JANUARY 7, 2008—8:00 p.m.

            The Town of Cross Plains Board of Supervisors met for their regular monthly meeting.  Meeting notices had been published in the Shopper, Mt. Horeb Mail, News Sickle Arrow and on the website.  Minutes of the December 12^th meeting were read by the Clerk and after some minor changes plus the acronym CARP defined as Capital Area Regional Planning they were moved for approval by Vera Riley, seconded by Bob Bowman and approved.

            The first agenda item was enforcement of the driveway clear cut ordinance.  Harold explained that we have had this ordinance since 1997 but we have never enforced it.   Trees that are a hindrance to emergency vehicles will have to be removed.  The fire chief and EMS director will go around and identify them.  The Board had a skeleton of a notification letter that Harold indicated would go to Attorney Connie Anderson of the fire district for refinement.  Gerry Schultz mentioned that there will not always be a twenty foot clearance.  Arnie Harris told of a telephone pole near his driveway and that cutting trees could cause erosion and brush to grow.  Vera felt that we should work together.  Amelia felt that the cost is too high.  Harold again stated that Chuck, Gary and Tim would be around and look at the driveways.  Fred Dillett talked about a 12 foot electric gate that he has ahead of his one mile driveway and he would be unable to have a twenty foot clearance.  Considerable discussion continued with a suggestion to revisit the wording of the ordinance, but in the end it was felt that the Town would work with the homeowners for the safety of the residents.

            The next item was discussion and possible action pursuant to statutes governing planning by the Town Board and the Town Plan Commission.  Bob stated that the reason this is on the agenda is because the Plan Commission was to revise the farmland preservation plan as stage one of their work.  During stage two they were to complete the other eight elements.  Bob had a one-page document that set forth the various statutes and how they relate to a Town Board and Plan Commission.  It was clear that the Plan Commission is advisory and the Town Board adopts the plan.  Some citizens felt that Bob had a vendetta against the Plan Commission and his response was that the bulk of the work should be the land use plan.  It was requested that this item be put on the February agenda.

            The Clerk had questions about the costs of the Plan Commission for the 2007 year and the continuing high cost for copying materials.  It had been suggested that the Plan Commission should use the Town’s copier to reduce costs, but there were four instances of copying at Fed Ex and Kinkos costing $l66.56 plus mileage during November.  The Clerk also showed the high costs the Town has incurred because of the recent snows and that it will be necessary to be frugal with expenses.  The TDS contract that had been distributed to the Board was titled Internet Agreement and was not just a DSL line.  Harold moved to disapprove the TDS contract and Bob seconded.  There was discussion with Vera feeling that the Commission should have the TDS contract.  The question was called:  Harold yes; Bob yes; Vera no.  The motion to disapprove passed.

            Jim Boland reported that the Plan Commission will have a public hearing on the Hawthorne & Stone development on January 30.  There will be an open house hosted by the Plan Commission in February so that the farmers who are most affected by land use can attend prior to their being in the field. 

            There has been an agreement about the two-way radios with the substitute driver.

The fee for map amendments was moved to table by Harold, seconded by Bob and the vote was Harold yes, Bob yes, Vera no.  Harold has spoken to Mike Schutz about the Intergovernmental Committee, and he reported that there has been no meeting set.  Northwest Dane had no report.

            The roads have been a real challenge during the past month with over thirty inches of snow, but the road crews did an exceptional job.  Rick mentioned that since there is a shortage of salt and the extremely high price for it they will be using a different substance on the roads in the future.  It will not act the same way salt does, but it will help with traction.  Cross Plains Berry Fire no meeting.  Mt. Horeb will meet next week.

            The annual meeting will be Tuesday, April 8.  The March meeting was moved from March 10 to March 17.  Bob moved to adjourn at 10:04 p.m. Harold seconded.

                                                                        Ann E. Walden, Clerk