City Council

Minutes Town of Vermont Board Meeting June 9, 2025 Vermont Town Hall 4017 County Rd JJ, Black Earth WI 53515 ​ 7:00 P.M. ​ To Join the meeting by phone: +1 347-896-0991 PIN: 481 262 925# ​ In attendance, Kirk Lynch Alex McKenzie Doug Meier Nick Balster Polly Kawalek 1.​ Call to order and certification of notice posting Kirk called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm, Katie certified that the meeting notice and the application for the renewal of a liquor license were posted according to statute 2.​ Approval of agenda Polly made a motion to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0 3.​ Approval of May minutes Nick made a motion to approve the May minutes. Motion carried 5-0 4.​ Citizens’ Input none 5.​ Treasurer’s report As of the end of May, we had a total of $637,925.17 between all 4 accounts. There are two large checks included in tonight's bills that will cut our cash flow really short; $189,584.64 to Scott Construction and $98,470 to Western Culvert. I will plan to transfer funds from the LGIP general account to cover. The $296,879.55 showing as Accounts Payable is the amount of bills that were received in May but didn’t actually get paid until this month. 6.​ Clerk’s report Bills of note this month included the culvert for the Bohn Road Project and the overlay for Moe Road. We are now able to submit the final paperwork for the LRIP reimbursement for Moe Road 7.​ Payment of bills Doug made a motion to pay the bills. Motion carried 5-0 8.​ Patrolman Report, Mt. Horeb Fire Department, Black Earth Fire District and District 1 EMS Reports Moe Road shouldering is done, the first round of mowing is complete and this week Jack will start patching. For Mount Horeb fire, Tim was elected the new secretary of the board. July 23 is the district open house at 7 pm. There was no update from Black Earth Fire as they did not meet. Kirk reached out to the new village president in Mazo about the potential merger. 9.​ Bohn Road Bridge project update The bridge looks great and the asphalt will be poured on the 12th. It was only closed for 5 or 6 days. 10.​ Six Spring LLC, Farm Road Application, Rainbow Farm Road Most of this project is in Blue Mounds. But we do regulate field roads and they want access from Rainbow Farm Road. We have an easement agreement on file and the  field road in question is 20 feet long. Doug Meier made a motion to approve the field Road. Motion carried 5-0. 11.​ Darrin & Janelle Zimmerman, Driveway and building site, Lot 2 across from 4017 County Hwy JJ Nick made a motion to approve the driveway application for Lot 2. Motion carried 5-0. The driveway is less than 50 feet. There is a shared driveway agreement on file, that was done when the lots were parceled out. Kirk made a motion to approve the building envelope on Lot 2. Motion carried 5-0 12.​Steve Frame, Driveway and building site, Lot 2 near 3625 Ryan Road This is also a previously zoned lot. The coordinates have been updated from what is currently in the shared drive. It has been moved by about 25 feet. They will be updated in the file. The driveway is in some places less than 75 feet from the creek, but the town can approve the driveway permit, and Hans Hilbert from the county does say that shoreland zoning will allow that. The homesite is zoned RM-16 and the rezone was done a few years ago. Doug made a motion to approve the driveway. Motion carried 5-0 Nick made a motion to approve the homesite. Motion carried 5-0. 13.​ Cynthia & Todd Leece, Rezone Application, 9517 Howery Road We had previously approved the rezone, homesite and driveway, but the Leeces requested a variance from the 66 foot rule and the county denied that. They can still use the same homesite and driveway, but they had to have the parcel rezoned to create 66 feet of road frontage. Polly made a motion to approve the rezone. Motion carried 5-0. Katie will send a town board action report to the county. July 22 is the county meeting. 14.​Consideration and possible renewal of Liquor license, Tyrol Basin Nick made a motion to approve the liquor license for Tyrol Basin. Motion carried 5-0. 15.​Consideration and possible approval of Thirsty Troll Brew Fest event at Tyrol Basin, September 2025 Kirk made a motion to approve the Thirsty Troll Brew Fest and the Midwest Mental Health Festival. Motion carried 5-0. 16.​Consideration and possible approval of Midwest Mental Health Festival at Tyrol Basin, September 2025 See above  17.​Consideration of a proposal by Vermont Lutheran church for a cost-sharing in the purchase of a backup generator for the Gathering Place, which also serves as the town backup polling place and emergency shelter, in the 2026 budget year. The ask is for 22,000, which would be half the cost. The town doesn’t feel they can commit to anything for 2026. The board discussed the value to the community in the event of a prolonged power outage due to an ice storm or tornado. The board did state its support for the project and regret that funds are too limited to allow a commitment at this time. 18.​Budget amendment for conservation and development Kirk made a motion to approve the budget amendment moving $2,500 from Conservation and Development to cover the additional costs in Road Maintenance for gravel and patch. Motion carried 5-0. 19.​Roads committee report No update 20.​Town Picnic planning The picnic will be a Brat cookout with a football theme. We will put the Packers game on the TV in the Gathering place and Polly is looking into some possible food donations, the town will provide sides. 21.​Agenda items for July Road Committee Firework permit for NYE 22.​Adjournment Doug made a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:12 The Town Board’s agenda includes a period for public comments. That period, which is not mandated by state law, is offered to permit orderly and civil discussion of Town public business and matters. During the remainder of the Town Board meeting, persons other than Board members and Town officers are permitted to speak only if recognized by the Chair. Public comment may address any matter pertaining to Town, but must not be repetitive, involve personal attacks, profanity, or disruptive comments. The Chair may rule any person out of order and terminate their comment period. By adhering to these principles, we aim to ensure productive and fair discussions while respecting the rights of all to be heard. We appreciate active engagement and encourage participation in the governance of our wonderful Town of Vermont.