ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Municipal
Complex - Assembly Room
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
MINUTES
Resident and Town Chair Arden Tews called the Annual Town
Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Deputy Clerk Karen Tweedie noted the roll as
follows:
TOWN
OF MENASHA ELECTORS PRESENT (40):
Arden Tews Mike Van Dyke Jeanne Krueger Jerry Jurgensen
Russ Handevidt Patrick DeGrave Ron Krueger Myra Piergrossi
William
Weiss Roger Clark Mike Lynch Joe Nemecek
Lee
Schwandt William Hofacker Jeff Roth Norman Miller
Debora
Thomson Wayne Wilda Leroy Kuehn
Keith Kiesow
Barbara
Hanson Richard Gawinski Sharon Rosenthal Dee Lynch
Betty Zaborsky Eileen Tews Len
Kachinsky Kate McQuillan
John
Zaborsky Diane Miller Scott Thomson
Tom McGee
Pat McGee Joe Trudell Randy Gallow
Mike Lettier
Judy
Beggs Mark Mayer Jerry Finch Lori Seeke
NON-RESIDENTS
PRESENT ( 17 ):
Karen Tweedie Steve Fahlgren Tami Thompson Tim Plagenz
Joan
Burrill Mary
Heitiing Myra Piergrossi Steve Laabs
Paula
Pagel Sharon Heschke Susan Phillips Becky Thone
Dave
Thone Cheryl Hentz Terri McCormack
Lori Jencks
Jeff
Smith
II. INTRODUCTION OF TOWN BOARD AND STAFF
Chairman Tews introduced the board and staff members present to the townspeople.
III. FORMAL SWEARING IN OF NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS
Chairman
Tews called Deputy Clerk Karen Tweedie forward to administer the oath of office
to newly elected Town Clerk, Jeanne Krueger.
Clerk
Krueger then administered the oath of office to re-elected Len Kachinsky, Municipal
Judge; Russ Handevidt elected to serve as Supervisor #4; and Arden Tews elected
to serve as Town Chairman.
IV. ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT – FISCAL YEAR 2000 - VIRCHOW, KRAUSE
Mr. Steve Fahlgren of Virchow, Krause and Co. LLP rendered
their opinion of all financial information being materially correct for the
fiscal year 2000 audit. He provided a
brief explanation of the financial statements included in the 2000 Annual
Report and fielded questions from the audience.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Annual Town Meeting – April 11, 2000
Resident John Zaborsky requested a correction to the Annual
Town Meeting minutes of April 11, 2000 regarding town land that was being
sold. Town Attorney Roger Clark advised
that the sentence under VIII: New Business, 000411-1 - regarding town
intentions to sell 66 acres of land on Cty Hwy CB and Shady Lane - be
stricken from the record. He also
requested the clerk to correct several typos in the minutes.
Resident John Zaborsky stated it would be feasible to turn
the land into a nature park, so assisted in forming a committee. He also stated that Park Director Ron
Krueger put a plan and funding together for this purpose, dividing the property
into six (6) phases of development. He
indicated that over the last year, they could fund half the expenses for the
moving of land, and come back during this year with a plan. The next meeting on this topic will be
tomorrow, April 11th, 2001.
Resident Mike Lynch described the irreplaceable, aged, preserved
trees and nature of the park and stated the proposed nature park as “a gem in
the wild”. Chairman Tews explained to
the townspeople that the nature park project had been discussed on previous
occasions. Park Dir. Ron Krueger,
described the walking trails, pond, and other amenities, which would be brought
into the area.
MOTION: Resident John
Zaborsky, second Jerry Finch to amend the minutes. Motion carried unanimously to amend on a voice vote. On the resolution, Motion carried
unanimously on a voice vote.
VI.
NEW BUSINESS
VII. SET 2002
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
MOTION: Resident
Jeanne Krueger, seconded by resident Joe Nemecek to set the 2002 Annual Town
Meeting for April 9, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Complex Assembly
Room, 2000 Municipal Drive, Neenah, WI
54956. On voice vote, town
residents voted AYE unanimously.
VII.
DISCUSSION
Resident William Hofacker complained about lights not being
installed on the Town of Menasha sign in front allowing people to find the
building at night. He stated he was
assured this would be taken care of three years ago and felt his request was
“lost in the shuffle”. He stated he
hoped by next year lights would be installed.
Chairman Tews stated late this afternoon he received a
verbal request to purchase eleven (11) acres of town-owned west of the driveway
along Shady Ln. up to Irish Rd. He
asked the town residents present if the town board should pursue selling this
property.
Resident Tom McGee asked what the property was zoned. He was informed the property was presently
zoned P-1 and would have to be rezoned to M-1 light industrial.
Wm. Hofacker questioned the $12,000. per acre and felt the
land should not be sold as perhaps in “five, six or seven years the town may
need it for something and will get three times for it as it can get now.” Chairman Tews stated that the town may want
to preserve approx 8 acres for a future fire station, if needed.
Supv. Jerry Jurgensen asked if the Town Board must give an
answer to this tonight and stated there may be concerns about building in this
M-1 zoned area. Attorney Clark stated
there was no need to make this decision and the only issue on the table was if
the town board should gather information regarding this and reminded everyone
that selling of town land could only be done at a Special or Annual Town
meeting.
Resident Jerry Finch cautioned the group to find out first
what the plans were to build on this land.
Resident Barbara Hanson, stated “we should worry more about
the utilities that are going to be raised 7% more than this land”. She further stated “we already own the land
and that “the land is just sitting there and will not go anywhere”.
