Town of Barnes
Town of Barnes, WI

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Home > Town Digital Library > Town Board Meeting Minutes > 2010 Town Board Meeting Minutes > Annual Meeting April 13, 2010

Annual Meeting April 13, 2010

 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE TOWN OF BARNES

OF APRIL 13, 2010
 
Chair Lu Peet called the meeting to order at 7:00PM.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said. Peet asked for a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the last Annual meeting. Motion (D Peet/C Pease) to dispense with the reading of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of April 14, 2009. Motion carried.
Clerk-Treasurer Elaine Brustad read the results of the Spring Election:
 
Local Election Results for
April 6, 2010 Election
Total persons voting: 230
 
Supervisor:
 
Mitch McGee                                        186
Jack Meinke                                        176
Viola Friermood                                    41
Gary Romstad                                         3
Pamela Toshner                                     2
Ron Pearson                                            1
A                                                                  1
 
Town Audit
Chairperson Lu Peet read a few details from the audit report. There were no questions from the audience.
She then asked for a motion to approve the audit. Motion (L Frank/H Aukee) to approve the 2009 Annual Report as presented. Motion carried.
 
 
Treasurer’s Report Clerk-Treasurer Brustad read her annual report:

General Fund Balance January 1, 2009
 
$28,975.71
Deposits
 
 
 
 
$629,209.37
Transfers of funds from Money Market
 
($942,441.25)
Checks
 
 
 
 
$275,000.00
Interest Earned and service charges
 
($74.88)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHECKING BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2009
$6,808.38
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money Market Balance January 1, 2009
 
$1,062,500.11
Deposits
 
 
 
 
$2,488,836.10
Checks written
 
 
 
($2,031,731.56)
Interest Earned and Service charges
 
$4,081.10
Transfer of funds to General Fund
 
 
($275,000.00)
Transfer of funds to HCCU
 
 
($400,025.00)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MONEY MARKET BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2008
$1,042,472.78
Sub account balances December 31, 2009
 
 
General Funds Savings
 
 
$994,248.05
Highway Dept. Sinking Fund
 
 
$16,072.92
BES Sinking Fund
 
 
 
$214.05
Park Savings
 
 
 
$16,009.67
Ski Trail Savings
 
 
 
$881.21
Town Hall Maintenance Fund
 
 
$13,478.20
ACT 102 Funds
 
 
 
$1,568.68
 
 
 
 
 
$1,042,472.78
 
 
 
 
 
 
Open account Hayward Community Credit Union
$250,025.00
Interest Earned
 
 
 
$7,533.27
Transfer funds from Money Market account
 
$150,000.00
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HCCU BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2009
$407,558.27
Sub Account Balances December 31, 2009
 
 
Savings
 
 
 
 
$25.15
9 month CD
 
 
 
$102,563.54
9 month CD
 
 
 
$102,563.54
6 month CD
 
 
 
$51,118.08
9 month CD
 
 
 
$151,287.96
 
 
 
 
 
$407,558.27
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TOTAL ALL ACCOUNTS
 
$1,456,839.43
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Brustad mentioned since the economy downswing she had been trying to maximize interest earnings as best she could. She obtained approval from the Board to open an account with the Hayward Community Credit Union and she opened 4 CD’s with interest earnings over 2%, which was far better than what they’ve been getting through the money market account at Drummond. Peet asked for a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report.
 
