TOC Board Meeting, March 10, 2021

Town of Clover – Meeting Notice

Board Meeting                                                                                                        

March 10, 2021 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall (Historic Gymnasium). 

NOTE:  This meeting is in the main area—Gymnasium proper.  Masks required.  The chairs are arranged to that social distancing (at least 6’ apart) is maintained.  Please do not rearrange the chairs.  The surfaces have been sanitized and will be again after the meeting(s).  Cleaning your hands by using the sanitizer provided at the entrances (or better yet washing your hands for 20 seconds in one of the 4 bathrooms) is encouraged, if you cough do so in the crook of your elbow—not into your hands, and project your voice so that all can hear.

NOTE:  The public is invited to attend, you may walk at any time, you will need to sign for the record, but there is no requirement to sign in separately if you wish to speak.   The public will not be limited to a three (3) minute time if responding to a particular agenda item during the discussion regarding that item.  Should it seem the point of your speaking to an agenda item is not evident, you may be asked to clarify what your purpose is.  When speaking to any agenda item, should it seem to the Chair that the same points are being repeated without additional information; the Chair will interrupt and list the points that have been heard to check that our hearing is accurate and asked if there are further points to be made.

NOTE:  The packets will be available to the public 1/2 hour prior to the meeting (that is 6:30pm).

Agenda

Call to order:

Roll Call:

Pledge of Allegiance:

Review of Minutes with any corrections: (see packets)

  • February 10
  • February 17

Treasurer’s Report for:

  • February

Expenditures:  Motion to approve the expenditure Batch

  • T-0310

Calendar:

  • Elections: Tuesday, April 6, 2021, including Town and County, Poles open 7:00am to 8:00pm, Historic Gymnasium
  • Transfer Station: Winter hours are in effect (Saturdays, 9:00am to 1:00pm) through May 1, then back to Summer hours (Saturdays only, 9:00am to 1:00pm and Wednesdays, 5:00pm to 7:00pm).  TC COVID rules remain in effect, see the Town of Clover web site for specifics.
  • The following activities are suspended secondary to Wisconsin COVID-19 rules. They will likely resume at their usual dates and times once the COVID pandemic is under control:
    • Golden Shoes: Mondays and Thursdays from 10:00am to 11:00am (the gym has very poor ventilation from the outside)
    • Wednesday Best Feet Forward: Wednesday from 5:00pm to 6:00pm at the gym (this group is meeting outdoors from 3:00pm to 4:00 pm beginning October 14, gathering at Fisherman’s Parking, weather permitting, and limited to 10 participants.  Contact Pat Murphy for further information.)
    • Dominoes: every other Wednesday in the meeting room from 1:00pm to 4:00pm next with the next date for the activity to be announced.
    • Pickle Ball: Thursday at the Gym from 3:00pm to 5:00pm and multiple other times (see the calendar to the right in the foyer as you enter).  Met outdoors during the summer and early fall.  Activity in the gymnasium is suspended at this time.
    • Coffee, Treats and Fellowship: Thursday from 8:00am in the meeting room not meeting at this time.

 

 

Announcements:  (Please see Announcements below the agenda for further Announcements)

  • Gym lot: The Gym parking lot is the preferred helicopter landing site.  If parking your car and leaving the Gym area, please park your car on Wee Avenue.

 

Reports: 

  • Bayfield County Court–Anderson
  • Town Planning Commission: March meeting—Koenning, Chairperson, Canceled
  • Fire Department: Rebak (see packet)
  • Ambulance: Stemwedel (see packet)
  • Town Park/Campground: Smith
  • Play Ground: Isaksson
  • Roads including Plows update: Steele
  • Boat Parking and Launch: Isaksson
  • Transfer Station: Steele
  • Cemetery: Rebak (West side database completed)
  • Gym including possible site for COVID Vaccinations: Steele
  • Bark Bay Slough: Steele
  • Task Forces:
    • Upkeep of Historic Gym kitchen, likely annual cleaning: TBD
    • Recommend Actions regarding attracting tourists: TBD

BUSINESS:

