PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE

DECEMBER 8, 2011

Members Present: Dennis Zielski, Dan Randall, LeRoy Kusilek, Diana Smith, Fran Stark
Staff Present:
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.

Minutes:
The minutes from the November 17th meeting where not available and will be approved at the next meeting – January 26, 2012.

Treasure Report:

  • There were not expenditures the past month.  December report is the same as the November report.  Currently, the Park fund is in the red -$2,588.54.  Park CD’s total $45,475.02.   Total in parks accounts is $42,886.48.
  • Dan moved to accept the treasures report seconded by Rick. MC

Public Comments - Non Agenda Related Topics:

Unfinished Business:
Park & Recreation Budget

  • Dennis reported that he attended the last Town Board meeting to discuss the 2012 proposed Park budget.  The Board had many questions pertaining to Anderson Park plan budget items.  In the end the Board moved to accept the budget eliminating any funding for Anderson Park capital improvements.
  • Dennis was instructed by the Board to create a more precise plan and then return to the board in the future.   

Anderson Park

  •  Dennis explained some of the Boards questions/concerns regarding the Anderson Parks Plan.  Board concerns were:  the cost of the Prairie grass/Wild flower seed, difficult to planting and growing prairie grasses, burning with homes so close, cost of burning/permits, and the high maintenance costs?  The Board also elaborated about overall general concerns:   who will maintain all parks once the current committee is gone, that the current park funds will not last forever and where will additional funds for maintenance come from?
  • Dennis reported he talked to Dennis Ortscheid, Plant manager, who is very positive toward prairie grasses, stating; they are environmental friendly, low cost and low maintenance.  They have burned approximately 3-4 times in the 16 year to remove vegetation, but burning is not required.  It’s the best thing they’ve done, would do it again.  They highly recommend prairie grass/ wild flowers.
  • Dennis reported that he talked to the River Falls Fire Chief Scott Nelson about burning.  The Fire Department now charges about $300.00, but has a hard time getting firefighters to volunteer.  He recommended planting without burning?
  • The parks Committee decided to prepare a History and Future Capital Improvements plan for the Town Board and present it at the next meeting.  All park committee members agreed to attend in a show of support  for the Anderson Park Plan.

2012 Park & Recreation monthly meeting schedule

  • Members of the Parks Committee had conflicts with meeting on the four Thursday of each month.  Rick made a motion to move the Parks meeting to the four Wednesday of each month for 2012 calendar year.  Dan seconded. MC

New Business

  • South Valley Park survey was tabled until next meeting.

Leroy/Rick made a motion to adjourn the meeting. MC
Next meeting in scheduled for Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Minutes submitted by Dennis Zielski

 

TOWN OF RIVER FALLS REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Monday, December 19, 2011; River Falls Town Hall

Elected officials and staff members present:  Diana G. Smith, Chair; Siri Smith, LeRoy Kusilek, Tom Sitz, Brad Mogen, Supervisors; Ruth Stern, Clerk; Caroline Hamilton, Treasurer; Jerome Rodewald, Zoning Administrator; Michele DeLong-Reiter, Recycling Administrator

 

The meeting was called to order by Diana Smith.  Tom moved to approve the minutes of the December 5th regular board meeting with an addition that the town caucus would be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall and that none of the Anderson Park improvements had been approved at the December 5th meeting.  Brad seconded.  Motion carried.

Brad moved to approve the December 19th financial report.  There is a money market balance of $173,875.07; CD’s of $110,304.29 and total funds of $284,179.36.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.  Brad moved that the Bike Path and Recycling Center CD’s be continued.  Diana seconded.  Motion carried.  Brad moved that the board direct the collections agency to turn over the collections account of Steven Christianson to the agency’s attorney for further action. 

Communications:  Jerome reported that he had received a petition signed by some town residents stating that they had not been adequately informed that the town board would be issuing a salvage yard license to Raymond Reiter at N7421 Cty. Rd. O.  Jerome will send a letter to those residents that signed the petition outlining the regulations that the town placed on Reiter’s business operation.  Michele reported that Waste Management had signed the contract for solid waste/recycling pick-up at the town recycling center.  The board requested that she contact the Pierce County Recycling Department to determine why the Town of River Falls contact information was not included in the most recent edition of the Pierce County Recycling Guide.  Diana reported that she had signed paperwork with the Pierce County Highway Department to receive $12,856.62 for flood damage reimbursement on town roads and bridges as a result of the August 11, 2010 flood event in Pierce County.  She received another complaint regarding dogs running at N8198 1015th St.  The residents will be asked to attend the next board meeting to discuss the complaints.

