City Council

MINUTES JOINT MEETING of the PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE and TOWN BOARD Town of St. Joseph - St. Croix County, Hudson WI January 15, 2025 Meeting ID: 850 0968 8218 Passcode: 412256 CALL TO ORDER: By Janet Lindstrom at 4:01 pm STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE: (yes) ROLL CALL: Janet Lindstrom, Pat Tuma, Nina Boonacker, Kyle Lindstrom, Tammie Kass, Mark Vanasse, Board Representative Dan Gavin ADOPTION OF AGENDA: N. Boonacker 1st, D. Gavin 2nd passed. APPROVAL OF PRIOR MEETING MINUTES: Nov. 20, 2024 by, P. Tuma 1st, J. Lindstrom 2nd, passed. No Meeting was held in December, 2024. Dates of Upcoming Meetings & Gatherings Finance Committee Tuesday Feb. 27 6 PM Fire Department Monday Feb. ? 6 PM Parks, Trails and Recreation Wednesday Mar. 19 6 PM Planning Commission Wednesday Mar. 5 6:30 PM Public Works Tuesday Mar. 4 6 PM Technology Tuesday Feb. 25 6 PM Town Board Thursday Mar. 13 6 PM 4-H Candidate Forum Thursday Mar. 20 6:30 PM PUBLIC COMMENT A motion was made to move discussion concerning the Preserve up to item number 1. There is an issue in the township where old tires have been discarded near east E and Rolling Hills Trail. If you have any information about the tires being dumped, please notify the town board and try to get a license plate number. MONTHLY STATUS REPORTS: 1. Committee Meeting updates: A design error was discovered in the sprinkler system during the building of the new town hall. The concern will delay the opening of the building and cost additional revenue. The Town Board is addressing the issue. 2. Ball Field Reports Sandpipers Girls Fast Pitch may not be using the town ball field this summer. D. Gavin spoke with the Hudson Boosters Organization and they may be interested in using the field. They would need the orange fence removed. 3. Review of Budget Several items were removed to balance the 2025 budget. Budget was finalized by the Town Board. The 2024 Parks, Trails and Recreation Budget came in at approximately $10,000 under what was projected. BUSINESS: 1. Review and Discussion of ToSJ park properties, site inspections: a. Town Hall Park and Prairie Area: The current restroom building will be kept in place for the start of the summer. Further discussions are needed to decide what should be done with the old restrooms. Removal vs keeping building for storage. There are opportunities for volunteers to remove buckthorn in the spring out in the Prairie area. b. Nature Preserve The Town Board approved the placement of 2 park signs on Valley View Road to identify the entrance to the Nature Preserve. Residents attended the meeting expressed a concern. Residents included: Bill Murphy, Ed Strom, Chad Kocian, Mike Marty, Chris Felling, Mel Felling and Bob Steinmetz. They had heard, through a flyer placed in their mailboxes, that the Town was planning bike trails on Valley View Road and through the Nature Preserve and nearby areas. The town has no plans to add bike trails to Valley View Road and was unsure of where this information had originated. Changes in the trail locations and 40 “no trespassing” signs at the preserve have helped keep hunters off private property. c. Perch Lake Launch Area and Parking Lot: The rock stairway at the boat launch should be checked in the spring for loose stones and the stones should be secured. d. Thelen Cemetery The trap rock pathway project has been completed. A big thank you to N. Boonacker for spearheading the project and volunteers who spread the trap rock. e. Hwy 35 Rest Area: Area was mowed and cleared of brush in the fall by K. Lindstrom. f. Bike/ Pedestrian Trails and Facilities: Tap grant was not funded for 2026. Discussion on how to proceed for the 2028 grant funding cycle should be discussed. The old bike trail map has been updated. 2. Fall Festival: P. Tuma and J. Lindstrom will set up a meeting with Fire Department Staff (Zac and Anthony) to review plans for the 2025 Fall Festival. The meeting will discuss operation hours, new signage, advertising and vendor location/guidelines. 3. Review Annual Work Plan: Please give all added work plan items to J. Lindstrom. 4. Grant Information: Grants have been identified through the DNR for Buckthorn removal. 5. Next Regular Meeting: March 19, 2024 Motion to adjourn: N. Boonacker, passed. Minutes respectfully submitted by Pat Tuma