Town budget earns approval

The Sheboygan Falls Town Board put its stamp of approval on the 2010 town budget, during its final meeting of 2009 Tuesday, Dec. 7, at the Sheboygan Falls Town Hall.

The budget was passed after the board engaged in a discussion about annual dues paid to the town fire department.

Supervisor Cliff Otte questioned why a fire-dues payment from Alliant Energy was not included in the fire department’s operating budget.

Supervisor Skip Theobald said the payment, covers costs associated with fire inspections and fireprevention programs, has never been included in the operating budget of the town’s fire department.

“It has not been done that way in the past, that’s why the payment was not included in this year’s fire budget,” Theobald said. “We could’ve included it in the operating budget, but we thought what we had done before was fine.”

Town Clerk-Treasurer Jenny Meyer said the payment is split evenly between the town of Sheboygan Falls Fire Department and the Johnsonville Fire Department.

“Last year Alliant paid a total of $4,800 for fire dues,” she said. “The town department and Johnsonville department each received $2,400.”

After a thorough discussion, Town Chairman Steve Bauer recommended amending the 2010 town budget to include the fire-dues payment over and above the fire department’s projected operating budget.

“I think it is best to amend the budget now, before it is passed, rather than fix it later when we receive the payment,” Bauer said.

The board approved the 2010 town budget, including the fire dues amendment, by a 3-1 vote. Otte cast the lone vote against the motion.

“I am voting against this, because I believe the payment should have been included in the fire department’s original operating budget,” he said.

The 2010 budget includes a 0-percent tax increase and a total tax 2009 tax levy of $143,238.19, payable in 2010.

The 2010 budget includes total expenses of $727,454.13 for general government ($97,587.79), public safety ($151,298.75), public works ($213,120.04), capital outlay ($149,800) and debt service ($115,647.55).

The total town revenue is projected to be $668,289.33, which includes general tax levy ($143,238.19), other taxes ($9,344.70), intergovernmental revenues ($385,347.94), licenses and permits ($18,904), public charges for services ($85,000), intergovernmental charges ($25,345,50) and miscellaneous ($1,209).

The board also approved the 2010 highway budget of $259,800.

To balance the budget, $59,164,80 will be added to the total revenue out of the town’s general fund.

In other business, the board adopted the 2009 Smart Growth Plan Ordinance and amended the Plan Commission Ordinance to include per diems and to allow changes to per diems through a Town Board Resolution.

The board also approved the appointment of poll workers for 2010 town elections, as well as a Joint Powers Agreement with Sheboygan County.

The Joint Powers Agreement gives the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department law-enforcement jurisdiction in the township, which includes use of the county’s 911 emergency service.

Bauer said a mailbox located within the right of way of a town road at N6295 Kapur Drive has been taken down.

Jim Hulbert of the Sheboygan County Planning Department spoke to the board about a Sheboygan River dredging project.

Hulbert noted that the river has been targeted has a U.S. SuperFund cleanup site, due to the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which make fish dangerous to eat in large quantities.

“PCBs in the river can be toxic to humans,” Hulbert said. “That is why there are many restrictions on eating fish caught in the river.”

He described the current search for a disposal site for sediment deposits from a river-dredging project.

“A dredging project is currently taking place in the upper reaches of the river,” he said. “Sediments from this dredging must be disposed of at a dewatered site.

“The contractors for the project are seeking a site to dispose of this sediment,” he said. “A landowner in the town of Sheboygan Falls has offered land as a disposal site. If the town approves this, I think we could negotiate a heft host fee, as well as a monthly lease arrangement.”

Hulbert, who said the PCB-laden sediment is not dangerous on land, offered to oversee and monitor the disposal plan, upon approval from the Town Board.

“This could be difficult, because Tecumseh, which is required to fund the cleanup, has hired a dredging contractor, which is now solely responsible for the project,” he said. “This complicates things, because the dredging contractor being paid, but it is in no hurry to do the work.”

Meyer said she has received a complaint that the detention pond in the Pigeon Creek subdivision is failing near a resident’s property.

Although the resident was not in attendance at the meeting, Bauer said he would take a look at the pond to see if it needs to be fixed.

Dave Hinze of Hinze and Wage appeared to discuss the renewal of a contract to serve as the town’s engineering firm.

“Our contract with the town ended last year,” Hinze said. “We have gone through some structural and personnel changes, which have slowed the contract renewal process.

“We have a proposal ready to go, with a few changes and updates,” he said.

Bauer said after the town’s law firm looks over the contract, it will be scheduled for approval at a future Town Board meeting.

During a discussion of roads, Bauer expressed his concern with conditions along Woodland Road, Highland Road and County O.

“Something needs to be done about the conditions on Woodland Road and Highland Road,” Bauer said. “There is a lot of breakage on Highland Road, which I think needs to be addressed with an ordinance regarding digging in the right of way of a town road.”

He indicated a hauling-restriction ordinance could limit future problems with broken payment and dirty roads.

“If the town adopted a hauling ordinance, we could require permits and cleanup,” Bauer said. “We could also designate haul roads for those that are not from the township. Generally, we don’t have any trouble with people that live in the town. It is those from out of the township that have been causing the majority of the problems.”

The next Sheboygan Falls Town Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 4, at 7:30 p.m., at the Sheboygan Falls Town Hall.