A quorum being present Chrm. Hanson called to order the bimonthly Town Board meeting of the Washington Town Board at 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, March 06, 2008, at the Town Municipal Building, 5750 Old Town Hall Road.

Members Present:  Thomas Hanson, George Losby, Donald Perry, Michael Stacy, and Karen Tomesh

Staff Present:   Kimberley Bunderson, Janelle Henning, and Micheal Peterson

Members/Staff Absent: None

Minutes: Supv. Stacy moved TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE
FEBRUARY 21, 2008 BIMONTHLY TOWN BOARD MEETING WITH THE CORRECTION OF INDIVIDUALS USED INSTEAD OF RESIDENTS UNDER PEDESTRIAN/BIKE TRAIL.  The motion was seconded by Supv. Tomesh.   Aye 5, Nay 0

Rescinding  Supv. Perry moved TO RESCIND THE PRIOR MOTION ON ED BOHN’S
Recommendation:  REQUEST TO AMEND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2006-38 FOR A PLANNED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO INCLUDE A PUBLIC AUCTION HALL AND OUTDOOR MARKET.  The motion was seconded by Supv. Stacy.  The roll call vote was as follows:  Chrm. Hanson – Aye, Supv. Losby – Aye, Supv. Perry – Aye, Supv. Stacy – Aye, and Supv. Tomesh – Aye. Aye 5, Nay 0

Ed Bohn’s   Supv. Tomesh moved TO RECOMMEND APPROVALTO AMEND Request to Amend CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2006-38 PROVIDED ALL CONDITIONS Conditional Use GIVEN COUNTY BY THE EAU CLAIRE ARE MET.  The motion was
Permit:   seconded by Supv. Perry. Aye 5, Nay 0

No Parking Area- Admin. Peterson stated that he met with John Staszcuk, Eau Claire Parks
Arndt Lane: & Forest Director, and Tom Walther, Eau Claire Highway Commissioner, and reported they were still in the process working on the no parking zone.  Admin. Peterson would like to wait to take action on this until the Town receives request in writing.

Rescinding  Supv. Losby moved TO RESCIND THE PRIOR MOTION ON THE
Approval: PEDESTRIAN/BIKE TRAIL LOCATION INVOLVING JOANNE LANE AND EAST SHORE DRIVE.  The motion was seconded by Supv. Tomesh.  The roll call vote was as follows:  Chrm. Hanson – Aye, Supv. Losby – Aye, Supv. Perry – Aye, Supv. Stacy – Aye, and Supv. Tomesh – Aye.   Aye 5, Nay 0

Pedestrian/Bike Supv. Perry moved TO APPROVE THE LOCATION OF THE ON-
Trail Discussion  STREET PEDESTRIAN/BIKE TRAIL AS PROPOSED BY ALTOONA
And Action: OUTDOORS FOR JOANNE LANE AND EAST SHORE DRIVE.  The motion was seconded By Supv. Losby.
  Aye 5, Nay 0

Update on City/ Chairman Hanson reported that the lawsuit with the City of Eau Claire
Town Lawsuit: has been filed.  The Town has partnered with the City on the Ambulance Contract; however, working together still has its challenges.

E.C. County Todd Andrews, Eau Claire County Planning and Development, reviewed
Wind Energy the wind energy ordinance. Supv. Perry moved TO APPROVE THE System Ordinance:  REQUEST OF EAU CLAIRE COUNTY FOR A NEW ORDINANCE ON
WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS.  The motion was seconded by Supv. Tomesh.  Aye 5, Nay 0

Clerk/Treasurer’s Supv. Tomesh presented a draft of the Clerk/Treasurer job description, a
Position Update: wage comparison report, and a report comparing the employee benefits for an elected vs. an appointed position.  Supv. Tomesh, Supv. Stacy, and Clerk/Treasurer Henning compiled this information as requested by the Board.  Supv. Tomesh asked the Board to review the draft and let them know of any questions or recommendations at the next meeting.

Clerk/Treasurer’s None.
Report:
 
Checks: Supv. Perry moved TO APPROVE CHECKS #17856 THROUGH #17909 TOTALING $33,247.47.  The motion was seconded by Supv. Tomesh.      Aye 5, Nay 0

Licenses:  No licenses requested.

Administrator’s       Admr. Peterson testified before the State Senate Committee on Assembly
Report: Bill 423 (extraterritorial plat approval on basis of land use).
 
 Admr. Peterson attended a storm water management forum where a State grant for public education on storm water management was discussed.

 The Town has received a few complaints from residents about mailboxes being popped off during snow removal, which cannot be avoided due to heavy ice buildup.  The Town has also received many complaints about residents’ yards being peeled and sprinklers being hit within the Town’s right-of-way of 66 feet.

 Administrator’s Eight parking tickets were issued.  One vehicle was towed.  One accident
Report cont. was responded to.
  
 The Town has been notified that the former Unity Health Club has been annexed to the City of Eau Claire.

Chairman’s Report: Chrm. Hanson would like to see a packet of information provided to the Board prior to the Board Meetings. 

 He requested that revisions to the Municipal Code that are being considered at the next Board Meeting be sent to the Board for review prior to the meeting.

Supervisor’s Report: None.

Plan Commission:  Supv. Tomesh stated the next meeting would be in May.

Citizen’s Input: No citizen’s input.

Future Zoning   None.
Requests:

Items for Next None.
Meeting’s Agenda:  

Adjournment: Supv. Losby moved TO ADJOURN.  The motion was seconded by
Supv. Tomesh.  The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.       Aye 5, Nay 0

THE BOARD’S NEXT MEETING WILL BE THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2008, AT THE TOWN MUNICIPAL BUILDING,
5750 OLD TOWN HALL ROAD.

