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Town of Orion

Mail: PO Box 506, Muscoda, WI 53573

Address: 22304 Thiede Road, Muscoda, WI 53573

Summer Office Hours: Tues 11am-4pm, or by Appointment

Office Phone: (608) 739-0515

Town of Orion

Wisconsin

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May 20, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes

Chairperson Marc Couey called the monthly meeting to order.

Roll Call – Chairperson Marc Couey, Supervisor Don Stanke, Supervisor Joe Halverson, Treasurer Denise Ewing, Clerk Abigail Ewing and Randy Olson. Electors present included Daniel Killam, Janet Brown, Janet Conor, Luann Kraemer, Pam Kruschke, and Dawn Piech.

Agenda Properly Noticed – Clerk Abigail Ewing reported that the meeting was properly noticed.

Approve the Agenda – Chairperson Marc Couey read the agenda as printed and asked if there were any changes. Motion to approve the agenda was made by Supervisor Don Stanke, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion carried.

Approval of April Minutes – Chairperson Marc Couey asked if there were any changes or additions to the minutes for the April 2026 regular meeting, April 2026 Annual Meeting, April 2026 Special Tax Levy Meeting or April 2026 Special Road Tour Meeting. Supervisor Don Stanke moved to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson.

Treasurers Report – Treasurer, Denise D. Ewing, reports that on April 30, 2026, the balance in the checking account was $234,009.91 per the People’s Community Bank statement. We have three outstanding checks totaling $350.00 making the actual balance in the Town of Orion checking account $233,659.91. The Certificate of Deposit with WCCU had a balance ending of $48,602.02. Supervisor Don Stanke made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion carried.

Clerks Report – Clerk Abigail Ewing reported that Form CT was officially submitted and was done so prior to the due date. The sound proofing boards have been fully installed. A huge thank you to Danial Killam and Catherine Killam for their hard work on this project and for their donation to the Town Hall building. Also thank you to Bob Beck for his help with the installation. Clerk Abigail Ewing reported that a Hwy Construction payment was inadvertently included in the PILT payment totals and she will be correcting that on the budget for future year budgeting and comparison. TAC dues are now included in the Annual Wisconsin Towns Association Membership Dues. The Annual Report for ARPA/SLFRF was completed and submitted. A motion was made by Chairman Marc Couey to approve the Clerk’s report, seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.

Approve Bills – Chairperson Marc Couey read the April bills presented for approval totaling $17,723.94. Supervisor Joe Halverson made a motion to approve the payment of the bills totaling $17,723.94, using checks #2256-2269 and one ACH debit, seconded by Chairman Marc Couey. Motion carried.

Roads Report – Randy Olson reported on the road work that will be taking place over the next few weeks, including gravel locations and seal coating for Henry Clark Circle. Planning for approximately 800 yards of gravel needed.

Fire Districts –

  • Muscoda – Chairperson Marc Couey reported there was not a meeting in May.
  • Richland Rural – Supervisor Joe Halverson reported that he attended the fire meeting in May.  He shared the monthly report.
  • Richland Ambulance – Supervisor Don Stanke reported there was not a meeting in May.

OTHER BUSINESS:

  • 1. Bock/Piech Property Rezone – The owners of 24319 Hwy 60 are seeking approval from the Town of Orion Board to rezone their property from Forest Lands to Residential property. Supervisor Don Stanke made a motion to approve the rezoning of the property from Forest Land to Residential Property, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion carried.
  • 2. Nick & March Schweitzer – CUP for Gazebo & Storage Shed – Daniel Killam asked the Board to approve a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for his in-law’s property, on their behalf, located at 23803 Gingers Rd. in Almar Acres, to replace an existing shed with a new one on the East side of his in-laws Property. A 10×15 concrete slab would be laid for the new shed, as well as a 12×12 cement slab to place a pre-built Gazebo on the property. Supervisor Joe Halverson made a motion to approve the CUP to build a new shed and a gazebo on the property, as presented, a second made by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.
  • 3. Janet Brown – Clerk of Elections – Discussion to appoint Janet Brown as Clerk of Elections so she can manage the election duties before, during and post elections. She requested $500 wages per election versus being paid hourly and a laptop for data entry. Supervisor Joe Halverson made a motion to appoint Janet Brown as Clerk of Elections with a wage of $500 per election and the purchase of a new laptop, a second was made by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.
  • 4. Richland Center Fire Department – Inspection Frequency Modification Request – RC Fire Dept requests that the current fire inspection policy be updated to within a 15-month period, versus a 6-month period as per requested by the RC Fire Dept. Chairman Marc Couey made a motion to approve the updated inspection policy for Town of Orion as presented, seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.
  • 5. Approval of Clerk Retroactive Pay & Clerk Compensation Policy – A sample policy was drafted for Clerk Wages Supervisor Joe Halverson made a motion to approve the retroactive wages and to move to a Closed Session pursuant Wis. Statute § 19.85 (1)(c), to consider payment of extra hours already worked, that had been approved by Chairman Marc Couey and Supervisor Don Stanke and to discuss the compensation policy. A second was made by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried. Special Compensation Meeting will be held on May 23, 2026, at 8:00am.
  • 6. Treasurer Resignation – Elected Treasurer Denise D. Ewing submitted her Letter of Resignation effective May 20, 2026, upon acceptance of her resignation by the Board. Supervisor Joe Halverson made a motion to accept Denise D. Ewing’s resignation from the elected office of Town Treasurer for Town of Orion, effective upon acceptance of the Town Board. A second was made by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.
  • 7. Appoint Treasurer – A vacancy now exists in the office of Town Treasurer. Supervisor Don Stanke made a motion to appoint Denise D. Ewing as Town Treasurer pursuant Wis. Statute § 60.30 for a term of three years, ending May 20, 2029, at the compensation approved by the Town Board, which will be determined in a Closed Session Special Meeting to be held on May 23, 2026, at 8:00am, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion carried.
  • 8. Treasurer Oath of Office – Clerk Abigail Ewing administered the Oath of Office to Denise D. Ewing for the appointed position of Town Treasurer for Town of Orion.
  • 9. Treasurer New Pay Rate – Supervisor Joe Halverson made a motion to move the discussion of new pay rate for the position of appointed Town Treasurer Denise D. Ewing to a Closed Session Special Meeting pursuant Wis. Statute § 19.85 (1)(c) to consider new compensation rate, seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion carried.
  • 10. Trash Pick-up – Clerk Abigail Ewing reached out to Republic to obtain rates for Town wide garbage and recycling. She will reach out to other local companies and will report back with more information in the future. Electors voiced complaints about their current trash pick-up issues with privately purchased policies and would like to find solutions to alleviate them. Board is looking at possible solutions.

NEXT MEETING: SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION COMPENSATION MEETING: May 23, 2026, at 8:00am

NEXT REGULAR MEETING: June 24, 2026, at 5:00pm

AGENDA ITEMS/PUBLIC INPUT – Ordinances, Liquor License Policy, Farmland Preservation, Clerk Compensation Policy, Treasurer Wages.

ADJOURN – Supervisor Don Stanke made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion carried at 7:03pm.