Meeting Minutes

February 13, 2023 – MONTHLY TOWN BOARD MEETING FOR TOWN OF FRANKLIN

The February monthly meeting for the Town of Franklin was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Dave Wesely followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Officers present:   Dave Wesely, Jim Wacek, Katie Duckart, Sandy Smidle and Todd DeGrave.

Katie Duckart made a motion to approve the agenda as printed, Jim Wacek seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

Katie Duckart made a motion to accept the minutes as printed from the January Town Board meeting with the addition of putting the ditch cutting out for bid. Jim Wacek seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

Treasurer Sandy Smidle presented the Treasurer’s Report, which shows a balance of $947,779.40  Dave Wesely made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report,  Katie Duckart seconded the motion, the motion carried.

Clerk Todd DeGrave explained the situation with paying the Town propane bill personally to get the discount but the bill was paid in full by accident.  Todd DeGrave provide the Chairman with the bill and cancelled check showing the full amount paid.

Zoning Administrator Suzi Sevcik reported 2 permits issued last month. There was discussion about a conditional use permit for wedding events in a barn.  Is that AG tourism?  Ag Tourism is not defined very well in the ordinance but would be a permitted use and not a conditional use.  Parallel 44 was mentioned as a example of having Ag tourism also.  Tom Konop also said Parallel 44 might need to be changed to B1.  Tom Konop said we should send the issue to the planning committee for review and recommendation to the Board..

Suzi Sevcik also reported 3 of the mining permits have been paid and she will provide the treasurer with the checks.

County Supervisor Scott Brown reported that he is on the highway committee and they were given presentations on doing a remodel of the current building and also building a new building near the old dump.  They recommended more meetings before making the decision.  Scott also questions whether or not we even need it.

Scott Brown also mentioned that the jail project is out for bid and they are expecting final numbers by the end of summer.

First Responder Suzi Sevcik reported calls last month.  3 FEMR members attended an EMS conference in Green Bay.  They chose the Friday event because it most relevant to the town of Franklin.  Farm safety was the morning session and burns and toddler training was in the afternoon.  FEMR member will be working in the food stand for a farm toy funder raiser at the Heritage Farm.  Suzi Sevcik will be giving a demonstration to 4H students called stopping the bleed.

Dave Wesely made a motion to approve the land division and rezone for the Kcrma property but mentioned the survey should have been done after receiving permission so that the non-standard lines could have been normalized to Town standards.  Jim Wacek seconded the motion, motion carried.

Jim Wacek made a motion to approve the new Fire Expense Recovery Ordinance. (23023-1)  Katie Duckart seconded the motion, motion carried.

Dave Wesely made a motion to approve the new Right of Way Ordinance. (23023-2)  Katie Duckart seconded the motion, motion carried.

Katie Duckart made a motion to approve the wording change to the code of ordinance covering solar installations with the addition “and/or”  for residence or ancillary buildings.  Jim Wacek seconded the motion, motion carried.

Changes were discussed for building permit fees which have not changed since anybody present at the meeting could remember.  Suzi Sevcik contacted surrounding towns to compare fees.

Zoning administrator Suzi Sevcik recommended the following:

$1,000-50,000  – $50
$50,001 – 100,000  – $100
$100,001 and up   – $1 per thousand
New property sign – $75

Driveway permit $25  except any new residence gets one for free.

Jim Wacek made a motion to approve the new fee structure.  Katie Duckart seconded the motion, motion carried.

Dave Wesely made a motion to approve appointing Suzi Sevcik as an election worker for the February 21st primary election.  Katie Duckart seconded the motion, motion carried.

Town Orders # 18 to # 40 were discussed, approved and paid.

Our next monthly Town Board meeting will March 13, 2023. at the Franklin Town Hall.

There being no further discussion, the February Town Board meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Todd DeGrave Town Clerk