5.24.21 REGULAR BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE OF ORFORDVILLE
Regular Board Meeting
Monday, May 24, 2021 7:00 P.M.
Orfordville Village Hall
Main Board Room
CALL TO ORDER
President Gary Phillips called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were President Phillips, Tina Suiter-Meyers, Beth Schmidt, Cami Myers-Alstat, Terry Gerber, Nikki Tuffree, and Jason Knox. Also present were Attorney Michael Oellerich, Nick & Jennifer Howard, Brandon Klitzman, David Olsen, Dennis Waege, Chief Brian Raupp, DPW Director Nick Todd, and Clerk Sherri Waege.
AGENDA VERIFICATION
Clerk Waege verified that on May 21, 2021, copies of the agenda were delivered to the President and Trustees; and posted at the Village Hall, Library, and the Orfordville Post Office. There were no additions made to the agenda.
MINUTE APPROVAL
Knox asked that the minutes be amended to state that he voted no on the approval of Resolution R-2021-11. Clerk Waege will make the correction. Motion by Gerber, seconded by Knox to approve the minutes of the May 10, 2021 meeting as corrected.
CITIZENS WISHING TO BE HEARD
Schmidt explained that the June Days Committee has been busy and is bringing many new activities to the event this year. The Committee is looking for volunteers to help at the event. Schmidt encouraged residents to get a hold of a Committee member to volunteer.
VILLAGE PRESIDENTS UPDATE
President Phillips explained that there is still interest in the Business Park, three parties are interested at this time. The concrete ribbon was poured in Mill Valley Subdivision. The black top will be done soon.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution R-2021-13 to adopt Post Issuance Debt Compliance Policies for Tax Exempt and Tax Advantaged Government Bonds. Clerk Waege explained that the policies are a requirement of the borrowing package that the Village approved. Motion by Gerber, seconded by Tuffree to adopt Resolution R-2021-13 that approves the required policies for Post Issuance Debt Compliance for Tax Exempt and Tax Advantaged Government Bonds. Motion carried.
ATV/UTV Use in the Village. President Phillips explained that he has been working with other municipalities to come up with an ordinance that is consistent with the other municipalities. President Phillips explained that he would recommend the following based on discussions held:
1. ATV/UTV use from Sunrise to Sunset, with the exception being made for snowplowing.
2. Operators must have a Valid Drivers License.
3. Operators must have insurance.
4. No driving down Highway 213, with a zero tolerance provision.
5. President Phillips reviewed the streets he suggested that the residents be allowed to drive on. Residents would be allowed to cross Highway 213 to get across town. Access would be available to all businesses. Non residents would have a different route.
6. President Phillips explained that once there are five violations of the new ordinance, the use of ATV/UTVs in the Village will no longer be allowed.
7. Residents will have to purchase a sticker to be allowed to drive on Village Streets.
8. The ATV/UTV Club would have to pay for all the signage in the Village.
Brandon Klitzman of 316 Hickory Court was present and did not agree with the requirement of purchasing stickers, not being able to drive down Highway 213, the five violations cancelling it for everyone, questioned who would decide the sunrise to sunset hours and if it would follow the DNR guidelines as you do with hunting, and also did not agree with the residents not having access to Plymouth Township via Highway 213.
David Olsen of 205 Dickson Street was present and asked how a person gets to a route if they don’t’ live on a designated route. Olsen explained that if you live on Highway 213, you can’t get to the routes. President Phillips explained a sticker would allow that. Olsen asked why the residents couldn’t drive on Highway 213. Olsen also explained that snowmobiles are allowed to drive down Highway 213 to get to the trail or route. Phillips explained that it was a state law, which Knox disagreed with. Olsen explained that he felt that the board was overthinking it because they don’t’ want it.
Chief Raupp explained that Highway 213 can be a route; however, he has concerns with safety on the state highway. Chief Raupp further explained that tracking citations was additional work for them. Chief Raupp would rather educate the violators than issue tickets. Chief Raupp added that one person with continued violations is a different story and the citation amounts could be set so they increase with multiple violations.