Motion (G.Martin/R.Pearson) to accept the Treasurer’s report as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
 
Annual Highway Department Report  
Peet read the Highway report for Jerry Witt, who was not present.
Major projects for the past year were the reconstruction and graveling of Marten Rd. The first mile of Mulligan Cr Rd was shaped and graveled. Logging truck damage to the 43 Rd used up a weeks worth of grading and hauling gravel last fall. This spring we had emergency culvert replacement due to logger damage to the road again. I have been constantly working on our substandard sand roads to improve the right of ways and roadbeds, mainly to try and get them to hold up to all the logging trucks they are seeing.
There were 5 major snowplows last winter, up 2 from the winter before. Due to the two ice storms on two of the major plows, sand and salt usage was 750 ton, or about 200 ton over average. The winter fuel budget used up 5000 dollars more fuel due to public demand to scrape the roads constantly, and also to haul and spread the extra 200 ton of sand and salt.
We took delivery on a new garden tractor and mower about 2 months ago. The old tractor was on its last legs and was traded in.
Major work scheduled for the summer will be the improvement of the right of ways on James and Smith Lake Rd to minimum State standards. 2 inches of gravel will be placed on these two roads. To take advantage of the blacktop plant in Town for the Highway 27 project, Marten Rd, James Rd, and Smith Lake Road will be blacktopped.
 
Annual Report from the Chair
Welcome back to our two board members who were re-elected at the Spring Elections on April 6th-Jack Meinke and Mitch McGee. We look forward to another good year of serving the people of Barnes.
Another year has gone by here in Barnes. It has been a busy one, with quite a few projects going forward.
One of the goals that we felt was very important was getting our citizens involved with the day to day problems and concerns of the town.
1.       The Road Committee has been established. This group of citizens, working with the road foreman and the town board approaches road issues that are brought up. They see to it that the issues go through the proper channels and steps to accomplish the goals
2.       The Town Hall and Building Committee has been established and the very competent group of citizens that makes up the committee has done a great job in assessing what work needs to be done and the priorities of these projects.
A.      We had a new furnace put in this past winter as the old one had some serious problems. In conjunction with the new furnace, the area under the main hall was cleaned out; insulation was put up underneath the main hall and office areas; new duct work was put in to distribute the heat more evenly under the main hall. The furnace now runs more quietly and efficiently. We are comparing the costs from previous years to see the cost savings-not to say the quietness of the new one as well. A small area to enclose the furnace was built and is behind us.
B.       The committee is working on the HAVA (Help America Vote Act) mandates for entry way, parking and ramps to the hall. We hope to have this work done as soon as possible.
C.       The new sidewalk was put in to the office area.
D.      Other areas of concern are being addressed as needed.
Jerry Witt, our highway and property foreman has been diligently working on the roads to get them up to where they need to be. The weather has not been very cooperative for the past year (drought) and this has hampered some of this work. Several projects are slated for this summer-James Road, Martin and Smith Lake Road being among them.
The State Highway 27 project will be going forward as planned, with work to commence in mid-May according to DOT representative Matt Dickenson. Jerry Witt indicated that the paving should be completed by mid-August and that the final shouldering and edges should be done by mid-September. Of course, all of this depends a lot on the weather conditions, but we are hopeful it will go smoothly. The road to Hayward will not be closed as with the project last summer, but expect delays as the work progresses. Local detours onto our local roads may be needed, but the main road to Hayward will remain open. Please be aware of the road work and take every safety precaution in these areas.
April is clean-up month in Barnes and we encourage everyone to participate in the road clean up. On April 24th, there will be coffee and rolls available to all at the transfer site. Bring in your roadside trash for free (bags are available from the town hall or the transfer site.) Check on the web site www.barnes-wi.com for more information. The board is also working with county zoning on other clean-up issues in the town.
We continue to encourage our citizens to fill out the Citizen Request for Action forms when they feel a problem has arisen. This way the issues can be analyzed, the right department is then consulted and involved and the steps needed to fix the problem (if necessary) are addressed. The board then makes the recommendations based on these reports.
The 2010 Census is still ongoing. We hope this will give a more accurate picture of the number of people we have living here in Barnes. The money we get from federal and state coffers is directly related to the numbers that are shown in the official census. If you haven’t been contacted yet (there were no mailings made in this area-only door-to-door census workers, the representative will be out to see you soon. Cooperation is essential to get an accurate count. All information given to the census is strictly secure and not even given to other governmental agencies-FBI, IRS, etc. Census information is not released for 72 years.
 
