Town of Bayview

October 8, 2024

Meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. by Chair.

Roll Call:  Chair Don Jenicek, present; Supervisor Bill Bodin, present; Supervisor Mike Garnich, present; Clerk Kim Suske, present; Treasurer Kelly Warren, present.

Others in attendance:  Paul Norris, Butch Warren, Paul Johnson, Mike Yonan.

Town Board Meeting Minutes from September 10, 2024:  Motion made by Bill Bodin to approve with one spelling correction; seconded by Mike Garnich.  Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report by Kelly Warren:  Checking $65,548.75; Equipment $3400.64; Room Tax $9701.94; Contingency Fund $20,087.15; and Tax Levy Savings $14,208.64.

Citizen’s Concerns and Comments: 

Paul Johnson stated that the Bayview History Committee (BHC) would like to put solar panels at the depot so that they don’t have to continue to use a generator during presentations.  They need electricity for the model railroad, lights, and telegraph.  He described the approximate size of the panels, that they would be located near a boggy area to the east of the depot, and that there will need to be an inverter and batteries.  The Board would like the BHC to check with Bayfield County Zoning to make sure there are no restrictions due to the lakeshore and boggy area/wetlands and would like more specific information about siting and trenching.  Concerns about insurance were also discussed.

Paul Norris and Kim Suske spoke out against the redesignation of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as Apostle Islands National Park, with Paul Norris questioning whether the region has adequate emergency services for the expected increase in tourism that a National Park would bring.  Bill Bodin has not had his questions answered by Tom Tiffany.  Don Jenicek is not comfortable making a Town resolution without citizen’s input—hold off until we get more input from state representatives and local citizens.  Paul Norris will write something up for Clerk to put on our website soliciting public input.

Kjarvick Road grading:  Terry Peterson is questioning the easement and where the road right of way is and is disputing the Town.  Bayview became a town in 1913 and a map from 1917 shows Kjarvick Road labeled as Town Road.  There may be more information in the safe but we can’t open it as it was broken into.  May also need to check with Register of Deeds.  WI Towns Association and the State of WI may also have additional information that could help.  If there is no documentation it is assumed to be a 4-rod road.  Motion made by Mike Garnich to approve the Town Chair to spend up to $1000 to hire someone to open the safe; seconded by Bill Bodin.  Motion carried.

Short-term rental policy and permit fees—Discussion and possible action:  Mike Garnich made the discussed revisions to the existing ordinance.  Bill Bodin made a motion to post ordinance for public feedback so we can review and possibly approve at the next regular Board meeting; seconded by Mike Garnich.  Motion carried.

Town Hall Cleaning:  Clerk will post on the website that we have an open position for cleaning.  The position would be for approximately 10 hours per year at a pay rate of $25 per hour.

HFNP:  Per John Carlson, the Appellate Court got through the briefs. 

2025 Town Budget—Discussion:  Discussion was held on Fire/EMS fees.  We are under a 5-year contract with the City of Washburn which expires in 2025.  The Town’s share of the new fire truck will be $217,242 and ideas of how to pay our portion were discussed including taking out a loan that would be of a shorter term than what the City of Washburn is taking out (20 years) so that we would pay less interest.  If we take out a loan, we can raise our levy to help.  Clerk was asked to get levy information.  Additionally, we need to budget about $1200 for the Treasurer for a new computer.

Work on five-year road plan:  Tabled until we get farther along on the budget.

Roads Report:  Maki Road will be black topped on Friday.  Nearly done with Whiting Road.  Catching beaver on the Little Sioux.  Finished Friendly Valley Road—seeded and matted.  Logging on Fire Tower in the next week or two.  We need rain—grading isn’t lasting.

The Board may elect to go into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 19.85 (1)(c) for considering employment, compensation, or performance evaluation of road crew:  Tabled.

Board Comments:  

Business of the quarter:  The Board would like to honor Ross Marine as business of the quarter.

Mike Garnich stated that there are a couple of properties in the Town with excessive junked vehicles and as the County has not been enforcing then the Town can enforce.  Properties with excessive junked vehicles need a permit issued by the Town if the junked vehicles are within 500 ft of the centerline of the road.

We need to get more efficient with mowing and the Board asked the roads crew if a new, articulated seat would help this.  This would cost about $1500.  Mike Yonan will look into this.  The cab might be too small.

Singer Road sign needs to get fixed.

Payment of Bills:  Motion made by Mike Garnich to approve payment of Town bills from September 11, 2024, to October 8, 2024 in the amount of $63,216.15; seconded by Bill Bodin.  Motion carried.

Correspondence:  None.

There will be a Town Board meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29 for the purpose of working on the budget.

Next Town of Bayview Regular Board meeting is set for November 12, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Moton to adjourn was made by Don Jenicek, seconded by Bill Bodin.  Meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.

Submitted by

Kim Suske, Clerk

Vol. 16 page 80                                                                                                                  Approved 11/12/2024