REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING, September 20, 2023
The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls was called to order by Chairman Mike Dorsey at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at the Town Hall.  Proper notice was given as the agenda was posted at the town hall and on the town’s website September 15, 2023.  The Pledge of Allegiance was said.  Present by roll call were Chairman Mike Dorsey, supervisors Will Bergmann, Jeremy Hall and Brent Priebe.  Supervisor Katie Appel arrived at 6:12 p.m.  Also present were town clerk Janet Krueger, public works employee Steve Jacobs and legal counsel Adam Jarchow.  Others in attendance were Jennifer and Mark Arriola; Mason Peer and Corey Peer.  Bergmann/Priebe moved to approve the agenda; motion carried. Hall/Bergmann moved to approve the minutes as printed for the August 16, 2023, town board meeting; motion carried.

No public comment was had.

Committee, Commission and Employee Reports: Mr. Jacobs gave the highway report.  Ms. Krueger presented the clerk/treasurer’s report.  Receipts for the period ending August 31, 2023, amounted to $186,958.94, cash balance on August 31, 2023, was $679,170.03.  Bergmann/Appel moved to adopt Resolution 23-25 amending the 2023 budget; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 23-25

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE 2023 BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF ST. CROIX FALLS

WHEREAS the received more than anticipated form the 2% Fire Dues; and

WHEREAS the 2% Fire Dues are reimbursed to the two local fire departments providing services which exceeded the amount budgeted for fire services in 2023.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls, Polk County, Wisconsin, that the sum of eight hundred, seventy dollars ($870.00) is hereby transferred from the General Operations Fund to be designated to the Fire Contract expense account.

Appel/Bergmann moved to approve payment of vouchers #23-209 through #23-235 amounting to $24,104.59; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.  The 2023 year to date budget summaries were reviewed.  The zoning permit logs and plan commission minutes were reviewed.  Supervisor Apple stated the first meeting with the City regarding working together on water and sewer along US Highway 8 went well.  Chairman Dorsey stated the St. Croix Falls Village-Cemetery board agreed to meeting every two months during the summer and meetings are done for 2023 and will resume next spring.

New Business:  Mark and Jennifer Arriola presented their request for a bed and breakfast at 2142 Poplar Lane.  Hall/Priebe moved to adopt Resolution 23-26 granting a special exception to Mark and Jennifer Arriola to operate a bed and breakfast at 2142 Poplar Lane; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 23-26

A RESOLUTION GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO JENNIFER & MARK ARRIOLA TO OPERATE A BED AND BREAKFAST IN THE TRANSITIONAL DISTRICT

WHEREAS Jennifer and Mark Arriola, owners, filed an application with the Town of St. Croix Falls Zoning Office to operate a Bed and Breakfast at 2142 Poplar Lane, located in the SW ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 33, T34N, R18W, and identified as Tax Parcel No. 044-01150-0000, and

WHEREAS Chapter III, Section C, 5. Transitional District, f. (12) requires a special exception for a bed and breakfast establishment in compliance with Chapter 50, Section 50 of the Wisconsin Statutes; and

WHEREAS Chapter I, Section G, 4 requires the Town Plan Commission hold a public hearing and make recommendation to the Town Board, and

WHEREAS the Plan Commission did conduct a public hearing on the matter and did recommend approval on September 13, 2023, to allow a bed and breakfast with conditions in the SE ¼ of Section 33.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls does hereby concur with the Town Plan Commission to grant a special exception to Jennifer and Mark Arriola to operate a Bed and Breakfast at 2142 Poplar Lane, located in the SW ¼ of SE ¼ of Section 33, T34N, R18W, and identified as Tax Parcel No. 044-01150-0000 subject to the following conditions:

1. The special exception shall terminate upon the sale or transfer of ownership of either the parcels of land or the business itself;
2. 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; and
3. The Business will obey all laws and maintain all proper licenses and 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; various agencies of the State of Wisconsin; and various agencies of the Federal Government; 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.

