July 2, 2008 Special Board (back) (home)
TOWN OF LIBERTY GROVE. SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AND HEARING. WEDNESDAY JULY 2, 2008. At the Town Hall, the meeting was properly noticed.
Agenda topics: 1. Call to order 2. Roll call
3. Pursuant to Sec. 60.71(4)(a), Wis. State., conduct hearing regarding the request of Liberty Grove Sanitary District #1 to add territory to the district
4. Close hearing and consider:
A. Decision and “findings” under Sec. 60.71(6)(a) & (b), Wis. Stats., and determine if:
i. the proposed work is necessary
ii. Public health, safety, convenience or welfare will be promoted by the added territory
iii. Property to be included in the district will be benefited by the addition
B. Option of postponing decision to a later date
5. Adjourn
This meeting is held pursuant to Wis. Stat. 60.71 for consideration of an application by Liberty Grove Sanitary District #1 to add territory to the District.
Chairman Casey called the meeting to order at 5:02 PM. Also present: Supervisors Miller, Tidball, Goss, Clerk/Administrator Kalms, Attorney John Bruce, engineer Gary Rosenbeck of McMahon Associates, District President Keith Bridenhagen, Commissioner Fred Anderson and about 19 citizens. Supervisor Jensen was excused.
Casey read the letter of request from the Sanitary District to add territory. The request is to make the entire Town the sanitary district. Casey gave a history of the sanitary district. Engineer Gary Rosenbeck said the Town is proactively addressing the issues raised in the CUPAC study done by the Village. He reviewed the advantages of making the Town a sanitary district; there are more statutory powers that a sanitary district has that are not privy to a town; the district can support county staff and provide financial assistance, monitor upgraded systems, follow up on mapping of natural closed depressions on a parcel by parcel basis. The underlying reason for all of this is the protection of the groundwater. The current district would remain as an assessment district with its own tax levy; no new district or level of government would be created.
Citizen comments. Paul Hansen lives in area “F” of the CUPAC study; the Village is willing to do sewer and water, and they need to discuss their plans; this is a governing problem; the sanitary district has different concerns and goals. Kate Houston: she has provided literature on alternate ways to handle wastewater other than sewering but has had no response; she handed these out several years ago, but the water issues are still not resolved. Carl Madsen: feels meeting notice was not proper; should be limits on powers and duties; do sewer and water if ask for it, not because the sanitary district says so; why study sites if there is not development on them at the time; a hydro geologic survey is needed to know what is under the surface—where the aquifer is drawn from; his mound system has been inspected every 3 years since 1988 and has always passed; he heard this is being done as protection from annexation. Dick Kaiser; he applauds this as an attempt to do something; there should be a more county wide effort instead doing this on a “miniscule” level.
Board comments. Tidball wondered how to get the County “off the dime”. Miller said in other areas they are working with a contractor and have to coordinate with his schedule; we have purchased our own mini excavator to be able to dig at any time. Goss wondered if the district had to expand in order to continue inspections. Rosenbeck said the Town has no statutory authority to do this on their own; now we are going through the County Sanitarian; a sanitary district has the authority to do this on its own. Miller said we would get the closed depressions done faster with our own inspectors. Attorney Bruce commented on the notice and felt the class 2 notice that was published was adequate. Tidball feels he does not have enough information to make a decision tonight. Bruce said the board has 30 days to adopt findings.
Miller/Goss to table for further information. Carried 4-0.
Casey/Miller to adjourn. Carried 4-0. 6:22 PM
Approved by the Town Board on July 16, 2008.
Walter L. Kalms, Clerk/Administrator