Town of Richmond

Board of Supervisors Meeting

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Minutes

Chairman Jeff Karbash called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. Present: Karbash, Supervisors Susan Miller, Dave Overbeek, Carol Behrens, Tom Kraus. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Motion by Kraus, Second by Overbeek to approve the Agenda passed unanimously. Motion by Miller, Second by Overbeek, to approve the Minutes, passed unanimously.

Motion by Behrens, Second by Kraus, to approve the Treasurer’s Report passed unanimously.

Board Reports

Karbash – received an email re a tree on Oakwood Rd to be removed in winter, need to remind Roadman McManaway, across from N7034 Oakwood. Met with people from Whitewater/Rice Lakes Management District and Town of Whitewater, spoke to Overbeek about flooding. Overbeek – talked to Rich Charts from WW/RL Mgmt District and Norm Prusener of Town of Whitewater. Miller – nothing Behrens – nothing Kraus – nothing.

Delavan/Darien Schools update – open during the pandemic, will close on December 23 for winter break. Several cases at various schools, did contact tracing and had affected students quarantine for two weeks. They did not become infected at school.

Public Comment – none

Bartender License – Veronica R Johnson, sponsored by Turtle Lake Tap & Grill – Motion to approve by Kraus, Second by Behrens, passed unanimously.

Request to Serve Alcohol at the Town Hall December 18. – Kelly Brockwell presented the request to serve alcohol at a wedding rehearsal dinner on Friday. Expect about 30 family members and wedding party in attendance. Motion to approve by Karbash, Second by Overbeek, passed unanimously.

Traffic Signs in Skansen’s Subdivision – Karbash reported request from person who had been in an accident and wanted traffic signs. No other instances in his 3 terms as Chairman, called the Wisconsin Towns Association for options, was told it is at the Town’s discretion. Motion by Overbeek to table, Second by Behrens, passed unanimously.

Flooding Issues – Possible Agreement with Town of Whitewater and/or WWRL Management

District – Karbash reported on his meeting with Town of Whitewater Supervisor Norm Pruesner, WW/RL Management District Chairman Rich Charts, and Treasurer Brad Corson to explain and demonstrate what Town of Richmond is proposing. Overbeek had also met with Supervisor Pruesner at the Whitewater Lake dam, noted that water flows over the dam and takes about a week to recede after a heavy rain.  Per our engineer, Lake Lorraine has a lot of storage capacity, so we could release the water at a slow pace when Whitewater Lake would be able to accept it without damage to Whitewater Lake. Richmond has gone through a complete permitting process with the DNR, including an invasive species study, and found this to be the best and most simple way to deal with the problem to avoid further damage to Lake Lorraine Road and Territorial Road.  We don’t want to have to pass the astronomical cost of repairing those roads on to our taxpayers. Overbeek remarked that in the last 20 years we have not seen this type of flooding problem in this area, noted that at Lake Wandawega they were pumping into Lauderdale Lakes for 2 months at a cost over $100,000, and will need to do the same in the future if the flooding continues. Karbash noted that we would not release any water from Lake Lorraine into Whitewater Lake when “slow-no-wake” has been posted, likely not until the late summer months when the water has gone down. Karbash thanked the interested Whitewater Lake residents for their attendance at the meeting and their cooperation in this emergency situation. Chairman Charts and Supervisor Pruesner thanked the Richmond Board for their information and all agreed to keep the lines of communication open in the future.

Complaints – Question about Board Minutes not on the Town website – Clerk apologized, and stated because of the unusual volume of election work this year she had gotten behind, will upload shortly.

Payment of Bills – Motion to approve by Overbeek, Second by Kraus, passed unanimously. Behrens Moved to Adjourn into Closed Session per WI 19.85(1)(c) to consider employee compensation and benefits, and possible bonuses. Second by Overbeek, passed unanimously.

Consensus to award bonuses to Gina McManaway, Randy Halverson, Ron Ehlen and Wally McManaway in the same amounts as last year.

Motion by Overbeek to meet in Closed Session with Wally McManaway for his Performance Review on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 4:00pm at the Town Hall.  Second by Miller, passed unanimously.

Motion to adjourn by Behrens, Second by Overbeek, passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Ceas, WCMC Town Clerk