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Chairman Bill Burlingame called the meeting of the Town Board of Koshkonong Township to order at 7:13 pm. The clerk verified the proper postings had been made.
Chairman Bill Burlingame, Supervisors Walt Christensen, Jim Brandenburg, Erik Hoffman, Matt Hill, Clerk Bridget Woods, Administrative Assistant Kim Cheney, and Treasurer Caitlin Kincannon present.
Public Comments
Resident Paula Knaack addressed the Board regarding Item 6 of the agenda. She asked what has changed from the last time this was before the Board? He was told no from the Board and the County last time. This was supposed to be indoor storage only. There is no privacy fence as promised, it is a repurposed metal wire fence. There are currently numerous vehicles being stored outdoors. She is also concerned about her property value decreasing because of outdoor storage. If vehicles are stored, they leak fluids, and these fluids can get into ground water.
Resident Bob Bastien also spoke regarding this item. Opposes outdoor storage request. He states concerns that his property value may decrease and noted that this request was declined preciously.
Resident Eric Weiss stated that the property owner promised that the fence would be nice residential looking fence. Fence is not stable and does not restrict access.
Resident Linda Callies does not want her property value to decrease. The property to note neat looking and agrees with what the others have stated.
Approve meeting minutes from March 9 and March 21
Supervisor Hoffman/Christensen made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report
Supervisors Hill/Hoffman made a motion to record the Treasurer’s report for the month of March into the Town record. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action update to an existing conditional use for personal storage warehousing in order to allow for outdoor storage in an A-2 zone at N1611 US Highway 12.Resident Bob Pizur present. Stated that he has had no issues. He planted trees along the recycled fence to create a natural privacy fence. These trees will take 3 to 4 years to grow to desired height. The outdoor storage will be for campers only.
Chairman Burlingame noted that he spoke with the tenant at that property. The vehicles that are present belong to the tenants. The Town requested that a privacy fence be put up in 2018. The trees are not creating the privacy fence currently. Resident should come before the board after the trees have grown for 3 to 4 years.
Supervisor Christensen mentioned that the property owner has achieved his goals and the Board and neighboring property owners are content with the current business.
Supervisor Hoffman spoke about the current business is doing well. He would like to see what the trees look like currently.
Supervisor Hill what would the residents’ opinion be if in 3 to 4 years that the trees have gown? Would your opinion change?
Resident Paula Knaack stated that her opinion would not change, because she would still be concerned about the water.
Supervisor Brandenburg asked for the property owner to re-present his request when the trees are grown. The fence is not presentable or the quality that he thought it was going to be. Give the trees time to grow.
Chairman Burlingame addressed the fact that the tenant on the property is adding to the issues that neighbors have with the property.
Supervisors Christensen/Brandenburg made a motion to deny the petition. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action rezone from A-T to A-2 agricultural and rural business on PIN 016-0514-1734-00 on the east side of Old 26 Road and north of Finches Lane.Laurie and Craig Wipperfurth are present along with Michael Baldwin.
Chairman Burlingame spoke with the City of Fort Atkinson regarding this property and presented a letter from the City Manager, Rebecca Houseman LeMire to the board and the residents. This property is contained in the City of Fort Atkinson’s Comprehensive Plan as well as the Town of Koshkonong’ s. The plan for this property includes a mix of commercial and residential uses. He also mentioned that this property is not within the Town’s planned area of growth.
Supervisor Hill states that he cannot support this request, as it does not fall into the Comprehensive Plan of the Town nor of the City.
Supervisor Hill/Brandenburg made a motion on the rezone, item #7 the recommendation to not support, to deny the rezoning request. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action conditional use to allow mini-warehousing/personal storage warehousing in a proposed A- 2, Agricultural & Rural Business zone on PIN 016-0514-1734-000 at Old 26 Rd & Finches Lane. Supervisor Hill/Christensen made a motion regarding the conditional use to allow mini warehousing/personal storage on this section of property and we take no decision. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action review preliminary survey to create a 0.84-acre A-2 zone at N640 US Highway 12 from part of PIN016-05104-2641-000.Tom Stade present. Property owner builds cabinets for a living and need a building for a shop. This is the reason for the rezone request. The property will continue to be farmed.
Supervisor Christensen stated that this rezone would not interfere with the City Territorial Rights or the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
Supervisor Hill made a motion to approve the conditional request and rezone for the cabinet shop. He asked to strike his motion.
Supervisor Hill/Hoffman made a motion to recommend that we approve of the rezone request at N640 US Highway 12. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action conditional use to allow a cabinet shop at N640 Us Highway 12 in a proposed A-2 zone. Tom Stade present.Supervisor Hoffman/Hill made a motion to approve the conditional use to allow a cabinet shop at N640 US Highway 12 in a proposed A-2 zone.
Discuss/Action review preliminary survey to create a 1-acre A-3 zone on Cheeseborough Rd from part of PIN 016-0514-2641-000.Tom Stade present.Supervisor Brandenburg/Hoffman made a motion to approve the preliminary survey to create a 1-acre A-3 zone on Cheeseborough Rd. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action a 1,500 square foot extensive on-site storage structure at N605 Wishing Well Lane on PIN 016-0513-2532-002.Judy Powers present via zoom. Current structure is a tarp type structure, and it is falling apart, and she would like to replace it with a shed to store a boat.
