Madeline Island News and Information
Feature Story
TOWN BOARD TAKES HEAT FOR PROPOSED "JUNK CAR/ NUISANCE PROPERTY ORDINANCE"
TOWN BOARD MEETS 12-27-2007
The La Pointe Board members met for their regularly scheduled meeting, at 5:30pm Thursday, 12-27-2007. All members were present including 15 to 20 members of the public. The main topic that seemed to be on the public's mind was the proposed "Nuisance Property/Property Maintenance Ordinance" drafted by the Town Plan Commission, a topic on the Agenda. Members of the Town Board were apparently "blind-sided" by numerous phone calls letters and complaints about this proposed ordinance which some board members had not even had a chance to read before the meeting.
Town Board Chair Greg Nelson opened the meeting with a statement concerning this ordinance and the public response he had received regarding it. When the ordinance came up for discussion during the meeting, Hamilton Ross called the ordinance "Draconian" while Jim Patterson stated that the language was "potentially offensive".
Other topics included complaints concerning the Town Plan Commission, specifically their agendas and meeting minutes, and commissioners not being "physically present" for committee meetings. Zoning Administrator, Jennifer Croonborg had recently sent a memo to the Town Plan Commission as well as the Town Board stating her trouble with filing Public Information Requests. Apparently many of the Town Plan Commission Meeting Minutes over the last six months had omitted mention of discussions about topics on the Agendas, and the Agendas often contained "vague" topics, seemingly contrary to Wisconsin State Statues 19.81 and 19.84.
Also, Town Plan Commissioner Dick Hoffman had recently "attended" a meeting via "telephone" as he no longer able to attend meetings in person due to the fact that he has left town for the winter months. Town Chair Greg Nelson stated that he felt that this was not acceptable and the Town Board decided to move forward and post notices of an open position on the Town Plan Commission.
The Capser Trail Bridge, a Library elevator maintenance fund, Hartzell CUP parking revission, Irvine/Methun Chief Buffalo Lane CSM, and year-end budget issues were among the other topics discussed.
Click Here for the Meeting Minutes
Click Here for the Audio Recordings
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