April 20, 2021 Town Board Meeting Minutes

TOWN OF BELL

BOARD MEETING

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

following the Annual Meeting

COMMUNITY CENTER

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:14 p.m.  Board members present were Roger Lindgren,

James Kaseno, Andrew Sauter Sargent, Allen Hahn, Jackie Eid, MaryBeth Tillmans and Janice Olson.

-Board Meeting Minutes-

Board Meeting -A. Hahn made a motion to approve the minutes and J. Eid 2nd the

motion.  Unanimous. Approved.

-Treasurer’s Report –J. Eid made a motion to approve the report and J. Kaseno 2nd

the motion.   Vote (4-1) Yes- R. Lindgren, A. Sauter Sargent J. Eid & J.  Kaseno.  No- Allen

Hahn.

 

Board Comments

  • Eid -At last Thursday Bayfield Co. Zoning meeting, Rob Schierman from the Zoning Dept. stated that they were not getting correspondence from the Town of Bell. He said a certified letter was sent out, but that the proof of delivery was not received and the Town Board Recommendation for their meeting was not received.  The letter was received and signed for. Copies were immediately distributed to town officers. The post office never delivered the confirmation to the county.  The Town of Bell board recommendation was not sent out because the town meeting was not held yet.  A copy will be sent out after tonight’s meeting. J. Eid will talk with Bayfield Co. Zoning.
  • Hahn – Update on Conditional Use Permit in Town of Clover – Water Bottling
  • Lindgren – Thanked everyone for coming.

 

Correspondence-Reviewed

Committee Reports-Reviewed

.Fire Dept. – The fire department had two calls.  One was an EMS assist and the other was for a

tree fire.  The SSAA report was distributed with Committee reports.

.Airport – There will be a fly in in July.  It is being worked on to make the airport public.  Some

modifications are necessary for this.  The Ledin’s have donated land to help make this

possible.

.Green Shed – They have been busy achieving and working on displays. It will be open in June.

.Parks & Lands – They have repaired the break wall walkway with rock. Pit toilets at Siskiwit

Lake are still on their wish list. They are discussing solutions for flooding at the Swenson

Pavilion.

.Community Center – The people currently using the Learning Center for a sewing project

will be using it for two weeks in the beginning of May.

Public Comment Period – None

 

Old Business

  1. Review Gravel Bids – Allen and Jackie

At the last board meeting, the competence of a business that the town has not

done business with, was not evaluated.  The bid was awarded to Trusty Trucking/Shore

Sand and Gravel based on their known service and product.  The bids received were

$16.72 Trusty Trucking/South Shore Sand & Gravel and $15.45 Sipsas for

2500 cu. yds. A price difference of $3700.00.  After the meeting, with further thought, R.

Lindgren sent a note the next day to Trusty Trucking informing them of and took

responsibility for failure to properly evaluate the low bidder and informed them we’d be

revaluating.  R. Lindgren asked A. Hahn and J. Eid to check references for Sipsas. A. Hahn

did check references and did not find any reason to disqualify them.  R. Lindgren read a

letter received from Trusty Trucking/South Shore Sand & Gravel. A. Hahn made a motion

to rescind the acceptance of the Trusty Trucking/South Shore gravel bid and A. Sauter

Sargent 2nd the motion.  Vote(1-4) Yes: Allen Hahn  No: R. Lindgren, J. Kaseno, A. Sauter

Sargent and J. Eid.  R. Lindgren will check with legal to confirm that a motion for a bid

award can be rescinded.

  1. Transient Vendor Ordinance – Update – Allen Hahn
  2. Hahn is working with the City of Washburn.  The ordinance will be a stand alone

ordinance for Commercial Use of Public Land.

  1. BIG, RBF Award, HAP Grant Award -update – Roger Lindgren

There has not yet been a funding meeting for the BIG, which is federal grant.  The RBF,

which is a state DNR grant has been funded.  The agreements for the HAP are being

looked at.  Proposals are being received from engineering firms to see who we want to

work with and look at budgets.

  1. Seasonal Road Restrictions – Matt Hipsher

The road restrictions will be off as of Monday.  State, County and local roads will be open.

Timber harvesters have been asked to temporarily stay off of Siskiwit Lake road.

  1. Storm Water Drainage System Evaluation – R. Lindgren

The USACE will not being doing a study.  A committee will be formed to determine the

most serious drainage issues and potential solutions. The issues will be prioritized and

then a solution will be chosen to be engineered and completed.

 

New Business

  1. Appointment of 2 Harbor Commissioners

Lindgren appointed Kristine Anderson for position 3 and J. Sauter Sargent for position

A. Hahn made a motion to accept appointment of K. Anderson for position 3 and

Sauter Sargent 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision.  Approved. A. Hahn made a

motion to appoint Jennifer Sauter Sargent for position 4 and J. Kaseno 2nd the motion.

Sauter Sargent abstained from voting. Unanimous decision. Approved.

Sauter Sargent made a motion to give an Emeriti’s Award to Mark Halvorson and David

Tillmans, for work done as previous harbor commissioners. J. Kaseno 2nd the motion.

Unanimous decision. Approved.

2)   Issue of civility – Lewd – Vulgar – inappropriate signs – postings

The town cannot do anything about personal signs on people’s property.  Citizens need

to do what they can. R. Lindgren thanked those who are trying to create a civil society.

3) Computer Training Opportunity – Critique of Class – possible continuation with excel and

other programs.

Comments were solicited.  A possible training session will be setup for Excel.

4) Planning Commission issues TBD by Jackie.

  • Hove, LaPointe, Martinez: Conditional Use, short term rental

The Planning Commission recommended unanimously to recommend approval of the

permit.  A. Hahn made a motion to recommend approval of the permit to the county

and J. Kaseno 2nd the motion.  Unanimous decision.  Approved.

  • Danielson Class A Special Use

They would like to construct a home. The property is currently zoned Ag-1.

The Planning Commission recommended unanimously to recommend approval of the

permit.  A. Hahn made a motion to recommend approval of the permit to the county

and J. Kaseno 2nd the motion.  Unanimous decision.  Approved.

  • Parking Tag and Tow

The ordinance was reviewed.  A. Hahn made a motion to approve the ordinance and

Sauter Sargent 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision.  Approved.

5) Application for a special permit to host a 2 or 3 day gathering at Corny beach

Weiss is requesting a special permit for a paddlers gathering, where participants

would camp and use the beach/park area for 2.5 days in mid September 2021.  The

area would be used as hub for activities & classes.  The permit will be reviewed and

discussed with the Parks & Lands committee.

6) Lost Creek Beach – was surveyed – now what

The adjacent land owner has created a walkway on it as an access to beach.  They have

stored items on the property.  The Parks & Lands committee will look at ideas for the

property and discuss current issues.

7) Request for bids to replace light fixtures in CC Great Room

The lights are being changed over to LED. R. Lindgren will get proposals to replace them

two at a time.

8) Obsolete Ordinance – A JOINT ACTION EMERGENCY GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE BETWEEN

THE COUNTY OF BAYFIELD AND MUNICIPALITY OF BELL

This ordinance is not part of Bayfield County’s plan. J. Kaseno will look into the

procedure to rescind the ordinance.

9) Earth Day community clean -up

Paul Ehlers has coordinated a cleanup throughout town.

10)  Monthly review of Community Center COVID restrictions

The town is following the county’s guidelines.  There has been no change to them.

 

Bills were paid.  At 9:10 p.m., A. Sauter Sargent made a motion to adjourn the meeting and J. Kaseno 2nd the motion.  Approved.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

MaryBeth Tillmans – Clerk