Annual Ambulance and Fire Department Report
2009 Fire and Ambulance Runs:
09-01 - 01-02-09 Stand-bye for Iron River Fire at the Feed Mill
09-02 - 01-14-09 Chest PainRobinson Lake Road transported to Ashland
09-03 - 01-22-09 Medical Barnes Road transported to Hayward
09-04 - 01-26-09 Medical Barnes Road transported to Hayward
09-05 - 01-27-09 Chest Pain East Robinson Lake Road transported to St. Mary's
09-06 - 02-07-09 trauma patient fellCounty Highway N transported toHayward
09-07 - 02-10-09 Trauma back injury Town of Highlandtransported to Duluth
09-08 - 02-15-09 Trauma injury Idlewild Lake Road Lifeflighted out
09-09 - 02-18-09 Medical Golden Eagle Trail
09-10 - 02-27-09 Medical Witches Bay Road transported to Hayward
09-1103-16-09Medical Barnes Road transported to Hayward
09-12 - 03-24-09Medical George Lake Road transported Duluth
09-13 - 03-27-09 Mutual Aid to Drummond with Rescue sled
09-14 •- 04-03-09Medical Pease road cancelled en-route
09-15 Medical Carney Road Transported to Duluth
09-16 -           ATV accident Highland Patient lifeflighted
09-17 - 04-27-09 Medical - No transport
09-18 - 04-29-09 Mutual aid to Cable cancelled enroute
09-19 - 05-19-09Motor vehicle accident with lire -- Fatality Barnes and Kaufman Road
09-20 -05-20-09 Mutual Aid toDrummond for motor vehicle accident CTH A and CTII N
09-21 - 05-20-09 Wildland Fire Lake Road and STH 27
09-22 -05-20-09Wildland Fire East Island Lake Road and GolfCourse Road
09-23 - 05-23-09Medical set up Landing zone Lake Road
09-24 - 05-2309 Gas Leak at Town Hall CTH N
09-25 - 05-24-09Medical CPR Barnes Road and Kauffman Road
09-26 - 06-01-09 Standby for wildland fire on Eightmile Lake Road
09-27 - 06-03-09Medical Barnes Road
09-28 - Motorcycle accident County HighwayAtransported to Hayward
09-29 - 1 6-05- Trauma call Town ofHighland Fire TowerCourt
09-30 - 06-06-09ATV Accident Lake Road
09-31 - 06-06-09 Chimney Fire James Road
09-32 - 06-12-09 No Transport Patient refused care
09-33 - 06-14-09 Mutual aid to Town of HighlandMotor vehicle accident one
One person transported by Life Flight and two by Gold Cross
Fire Department also assisted
09-34 -06-16-09allergic reaction Jack Pine Lanetransported toHayward
09-35 - 06-17-09Medical call George Lake Roadtransported to St. Mary’s
09-36 - 06-18-09Medical CTH N Transported to Hayward
09-37 - 07-03-09TrafficaccidentTown of Highland
09-38 - 07-03-09Trauma North Beaver Trail, Lifeflighted
09-39 - 07-03-09 Motor vehicle crash County Highway N and Lake Road Life Flight at Minnesuing acres
09-40 - 07-07-09 Medical County Highway N transported to ST. Luke’s
09-41-07-11-09WildLandFireTown of Gordon Cancelled beforeen-route
09-42 - 07-15-09 False Medical alarm Pease Road
09-43 - 07-17-09 Motor Vehicle accident George Lake Road No one around
09-44 - 07-24-09 Power Line Down on Lake Road
09-45 - 07-31-09 Medical call met patient at Hall
09-46 - 08-03-09 Medical call County Highway N Patient transported to St. Luke’s
09-47 - 08-06-09ATV Accident Lake Road Trans to Hayward and me Helicopter
09-48 - 08-14-09 Town of Highland No transport
09-49 - 08-14-09 Motor Vehicle Accident CTH A Gold Cross intercept
09-50 - 08-21-09 Medical Barnes Road CPR
09-51- 08-22.09 Medical River Road Gold Cross Intercept
09-52 - 08-23-09 No Transport Ellison Lake Road
09-53 - 08-24-09 Motorcycle vs. Deer Hwy 27 no transport
09-54 - 08-26-09Medical Robinson Lake RoadTrans to Hayward
09-55 - 08-31-09Medical Lake Roadtransported to Hayward
09-56 - 08-31-09MedicalCranberryLake road transported to Hayward
09-57 - 09-03-09 Motorcycle accident CTH A transported to St. Mary’s GC int
09-58 - 09-03-09 Medical Bony Lake Road transported to Hayward
09-59 - 09-04-09MedicalTown of Highlandint GC to St. Mary’s
