Orion Town Board Meeting
Chairperson Marc Couey called the monthly meeting to order at 5:00pm.
Roll Call – Chairperson Marc Couey, Supervisor Don Stanke, Supervisor Joe Halverson, Clerk Diane Parduhn, and Randy Olson. Treasurer Judy Shadewald attended via phone. Electors present included Ray and Sylvia Schmitz, Jim Hying, Jim & Jane Jefferies.
Approve the Agenda – Chairperson Marc Couey read the agenda as printed. A motion to approve the agenda was made by Supervisor Don Stanke, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson, Motion carried.
Approval of June Minutes – Chairperson Marc Couey asked if there were any changes or additions to the minutes for the June 2024 meeting. Hearing none, a motion made by Supervisor Joe Halverson to approve the minutes of the May 2024 meeting, seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.
Treasurers Report – Reported by Clerk Diane Parduhn, as of May 31, 2024, the balance in the Town of Orion Checking account was $243,022.55 per the bank statement. A total of $12,506.30 in checks issued were outstanding as of May 31st, 2024, making the actual balance in the Town of Orion Checking account $230,516.25. Check #1857 issued in the amount of $1,700.00 to the Richland County Ambulance issued in March 2024 had not yet cleared the bank. The clerk contacted the Richland County Ambulance Service to ask if that check had been received and was informed the ambulance service never received check #1847 for $1700. The Clerk contacted the bank as it had been three months and requested a stop payment on check #1847. A new check will be issued with approval tonight. The CD held at Westby Co-op remains at the same value. Reminder, this CD will be renewed in August if no action is taken. A motion was made by Supervisor Don Stanke to approve the Treasurers report, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion carried.
Clerks Report – Clerk Diane Parduhn reported:
- The regular monthly bills have been switched to Auto Pay using the Town Visa Card as directed at the June Meeting. The June bills for the phone/internet and both electric bills were paid with the credit card which means they will show on the July bill list under the VISA card bill. They will each have a line so that the board will be able to identify each expense separately and the statements for the payment will be placed in the July bills.
- The propane tank at the old town hall had been refilled and to save some money, $8.21 discount for early payment, the payment was made in the amount of $207.80 on the card. The provider had been told to stop all deliveries in February of 2024, but it did not get recorded. The provider said they would take us off the keep fill list and no more oil will be delivered. Because we are not sure when we will be able to get our belongings out of the town hall, it was decided to keep the tank of gas and the provider will reimburse us at the rate we paid.
- The clerk has ordered a map from the County Zoning office for our town hall. It will be very useful in the elections.
- The MOE, Maintenance of Effort, has been filed as of Tuesday June 18, 2024. There may be a problem with the report, because Muscoda provided two forms as if they were not a joint Fire Emt Dept, and there is a form for Joint fire and EMT agencies. Will have to wait and see what if anything DOR says. The deadline for submission is 07/01 and failure to submit in time could have resulted in a loss of the town’s shared revenue.
- The Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association will be having a training session on August 28 & 29. The clerk would like to attend. The clerk requested the Town pay for her to attend. Motion by Chairperson Marc Couey to approve the training for the Clerk, seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion Carried.
Schmitz Rezone Request – The rezone request moved up on the agenda to allow Mr. & Mrs. Schmitz to complete their business with the board. Mr. Schmitz is requesting a rezone to Ag residential for a 3.3 acre parcel of land he is purchasing from Rowan Wipperfurth. The land is currently zoned as G-6 Productive Forest. The board approved the request after viewing the County GIS map and the completed survey. Clerk will send Motion to approve form to the County and to Mr. Schmitz. Motion was made by Supervisor Don Stanke to approve the request to approve the rezone request to change the 3.3 acres to Ag Residential, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion carried.
Roads Report – Clarification on plan for roads was requested, and after a short discussion a motion was made by Supervisor Joe Halverson to sealcoat from Bomkamp Rd to Easy Street, Easy Street to Ginger Dr, and from Bomkamp to Ginger Dr., the lower end of Stibbe Hill Rd, and the portion of Olson Lane that is not sealcoated. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.
Fire Districts –
- Muscoda – Marc Couey reports meeting is the following night.
- Richland Rural – Joe Halverson reports attending the first meeting. They are getting a new truck and will sell the old one. They are working on fund raising projects.
- Richland Ambulance – Don Stanke reported there is a new EMS staff and they got a bid proposal for a new roof of $85,000.
Other Business –
- Notice & Audit in August – Clerk reported there will be an audit during the next election because our site has moved. We need to resolve the posting board before the audit. The window is not working, it is not accessible. Motion made by Supervisor Don Stanke to have Randy Olson purchase and place a 36 x 36 weatherproof posting board outside.
- Town of Orion Attorney – Chairman Marc Couey presented the Agreement for Legal Services from Abt Swayne Law LLC. Board members reviewed the agreement. Motion made by Supervisor Don Stanke to approve the continually renewing agreement with Abt Swayne Law, LLC to provide legal services for the Town of Orion, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion carried.
- Status of Treasurer – After review with WTA, the clerk cannot serve as a Deputy Treasurer during the Treasurers absence. Will search for people interested in being the Deputy Treasurer, noting there is training for new software for the treasurer to be completed in August 2024. Motion made by Supervisor Don Stanke to place an ad in the Shopping News to hire a Deputy Treasurer, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion Carried.
- Cleaning and Trash – Interested parties will be invited to come to the next board meeting.
- Web Page for Town – No new providers to build a webpage for the Town. Motion made by Supervisor Don Stanke to approve the Shopping News as the provider for our Webpage, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion carried.
NEXT MEETING – July 17, 2025
Motion to adjourn made by Supervisor Joe Halverson, seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.
Approved by Orion Town Board on