TOWN OF WASHINGTON
TOWN BOARD MEETING
Monday, March 19th, 2007
6:30 p.m.
Rutledge Room in the Community Center
A. ROLL CALL: Chairman Dutton Morehouse called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. In addition to Morehouse, present were Supervisors James VanRamshorst and Joel Gunnlaugsson. Elizabeth Holmes was excused. Ron Overdahl joined the meeting via phone conference at 6:55pm.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
C. OPENING PRAYER: Jim VanRamshorst gave the opening prayer.
D. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Chairman Morehouse reminded the procedure for public comment.
E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of Special Town Board Meeting, Thursday, February 1, 2007; Minutes of Special Town Board Meeting, Thursday, February 15, 2007; Minutes of Regular Town Board Meeting, Monday, February 19, 2007; Minutes of Special Town Board Meeting, Friday, February 27, 2007; Minutes of Special Town Board Meeting, Thursday, March 9, 2007 were approved by consensus.
F. APPROVAL OF BILLS: The bills for the Town and all the Town Committees were approved by unanimous consent.
G. DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORTS: The following reports were accepted by unanimous consent:
1. Chairman’s Report
2. Public Works
3. Police
4. Rescue Squad
5. Fire Department
6. Landfill
7. Airport
8. Financial Report
H. COMMUNICATIONS: Communications were accepted by unanimous consent.
1. Kerber, Rose – Letter on Communicating Internal Control Matters.
2. DC Environmental Council – “Preparing for the Renewables Century.”
3. EMC Insurance Companies – Letter on Charles Sena Workers’ Comp. award.
4. Tom Hokkanen – Resignation from Recreation Center Committee.
5. Bureau of Aeronautics – Letter on Airport land acquisition activities.
6. Wis. DOA – Local Government Report.
7. DC RPC – Notice of Public Hearings.
8. Door County Clerk – Copy of amendatory zoning ordinance – 2007-03.
9. Earth Tech – Notice of Inspection of Salt Storage Sites(s).
10. Building Permits issued.
I. OLD BUSINESS:
1. “No Parking” signs at Trinity Church—Trinity Council suggests addition of 2-3 feet of gravel to existing paved area until paving can be done – Motion: VanRamshorst moved for Trinity to spread the gravel as requested. Gunnlaugsson seconded. Motion carried.
J. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. 60.30 and Town of Washington Ordinance No. 2000-1, reappointment of Valerie Carpenter for an additional three-year term as Clerk-Treasurer retroactive to July, 2006. VanRamshorst moved to reappoint Valerie Carpenter as requested. Gunnlaugsson seconded. Motion carried.
2. Approve new contract with Veolia Environmental Services for waste hauling. VanRamshorst moved for approval. Gunnlaugsson seconded. Motion carried.
3. WIZAP – Request for authorization to mail survey on Comprehensive Plan. VanRamshorst moved for approval of request. Gunnlaugsson seconded. Motion carried.
4. WIZAP – Recommendation to approve text amendment to delete Section 3.04(4). VanRamshorst moved for approval of recommendation. Gunnlaugsson seconded. Motion carried.
5. WIZAP – Recommendation to approve text amendment to Section 4.08(5)(k). VanRamshorst moved for approval of recommendation. Gunnlaugsson seconded. Motion carried.
6. Recreation Center – Request to appoint the following to positions on the Recreation Center Board; President, Daniel Nerenhausen; Vice-President, Herbert Gibson; Secretary, Mary Lynn Anderson. Gunnlaugsson moved for approval of appointments as requested. VanRamshorst seconded. Motion carried.
7. Authorize Town’s attorney to begin to draft “An Ordinance for the collection of Tax on Overnight Lodging” following the example of the Sister Bay Ordinance. This draft will precede future consideration of the Door County Room Tax proposal.
Morehouse requested a motion to include Ron Overdahl’s (re-draft) and Egg Harbor’s Ordinance along with the Sister Bay Ordinance be sent to the Town’s attorney. Gunnlaugsson motioned for discussion only. VanRamshorst seconded.
Morehouse stated that the purpose of this agenda item is not to commit the Town to approve the room tax ordinance but if and when approval for participation in the Tourism Zone Commission agreement occurs, it would be helpful to have an ordinance drafted.
At this time (6:55PM), Overdahl was contacted and put on speakerphone so he could participate in the discussion. Carol Stayton and Keith Mann were scheduled to speak.
Mann stated he was hoping the ordinance, based upon how other ordinances were written would specify how to use the Towns’ 30% share of revenue. With 10% for the Chamber and the resulting 20% for Tourist related improvements. Stayton stated she would like to see a committee formed to address specific items and to identify projects for which the monies would be used. Morehouse suggested this could be listed as a ‘General Category’ within the ordinance.
VanRamshorst stated he would like to see how the room tax develops with the County before the Town invests any more time and effort. Stayton suggested developing ‘Rough Draft’ of the ordinance, and use it as a ‘road map’ for a Public Forum with the Door County Visitors Bureau.
Stayton and Mann expressed their displeasure with the 2007 Door County Vacation Guide. Mann pointed out that the Visitor’s Bureau board has changed since last fall and he feels the 2008 Guides will better promote the Island if the room tax is enacted.
Morehouse moved to amend the original motion stating the Town Board put together a draft ordinance (using Sister Bay’s, Egg Harbor’s and Overdahl’s re-draft Ordinances) – rather than sending information to Town’s attorney at this time - and aim for a public hearing date sometime toward the end of April. The purpose of the hearing would be to consider the draft of the ordinance and to consider participation in the Tourism Zone Agreement.
VanRamshorst & Gunnlaugsson carried the motion.
8. Performing Arts Center – Application for Temporary Class “B” beer license for Grand Opening Concert, April 7. Discussion from VanRamshorst questioning why the PAC did not receive a seasonal license. The Clerk explained the PAC did not fall under the guidelines. Gunnlaugsson moved to grant the license, VanRamshorst seconded. Motion carried.
9. Move soda machine from Community Center to Welcome Center porch; replace Community Center machine if Community Center Committee requests. Discussion involved alternate locations for the machine (i.e. School House Beach, airport), and who would be responsible for moving it. Morehouse stated he understood Coke wanted to move their own machines and they traditionally come in the spring. VanRamshorst made the motion to move the machine to the Welcome Center Porch. Gunnlaugsson seconded. Motion carried.
K. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS:
1. Morehouse commented that there would not be a closed session as stated on the agenda. Upcoming hiring of an additional officer has been delayed due to backlog of background checks at the Door County Sheriff Dept.
2. Morehouse would like to bring to everyone’s attention the new stainless steel sink that was installed by Town Crew workers Steve Beekman and Lee Baxter in the Community Center kitchen.
L. PUBLIC COMMENTS, ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
1. Robb Carr commented on the airport runway realignment.
2. Lou Munao commented on communications being stored in the town office.
M. UPCOMING MEETINGS— Regular Town Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 9th, 2007; Utility District Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Monday, May 8, 2007; Annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, April 10th, 2007. Possible Special Town Board Meeting early next week to address the employment of a second police officer.
N. ADJOURNMENT: Motion: VanRamshorst moved and Gunnlaugsson seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.