Orion Town Board Meeting March 19, 2025
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, Deputy Treasure McKenzie Couey, and Randy Olson. Electors present included Julie Kast, Hayes Kast, and Bob Beck.
Agenda Properly Noticed – Clerk Diane Parduhn reported that the meeting was properly noticed 03/18/2025
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 February Minutes – Chairperson Marc Couey asked if there were any changes or additions to the minutes for the February 2025 reg meeting. Hearing none, Chairperson Marc Couey called for a motion to approve the minutes as presented, Motion made by Supervisor Joe Halverson, and seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.
Treasurers Report – Deputy Treasure McKenzie Couey reported that the balance in the Town of Orion Checking account on February 28, 2025, was $255,344.77 per the bank statement. A total of $35,877.23 for 12 checks issued were outstanding as of February 28, 2025, making the actual balance in the Town of Orion Checking account $219,467.61. A motion was made by Supervisor Joe Halverson to approve the Treasurers report as presented, seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion Carried.
Clerks Report – Clerk Diane Parduhn reported:
The January Expense and Revenue sheet had been corrected, and the board members were given a copy of the completed document. Because the billing sheet presented at the February meeting had multiple errors, the clerk presented a revised February billing sheet for the Board to review and sign. The new sheet included all bills not recorded on the original bill sheet and totaled $549,183.00. The February Revenue and Expense sheet was not available for review as information was not received until the day of the meeting, the clerk will complete the sheet and send it to all board members. The clerk reported all documents in the Old Town Hall had been recorded and a list will be sent to the State by the end of the week. We need to have plans for the April meeting, specifically do we do a potluck or something different. We will keep the annual potluck and discuss it with the electors at our next annual meeting in April. The clerk reported that there will be no re-evaluation this year as the Assessor revised his reports and the Town of Orion was found to comply with assessment requirements so a re-eval is not required. The following reports have been completed – New Housing, Injury & Illness, and 2% Certification report for the fire departments. A motion was made by Supervisor Don Stanke to approve the clerk’s report including all items, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson.
Approve Bills – Chairperson Marc Couey read the March bills presented for approval totaling $13,597.66, however the Treasurer’s salary was incorrect as was the total of the bills and a new bill for dog tags was added to the total. The clerk will review the billing list and provide a new amount for the Supervisors. Supervisor Don Stanke made a motion to approve the payment of the bills totaling $13,597.66 using checks #2041 – #2051 with the exceptions noted and the understanding that there will be a corrected billing sheet at the next meeting, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion carried.
Roads Report – Road Tour was scheduled for Saturday 3/22/2025. Board members and interested residents will meet at the Town Hall at 7:00 am to begin the tour. The route will include Agner Lane, Wegner Rd, and the cemeteries. Supervisor Joe Halverson requested a report for the tour that broke out all expenses for both maintenance and road construction in 2024. The clerk will try to do that before the road tour, and will provide a report with the check number, the person/company that receives the check, and the amount of payment. The report will be updated monthly going forward.
Fire Districts –
• Muscoda – No meeting.
• Richland Rural – Supervisor Halverson did not attend the meeting
• Richland Ambulance – No meeting
Other Business –
• Chicken Ordinance – Julie and Hayes Kast requested permission to raise chickens at their home. They provided information about their plans and shared some pictures. They were advised to consult with the Richland County Zoning Office for regulations and to determine if they need a building permit for the chicken coup. The clerk will send notice of Town Board approval for them to raise chickens. Motion made by Supervisor Joe Halverson to approve the request to raise up to 30 chickens at their home, seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.
• Parking Lot use 10/11/2025 Hanna Hansen – The clerk will draft a no liability for Town of Orion document for review at the next meeting. After approval, users will be required to sign the document after it receives approval if they wish to use the Town Hall parking lot.
• Topics for the April Annual Meeting – Old Town Hall disposition, Cemeteries, Budget, Parking Lot Usage, do we continue with Potluck.
• Adds to be posted – The clerk will post notices for Lawn Mowing, bid by each cemetery and the total, Seal Coat with work to be completed by August 1, 2025, and Gravel. All bids need to be returned to the Clerk in a sealed envelope before the town hall meeting begins.
• Clerks’ wages – The clerk, Diane Parduhn reported she is not interested in a raise at this time, she is interested in less work. Her suggestion is a Deputy Clerk to assist with the work. A motion was made by Chairman Marc Couey to begin a search for a deputy clerk to work no more than 10 hours per month at the rate of $17/hour, seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion Carried
NEXT REG MEETING – April 16, 2025, at 5:00 to be followed by Potluck.
ANNUAL MEETING – April 16, 2025, following Potluck at approximately 7:05
AGENDA ITEMS/INPUT – None
MOTION TO ADJOURN – Motion made by Supervisor Joe Halverson, seconded by Chair Marc Couey. Motion carried.
Approved by Orion Town Board