  • General Government:
  • Discussion/Likely Action related to:
    • Annual Meeting:
      • Format for presenting at the Annual Meeting—Steele (see packets)
      • Date is Tuesday, April 20 at 7:00pm in the Town Hall (Historic Gymnasium)
      • Written Reports due to Tracy by?
    • Discussion/Likely Action related to Town Lawyer—Smith
    • Fees: Discussion/Perhaps Action related to:
      • Transfer Station
      • Campground
        • Campers
          • Tents
          • Hill with electricity
          • Motor Homes including water
        • Electricity: Discussion/Perhaps Action related to Xcel Energy Renewable Connect—Steele (see packets)
      • Public Works—Roads: Discussion/Likely Action related to:
        • Road Review Date—Steele
        • Request for Gravel Bids—Steele
      • Culture, Education & Recreation:
        • Discussion/Perhaps Action: related to Limited opening of Gymnasium—Steele (see Packets)

 

 

  • Future Agenda Items:
  • Public Safety:
    • Discussion Only related to a possible Emergency Ordinance to include coordination with the Red Cross and FEMA
    • Revise the Emergency Operations plan, updating persons in the call schedule and their contact information (April 2021)
    • SSAA
      • Coverage Agreement follow-up
      • Discussion/Perhaps Action related to SSAA charging for non-transport calls—May or later
    • Culture, Recreation & Education:
      • Town Park/Campground: Discussion/Perhaps Action related to Pavilion:
        • HCC purchase of unique picnic tables for use only in the large pavilion at the Town Park/Campground
        • Dedication of sign for the large pavilion at the Town Park/Campground
        • issues regarding November 11 agenda item: Reimbursement to the Herbster Community club of designated funds donated to the Town of Clover for construction of the Town Park pavilion and not used for that purpose—awaiting selection of different Town Attorney
        • Campsites around
        • Discussion/Perhaps Action related to a possible Hunting Restriction Ordinance for the Town of Clover
        • Discussion/Perhaps Adoption related to: Ordinance Prohibiting Motorized Vehicles upon Beaches within the Township of Clover (Adopted May 11, 1988)—Awaiting selection of different Town Attorney

 

  • Motion to Adjourn

 

Agenda prepared by the Town Chair

Notice and agenda posted by the Clerk on or before 7:00 PM Tuesday, March 9.  Posting is at the Town Hall, Post Office and the Town’s Web Site.  Also distributed via email.

The Town Hall is accessible to those persons with physical disabilities.  For assistance please contact the Town Office at 715-774-3780.

Appendix

Announcements, Reports and Notes:

ANOUNCEMENTS

 

REPORTS

Town Planning Commission:  –-K. Koenning (Meeting canceled secondary to no agenda items)

HVFD:  Rebak (for Minutes & Treasurer’s Report(s) of the Volunteer Fund–(see packet)

The HVFD is always looking for volunteers to become volunteer fire fighters.  There are funds available to cover the schooling and testing needed while you begin serving as a volunteer fire fighter.  If anyone is interested, please give Tracy Gillespey a call (715)774-3780 and she will put you in touch with the Fire Chief.  Your community depends on volunteers to keep the community as safe as possible from fires.

SSAA: Stemwedel 

The SSAA is always looking for volunteers to become EMTs.  If you are an EMT we need you.  If you are not yet an EMT, there are funds available to cover the schooling and testing needed to become an EMT.  If anyone is interested, please give Tracy Gillespey a call (715)774-3780 and she will put you in touch with Jeff Byerhof, Director of the SSAA.  Our communities need volunteer EMTs to help with emergency care and transport of the residents, property owners and visitors of the Towns served.  The SSAA serves the four (4) towns of Orienta, Port Wing, Herbster and Cornucopia.

Emergency Operations Plan:  The Emergency Operations Plan for the Town of Clover has been revised.  The primary revisions are to the persons listed with current contact information; else it remains the same.  After elections in the spring, this plan will need further revisions to reflect any changes to the Town Board, Clerk or Treasurer.  A more comprehensive emergency plan needs updating and perhaps coordination with FEMA and Red Cross.

