Falls Town Board considers road repairs

The condition of the town’s roads has been a recurring topic of discussion among members of the Sheboygan Falls Town Board in recent years.

During a regular monthly meeting Monday, Nov. 2, the Town Board reviewed the possibilities for future road-repair projects.

Town Chairman Steve Bauer informed the board the town has an opportunity to apply for road-repair financial assistance through the TRIP Fund.

“We need to pick out a road or roads that are in need of reconstruction or overlay,” Bauer said. “There is $14,000 available that we must designate to a particular project by spring.”

Bauer suggested continuing the current Meadowlark Road repair project, from the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport to County J.

“We could keep going with the Meadowlark project and finish it all the way to Playbird Road,” Bauer said. “Sumac, Rio, Highland, Range Line, Northstar and Woodland are also possibilities.”

Scott Theobald of C&S Construction, the town’s road maintenance service, recommended Playbird Road for the project.

“I think it would be beneficial to consider Playbird, because it gets a lot of traffic,” Theobald said. “It needs work from Range Line Road to Highway 32.”

Bauer suggested installing weight-limit signs on Range Line Road to cut down on the volume of heavyload traffic.

“We shouldn’t try to fix Range Line, until the heavy traffic slows down,” Bauer said. “If we fix the road without finding a way to reduce the heavy traffic, the same thing will happen there again.

“Putting up the weight-limit signs should help,” he said.

Bauer said the town must to apply for TRIP Fund assistance by Nov. 17.

In other business, the board reviewed legal terms of a liability agreement between the Johnsonville Fire Department and the township, in regard to the planned installation of a fire hydrant on town land by Northeast Asphalt.

Representatives from the Johnsonville Fire Department said permits must be obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, before work can begin on the project. An unnamed business is in line to fund the hydrant.

Bauer said legal wording must be reviewed and approved, before a final agreement is reached.

Supervisor Skip Theobald said the Knox Box system is now in place at the town fire department.

Theobald also indicated the town fire department is in line for a payment from the state for fire prevention and inspection.

In addition, Theobald noted Sheboygan County has not been reimbursing the department for fire calls to vehicles on county highways.

Brent Multer requested a variance for a mailbox on his property at N6295 Kapur Drive. Multer said the mailbox is located within the right of way for the town road.

Bauer cited a state statute in denying Multer’s variance request.

“The restriction for encroaching on the town’s right-of-way is defined by state statute,” Bauer said. “Because it is a state law, we can’t grant a variance.

“We need to follow the rules of the statute,” he said.

The board granted an operator’s license to Andrew Schroeter for Laack’s Hall.

In reference to an operator-license request, which was denied at the October meeting, City Clerk- Treasurer Jenny Meyer said a person requesting an operator’s license must designate a specific establishment for which it will be used.

“At the last meeting, the person did not specify where they would be using the license,” Meyer said. “That is required by town ordinance.”

During the supervisor’s report portion of the meeting, Meyer said the board must establish a per-diem for the newly appointed Plan Commission.

Meyer said she has been fielding inquiries from local firms about taking over the engineering duties for the township.

“The town’s engineering contract has expired and we have had some interest from a few places,” Meyer said. “This is something the board might want to consider at the December meeting.”

She also noted the local 920 telephone area code will be changing in the next several years

Bauer expressed interest in pursuing the certification of the town’s recently replaced fire truck. “It would be a good idea to have the old fire truck certified, so we can sell it or use it for the PGA golf tournament next summer,” Bauer said. “The airport needs one pumper truck to stay on the grounds, during the week of the PGA.”

County Supervisor Peggy Feider spoke to the board about her recent votes in favor of a user fee for county recreational areas and against a fee increase for the record-keeping of private sewer systems.

Feider voiced her displeasure with a 17-16 board vote to increase the county’s annual private sewer system registration fee from $7.50 to $15.

Town resident Wayne Sargent spoke against both fee hikes.

“I am against both of these fees,” Saragent said. “With the recreation fee, I am wondering about enforcement.

“I’m also not sure who is paying and who isn’t paying a fee for using the county recreational facilities,” he said. “I think the fee will discourage people from riding and walking on the trails. You could see more people riding and walking on the county roads instead.

“The septic fee is just too high,” he said. “I can’t see why this is being done or where this money is going. It doesn’t make sense.”

The next Sheboygan Falls Town Board meeting is scheduled Monday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m., at the Sheboygan Falls Town Hall.