09-60 - 09-05-09Medical Tars pond Road
09 -61-      09-06-09 Medical Pease Road Helicopter at Minnesuing Acres
09-62 - 09-07-09Smoke alarm False Moore Road
09-63 - 09-07-09Medical STH 27
09-64 - 09-09-09 Gas Spill CTH N
09-65 - 09-11-09 Medical George Lake Road transported to St. Mary's
09-66 - 09-15-09 Medical Loon Lake Road intercept Gold Cross with us to St. Mary's
09-67 - 09-20-09Medical Fahrner Road transported to Hayward
09-68 - 09-26-09Medical Town of Highland Patient deceased en-route
09-69 - 09-27-09Medical Birch LakeRoad Transported to Hayward
09-70 - 10-02-09Power Line down Peninsula Road
09-71 - 10-06-09 Medical West Idlewild Lake Road transported to Hayward
09-72 - 10-09-09 Medical Jackpine Lane Gold Cross intercept transported to St. Mary's
09-73 - 10-09-09 False Alarm East Shore Road
09-74 - 10-16-09 Medical Borman Road transported to Hayward
09-75 - 10-16-09 Medical West Idlewild Lake Road
09-76 --10-22-09 Fuel Spill County Highway N
09-77 - 10-23-09 Medical East Shore Road Transported to St. Mary's
09-78 - 11-03-09 Medical Hjamler Road Town of Highland trans to St. Mary's
09-79 - 11-04-09 Medical West Idlewild Lake Road Gold Cross Intercept Transported to St. Mary's
09-80 - 11-08-09 Medical CTH N Gold Cross intercept
09-81 - 11-19-09 Medical CTH N Gold Cross Intercept
09-82 - 12-01-09 Interfacility transport from Hayward to home in Barnes
09-83 - 12-03-09 No Transport Assist patient at home
09-84.12-03-09 Medical West Idlewild Lake Road Trans to St. Mary's
09-85 - 12-07-09 Medical West Idlewild Lake Road Trans to MMCAshland
09-86 - 12-21-09MedicalMurrayLake road transported to Hayward
09-87 - 12-22-09 Vehicle accident due to medical condition Lake Road Tran to St.
Transported to St. Mary's
09-88 - 12-31-09MedicalMurrayLake road Transported to Hayward
Annual Constable Report  In the last year I received 262 calls at my home for service . 25 % were from the Bayfield county sheriff's department to respond to commercial and private home alarms . An additional 10 % were from alarm dispatch centers calling me directly at my residence , if the business or property owner listed me as a first responder on their contact list . The remaining 65 % of calls were mainly ordinance related : ATV , animal complaints , trespass , firearm / fireworks , lake related issues , etc... I've also responded to calls to the Barnes fire dept...& DNR fire service where my services could be helpful Friends & Neighbor's        As many of you know, at
the 2009 annual meeting a very small group of residents voted to eliminate the constable position completely . In my opinion , they removed a valuable and necessary position in our emergency services . Unfortunately , at last years meeting the dialog took a personal tone that was uncalled for, if not misdirected , ignoring the fact that without a constable there is no authorized official to deal with town ordinance related matters . Our ordinances are our responsibility . The County sheriff and the
DNR enforce state statutes and county ordinances , not local town ordinances . Tonight , we have a decision to make that will effect the town’s future . The first topic to be addressed is : Do we need a Constable ? And if you decide yes , should he /she be elected by the people or should the constable be appointed by the town board ( as an employee) ? There are valid arguments supporting both sides of the issue . In an elected situation , anyone can run for the office regardless of qualifications (to be trained later) but, the voters decide who gets the job . In an appointed situation , the people give the town board sole responsibility to hire someone that meets their job description . Obviously , this will come with a price . We will have to offer a competitive wage , possibly benefits , and set working hours . Currently , the elected constable is paid $ 12.00 per day 24 / 7. ( Obviously, I'm not in it for the money ) My office has always had a small budget . So the things I'd like to do are often limited , and we have to plan, and save our money to meet future goals . If you decide to keep the office an elected position , I will run again .......... If you decide to make the office a paid job , I will submit my application next year.............. God willing !............................................... regardless of how you vote , It's been a honor ( and fun) being your constable for the last 11 years ...................... Have a great & safe Summer!  
Chair Peet asked for two tellers and two clerks for the votes. Janine Watts and Carol Pease will be the Tellers, and Tom Renz and Gene Ratzel will be the Counters.Peet  asked  for any resolutions that had been presented to the Clerk.  Brustad replied she had received one. She read the Resolution, R-10-02 to the audience:         RESOLUTION #R10-02:    BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the qualified electors of the Town of Barnes here assembled in the Annual Town Meeting this 13th day of April, 2010, to overturn Resolution R-09-01, dated April 14, 2009 abolishing the office of Constable, and to re-establish the elected office of Constable effective with the next election in April 2011.      Signed: Dean Peet       Motion by: Harry Watts / Seconded by: Tom Renz        There was discussion and many questions on the position of the Office and what his duties actually were. Brustad said in a nutshell he enforces our Town Ordinances. The county sheriff’s office cannot enforce our ordinances. If we don’t have a constable position then we will either have to get rid of all our ordinances or will have to have a police department. This can be a very costly situation for the town, 3-4 times or more the amount of money budgeted now. Peet said currently the constable is making about $17.00 per DAY, and if we went to a police department we would have to pay prevailing wages plus benefits for 3 officers at least. Mike O’Keefe also spoke and explained to the crowd his reasoning for issuing warning tickets instead of actual citations. Bringing a citation to court can be costly for the town, and his position is to educate the people more on our ordinances instead of the heavy hand approach. Peet said if the vote last year was because of personality issues with the current Constable, the problem can be dealt with at the election and vote him out. But the actual office of Constable is our best way to enforce our ordinances. Ballot was taken on the Resolution, 59 people listed on the sign up sheet, 49 people voted in favor of the resolution and 8 people voted against. The Resolution was passed, re-establishing the office of Constable.   Peet  asked for any resolutions from the floor. There being none she asked for a motion to adjourn the Annual meeting of 2010 to the 2nd Tuesday in April, 2011. Motion(T Renz/M Wellnitz) to adjourn the Annual Meeting of the Qualified Electors of the Town of Barnes of April 13, 2010, to the second Tuesday in April 2011 at 7:00PM.     The meeting was adjourned at 8:00PM.       Elaine J. Brustad,  Clerk-Treasurer,  Dated this 15th day of April, 2010

 
The notices, agendas, minutes and postings on the Town website are for informational purposes only. They may not be the most current version and therefore are NOT considered the official or legal copy.
CONTACT THE TOWN
715-795-2782
Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 8:00 AM - Noon
[email protected]
3360 County Highway N, Barnes, WI 54873

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