Planning Commission Recommendations:   Jerome agreed to develop a letter regarding junk vehicle complaints at N8057 920th St. and noise complaints at N6553 Cty. Hwy. O.

Anderson Park Budget:  Parks & Recreation Committee members, Dennis Zielski, Dan Randall, Rick Cleary and Fran Stark were present to discuss components of the proposed 2012 budget for Anderson Park.  Diana stated that she had talked to the town highway department employees and they felt that the improvements made in the town parks are still at a level where the maintenance on them could be completed by the Highway Department employees if necessary.  Other discussion items included comments from Parks Committee members regarding the level of financial efficiency and volunteerism promoted and provided by the Parks Committee.  Concerns voiced by some board members included that the Anderson subdivision is currently in foreclosure and a prairie planting would require periodic burns in the middle of a subdivision area.  Parks Committee members agreed that the costs of the prairie seeding project in Anderson Park could be scaled back if necessary.  Diana moved that the board approve the Parks and Recreation Committee’s timeline to develop Anderson Park in 2012 and South Ridge Park in 2013.  Brad seconded.  Motion failed with Supervisors Diana Smith and Brad Mogen voting affirmative and Supervisors Siri Smith, Tom Sitz and LeRoy Kusilek voting against the motion.

Fire Call Collections Update:  The town received a letter from the insurance company of Marina Kaisersatt requesting that the board attempt to work out an agreement with the Rural Fire Association to negotiate a total payment of $700.00 on behalf of both drivers involved  in the accident.  Ruth will forward the request on to the Rural Fire Association.

Road De-icing Materials:  Brian has done some research on the equipment and costs involved with utilizing de-icing materials on town roads prior to a snow or ice event.  The City of River Falls is working with the town employees to allow them to utilize their equipment on a trial basis before the town makes any decision on purchasing equipment. 

Siri moved to approve payment of the December 19th listing of bills.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.

LeRoy moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 P.M.  Brad seconded.  Motion carried.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                        Ruth Stern, Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

TOWN OF RIVER FALLS REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Monday, December 5, 2011; River Falls Town Hall

Elected officials & staff present:  Diana G. Smith, Chair; Siri Smith, LeRoy Kusilek, Tom Sitz, Brad Mogen, Supervisors; Ruth Stern, Clerk; Caroline Hamilton, Treasurer; Jerome Rodewald, Zoning Administrator; Michele DeLong-Reiter, Recycling Administrator; Dennis Zielski, Parks & Recreation Committee Chair

The meeting was called to order by Diana Smith.  Tom moved to approve the minutes of the November 21st regular board meeting.  Siri seconded.  Motion carried. 

Brad moved to approve the December 5th treasurer’s report.  There is a money market balance of $177,531.09; CD’s of $100,304.29 and total funds of $287,835.38.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.

Communications:  Jerome reported that he worked with the new assessing firm to transfer the 2010 and 2011 building permit information.  Michele reported on the progress of the contract with Waste Management as well as incidents of illegal dumping in the town.  Ruth provided information on upcoming board training opportunities and a review of 2010/2011 tax levies. 

Approval of 2012 Parks & Recreation Budget:   Dennis Zielski was present to provide information on the proposed 2012 Parks & Recreation Budget.  Board members had questions and concerns regarding the cost and future maintenance needs for a proposed wildflower and prairie grass seeding project at Anderson Park.     Brad suggested that perhaps this type of project could be done in cooperation with UW-River Falls.  Siri moved that the board approve the 2012 Parks & Recreation budget without the Anderson Park projects included.  Tom seconded.  Upon further discussion it was noted that the Parks & Recreation Committee could bring in more information and details on the seeding project to address the concerns raised by board members and that LeRoy Kusilek would talk to David Kusilek to determine a cropland rental rate for the acres involved.  Motion carried. 

