Village of Holmen
Board Proceedings
August 12, 2004
President Chapman called the Holmen Village Board meeting to
order at 7:00 PM on August 12, 2004 at the Holmen Village
Hall. All members were present. Motion by Proctor, seconded by Seitz to approve the minutes of the July 8, 2004 meeting. Carried unanimously.
Finance and
Personnel Committee – Motion by Forde, seconded by Olson to approve the
August claims in the amount of $335,776.34. Carried unanimously. Motion by Forde, seconded by Proctor to approve an operator’s
license for Jodi Olson. Carried unanimously. Motion by Forde, seconded by Hauser to approve an operator’s
license for Matthew Morrison. Carried unanimously.
Park, Recreation
and Library Committee – Motion by Hauser, seconded by Anderson
to approve the removal of trees in the Halfway
Creek Park
and the planting of replacement trees by the Holmen American Legion. Carried unanimously. Motion by Hauser,
seconded by Seitz to approve the Park and Recreation Department fall and winter
program brochure. Carried unanimously. Hauser
reported that the Committee met with Tom Reid of Turf Maintenance, the lawn
care contractor, to discuss concerns related to the effectiveness of the
current lawn care program to date. The meeting was very informative and will
assist in future lawn care and budget planning.
Law Enforcement
Committee –Anderson
provided a brief update of the Joint Municipal Court activity. The next meeting
of the Joint Municipal Court Committee will be Thursday, August 19th
at 10 AM.
Public Works
Committee – Motion by Olson, seconded by Proctor to approve the
purchase of a generator from FABCO Power Systems for $24,160. The generator is
needed for backup support of the Village’s 11 lift stations and will be paid
for from the Sewer Fund. Carried unanimously. Motion
by Olson, seconded by Anderson to
approve the granting of a driveway easement to property owners adjacent to
Village owned parcel #14-66-2 on Mill Street.
The easement is restricted to the driveway area beginning at Mill
Street and extending north 200 feet. Carried unanimously. Olson commended Viner
Construction and the Village Public Works department on their work related to
the Sand Lake Road project.
There were few complaints and the project was completed on schedule. Olson also
wished to recognize the dedication of the Village staff that worked late into
the evening on Friday, August 6th to repair a force main leak on Greeno Rd.
Fire Board Report
– Forde reported that a Workers Compensation Insurance dividend was received
due to there being no claim incidents during the last audit period. Forde
reported that 5 new applicants had been approved for reserve service. Forde
announced that the next meeting would be held August 19th at 6:30 PM.
Village of Holmen
Board Proceedings
August 12, 2004
Page 2
Public Hearing
At 7:20 PM
President Chapman called to order the public hearing on the proposed rezoning
of property at 515 N. Main St.
from R-1 Single-Family Residential with an existing conditional use for a
church to B-1 Downtown Business District. Father McHugh addressed the Committee
stating that St. Elizabeth Catholic Church has the best interest of the
community at heart. Any potential buyers, church or business, would need to be
pastorally appropriate. He also noted that rezoning the property would provide
an opportunity to expand the municipality tax base and that the property was in
appropriate proximity to other various downtown businesses. Jerome Bjorge, representing the St. Elizabeth’s Church building
committee, spoke in support of the rezoning. He stated that granting the
rezoning request would facilitate development at the new church building site
as well as benefit the Village tax base, business district and Village growth.
Mr. and Mrs. Trygve Mathison
spoke in opposition to the rezoning, stating that while the church has been a
good neighbor, a business at that location would be inappropriate for a
residential neighborhood and in a school zone. Mrs. Reinhold Kuehn and Spencer
Peters also spoke in opposition to the rezoning, voicing similar opinions that
the church has been a wonderful neighbor but a business would not be welcome in
the residential/school area. The public hearing was closed at 7:29 PM. President
Chapman updated the Board on the discussion and recommendation of the Planning
Commission. Motion by Forde, seconded by Anderson to deny
the request for rezoning of property at 515 N. Main Street from R-1 Single-Family Residential with an existing conditional
use for a church to B-1 Downtown Business District. Motion carried with
Proctor voting no, and Hauser abstaining.
