The May 10, 2023 Town of Oulu regular board meeting was called to order by Jonathan Hamilton, Chair at 6:45 p.m. at the Town Hall.
Roll Call: Members present: Jon Hamilton, Ed Burhans, Adam Mattson, Diana Reijo, clerk, and Marjorie Lahti, treasurer. Town employee: Mike Davidson
Approval of Agenda: Motion by Burhans, second by Mattson to approve the agenda as printed and posted. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Consent Agenda:
Approve general fund vouchers 13917-13939 and 13893-13894, ACH 579-582
Minutes of the April 12, 2023 regular board meeting
Motion by Mattson, second by Burhans to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Treasurer’s Report: – General/ARPA – $176,518.39 Tax Account $111,562.68
Community Groups:
Melissa Mieritz – Oulu Park – water turned on and rested and porta-potty cleaned and raised up
Dale Nelson, Sr. – grading roads
Al Makela – Road crossing at the junction of Oulu Rock Road and West Colby Road – brush the intersection
Jonathan Nelson – Unacceptable behavior of town chair, bad roads, and where’s the grader?
Plan Commission Report:
Conditional Use Permit application:
Two parcels totaling 34.28 acres in the E1/2 NW1/4 SW1/4 and the W1/2 NW1/4 SW1/4
Section 21; 3145 Strand Road
To operate and construct Cement & Concrete Business consisting of a commercial garage (30’ x 40’) with a lean-to (10’ x 40’) on parcels zoned Forestry 1
Owner: Abraham Ray
Findings:
The parcels total 34.28 acres
The parcels are zoned Forestry 1
The proposed commercial use is consistent with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan which support home-based businesses.
The proposed use is consistent the Forestry 1 zoning district which permits this commercial use with a Conditional Use Permit.
Plan Commission Recommendation:
Approve the Conditional Use Permit application with the following conditions as supported by the Findings.
Conditions:
The Town may periodically review the Special Use Permit to assure compliance with the permit conditions and the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
The Plan Commission continued working on updating the Comprehensive Plan.
The Preferred Future Land Use Map was reviewed, updated and approved. This was sent to the
Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NWRPC) who is facilitating the Comprehensive Plan update for Bayfield County.
The initial proposal for updating the Comprehensive Plan was to contract with the NWRPC for a cost of $7,608.75. To save the Town and citizens money the Plan Commission decided to do much of updating work, which we have completed. Now we need professional services to help us complete an updated draft Comprehensive Plan. We requested and have received a work proposal from the NWRPC for the assistance needed for the completion and adoption of an updated. The cost is $2,490.00.
Plan Commission Recommendation:
Approve the contract with NWRPC services for updating the Comprehensive Plan.
New Business:
Abraham Ray’s Conditional Use Request:
Motion by Mattson, second by Burhans to approve Abe Ray’s conditional use request to operate and construct a Cement & Concrete Business consisting of a commercial garage (30’ x 40’) with a lean-to (10’ x 40’) on parcels zoned Forestry 1 district as based on the Plan Commission’s recommendation with the following conditions as supported by the Findings:
No change to the location of the garage and lean-to is allowed without review by the Town Plan Commission and approval of the Town Board.
The Town may periodically review the Special Use Permit to assure compliance with the permit conditions and the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Gravel bids:
Two gravel bids were received: Olson Bros. - $16.97/cy or $10.44cy if loaded in quarry using town truck; and Trusty Trucking - $16.86/cy. Motion by Mattson, second by Burhans to award the bid to Trusty Trucking at $16.86/cy and also provide residents the option to purchase gravel at the contract price. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Culvert Replace on Erkkila Road:
Two bids were received: Olson Bros - $10,498 and Sipsas Excavating & Trucking - $14,485. Motion by Burhans, second by Mattson to accept Olson Bros. bid for $10,498. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Board appointments:
Chair Hamilton made the following appointments:
Highway Supervisor – Jonathan Hamilton
Cemetery – Edward Burhans
Landfill and Recycling – Edward Burhans
Park – Adam Mattson
Plan Commission (Board representative) – Adam Mattson
NWRPC Contract for Updating Comprehensive Plan:
Motion by Mattson, second by Burhans to approve the contract with Northwest Regional Planning Commission for updating the comprehensive plan for $2,490. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Emergency Disaster Declaration:
Emergency Proclamation Resolution 2023-01: Motion by Burhans, second by Mattson to adopt the following Emergency Proclamation resolution:
WHEREAS, a disaster, namely heavy rains commencing on April 11, 2023 through April 30, 2023 has struck the Town of Oulu in Bayfield County and caused major damage to public roads throughout the town; and
WHEREAS, because of such emergency conditions, the Town Board is unable to meet with promptness:
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to State Statute 323.11 and 323.14 (4)(b) of the Wisconsin State Statutes it is necessary and expedient for the health, safety, welfare and good order to proclaim that emergency conditions exist.
Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Wisconsin Disaster Fund:
Motion by Mattson, second by Burhans to apply for the Wisconsin Disaster Funding to recoup costs
incurred from the spring flooding. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Boulevard, Oulu Rock Road, Airport Road (south & north of B):
Tabled.
Road/Park/Cemetery Report:
Cemetery – volunteers will help clean the cemetery
Park – the seasonal start-up procedure for the well has been completed and filed and the porta-potty’s have been delivered
Muskeg Road has been repaired and is now open for traffic
Hautala Road repair is done
Oulu Pioneer Road is stable
Graded some roads
Filled and patched the potholes on blacktop roads
Front-end Loader is out of commission and needs repairs
Set Dates for Next Meeting/s:
May 17, 2023 – Tentative Special Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
June 14, 2023 - Regular Board meeting, 6:45 p.m.
Adjournment:
Motion by Mattson to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Diana Reijo, Clerk