Attendance:   Gary Zanko, Ray Henning, Ed Bohn, Tyson Lang, Vince & Betty Conaway, Clint Heiman, Colleen Weber, Todd Olson, Matt Weber, Bruce Burandt, Mary Holmes, Lorraine Kosakoski, Todd Andrews and others.

Altoona resident Gabrielle Dahl resembles other 8-year-old girls in many ways: she loves to play video games, run around outside, and play sports. Unlike most children her age, however, Gabrielle has spent the past two years battling something no young person should have to face: osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer so rare that it only occurs in every second or third person per million people every year.

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On Tuesday, March 25, the city of Eau Claire approved a public smoking ban that requires the city’s public places, including bars and restaurants, to be smoke-free by summer 2008.

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These days, music star hopefuls will do whatever it takes to attain that infamous, yet hard to describe, “it” factor. Five minutes of watching television shows like FOX’s “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance” proves it. Fortunately, that factor is one thing Altoona resident and rising country star Ellie May Kay no longer needs to worry so much about. Read the rest of this entry »

The Altoona Star welcomes Eau Claire County Department of Natural Resources Conservation Warden and Altoona resident Scott Thiede as our new outdoor columnist, beginning in next week’s April 4 issue. A monthly section devoted to Altoona’s outdoors, the column will broaden the newspaper’s scope by providing readers with regular opportunities to learn about nature and all that accompanies it from a true expert – just in time for spring!

 After graduating from UW-Stevens Point in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Resource Management, Thiede worked as a seasonal Law Enforcement Park Ranger at Polk County’s Interstate State Park. He began his conservation warden career in January 1989, during which he worked with Field Training Officers at Sturgeon Bay, Sheboygan, and Sauk City.

Thiede and his family relocated to Altoona in 2005 when he received the position he now holds.

“My job is very rewarding,” said Thiede. “I enjoy the many opportunities to protect the natural resources of Wisconsin, and to assist the recreational users as they pursue fun and safe outdoor experiences.”

The Altoona Star looks forward to working with Thiede, and hopes that the readers enjoy his contributions.

I’ve read many stories and opinions about the proposed city of Eau Claire smoking ban and there are two words frequently misused that must be addressed.

First is the use of the word “public” in reference to private businesses. Simply because a business allows the public to purchase goods or services does not make the premises of that business a “public” place. Any business can refuse sale or service to any member of the public for any reason other than those covered by law (race, gender, creed, etc.). We’ve all seen the “we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone” signs. So stop calling bars “public” places, for they are not.

Second is the use of the word “right” in reference to the ability to breathe “fresh air” inside a private (see above) establishment. Citizens have no “right” under any founding document or legislative act to patronize any particular establishment. So stop using the word “right” in this case. To do so erodes the greatness of those actual rights granted to us by our creator and outlined in our Constitution. What gall to equate “listening to a band in a smoke-free environment” to the freedom of speech!

I am not now, nor have I ever been a smoker. As I am also not a drinker, I do not frequent establishments where smoking is allowed. I go out of my way to eat at places without a smoke-filled bar on the premises. My brother smokes and it is likely to kill him. I loathe smoke and smoking at all levels. But I love freedom more.

The right to private property is as foundational to the American way of life as free speech, religion, assembly and arms. Without private property all other freedoms are at the mercy of the whim of government. We must realize that freedom needs to be either wholly accepted or it will be incrementally lost. You cannot simply choose those freedoms you find acceptable from day to day; to do so is to accept something less than freedom. In America, we must take the bad with the good, the racist with the crusader, the pornographer with the saint, and ultimately we will count on the goodness of our people that those freedoms, which benefit our society, will continue to far out weigh those that don’t.

-Brian Westrate, Town of Washington

To the citizens of Altoona,

As a busy wife and mother of three children, with a string of volunteer projects and list of activities, why do I think it is important to run for mayor of Altoona at this time?

We have great schools, a safe community, and wonderful places to play in the outdoors. People who live here are proud of our small-town atmosphere and the natural resources found in our city. Of the many people that I have heard from during my three years on council, almost every one of them is here because they think it is a beautiful community.

I know we need to develop River Prairie. I voted for the agreement with CottageRidge and fully support what they originally proposed. It follows the planning completed by earlier councils and provides the dollars needed to pay the TIF district bills and build up reserves.

I see absolutely no reason to sell the northwest quadrant at this time.

I think the original agreement with CottageRidge Group satisfies our short-term needs. The new proposal being discussed in closed session may very well be decided by the time you read this. I highly doubt that selling it as quickly as possible will make your taxes go down.

Both developers we are working with are new partnerships. I think they have good ideas and strong ethics. It is the city council and mayor’s job to make sure that it meets all of our goals. The current proposal for the northwest quadrant is not mixed use and does not inspire me to spend time there with my family. It is a shopping mall.

It is very likely that a new proposal will be accepted before the next mayor takes office. I will work to make sure that we bring in higher-paying jobs and something to draw people to the area. I do not want hurried development that results in empty buildings, no inviting places for the community to gather, and a lack of emphasis on the river corridor. We only have one opportunity to do this right. 

-Colleen Weber, city of Altoona mayoral candidate

With a population of 7,300 people and an operating budget of $1.9 million a year, it is no wonder the Town of Washington board stays busy throughout the year.

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Altoona resident Sean Szydel is not afraid to admit his lack of athletic skills. “I knew at a very young age (that) I was not athletic,” he said. Six summers with the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP), however, allowed Szydel to participate in sports he might otherwise never have joined.

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For the first time in 40 years, an Altoona High School alumnus will be playing professional football. On Saturday, 2002 graduate John Tackmann will start his first game at linebacker for the Mahoning Valley Thunder of af2, the developmental circuit of the Arena Football League.

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