Dennis Waege of 314 Jordan Place was present and questioned not being able to drive on Highway 213. Waege said residents would not be able to get to The Station if they wanted to get gas. President Phillips explained that residents can get access to get gas at Sather’s.
Knox explained that the ATV/UTV Club is working on getting access to Plymouth Township. Discussion held on access from Highway K, Highway 213, and Old Highway 11. Footville currently has three connections to Plymouth Township.
Nick Howard of 402 Gifford Street was present and explained that not allowing access on Highway 213 would prohibit people from going to The Station or the Library. Howard further added that allowing everyone meaning residents and non residents to drive the side streets could benefit the town. New people coming to town would see the town and see what there is to offer.
Schmidt explained that she wants routes for Economic Development. Schmidt further added that Brodhead does not allow ATV/UTV’s to drive down Highway 11 and there are no problems with it.
Myers-Alstat explained that she lived in a town that allowed ATV/UTVs. She sees the point of non residents being able to drive on side streets so you could have a friend over. Myers-Alstat will check with her home town and surrounding towns to see what their ordinances are.
Gerber explained that the board is trying to create an ordinance that is safe. Gerber further explained that they would like to have an ordinance in place that could be a starting point and could be reviewed at any time if changes need to be made.
Chief Raupp explained that Green County is looking to opening all Highways in the County. Knox explained that Jefferson County has opened all of the County as well.
Additional discussion held on requiring operators to have a Drivers License. Myers-Alstat explained that she supports that requirement. Discussion held on the DNR allowing 12-15 year olds to operate a ATV/UTV if they take the required training offered by the DNR. Myers-Alstat will look into that training. Suiter-Meyers asked if the Chief would be able to pull someone over if they thought they did not have a drivers license. Chief Raupp explained that they could. Myers-Alstat asked if someone that lost their drivers license due to a drunk driving would still be able to operate a ATV/UTV. Chief Raupp explained that they would be able to.
Chief Raupp requested Attorney Oellerich to look into the Village’s liability regarding routes or non routes. Chief Raupp explained that the Village is not liable for accidents if they occur on defined routes. Residents in an accident on Village Streets that are not part of a defined route could be a village liability. Attorney Oellerich will look into it. Discussion held on having a preferred route for out of town residents. Attorney Oellerich will verify if we can have different route or rules for residents versus nonresidents.
Discussion on speed limits. President Phillips wants 10 mph on residential streets and 25 mph on the preferred route. Chief Raupp explained that Monroe did that initially and then changed it to 25 mph throughout the City. Chief Raupp added that the 10 mph restriction caused more problems because they held up traffic which was a safety issue.
Attorney Oellerich explained that he will draft an ordinance based on the following:
1. Hours of operation are Sunrise to Sunset to be monitored by the Police Department.
2. Operator’s must have a driver’s license.
3. Operator’s must have proof of insurance.
4. Routes-all streets will be open with a preferred route posted so out of town riders know which direction to take.
5. The speed limit will be 10 miles an hour on residential streets and 25 mph on the preferred route.
Tuffree asked if Attorney Oellerich felt that any of those things were unusual based on the five other ordinances their firm has drafted. Attorney Oellerich explained that each municipality can have their own restrictions until Rock County allows use throughout the whole county.
Attorney Oellerich will have a draft of the ordinance for the June 28, 2021 Regular Board Meeting.
No action was taken.
TREASURER REPORT
Motion by Gerber, seconded by Schmidt to approve the April Treasurer Report. Motion carried.
VOUCHERS
Motion by Tuffree, seconded by Suiter-Meyers to approve the following vouchers: Range 33157-33191 for $44,830.61 and Range 33205-33230 for $13,632.32. Motion carried.
ADJOURN
Motion by Knox, seconded by Suiter-Meyers to adjourn at 8:35 p.m. Motion carried.
Submitted by,
Gary Phillips
Village President
Sherri Waege
Village Clerk