Town Park/Campground:  Smith

  • The Campground facilities remain winterized for the season.
  • Work Orders awaiting completion:
    • Move small building from the old Transfer Station on Clover/Cemetery Road to the Town Park/Campground
    • Building and installing board walk and stairs for entry to the beach across from the large Pavilion secondary to the October 2017 storm.
    • New campsite signs where lost by storm
    • Stakes are refined and Rope is present for replacing barrier between campsites and erosion protection areas
    • ADA compliant restroom including shower is on hold secondary to need to reduce budget by 5% 2o to COVID related request and the uncertainty of the campground use for 2021 2o to COVID. NOTE: Just one (1) complaint to the ADA from a person with a disability regarding the lack of accessible restroom and shower facility could close the entire campground.
    • Completion and installation of gates to the dumpster
  • Large Pavilion: This project is largely complete.  The remaining pavers need to be placed around a new grill (donated by Iva and Lou Morelli).  Gravel will be placed in front of the pavilion to hold the sandy ramp into the pavilion.  Perhaps benches and unique picnic tables will be in place next year.
  • Roads Report:
  • Road Maintenance (through February 28)
    • Culvert Rehab:
    • Culvert Replacement:
    • Cleaned Ditches:
    • Ditched:
    • Graded:
    • Graveled:
    • Mowed:
    • Cold Pack to Potholes:
    • Pothole Repair:
    • Rebuilt and Fortified:
    • Rehabbed:
    • Removed Rocks:
    • Sign Replacement/installation:
    • Snow Blowing:
    • Snow Plowing: Clearing roadways of snow and providing ice control as needed.  All Town Roads except the following: Bark Bay Slough Road=5, Point Landing Road=10; Bell/Clover Town Line Road=0; Clover Gravel Pit Road=1; Deswert Road=8; Half Mile Road=8; & Kessler Road=5.   Town Roads to date=26; Forest Roads: Battle Axe (FR246), Blueberry Rd (FR 692), Boundary Rd (FR 439), Bratley Rd, Sand Trap Rd (FR 683)=6, and Seven Mile RD (FR 433)=7; Brinks (FR 236)=6; Horseshoe Lake Rd (FR 427)=6; Lenawee Tower RD=6
    • Spot Gravel:
    • Tree Removal:
  • Garage & Equipment Maintenance (Thru February 28)
    • Coordination of Activities Planning: x’s 6
    • Haul Metal: 0
    • Worked on items like logs: x’s 6
    • Maintenance on:
      • Back Hoe: x’s 1
      • Dump Truck 2019: x’s 9
      • Dump Truck 2006: x’s 10
      • Grader: x’s 14
      • Leveler: x’s
      • Mower: x’s
      • Old Trailer: x’s
      • New Trailer: x’s
      • Pickup Truck 2008: x’s
      • Shop: x’s 32
      • Snow Blower:
      • Steamer: x’s 2
      • Tractor: x’s
      • Other: x’s 3
    • Equipment Use:
      • Dump Truck 2019: x’s 23
      • Dump Truck 2006: x’s 17
      • Pick Up Truck 2008: x’s 8
      • Back Hoe: x’s 2
      • Grader: x’s 13
      • Road Snow Blower: x’s
      • Tractor: x’s
      • Leveler & I Beam: x’s
      • Steamer: x’s 3
    • Park Avenue from State Highway 13 to the intersection with Frontage Road is not listed as an official roadbed by the DOT.
      • The Town received the DOT permit to complete this project last week, thus the Town can move forward with this project so this portion of Park Avenue can be added to the DOT official listing of Town Roads. With such a listing, this portion of Park Avenue will receive Road Aids.  It currently does not.
      • This portion of Park Point Road is 500’ from the edge of the blacktop of St. Hwy 13 to the middle of the intersection with Park Avenue and Frontage Road.
      • The crew reviewed Mr. Lund’s plan for bringing this intersection up to code and two (2) 8’x18” culvert sections with the necessary bands would cost in today’s costs $470 total. If the currently present end walls are not reusable, then and additional cost of $320 would be needed to purchase two (2) new 18” end walls.  If that is the case, then the out-of-pocket additional costs for this upgrade would be $890.  The remainder of the of the cost would be in terms of labor, base & road gravel, bush removal and town equipment—all of which are in the present budget for 2021.  Thus, the real cost to the Town for this upgrade in 2021 would be $890 and would come out of the current culvert budget.
      • There are 78.36 miles of roads at a rate of $2628/mile in the Town of Clover. The section of Park Point Road (500’) in question is 9.5% of a mile.  The amount/mile received from the DOT is $2628 times .095=$249.66 annually at the current rate received by the Town for Road Aids.  At this rate, the expense of $890 would take 3.6 years to recoup and if the expense were only $320 it would take only 1.3 years to recouped the expense of this upgrade.  Waiting will only make the expense/year greater.  By any criteria, these rates of return are considered excellent.
      • Ordinance #20190625-1 was passed for adding this section of Park Avenue to the official list of Town Roads. The Park Avenue intersection with State Highway 13 must be brought up to State specs by the time State Highway 13 is repaved.  DOT had the Town sign a paper that this portion of State Highway 13 may be repaved between 2023 and 2027.  When Steele mentioned this to the person out of the Eau Clair office recently, he laughed and stated that if the prospect that funds would be available, then the road would be repaved not later than 2027.  Steele further asked that we be notified a year prior to any planned repair so that we could be sure that the Park Avenue and St. Hwy 13 intersection up to standard.  Steele was told that the Town would be so notified. Whenever this portion of St. Hwy 13 is repaved, our SD employees need to be available to assist with manhole care.
      • Steele recommends that this upgrade should be performed in 2021 to increase the Town Road Aids.
    • DOT Road Aids: Currently the Town receives from DOT $205,930/year for road aids.  The Town is required to spend at least 15% more that the amount received for road aids averaged over three (3) and six (six) years.  Thus, currently the Town must spend an average of $236,820/yr averaged over three (3) years and six (6) years.  In addition to wages and the like, allowable road expenses include payments for roads and road equipment that are made within the six (6) years with road expenses being averaged over three (3) & six (6) years.  Any payments for roads or road equipment beyond the three (3) to six (6) year limits are not eligible to be counted toward road aid related expenses.
    • Flooring for Office and Bathroom: Flooring has been donated for installation in both the Office and Bathroom.  The office floor was raw concrete and subsequently painted with special garage paint.  This paint has peeled badly.  The Bathroom floor is vinyl tile, badly stained.  The Bathroom was recently repainted with donated paint.  The bathroom floor is in need of recovering and thus was included in the donation of flooring.  Installation is in process of installation by Dan (Slappy) Hrdlicka and the crew as able.
    • LED Light Upgrade: The fluorescent light tubes have been replaced with LEDs. This replacement is now complete.  The money for the replacement tubes was donated.  There are 17 light fixtures with four (4) tubes per fixture for a total of 68 tubes.  The total wattage for all the fluorescent tubes was 2560 and the total wattage for all the LED tubes is 1188, thus there is a savings of 1372 watts (greater than 50% savings) when the garage lights are on.

