Town of Barksdale Board Meeting

Barksdale Town Hall
29025 East Ondossagon Rd.
Ashland, WI 54806

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

Present: Dennis Pocernich, John Nyara; Chris Bretting; Lynn Divine; Susan Sanders

Absent: None

Other’s Present: Mike Mlynarek, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Duane Garz, Road Crew

Members of the Public Present: Bob Divine; David Maki

Call To Order: The meeting was called to order by Chairman Pocernich at 7:00 p.m.

Verification of Posting and Publishing: Divine verified that the meeting notice was posted and that the local newspaper couldn’t guarantee publishing.

Approval of Previous Month’s Minutes: Bretting made a motion to dispense with reading the April 14, 2015, Minutes, seconded by Nyara. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS

Update on US Fish & Wildlife Activities: Mike Mlynarek stated that the annual Birding and Nature Festival will be occurring this next weekend. It has grown to approximately 300 people in participation and contributes greatly to the local economy, as most participants are not from the area.

Comprehensive Plan Update: Nyara indicated that the next meeting will be held on Monday, June 8, 2015, at 6:00 p.m.

Ondossagon Road Update: Joan Whitman spoke to the Board via telephone. She indicated that the Town does not qualify for a Bremer grant. To-date she has not heard any more from the USDA regarding grant opportunities. She has a call into Mike Miller, but has not heard back from him. Joan will also be pursuing grants through Xcel Energy, the Bradley Foundation and the Dept. of Transportation.

NEW BUSINESS

Public Input: None.

Wickstrom Road Bridge Project: Mlynarek indicated that the Wickstrom Road bridge project is moving along. Preliminary costs are in the area of $207,000, plus the engineering and design fees. It could end up costing between $250,000 and $300,000. Russ Fish, from Coleman Engineering did a site visit. Plans are that bid notices will be done in June and the bids will be opened after the fourth of July. Work should begin after that. Access to Wickstrom Road will be through the railroad grade off of Cherryville Rd. Divine will contact Xcel to see if they would partner in some of the costs, as the bridge benefits their substation off of Wickstrom Road. Mlynarek will keep everyone appraised of the project as things develop.

Purchase of New Pickup: Bretting and Nyara went over some quotes they received. This item will be tabled until the next meeting.

Gravel Bids: The following bids were received:

Milestone Materials $14.52/ton

Ashland Construction $14.39/ton

Pocernich made a motion to accept the gravel bid from Ashland Construction at $14.39 per ton, seconded by Nyara. Motion carried. Divine will contact the bidders to let them know the results.

Terwilliger Road: Pocernich received an amended quote on the cost to pulverize Terwilliger Road and restore it to a graveled road. The adjusted bid includes the portion of road that lies within the Town of Eileen. Barksdale’s cost would be $47,309.46. Pocernich made a motion to accept the proposed bid from Northwoods Paving to pulverize and gravel Terwilliger Road, under the condition that the Town of Eileen agrees to have their portion reconstructed also, seconded by Bretting. Motion carried.

Line of Credit: Sanders informed the Board that Bremer Bank now charges a fee for setting up Lines of Credit for monies that may not get used. Pocernich made a motion not to borrow a line of credit for 2015, seconded by Bretting. Motion carried.

Road Crew Report: Several culvert quotes were received. The Board approved replacing or lining a culvert on Cherryville Road near Torkko Road. The other projects will be looked at again later on. Mlynarek will take a look at one of the culverts that is located in a stream area.

A quote to pave a portion of Wannebo Road was received in the amount of $54,697.92. Divine will see if the City of Washburn will agree to their share of the project, as half of the road is in that municipality.

Clerk’s Report: Nothing New to report. Divine reminded everyone of the Board of Review scheduled form Monday, May 18, 2015, at 5:00 p.m.

Chairman’s Report: Nothing new to report.

Treasurer’s Report: Sanders provided the monthly report. A copy is included in these Minutes.

Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at 7:00 p.m.

Expenditures: The expenditures were reviewed and checks approved and signed. Nyara made a motion to accept the expenditures as presented, seconded by Pocernich. Motion carried.

Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lynn M. Divine
Town of Barksdale Clerk