MOTION: Resident Bill Hofacker made a motion not to sell the
aforementioned land for at least a year from now until all the facts are
in. He stated he would like to bring
this topic back at a later time. The motion
dies for lack of a second. Mr. Hofacker
withdrew his motion.
Attorney Roger Clark again reiterated that the question on
the table is “should the town board make the effort to explore the selling of
the land.” Wm. Hofacker stated
“no.” Chairman Tews reminded Mr.
Hofacker that the entire group present needed to vote on this.
Supv Jurgensen reminded the townspeople that there would be
controls regarding the sale of this land such as the planning commission
passage and other constraints.
Resident Randy Gallow reiterated to purchase or sell land, a
vote must be taken at a Special Town Meeting
(not a Regular Town Board Meeting) and, therefore, could not be settled
at this meeting tonight.
Tom McGee asked how far in advance of a special meeting must
the meeting be announced to the public.
He was told notification must be made 15 days in advance with proper
posting, and a class 1 publication of the agenda in the Post-Crescent.
Kate McQuillan asked when the West American Drive name will
be changed, and if the town would be paying for it. She stated this might affect the townspeople’s decision when
considering the land purchase.
Resident Admin. Patrick DeGrave stated that he and Community
Development Director George Dearborn would be meeting with the developer in the
very near future and this discussion may take place. Chairman Tews stated that the town of Clayton and Winnebago
County would also have to be notified of these discussions.
Wm. Hofacker also questioned the loss of revenue with the
utilities and what the C.P.A.s recommended.
Chairman Tews stated the utilities have been held down compared to other
municipalities and the last rate hike was 1998.
MOTION: Resident
John Zaborsky, seconded by resident Jerry Finch to authorize the town board to
study the feasibility of selling the land west of the municipal complex and
north of E. Shady Ln. and if the town would like to sell the land. This subject shall be presented the
townspeople at an Annual Town Meeting or Special Town Meeting. On voice vote, the townspeople voted AYE
unanimously.
Admin. DeGrave added that the appraisal and survey could be
performed in-house by staff thus saving those costs.
Mr. Lynch asked whether the town would be competitive
(price-wise) with other properties in the area. Admin. DeGrave mentioned that on this date (April 10th,
2001) at 2:00 p.m., he had spoken with the developer whose client is interested
in an offer-to-purchase, which was verbal only. He again reiterated the need for the townspeople’s permission to
start the study.
State Representative Terri McCormack introduced herself and
commended the townspeople that attended this evening’s meeting and offered any
assistance she could to the town board and town residents on a state level.
Resident Roy Kuehn stated he has been a town resident for
over 40 years. He expressed concern
with the Town of Menasha changing its name and felt is was unnecessary and
would cost too much.
Supv. Jerry Jurgensen related the problems of identity with
the City of Menasha and the many problems it causes. He stated we have no identity and the public gets confused over
city/town issues including mail, phone calls, addresses, etc. He stated his committee had begun collecting
signatures for this issue to be placed as a referendum on the ballot for the
Spring Elections and would leave this up to the town citizens.
Town resident Barb Hanson stated she has lived in the City
of Menasha and is now a Town of Menasha resident, creating her own an
identity. The only place she knows, in
which a name has changed, is the Town of Ledgeview. She stated “Be proud of where you are, there is confusion when
you change the name and people may ask where the name came from and you must explain.”
Resident Mike Lynch stated he moved here in 1974. He stated citizens could also have pride in
the town of Bridgeview and if the name change would occur the confusion between
the city and town would end. Several
other confusion issues were discussed.
Supv. Russ Handevidt stated that consolidation and
annexation will not be affected and does not affect the boarders of the town,
which are in place and reiterated that
only the name would change. Supv.
Jurgensen stated that at least 750 signatures were needed on the petition for
the town name change, but they would be shooting for 1000 signatures. The referendum would be a binding
referendum.
Kate McQuillan asked whether the townspeople will be
informed of the costs involved prior to voting on the name change, and was
given an estimate of $43,925.00. She
also asked if residents would still have a Neenah address and was assured as
there is no post office located in the town therefore, all addresses would stay
the same. Chairman Tews suggested one
day the Town of Menasha may have its own post office but this would be in the
distant future and until then, town residents will still continue to have three
addresses whether in Neenah, Menasha or Appleton.
Police Chief Weiss remarked on the confusion, which occurred
when President George Bush came to the Town of Menasha and the news media
reported he was in Grand Chute.
Resident Lori Seeke questioned the status of the $99,000.00
regarding Bridgeview Gardens Mobile
Home Park roadways. (This is in regard
to a project, completed in 1994, but not invoiced until 1999 to residents –
which was the difference between the cost of the project and the settled
litigation amount).
Admin. DeGrave stated the issue is in the hands of a special
agent from the Dept. of Justice and is being investigated therefore, not giving
the town liberty to discuss the details however, once answers are culminated,
the incident will be publicized.
Wm. Hofaker questioned if the lawsuit had been settled
regarding the former administrator, Bogdan “Bob” Vitas. Admin. DeGrave stated it had not as yet been
settled and is on going therefore cannot be discussed at this point in time.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:20 p.m., MOTION: Jerry Finch, seconded by Roy Kuehn to
adjourn the Annual Town Meeting.
Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Respectfully
submitted,
Jeanne Krueger, Certified Municipal Clerk
Town of Menasha