Boat Parking and Boat Launch:

  • Construction and redesign of the floating walkway was being done by the crew in moments of down time. The Standing Committee has requested that no further work be done to the walkway, pending some sources they are pursuing for possible funding for repair and further construction to the breakwater.  Use of the floating walkway at this time is limited to the 2 sections surrounding the stairway to the breakwater.  These 2 sections again came loose in September and began floating off.  The foreman of the crew working on adjacent property shoreline saw this and rescued the walkway and reattached it.  Later that same day he noticed that it was again loose and attached only with one of its wires.  The town crew was notified of this and went down to the Boat Landing and removed the floating walkway for the winter.  It is currently stored on the non-town side of the Boat Landing Road.  The Board approved the Standing Committee to move forward with creation of a different walkway according to the plans presented provided that the entire walkway is supported by   This walkway will hang from the top water’s edge of the brake water and consist of angle iron skeleton with metal mesh providing the walkway.  It will be moved up and using an insertion method of periodic rises, manually applied as the lake rises or recedes.  It will be removed prior to snowfall and returned after thaw.   will not be floating but can be moved up or down depending on the lake level.  It will hang from the top of the breakwater and be angle iron and mesh in several sections.  At budget time for 2021 (October to November, 2020) there was no request for the walkway.
  • In the budget the Town did include $2,000 for dredging.

Playground:  The playground continues with its winterization for the season and will not open until playgrounds are cleared for reopening 2o the Public Health Emergency related to COVID-19.  The playground roofs over the major equipment has been cleaned and will be repainted when the weather permits in the Spring.  The door to the playhouse is removed and at Jim’s Auto for repair and repainting.  The tarp for the playhouse is torn on one side at the doorway and will be repaired via committed donation, if need be, when the playground reopens.

