Town of York
Regular Monthly Board Meeting
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. Present were Chairman Dan Reeson, 1st Supervisor Dan Truttmann, 2nd Supervisor Steve Hermanson, Treasurer Ann Carlson, and Clerk Nancy Anderson. Citizens present were Bill Kuenzi, Dave Green, Dan Ziehli, Bob Marks, Dick and Marilyn Jaeger, and new patrolman, Wade Jones. Verification of proper notice was given. Steve Hermanson move to approve the August minutes, Dan Truttmann 2nd. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report– Ann gave her monthly report noting that we received our August tax settlement of $62,450.98 and matching highway and bridge aids of $4000.00.
Bills– Nancy presented a list of bills to be paid. Dan Reeson move to approve the bills, Dan Truttmann 2nd the motion. Motion carried.
Patrolman’s report– Wade Jones had driven the roads and lanes with Wayne Bue to familiarize himself with the areas he will be responsible for. He mowed the town hall grounds. He also did some roadside mowing, but will wait awhile before doing a final mowing for the season.
Plan Commission– Bob Marks Land Parcel Division- After some discussion, Dan Reeson move to approve the Bob Marks land division, Steve Hermanson 2nd the motion. Motion carried.
Public Comments– Nancy had spoken with Mike Doyle concerning new voting equipment. Originally the Town was to budget $8000 – $10,000 for a new machine. Now Mike is looking into a leasing agreement for the equipment which will require the Town to set aside $2000 per year for the next five or six years. There will be more information coming.
Old Business
- Land Division Development Transfer Ordinance- After our public hearing on September 2, 2014, Plan Commission chairman Curt Moen decided it would be best if the Town Board waited a few months before approving the ordinance. Several items discussed the night of the hearing will have to be addressed by the Plan Commission before ordinance adoption.
New Business
- Bill Kuenzi-Green’s Prairie Cemetery– Bill gave his annual report, complete with a financial report, minutes of their annual meeting, a plan for resetting and repair of a number of tombstones, photographs showing removal of lilies, replanted areas, pictures before and after stone cleaning, and an attractive location marker for the infant Erickson tombstone made by the Postville Blacksmith Shop. The GPCA would like permission to place self addressed envelopes in the Green Box to receive donations for cemetery care. Steve Hermanson move to allow placing self addressed donation envelopes in the Green Box, Dan Truttmann 2nd the motion. Motion carried. Envelopes will be mailed to the Town Clerk. The annual report is attached to the end of this report.
- County Board Petition for drainage structure work– The Board reviewed a document petitioning the County Board of Green County for matching funds of $2477.94 for a total of $4955.88. Dan Reeson move to petition the County Board of Green County for the sum of $2477.94 to be matched by the Town of York for drainage structure work on the Hefty Creek Bridge (Poplar Grove Road), Steve Hermanson 2nd. Motion carried.
- Maintenance on Recycling Shed– The interior of the shed needs to be emptied and vacuumed thoroughly. In addition, the exterior of the building should be painted to preserve it for years to come. Dan Truttmann will coordinate this project.
- Bookcase donation by Dick and Marilyn Jaeger– The Jaegers graciously offered a glass enclosed bookcase for books and articles to be displayed and preserved. The old piano will be removed from the building to make room for the new bookcase. Thank you Dick and Marilyn.
- Newsletter Articles– Nancy reminded the Board that back in January of this year they had agreed to publish a newsletter at the end of October. Articles for this newsletter are due on October 14th.
Driveway Refund– Don and Bonnie Friedrich- Dan Truttmann move to approve a driveway refund for Don and Bonnie Friedrich in the amount of $1000.00, Dan Reeson 2nd the motion. Motion carried.
Adjournment– Dan Truttmann move to adjourn the meeting, Steve Hermanson 2nd the motion. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Anderson, Clerk
GREENS PRAIRIE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE TOWN OF YORK BOARD
September 9, 2014
I will present copies of our 2014 annual GPCA meeting minutes, financial statement, report with pictures from Dave Green about GPC, make some additional comments and make two requests tonight.
We thank the Town Board for budgeting $300 for cemetery stone resetting in 2014. Pechmann Memorials of Madison still plans to do that work later this fall. We will not be billed for their services until the job is complete.
Cemetery burn notes-John Oshsner used the string trimmer around the stones ahead of time. We continue to protect the stones with metal shields and water as we burn.
Tom Mitchell has hand mowed the outside of the fence area along Postville Road.
Prairie seed collectors continue to utilize the tremendous resource found in GPC. If you choose to walk into GPC Prairie use the gate entry to avoid the tick trefoil (sticktites are thick by the stile entry). There are some gorgeous gentians (6) blooming in the middle of the north east section right now.
Dave Green keeps GPC information available for visitors to take in the Green Box to the left of the stile.
Control of the lilies is only possible with herbicide utilized three times in a season spaced a month apart. Even then total control is impossible. The pictures showing the reseeding indicates some weeds have grown. This is typical for the first couple of years following restoration work. Then, with a small amount of hand weeding during those first years the prairie plants will crowd the weeds out later.
We do see some reduction of the unwanted spurge. As that spurge population grows, so does the number of flea beetles. Neither is ever eradicated in total. There is a native prairie spurge that is desirable in GPC.
Surprise: Shook Prairie Cemetery and the Albany Catholic Church cemetery has prairie plant remnants that have survived under the lawn mower blade level of cuttings wherever herbicide was not used. The Albany site is apart from the gravestones and will be allowed to develop instead of being mowed.
Request:
- We would appreciate that the 2015 Town budget include a maintenance contribution. We would suggest that it be $300 or more.
- We are asking permission to place self addressed envelopes in the Green Box to receive donations for Cemetery care. There have been a number of inquiries from visitors how they might make donations to GPC. We would like those donations sent to the Town of York on behalf of GPCA to avoid any untoward accusations of GPCA members. If you approve, what address should we use on the envelopes?
Respectfully submitted,
William E Kuenzi Jr.
President, GPCA