Planning Commission Recommendations:  Siri moved that a Certified Survey Map be approved for the Stanley Bergseng Family Trust located in the SW ¼ of SE ¼ of S1/T27N/R18W with notations that the parcel is zoned partially exclusive agriculture and agricultural residential; the parcel is an outlot to be entirely used for agricultural purposes; and that the entire outlot is nonbuildable.  LeRoy seconded.  Motion carried with Supervisor Sitz abstaining from the vote citing a possible conflict of interest since he rents cropland from the Bergseng family. 

Fire Call Collections from Insurance Companies:  No further information or payment received on the Kopp/Kaisersatt fire call bills.  Further discussion will take place at the December 19th meeting.

Reclassify 710th Ave. from Class A to Class B Highway:  Information from the Wisconsin Towns Association states that changing a classification on a highway must be done through an ordinance and requires a public hearing.  This item will be placed on the January 2nd agenda after the proper public hearing notices have taken place.

Winter Road Maintenance Policies:  Updates to the policy will include inserting a revised section on mailboxes as it was worded in the fall town newsletter; changing the snow season parking date from November 15th back to November 1st; and removing a reference that family members would be responsible to pass on road condition information to board members and town employees.   The board would like to have Brian research and present information on road de-icing materials. 

Roadside Maintenance Ordinance: No action was taken and this will be placed on the December 19th agenda. 

Non-metallic Mining Ordinance:  Diana and Jerome will attend a Wisconsin Town’s Association workshop on Frac Sand Mining issues on January 12th.  Upon receiving this information the town will move ahead with a comprehensive review of non-metallic mining regulations. 

Town Caucus:  The 2012 town caucus was scheduled for Wednesday, January 4th at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall.

Tom moved to approve the December 5th listing of bills.  LeRoy seconded.  Motion carried. 

LeRoy moved to adjourn the meeting.  Tom seconded.  Motion carried.

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                           Ruth Stern/Clerk

 

PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

Members Present: Dennis Zielski, Dan Randall, LeRoy Kusilek, Diana Smith, Rick OCleary
Staff Present: Ben Hetzel
Dennis called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.

Minutes:
LeRoy/Rick moved to approve the minutes of the October 27, 2011 meeting with changes to where the Halverson Park sign will be moved to.  MC

Treasure Report:
There was a total of $117.01 spent this month on bridge materials for Rocky Branch making the amount in park fund to be $-2588.54.  Total funds available to the Parks Committee is $42,886.48, with a park fund CD total of $45,475.02
Public Comments - Non Agenda Related Topics:

  • Three eagle projects were discussed: kiosks at Hillwood and Town Hall, landscaping at the Town Hall, and the Switchback Trail at South Ridge Park.  The landscape and trail are already chosen by scouts.

Unfinished Business:
Anderson Park:

  • David Kusilek was met at the park to cut and chop stalks.  In April at early spring David will disk and plant the prairie grass.  When weeds come up it is to be sprayed with round up, then be left to sit for a week.  After a week a brillion seeder is to be used.
    • Diana will check with Stern’s about where they got their seed in order to see if a cheaper price is available on prairie grass seed.  The seed must be figured out by March.

Rocky Branch

  • The bridge was successfully put together on the November 12th workday by placing the ramps on both sides as well as anchoring the bridge. 
    • Rick suggested reusing the pylons that are already there and place them beneath the ramp bases for footings.
  • Schedule a day to put railings on the bridge.  Materials needed include eight 2x6 at 14ft each.

New Business

  • Ben Hetzel agrees to conduct a survey for South Valley Park to assess its overall value.

Overview of budget after revisions from the October 27, 2011 meeting.

The choice was made to switch to fourth Wednesdays of  every month in 2012.

Leroy/Dan made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:45. MC
Meeting adjourned 7:50 pm. Next meeting in scheduled for December 8, 2011
Minutes submitted by Ben Hetzel.

 

 

 

NOTICE OF SPRING ELECTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that at an election to be held in the Town of River Falls on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed.  All terms are for two years beginning on Tuesday, April 10, 2012.    

Office                                                                                                  Incumbent

Town Board Supervisor III                                                                Thomas Sitz

Town Board Supervisor IV                                                                Brad Mogen

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a town caucus for the purpose of nominating candidates to appear on the spring ballot for the above listed offices will be scheduled during the month of January, 2012.  Notice of the scheduled date and location will be published at that time.

Done in the Town of River Falls on November 15, 2011.

Ruth Stern/Town Clerk