Transfer Station:

  • The Transfer Station is at the garage location. We are on Winter hours (Saturdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm)
  • COVID Rules remain in effect at the Transfer Station. See the Website for specifics.
  • What can and cannot be accepted at the Transfer Station:
    • Metal: NOTE:  Please place only metal items in the metal dumpster or metal recycling designated location.  The Town employees should not need to sort the material in these dumpsters to be sure that they are metal.  No electronics or appliances please.  If in doubt talk to either Glenn, Dan “Slappy”, Rocky, or one of the crew before dumping into the metal dumpster.
    • Small Batteries are accepted at the Town’s Transfer Station
    • Electronic, cathode ray tube and florescent bulb waste CANNOT be accepted at the Town of Clover Transfer station but the Town has a cooperative agreement with the Town of Bell (Cornucopia) Transfer Station to accept our waste at the same fee as their residents pay.
    • Corrugated cardboard waste CAN be accepted at our Transfer Station, but the Town of Bell Transfer station has a cardboard bailer and accepts this waste free of charge without breaking down the boxes. They make money off this waste.  Wet corrugated cardboard is not accepted to be bailed and sold.  It needs to go into our recycling bin.
    • All Paper—including white and slick is no longer being recycled for the South Shore School fund raiser band trips. It is to be placed in the Transfer Station Recycle Dumpster.
    • Please crush all containers for recycling as able.
    • Remove all bottle tops and place the tops in the Trash, bottles only in Recyclables.
    • Aluminum cans are recycled separately for the playground
    • NO OLD TIRES ARE ACCEPTED

Cemetery:

  • 4x4s are installed at the corners of each section of the new portion of the Cemetery. Caps for these corner markers are installed and awaiting marking as to which block it outlines.  Two (2) more caps are needed.  Steele will pick these up when next at Menards.
  • Kiosk: The Board approved the installation of a Kiosk at the Cemetery that will display a map to the Cemetery and also house the identification to plots and lots from the cemetery data.  This will likely be installed in 2021.  The money for the materials are committed by a donater to the Town.
  • To purchase a lot(s) in the Cemetery, please call either Tim Nicoletti, Sextan at the Garage (715-774-3882) or Tracy Pope, Clerk (715-774-3870). All maps including blocks of lots are now available for your selection.  Please contact the Garage if you wish to select a Plots or a lot.
  • East and West Cemetery Databases:
    • The maps are revised to reflect the work of the eastern section database. The documentation book has been revised to reflect the reality as found on the ground and in other primary sources as reflected in the Cemetery Data Base.  The West Section of the Cemetery database is now complete.

Gym:

  • the Gym is closed to all non-official activities, until further notice. Watch the Town Web site (herbsterwisconsin.com ) for further information regarding the status of Gym activities.
  • Town of Clover Governmental Business continues.
  • Gymnasium Lighting: a donation was received to replace the current fluorescent tubes with LED tubes.  These are present and awaiting installation by the Town Crew as able.

Grants:  A grant proposal has been applied for from the Bayfield County Forestry Department.  This would be to continue upgrading roadways that lead to and from County Forests in the Town of Clover.  We anticipate hearing about funding of this grant sometime in the next two months.  Thankyou to the Crew for preparing and submitting this grant proposal.

Bark Bay Slough: 

  • The dock is removed for the winter. Monitoring of the area for unpermitted transient business activities will resume in the Spring.
  • Letters with permit forms to complete have been sent to known kayak liveries should they wish to utilize the Slough for their business in 2021.

Town Web Site: 

  • Iva Morelli is maintaining the Web site on an ongoing basis. Check it out.  Town meeting agendas and minutes are posted there along with posting in the remaining official sites (the bulletin board outside the Firehall is no longer used for official notices) and the email distribution list.  The most recent Ordinances with any more recent amendments on any subject are now posted on the web site.  Other either official (including emergency announcements) and/or interesting material is being added as available.

 

Notes:

 

2019 Wisconsin Act #185 states that local governments are not subject to the requirement to limit meetings to 10 people or less, but must still follow CDC social distancing guidelines for any meetings.  Thus, persons must be seated at least 6’ apart, surfaces must be sanitized before and after the meeting, hand sanitizer must be available at entrances.  Masks are required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Town of Clover Agendas & Meeting Notices