At 7:35 PM President Chapman called to order the public
hearing on the proposed conditional use permit for church facilities on parcel
# 14-1-9 zoned A- Agricultural District. Father McHugh addressed the Committee
stating that the new church facilities will be a positive addition to the
Holmen community and the parish wishes to retain the current Agricultural
District zoning as it does not impose the steeple height restrictions that
apply in the Residential Districts. Myron Nelson expressed a concern that the church provide public roadways across their property to
prevent his adjacent property from becoming land locked. He also expressed
concern that a lack of roadways could devalue his property. President Chapman
informed Mr. Nelson that this is an issue that would be addressed at the
Planning Commission level during a development review. Mr. Nelson would be
welcome to attend these public meetings. Mr. Christopher Wucherer
also asked that he be informed of any future public meetings on issues related
to the development of the new church facility property. The public hearing was
closed at 7:40 PM. President Chapman
updated the Board on the discussion and recommendation of the Planning
Commission. Motion by Proctor, seconded by Anderson
to approve the request for a conditional use permit for church facilities on
parcel 14-1-9 zoned A –
Agricultural District subject to the 6 conditions as presented. Carried unanimously.
Village of Holmen
Board Proceedings
August 12, 2004
Page 3
At 7:43 PM
President Chapman called to order the public hearing on the proposed rezoning
of annexed parcel # 8-846-2 from R-1 Single-Family Residential to R-5
Multiple-Family Residential District. Mr. Mike Pietrek
addressed the Committee stating that should the annexation be approved, he and
his associate Mr. Robert Thorud plan to develop
approximately 20 duplex lots on this parcel. Mr. Dean Burrows stated his
objection to the multi-family units and expressed a preference for single
family dwellings on the parcel. President Chapman updated the Board on the
discussion and recommendation of the Planning Commission. Chapman also advised
the Board that the request does fall within the guidelines of the Village’s
Long Range Plan. Motion by Forde, seconded by Seitz to approve the request for
rezoning of parcel # 8-846-2 from
R-1 Single-Family Residential to R-5 Multiple-Family
Residential District subject to the Board approval of the annexation request. Carried unanimously.
Planning Commission
– Motion by Proctor, seconded by Anderson
to approve the certified survey map for Lots 1 – 4 of the Art Harebo property parcels # 14-127-1 and
#14-128-0. Carried
unanimously. Motion by Proctor, seconded by Seitz to approve
the Thorud/Pietrek annexation petition for parcel #
8-846-2. Carried unanimously.
La Crosse
County
Supervisor - Chuck Spiker reported to the Board on La Crosse County
Board activity. La Crosse County
received a very positive 2003 audit report.
Joint Shared Ride
Committee – Trustee Seitz updated the Board on the monthly Shared-Ride
activity. The Committee has recommended
that Rich Running continue to run Shared-Ride services for the upcoming year.
Other –
President Chapman announced that Village Treasurer Karen Spreuer
had been recognized for 25 years of service to the Village. The Board commended
her for her 25 years of dedicated service. President Chapman announced the
appointment of Mark Seitz to the Transit Coordinating Committee. President
Chapman announced that reference was made to Holmen,
WI in a TIME Magazine article related to
presidential candidate John Kerry’s recent visit to the area. Chapman also
announced that Village Attorney Alan Peterson had negotiated an out of court
settlement with individuals involved in an ATV park damage incident this past
spring. President Chapman announced that the Remington Hill IV Addition park
fees had been received and anticipated that plans for completion of the Remington
Hills Park
would proceed in 2005. Chapman also expressed admiration for the continued
revitalization of Main Street
in Holmen. President Chapman reminded everyone present that the Holmen
Community Diversity Day will be held August 15th from Noon to 4 PM
at Deerwood Park
in Holmen. Trustee Hauser stated that the future development of the Remington
Hills Park
would be included in the parks development and maintenance plan as developed by
the Park and Recreation Committee with input from the Village Board. Trustee
Seitz thanked President Chapman for appointing him to the Transit Coordinating
Committee and offering him the opportunity to serve.
Motion by Proctor, seconded by Anderson to
adjourn at 8:20 PM. Carried
unanimously.
Catherine Schmit
Village Administrator/Clerk