TOWN OF KICKAPOO

REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Kickapoo Town Hall, Readstown, Wisconsin

February 7, 2006

Ken Anderson opened the meeting at 7:03 p.m. Keith Larson, Burdette Nelson, Don Clements, Karene Uhe, Doreen O’Donnell, Assessor Jay Walsh, Robert and Linda Miller, Chuck Stelzner, Bruce Hansen and Jim Holmberg were in attendance.

 

Proof of proper notice was shown.

 

The minutes of January 3, 2006 stand as read.

 

Ken Anderson read the names of those who have contributed to the newsletter. $95 has been contributed so far.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Current checkbook balance including tax collections is $336,787. Tax deposits in are $210,820; checkbook balance w/out collections is $126,000. January receipts: Transportation Aid, $23,500; Taxes Retained from December collection, $44,075.

 

The checkbook balance at the end of 2005 w/out tax deposits was $35,450. Treasurer likes to keep $20,000 fund balance in checkbook; should she deposit $15,000 in the savings account? Karene was instructed to put the new machinery account of $22,500 in a 6-month CD, currently at 3.6 percent, and to negotiate for the12-month rate of 4.1 percent. Burdette offered to go in with Karene to see about the CD.

 

Tax collections- All is in to the County Treasurer. It balanced out to the penny at $781,957.24 for the Town of Kickapoo. Real estate taxes collected to date is $450,000; postponed is $194,000; delinquent is $66,000. Delinquent personal property taxes- Kelly, Friday, Salmon. Treasurer will send each a second notice. Karene said that next year the tax instructions will be on a separate sheet from the newsletter, as people did not seem to have read the newsletter for tax instructions.

 

Karene submitted her expenses for the tax year of $147.00, to be paid next disbursements.

 

Nelson motioned to approve Accounts Payable of $9,696.65. Clements seconded. Amount includes road salt and payroll.

 

Tax concerns: Resident Chuck Stelzner has the third highest taxes in the township- he put in a new home, driveway, well and septic. He looked at other properties; in comparing, taxes do not seem to be fair and equitable. He asked how taxes are computed in the township- is it fair across the board? He offered to put in time to study this problem. Jay Walsh said that currently, older homes are appreciating faster than newer homes in the township. Properties could be reassessed to make it more equitable. Homes are at 70% fair market value assessment. Walsh currently assesses a property when it experiences a change (improvement). He requested to meet with Stelzner to go over his assessment “with a fine-toothed comb.” Stelzner said that some towns have sections reassessed on a rotation over a 10-year period; after 10 years, the entire township has then been reassessed. He requested that the board consider the fact that there are properties that have extremely low assessments. Walsh said that it would cost about $15,000 to reassess the township.

 

Comprehensive Plan Committee report- none. The lawyer has not gotten back with her cost to condense the plan.

 

Jim Holmberg passed out administrative rules for Comprehensive Planning Procedures. According to his research, (1) the board only has to submit a plan to receive the final 25% payment and (2) a copy of the plan must be sent to the various local governments that would be affected.

 

Dog Catching Policy: the question is what to do with a dog if the owner has not been found or that hasn’t been adopted out after the statutory seven days? It is unlawful to shoot a dog. The sheriff to doing research on this subject and has not gotten back to the township. Subject tabled.

 

Spring Cleanup Day- April 8, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Gravel and sealcoat bids should go in to the paper by next Tuesday. 5,000 yards of gravel; 2 miles of sealcoat. The due date for bids will be March 3.

 

Fire number increase from $45 to $55 to cover cost of sign, post, measuring and installing and sales tax.

 

Clerk’s Report: Nelson motioned to approve the purchase of a Parliamentary Procedure book; Clements seconded. Board viewed Farmland Preservation relinquishment and UDC reports; Nelson, Anderson and Larson will attend the Board of Review training on March 17; clerk submitted a reimbursement request for gasoline, having attended an Open Records/Open Meetings seminar in Green Bay in January.

 

No new Business.

 

Next meeting is March 7, 2006, at 7 p.m.

 

Anderson motioned to adjourn at 8:56 p.m. Nelson seconded.

Respectfully submitted by

Doreen O’Donnell, Clerk