Summary of Kildare Town Board Meetings--January 2007

TOWN OF KILDARE
*SUMMARY OF TOWN BOARD MEETING
JANUARY 10, 2007

Present: Chairman Dennis Franek; Supervisor Dan Lapp; Treasurer Patty Schluter; Clerk Linda Winterstein; and 21 citizens

1. Call to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Kildare Town Hall by Chairman Franek.
2. Board approved the following:
- Minutes of the December 13, 2006 meeting; no corrections
- Treasurer’s report: Total funds of $296,600.49; $282,410.04 property tax collections of which
$248,630.15 to be paid out in tax settlement with Kildare retaining $33,779.89; no corrections
- No ambulance given
- Clerk’s report; no corrections
- Plan commission report; no corrections

3. Public Comments. RoseMarie Langland provided the following comments:
- Had board considered state/regulatory requirements for propane tanks before approving Walsh land division for sale to Hohl Propane; chair advised the only matter before the board is the land division and the state controls permitting for propane tanks.
- Why only 2 garbage cans allowed…some households have children and use more trash; Nicole Clark (Clark Disposal) indicated that some cap needs to be placed on the amount or people will abuse it. She noted that seldom does Clark refuse to pick up trash.
- Has the board considered having clerk hold business hours at the town hall instead of at her residence; chair advised the hall would have to be modernized first and town did not have the money.
- How to dispose of outdate medications since they cannot be flushed down the drain; board advised her to contact the pharmacy.

4. Permits. Board approved the following building permits: Douglas Behn for a pole shed and Bruce Johnston for a building addition.

5. Business
- Due to absence of one supervisor, board tabled discussion/action on a proposed land division moratorium until the February meeting.
- Plan Commission Chair presented Commission recommendation to approve Walsh land division of 5 acres along Hwy 12/16, after which the board voted to approve the land division.
- Pope Enterprises presented a proposed subdivision of a 182-acre parcel into 12 lots (parcel nos. 29014TKL536/537/729/730/732 previously owned by Plum Creek Timberlands off 55th Street). Matter referred to Plan Commission for recommendation; board decision to be at the February meeting.
- Board adopted Ordinance No. 4(D) which amended Ordinance No. 4(C) and adds the Plan Commission as a reviewing group for land divisions/plats, as required by Wisconsin Statutes.
- Board discussed Clark Disposal contract and received no concerns or comments from those attending the meeting.
- Board approved payment of all bills on the table.

6. February meeting agenda items:
- McKeough Land Company request for variance
- Pope Enterprises proposed land division
- Proposed land division and subdivision ordinance moratoriums
- State-funded bicycle/pedestrian trails in the town
- Collection of delinquent property taxes through lien on state tax refunds
- 2007 fire contract and fire number map update
7. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Linda Winterstein, Clerk

*Note: This is a summary of the official meeting minutes which are maintained in the clerk’s office.
Contact the clerk for additional information on specific items.

TOWN OF KILDARE
*SUMMARY OF THE PUBLIC HEARING
JANUARY 11, 2007

Present: Chairman Dennis Franek; Supervisor Dan Lapp; Treasurer Patty Schluter; Clerk Linda Winterstein; and 20 citizens

1. Call to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Kildare Town Hall by Chairman Franek. Purpose of the hearing was to obtain comments on a variance request submitted by McKeough Land Co. to decrease minimum lot size for a proposed subdivision of 44.65 acres (parcel nos. 29014TKL973/975/977).

2. Plan Commission Chair presented Commission’s recommendation to disapprove the variance request. Plan Commission Member Winterstein, sole dissenting vote, presented basis for her vote in a memorandum to the Town Board.

3. The clerk read letters and telephone call memoranda received regarding the variance request, including one from the property owner.

4. Majority of attendees opposed the variance. Brief summary of comments:
Against the variance: need to keep to a 5-acre minimum since everyone else has to do so; impact to the Wisconsin River with additional wells/septic systems/runoff; recent survey results indicate respondents do not want subdivisions in the town and want to keep the rural atmosphere; property owner should divide it into 8 parcels because the river is a valuable resource which cannot be replaced; impact on property taxes (Note: subdivisions are assessed separately from rest of town properties which means no impact).
In support of the variance: town has no other means of revenue other than through property taxes of residential properties (plus state revenue) and this would maximize taxes; Wisconsin River Highlands provides 1/7 of the property taxes received by Kildare and property taxes from the proposed subdivision would be about the same, plus the town’s share of MFL back taxes; many property owners purchased their property prior to 5-acre minimum being adopted—denying the variance results in erosion of property rights and decreased property values (i.e., not allowing maximum return on investment); proposed subdivision will be done in the same way as the Wisconsin River Highlands with C&Rs to limit type of house to frame/stick-built; better the developer the town knows will have a quality subdivision rather than some unknown company.

5. After hearing all comments, the chair asked for a show of hands on how many individuals had driven through the Wisconsin River Highlands subdivision; many had done so. He then asked whether the subdivision had hurt the town; there were no responses. Chair also noted that property tax dollars are maximized for a 44-acre development with 23 lots vs. a 182-acre development with 12 lots (Note: There is a proposed subdivision of 182 pending before the board which was recommended for approval by the Plan Commission).

6. Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Linda Winterstein, Clerk

*Note: This is a summary of the official meeting minutes which are maintained in the clerk’s office.
Contact the clerk for additional information on specific items.