation is in effect.

Discussion was had on 2023 road work and request for bids will be published.  The chairman stated there is a need for individuals interested in filling the vacancies on the Board of Adjustments.  Appel/Hall moved to adopt Resolution 23-16 appointing Ron Micek to the Board of Adjustments; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 23-16

 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MEMBERS

TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

FOR THE TOWN OF ST. CROIXFALLS

WHEREAS, there is an open regular member position that expires June 30, 2023; and there is an open regular member position that expires June 30, 2025; and there are two open alternate member positions that expire June 30, 2025; for the Town of St. Croix Falls Board of Adjustments; and

WHEREAS, the Town Chairperson has nominated Ron Micek as a “regular member” to the Board of Adjustment for the term expiring June 30, 2025.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls, Polk County, Wisconsin, confirms the nominations and appoints to the Town of St. Croix Falls Board of Adjustment

Ron Micek as a regular member with a term ending June 30, 2025.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the these terms begin upon the passing of this resolution.

A fireworks permit application was presented for May 27, 2023, at Big Rock Creek.  Hall/Bergmann moved to approve the fireworks display at Big Rock Creek on May 27, 2023; motion carried.

Closing public comments – Ron Micek acknowledged the hardship the town faces with limited funds and significant cost increases for maintaining town roads.

The next town board meeting is scheduled for June 21, 2023.  There being no further business, Bergmann/Hall moved to adjourn the meeting; motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 7:39 p.m.

Minutes prepared by Janet Krueger, town clerk.