REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING, August 21, 2024

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, August 21, 2024, at the Town Hall.  Proper notice was given as the agenda was posted at the town hall and on the town’s website August 13, 2024.  The Pledge of Allegiance was said.  Present by roll call were Chairman Mike Dorsey, supervisors Katie Appel, Brent Priebe, Will Bergmann and Jeremy Hall.  Also present were town clerk/treasurer Janet Krueger, public works employee Steve Jacobs and legal counsel Adam Jarchow.  Others in attendance for portions of the meeting were John Sorenson, Bradley Eley, Sarah Olson, Joel Yunker, and Carole and Kevin Baumgart.

Hall/Bergmann moved to approve the agenda; motion carried. Bergmann/Hall moved to approve the minutes as printed for the July 17, 2024, and July 23, 2024, town board meetings; motion carried.

Public comment was had.  Ms. Baumgart stated she was informed by a realtor that an Air B&B next door would negatively affect her property value when selling her home and requested a sound barrier be installed on the property line along the whirl pool and fire place areas.  Ms. Olson requested that twelve people be allowed day and night as the septic system is approved for fifteen people.  Mr. Baumgart requested that only eight people be allowed over night since that was the maximum approved for previous transient lodging special exceptions; requested that no external speakers be allowed; that an eight foot privacy fence be installed; and to have the Lake Association Rules be included on the Air B&B website.  Mr. Baumgart asked if the property was visited by board members and stated he did not understand the transient lodging process.  Mr. Yunker stated he did not believe the pulverize roads were being taken care of over the winter months.

Committee, Commission and Employee Reports: Mr. Jacobs gave the highway report.  Mr. Jacobs stated the rocks still remained in the road right of way and the contractor requested until Wednesday, August 28^th to remove them.  The chairman will verify with Mr. Jacobs that they were removed by then.  Mr. Jacobs stated that the gravel is not bonding with the pulverized asphalt on 180^th Avenue; the culvert ends were dug out for a driveway on Fairgrounds road but the culvert still remains plugged; and the dump truck alternator had caught on fire and was replaced.  Ms. Krueger presented the clerk/treasurer’s report.  Hall/Priebe moved to adopt Resolution 24-24 approving an amendment to the 2024 budget; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 24-24

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE 2024 BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF ST. CROIX FALLS

WHEREAS Town Board received funds from the sale of the 2012 dump truck/snowplow in the amount of $55,350; and

WHEREAS the Town Board would like to apply these funds as an additional payment on the loan for the new dump truck/snowplow.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls, Polk County, Wisconsin, that the sum of fifty-five thousand dollars ($55,000.00) is hereby transferred from the General Operations Fund to be designated to the Principal Debt account.

Hall/Bergmann moved to approve payment of vouchers #24-194 through 24-222 amounting to $31,048.34; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.  The 2024 year to date budget summaries were reviewed.  Receipts for the period ending July 31, 2024, amounted to $51,100.66, cash balance on July 31, 2024, was $98,797.62.  The building permit and zoning permit logs were reviewed.  Supervisor Bergmann inquired on a camper parked on a property near the Gandy Dancer trail with vehicles parked just off the roadway.  The clerk/treasurer will send a letter to the property owner.

New Business:  The special exception request for transient lodging was presented.  Hall/Bergmann moved to adopt Resolution 24-25 granting a special exception for transient lodging at 1350 190^th Street.  Hall/Appel moved to amend one of the conditions in Resolution 24-25 to read “a maximum of twelve occupants are allowed regardless of the number of bedrooms”; motion to amend carried on a roll-call vote, 3-2 (Yeas:  Appel, Hall, Dorsey; Nays:  Bergmann, Priebe).  Motion to adopt the amended Resolution 24-25 carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 24-25

A RESOLUTION GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO SARAH OLSON FOR TRANSIENT LODGING

IN THE RESIDENATIAL DISTRICT

WHEREAS property owner Sarah Olson has filed an application with the Town of St. Croix Falls for transient lodging at 1350 190^th Street, located in the SW ¼ of NW ¼ of Section 25, T34N, R18W, and identified as Tax Parcel #044-01157-1000; and

WHEREAS Chapter III, Section C, 1. Residential District, g. (4) transient lodging requires a Special Exception; and

WHEREAS per Chapter I, Section I, 3, (b) the Plan Commission did conduct a public hearing on the matter and did recommend approval on August 14, 2024, for the special exception with conditions for transient lodging at 1350 190^th Street in the SW ¼ of NW ¼ of Section 25.