Legal counsel Adam Jarchow excused himself from the table due to conflict of interest regarding agenda item 7. B. – License approval.  The clerk presented the license applications.  Bergmann/Hall moved to adopt Resolution 23-27 granting a liquor license to Peer’s Bar; Resolution 23-28 granting a cigarette/tobacco license to Peer’s Bar; and Resolution 23-29 granting additional operator licenses; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

Resolution 23-27

A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ALCOHOL BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2024

WHEREAS the limited liability company listed below has made application to the Town Clerk requesting alcohol beverage licenses pursuant to Chapter 125 of the Wisconsin Statutes for the year ending June 30, 2024; and

WHEREAS the application appears to be complete and the required fee has been paid; and

WHEREAS publication of notice appeared in the Inter-County Leader on September 13, 2023, and was posted on September 8, 2023, per Wisconsin State Statutes 125.04(3)(g).

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls does approve and grant an alcohol beverage license for the year ending June 30, 2024, to the following contingent upon the purchase of the establishment and surrender of the establishments current license.

PEERS BAR OF WI, LLC, a limited liability company dba Peer’s Bar, Corey Peer, agent, for a Combination “Class B” beer and liquor license, SE ¼ Section 26, 1953 US Hwy 8, St. Croix Falls, WI  54024. BLB 2024-05

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk be authorized to issue the licenses as the case may be.

Resolution 23-28

A RESOLUTION APPROVING OPERATOR’S LICENSES FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2024

WHEREAS the individuals listed below have made application to the Town Clerk requesting an operator’s licenses pursuant to Sections 125.32(2) and 125.68(2) of the Wisconsin Statutes for the year ending June 30, 2024, and

WHEREAS the applications appear to be complete and the required fee has been paid;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls does approve and grant operator’s licenses to:

Peer, Corey Lyn – 730 170^th Street, Osceola, WI  54020, 2024-41

Peer, Mason Joseph – 808 Superior Avenue, Centuria, WI  54824, 2024-42

Daigle, Vicki Ellen – 840 E 6^th Street Apt 1, New Richmond, WI  54017, 2024-43

Hubbell, Joseph Clarence – 206 Suboni Street, Centuria, WI  54824, 2024-44

Johnson, Ira Jerome – 2355 215^th Avenue, St. Croix Falls, WI  54024, 2024-45

Koshatka, Deverah Ann – 700 Superior Avenue, PO Box 475, Centuria, WI 54824-46

McPheeters, Cole Larson – 600 Superior Avenue, PO Box 34, Centuria, WI 54824, 2024-47

Rode, Samuel Jayden – 2536 E River Road, St. Croix Falls, WI  54024, 2024-48

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk be authorized to issue the licenses as the case may be.

Resolution 23-29

A RESOLUTION APPROVING CIGARETTE AND TOBACCO LICENSE FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2024

WHEREAS the limited liability company listed below has made application to the Town Clerk requesting cigarette and tobacco licenses pursuant to Section 134.65 of the Wisconsin Statutes for the year ending June 30, 2024; and

WHEREAS the application appears to be complete and the required fee has been paid.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of St. Croix Falls does approve and grant cigarette and tobacco license to the named limited liability company as follows:

PEERS BAR OF WI, LLC, DBA PEER’S BAR, COREY PEER, AGENT, 1953 US HWY 8, ST. CROIX FALLS WI 54024, 715-483-9390, 456-1031484061-04, 93-3109287, 2024-04, Bar YES

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk be authorized to issue the license as the case may be.

Discussion was had on a date for the special town board meeting to work on the 2024 budget.  The board agreed on October 18, 2023, after the regular town board meeting.  Discussion on road work was had.  Appel/Bergmann moved to approve up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for gravel to be added to 180^th Avenue before the road is pulverized; motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote, 5-0.

No closing public comment was had.

Future agenda items are: propose increasing the town levy; call for special town meeting to hold 2024 budget hearing; adopt the 2024 budget; and approve the 2023 levy.  There being no further business, Bergmann/Hall moved to adjourn the meeting; motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 6:54 p.m.

Minutes prepared by town clerk Janet Krueger