TOWN OF BELL BOARD MEETING

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Following the  Special Town Meeting -Budget

at the Community Center

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:13 p.m.  Board members present were Matt Lazorik, Jackie Eid, James Kaseno, Gordon Anderson , Paul Ehlers, MaryBeth Tillmans and Janice Olson.

-Board Meeting Minutes-

J.Eid made a motion to approve the Oct 10, 2023 Regular Board Meeting minutes and G.

Anderson 2nd the motion.  Unanimous decision. Approved.

J.Eid made a motion to approve the Budget Meeting minutes and P. Ehlers 2^nd the motion.

Unanimous decision. Approved.

-Treasurer’s Report –J. Eid made a motion to approve the reports and G. Anderson 2^nd the

motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.

 

Board Comments –

1. Eid – An email was received. She reminded everyone that public input is taken as a

courtesy.

Correspondence– Shannon Behzer- Letter was read with comments on the Short Term

Rental Ordinance.

Committee Reports-Reviewed

Sanitary District –The new sanitary pond is in the planning stages. They have budgeted

$200,000 for project engineering. With this amount budgeted, they have a $138,000

deficit. The DNR will loan them money for the project. They said that they will

forgive some of the debt.

Public Comments

Shawn Mcelhatton- Working on senior housing in Cornucopia.  He will be asking the

Bayfield County Housing Authority to work with the Cornucopia Housing

Committee.

Eve Erickson-Recommended approval of the Short Term Rental Ordinance

Susan Keachie-Questions the consecutive days in the Short Term Rental Ordinance.

Judy Kerr- Provided Census data.

Lacy Lueth- Concerns about the consecutive days in the Short Term Rental Ordinance.

Jayne Norton – Concerns about the consecutive days in the Short Term Rental

Ordinance.

Phil Moye-Supports the Short Term Rental documents as submitted.

John Anderson – Supports the Short Term Rental Ordinance.

Kathleen Russell-Approves adoption of ordinance.

 

Old Business

1. Town Assessor vacancy- discussion and possible decision

M. Lazorik is looking into finding someone different. One person has sent a quote

and there are two more coming.

 

2. Town financial audit- discussion and possible decision

Mark Ehlers reached out to three firms in Duluth and received no response.

He said that a self audit could be done.  He could recommend procedures.

This is something that Oulu does. A committee could be set up with volunteers

from the public. M. Ehlers will continue to look for quotes from more areas.

3. Short Term Rental Ordinance #2023-01- discussion and possible decision

The reply from the town attorney was reviewed.  She said the language was

acceptable. A few changes that were suggested were restrictions on campers

and RVs, and more uniform quiet hours. P. Ehlers made a motion to accept the

ordinance as written with the exceptions of the attorney’s comments. G. Anderson

2^nd the motion.  J. Kaseno abstained from voting.  Unanimous decision Approved.

 

New Business

1. Picnic license for the Cornucopia fire department turkey dinner- discussion and possible decision

P. Ehlers made a motion to approve the Picnic license for the Cornucopia fire

turkey dinner on Sun., Nov. 19^th and J. Kaseno 2^nd the motion. Unanimous decision.

Approved.

2. Adoption of the 2024 Budget- discussion and decision

J. Eid made a motion to adopt the 2024 budget and J. Kaseno 2^nd the motion.

Unanimous decision. Approved.

3. Advertise for proposals for a new pickup truck and plow- discussion and decision

J. Eid made a motion to advertise for a new pickup truck and plow. G. Anderson

2^nd the motion.  Unanimous decision. Approved.

4. Advertise for proposals for a new dump truck and plow- discussion and decision

G. Anderson made a motion to advertise for a new dump truck and plow. J. Eid

2^nd the motion.  Unanimous decision. Approved.

5. McCowan: Class A Special Use Short Term Rental- discussion and possible decision

The Planning Commission recommended approval of the McCowan permit.

J. Eid made a motion to recommend approval of the permit and P. Ehlers 2^nd

the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.

6. Marsh: Conditional Use- discussion and possible decision

The permit is to make a room above their garage.  It will not be used as

a short term rental.  Unanimous decision. M. Lazorik abstained from voting.

Approved.

 

Public Comment

Susan Keachie – Concerns about the Short Term Rental Ordinance

Bruce Ehlers – Questions about how the town is going to enforce the Short Term

Rental Ordinance.

Eve Erickson – Question about budget.

At 8:41 p.m., J. Eid made a motion to adjourn the meeting and G. Anderson 2nd the motion.  Approved.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

MaryBeth Tillmans – Clerk