Chairman Burlingame asked if there will be a driveway to access the shed.
Supervisor Brandenburg asked what the side wall height of this building will be.
Jody Powers stated that the peak height is 16.4 feet.
Supervisor Christensen asked that the outdoor lighting ordinance is followed.
Supervisor Hoffman/Christensen made motion to approve the request for a 1,500 square foot extensive on-site storage structure at N605 Wishing Well Lane on PIN 016-0513-2532-002 for personal use only. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action ARPA funds for website and email conversion to .gov domain
Julien Brown from Ignatek present via zoom. The .gov domain identifies the Town website and emails as a government entity.
Supervisors Hoffman/Hill made the motion to approve the .gov migration. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action to designate ARPA funds to refurbish/refresh the Town Hall
Chairman Burlingame explained that the ceiling will be raised about 2 feet and replaced, 9 lights, bathrooms update, entrances, replacing the doors, wall covering and flooring. A window will be added in the office area, the counter will be expanded as well.
Supervisor Hoffman/Hill made a motion use ARPA funds to redo the schoolhouse building and the electrical. And add a new fan, update the flagpole and replace the toilets.
Discuss/Action designate ARPA funds to update electrical at the Town Shop
Supervisor Hoffman/Christensen made motion to allow ARPA funds up to $4,000 for electrical at the Town Shop. Motion carried.
Discuss tree removal on Bark River Road and Rock River Road
Chairman Burlingame stated that Ray’s Firewood took care of cleaning up the trees on Bark River Road and Rock River Road. The agreed upon cost was $8,500. No action taken.
Discuss/Action 1000 Friends of Wisconsin donation request
Supervisor Hoffman/Hill made a motion to approve $150 donation to 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action Municipal court
Supervisor Hoffman made a motion to table until next month.
Discuss/Action Parking ordinance
Supervisor Hoffman/Christensen to approve add Highland Ave edits to the no parking ordinance. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action Driveway permit
Clerk Woods mentioned that the permit needs to be adjusted to refer to the fee schedule for the permit fee.
Admin Cheney spoke about adding another drawing to the permit to include information that needs to be addressed. Silt fencing requirement, track pads for equipment on the roadway and to allow concrete to the road. The ordinance needs to be more detailed and clearer of expectations.
Supervisor Christensen clarified that the slope of the driveway is most important from the snowplowing perspective.
No action taken.
Discuss/Action Future borrowing options
Chairman Burlingame asked for this to be tabled until next month.
Discuss/Action Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law
Administrative Assistant Cheney stated that the 2023 application is due by June 1. This grant is for full reconstruction projects. No action taken.
Discuss/Action Resolution for stop sign on Oxbow Bend.
Supervisor Hoffman/Christensen made a motion to approve the resolution for the top sign on Oxbow Bend. Motion carried.
Discuss/Action amend no parking ordinance to include the no parking section on Highland Ave
Repeat of above agenda item. No action taken.
Clerk’s report
Town of Koshkonong Meeting Minutes (draft) April 19, 2022, 7:00 pm (Page 5 of 5)
Clerk Woods reminded the Board that Open Book is on 4/28 and the Board of Review is 5/25 from 6-8 pm.WE Energies stopped in to let me know that when they move the lines, the Hall and Shop will be without power for several hours. The Town has received a $600 grant from the Wisconsin Election Commission to aid in the .gov domain migration.
Approve Bills
Chairman Burlingame/Hoffman made a motion to pay the bills. Motion carried.
Future Agenda items
Public Comment
Chairman Burlingame asked that a Highway Budget Summary is presented monthly basis. Supervisor Brandenburg asked Dan Butz about the salt order for next year.
Chairman Burlingame asked Dan Butz if there is anything to mention regarding the Highway Dept. Dan would like to do some crack filling and would like to check the budget for that. Star School Road and Koshkonong Mounds Road need crack filling.
Supervisor Hoffman mentioned that he will be attending the Board of Review training on Saturday. Supervisor Hill will be taking the online version of the Board of Review training.
Supervisor Christensen stated that the WTA Unit Meeting is next week in Waterloo.
Supervisor Hill talked about work that was done at the park. He would like to schedule a park meeting to discuss a bathroom, camping in the park, bike path accessibility, a possible name change and have grading done in the parking lot.
Chairman Burlingame mentioned that he has calls out to an attorney regarding the shop addition. It seems that it will be a go.He also asked George Jaeckel if he could put some gravel down in the pull off at the flowing well on Bark River Road. George asked for a letter of recognition.
George Jaeckel asked Dan to fill the holes in the ROW on Jaeckel Road.
Chairman Burlingame also asked for an employment ad to be put on our website for a part-time, as needed position.
Adjournment.
Supervisor Hoffman/Christensen made a motion to adjourn at 9:37 pm. Motion carried.
Bridget Woods, Town Clerk
May 10, 2022