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 Sarah Olson for transient lodging at 1350 190^th Street, located in the SW ¼ of NW ¼ of Section 25 and identified as tax parcel number #044-01157-1000 subject to the following conditions:

1. Up to maximum of twelve occupants allowed regardless of the number of bedrooms;
2. Accessory buildings must not have sleeping accommodations;
3. No RVs or campers allowed for overnight stay;
4. All parking to be on an impervious surface and must be contained on the property;
5. Applicant must obtain all proper licensing;
6. All fires and embers are to be extinguished by 11:00 pm, with no unattended fires;
7. No fireworks are allowed.
8. Applicant must have 24 hour contact number available to the public;
9. Property must remain free from citation and charges for nuisance, disorderly conduct, or any other illegal activity;
10. Quiet hours shall be imposed Sunday through Thursday from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am; Friday and Saturday from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am;
11. Applicant and renters must comply with all applicable laws and regulations:
12. Department of natural resources lake regulations to be included in rental information,
13. Lake association rules to be included in rental information, and
14. No fireworks are allowed must be included in rental information.
15. All pets must be contained on the rental property unless they are on public property;
16. All conditions that apply to renters shall be included in rental information;
17. Owner is to provide the town with any new or revised house rules and regulations for renters;
18. The special exception shall terminate upon the sale or transfer of ownership of either the parcel of land or the business itself;
19. Any formal complaint lodged against the use in the first year of operation will lead to an automatic review of the special exception by the plan commission and/or town board at the next possible meeting;
20. The business will obey all laws and maintain all proper licenses and permits; and
21. All conditions relating to rental property in Chapter I, Section I of the zoning ordinance shall apply.

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.

John Sorenson, Milltown Fire Department informed the Board that the Village of Centuria and Village of Balsam Lake will be joining the Milltown Fire Department.  Since a portion of the town lies within the Centuria Fire Department district the Town Board will need to decide to remain in the Centuria Fire District.  Bids received for pulverizing 170^th Avenue (0.251 miles) were S.B. Madison Construction LLC – $4,002.42; and Haas Sons, Inc. – $3,239.00.  Bids received for pulverizing 210^th Street (1.76 miles) were S.B. Madison Construction LLC – $28,575.36; and Haas Sons, Inc. – $12,438.00.  Bids received for pulverizing 210^th Street (2.01 miles) were S.B. Madison Construction LLC – $33,337.92; and Haas Sons, Inc. – $13,986.00.  Bids received to double chip seal 170^th Avenue using CRS #2 oil were Fahrner Asphalt Sealers – $38,910.00 to be completed in 2025; and Scott Construction Inc – $30,184.00 to be completed by September 20, 2024.  Bids received to double chip seal 170^th Avenue using CRS #2P oil were Fahrner Asphalt Sealers – $40,469.00 to be completed in 2025; and Scott Construction Inc – $31,418.00 to be completed by September 20, 2024.  Bids received to double chip seal 180^th Avenue using CRS #2 oil were Fahrner Asphalt Sealers – $34,251.00 to be completed in 2025; and Scott Construction Inc – $25,146.00 to be completed by September 20, 2024. Bids received to double chip seal 180^th Avenue using CRS #2P oil were Fahrner Asphalt Sealers – $35,624.00 to be completed in 2025; and Scott Construction Inc – $26,174.00 to be completed by September 20, 2024.  Hall/Bergmann moved to award the bid to Haas Sons Inc. to pulverize 170^th Avenue between 180^th Street and the Village of Centuria limits not to exceed $6,475.00; motion carried on a roll-call vote, 5-0.  Hall/Priebe moved to award the bid to Scott Construction Inc. to double chip seal 170^th Avenue using CRS #2P oil in the amount of $31,418.00; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.  Hall/Appel moved to award the bid to Scott Construction Inc. to double chip seal 180^th Avenue between the new pavement at 180^th Street and new pavement at State Road 35 using CRS #2P oil in the amount of $26,174.00; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.  Priebe/Appel moved to award the bid to Haas Sons Inc. to pulverize 210^th Street between 140^th Avenue and 160^th Avenue in the amount of $13,986.00; motion carried on a roll-call vote, 4-1 (Yeas:  Appel, Bergmann, Priebe, Dorsey; Nays:  Hall).  Appel/Priebe moved to adopt Resolution 24-26 appointing Gus Koecher and Frank Behning to the plan commission; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 24-26

A RESOLUTION APPOINTING GUS KOECHER AS A REGULAR MEMBER

AND FRANK BEHINING AS A ALTERNATE MEMBER TO THE TOWN OF ST. CROIX FALLS PLAN COMMISSION

WHEREAS the terms of regular plan commission members Gus Koecher and Kyle Yunker expired on June 30, 2024; and

WHEREAS alternate member Jeremy Appel was appointed to fill one of these regular member terms leaving the alternate term vacant; and

WHEREAS the Town Chairperson has nominated Gus Koecher as a “regular member” for a three year term expiring June 30, 2027 and nominated Frank Behning as an “alternate member” with a term expiring June 30, 2025.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls, Polk County, Wisconsin, appoints to the Town of St. Croix Falls Plan Commission

Gus Koecher as a regular member with a term ending June 30, 2027: and

Frank Behning as an alternate member with a term ending June 30, 2025.

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

 

There being no further business, Bergmann/Hall moved to adjourn the meeting; motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

Minutes prepared by town clerk Janet Krueger.