TOWN OF BELL BOARD MEETING

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Following the Town Caucus

at the Community Center

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:08 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 Dec. 12th  Regular Board

Meeting and closed session minutes. G. Anderson 2^nd the motion.  Unanimous decision.

Approved.

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

motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.

 

Board Comments –

1. Ehlers- Bayfield Co. Zoning will not allow a shelter over the Liberty by the water front.

It is in the road right of way and a variance is required. The town could abandon 110’

of that section of Siskiwit Bay Parkway or apply for a variance.  This will be an item for

next month’s agenda.

Correspondence– None

Committee Reports-Reviewed

Sanitary District –They did get a discharge permit.  However, their engineer is questioning

if it is accepted, that it would reduce plans for the future.  They will be talking with the

DNR. They are moving forward with the plans and design of the new pond.

Public Comments

1. Becker – The Coffee Cart at the Community Center has started. It is at 9am to 11am.

It will run until the end of March.  Everyone is invited.

 

Old Business

1. Review proposals for new pickup truck, discussion, and possible decision

                 The following proposal were received:

                    Benna Ford – $45,999.00

E. made a motion to accept the proposal for the pickup from Benna Ford for $45,999.00

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

2. Review proposals for new dump truck, discussion, and possible decision

The following proposals were received:

Allstate Peterbilt – $131,182.96

Boyer Truck Western Star – $135,065.00

Interstate Truck – $135,135.00

Kenworth- $148,164.50

Kaseno made a motion to accept the proposal for the dump truck from Allstate Peterbilt

for $131,182.96 and G. Anderson 2^nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.

 

The following proposals for the equipment on the Chassy Cab were:

Monroe Equipment – $97,279.00

Universal Truck & Equipment – $102,999.00

Eid made a motion to accept the proposal from Monroe Equipment for $97,279.00

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

3. Town financial audit- discussion and possible decision

Ehlers was unable to find anyone in Parks Falls or Philips. He will continue to look.

4.  Short Term Rental Application: discussion and possible decision

The Short Term Rental application has been completed.  It is being determined how to

send it out.

5.  Use of a CD savings account- discussion and possible decision

Anderson had researched CD rates. It was discussed putting Funds of $114,000 for

future equipment or projects in CDs.  P. Ehlers made a motion to put $57,000.00 in a

5.5% CD for six months with BMO and to put $57,000.00 in a 5.5% CD for twelve months

with BMO. G. Anderson 2^nd the motion.  Unanimous decision. Approved.

 

New Business

1. Town website reconstruction, discission and possible decision

Discussion was held about reconstructing a new website.  P. Ehlers, along with

John Anderson will work on designing a new site.

2. RCPI partnership agreement, discussion and possible decision

Resilience Coastal Projects Initiative(RCPI). In 2022 the Great Lake and St. Lawrence Cities

Initiative received funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund to engage

communities along the Great Lakes and St. Lawence River in an effort called the Resilience Coastal Projects Initiative(RCPI). The

RCPI convenes  shoreline mayors, city staff, and regional partners to identify coastal sites that require sustainable and resilient

solutions against coastal hazards like high water, flooding, and erosion. RCPI works directly with impacted municipalities to provide

them with action-oriented deliverables that build capacity and position coastal resiliency projects to advance to the next phase of

development. Deliverables include implementation frameworks and follow-up support to enable communities to secure funding for

continued project development. LimnoTech, with SmithGroup and ISG, is under contract with the Cities Initiative to assist in the

advancement of projects and technical support for potential mitigation solutions.

An invitation was sent to the Town of Bell to attend a virtual meeting with Piece VanValkenburg from RCPI to hear about the

program and discuss potential projects. M.Tillmans and Will. Tillmans met with P. VanValkenburg. Potential projects discussed

were the reroute of the Siskiwit River, flooding at the Swenson pavilion and Superior

Street culvert.  An agreement, regarding the participation between RCPI and the Town of Bell is required. G. Anderson made a

motion to approve signing the agreement between RCPI and the Town of Bell and to continue moving forward with them. J. Eid 2^nd

the motion. Unanimous decision.  The next meeting with P. VanValkenburg and their engineers is set for Thurs., Jan. 10^th 3pm-

4pm.  G. Anderson, P. Ehlers, W. Tillmans and M. Tillmans will attend.

3. New boiler for the community center, discussion and decision

The boiler for the community center is failing.  A new one is needed now, especially with the upcoming weather predictions for this

weekend. The cost of a new boiler is $7000.00. G. Anderson made a motion to approve the immediate purchase of a new boiler for

$7000.00, due to emergency measures and J. Kaseno 2^nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.

4.  2024 election inspectors, approval

Tillmans provided a list of election inspectors for the Town of Bell. J. Eid made a

motion to the list of election inspectors for the Town of Bell and G. Anderson 2^nd the

motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.

5. Letter of support for Bayfield County Housing Authority funding application, discussion, and decision

Jennifer Toribio Warren from Bayfield Co Housing and Kelly Wesland, from Bayfield Co. Extension spoke about the funding for the

Bayfield Co. Housing Authority. They are  applying for a Thrive Program grant to help with development and technical assistance.

Kaseno made a motion to accept the Town of Bell Resolution of Support for Bayfield County Housing Authority Funding Application

and P. Ehlers 2^nd the motion.  Unaimous decision. Approved.

Eid made a motion at 8:02pm to adjourn the meeting and G. Anderson 2^nd the motion. Unanimous decision.

Approved.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

MaryBeth Tillmans – Clerk