Town of Orion

Mail: PO Box 506, Muscoda, WI 53573

Address: 22304 Thiede Road, Muscoda, WI 53573

Office Hours: Tues 9-12, Thurs 1-5 or by Appointment

Office Phone: (608) 739-0515

Town of Orion

Wisconsin

Menu
Menu

May 2024 reg meeting minutes – final

Orion Town Board Meeting 

Chairperson Marc Couey called the monthly meeting to order at 5:30 pm. 

Agenda – Chairperson Marc Couey read the agenda as printed. A motion to approve the agenda was made by Supervisor Joe Halverson, a second was made by Supervisor Don Stanke. Motion Carried. 

Roll Call – Clerk Diane Parduhn recorded the list of attendees. Present were Chairperson Marc Couey, Supervisor Don Stanke, Supervisor Joe Halverson, Clerk Diane Parduhn, and Road Supervisor Randy Olson. Absent Treasurer Judy Shadewald. Electors present included Dan Hanson, Jim and Jane Jefferies, Zachary Swenson, Jason Schwanz. Other guests included John Nicolay, Ashley Parker and others that did not sign in. 

Approval of April Minutes – Minutes for the April 2024 meeting were reviewed by Board Members; no corrections or additions were offered. Supervisor Don Stanke made a motion to approve the minutes dated April 17, 2024, a second was made by Supervisor Joe Halverson. Motion Carried. 

Treasurers Report – Diane Parduhn presented the Treasures report.  The checking account has a balance of $244242.57 which does not include outstanding checks of $3,369.90 making the actual balance 240872.47. Interest earned on April 30, 2024, was $877. 55. The CD held at Westby has a balance of $44360.85, no adjustments made in April of 2024. Year to date interest paid is $1,128.92. Diane reported the CD at Westby will mature on August 24, 2024.March 2024, no new statement received. 

Clerks Report – Clerk Diane Parduhn reported that Form CT has been submitted timely, no corrections from DOR. SLRF final report has been submitted, and closed out. Diane presented a summary of the form CT and presented a handout with a sample of how the budget could look if aligned with the Form CT

Approval of Bills – Bills presented for approval at the meeting totaling $12,738 were reviewed by supervisors. Supervisor Don Stanke made a motion to approve payment of the bills totaling $12,738.87 using checks #1878 – #1888. The second was made by Chairperson Marc Couey. Motion carried. 

OTHER BUSINESS

  1. John Nicolay, owner with Ashley Parker, potential buyer, requesting:
    1. Variance to build a home on less than 2 acres. – Motion by Supervisor Don Stanke to approve a variance to build on less than 2 acres, motion seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson, motion carried. 
  2. Driveway permit for North facing side of lot – Motion made by Supervisor Don Stanke to approve a driveway permit on North Side of lot, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson, motion carried. 
  3. Zachery Swenson 
    1. Variance to build a shed, change the set back. Motion made by Supervisor Joe Halverson to approve the variance for shed. 
  4. Lawn Mowing Bid – Replace Gary Williams Mowing
    1. Current status of cemeteries – Most have been mowed by Supervisors at least once.
    2. Options for Lawn Mowing –
      1. Steps to replace contractor – There are two contractors to consider Grass Busters, and a company recommended by Randy Olson. Diane will contact Grass Busters, Randy his company and see if either are interested. If they are interested, ask them to submit a bid and the board will call a meeting to select one.  If not interested, we will run ads again in paper and seek a vendor.  Until then, the supervisors and the chairperson will continue to mow cemeteries to get them in as good as shape as possible. 
      2. Mr. Schwanz – Mayfield Cemetery – Mr. Schwanz lives next door to the cemetery and would offer to mow the cemetery when he mows his yard because he has family buried there.  He will determine if it is feasible for him to mow since he will have to provide limited liability coverage. Once he knows that he will get back to me. 
    3. Compensation for people who mowed cemeteries – Motion made by Chairperson Marc Couey to have members of the board who have been mowing continue to mow cemeteries at the rate of pay approved in the accepted bid from Gary Williams until we find a replacement. Seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke, Motion Carried. 
  5. Town of Orion Attorney – Motion made by Supervisor Joe Halverson to move forward with getting a contract for Abt Swaney Law, LLC to represent The Town of Orion on a as needed basis, seconded by Supervisor Don Stanke, motion carried. 
  6. Approval of Insurance Coverage 2024 – 2025 – Insurance documents provided to the board. The Board requested insurance agent attend the next meeting to answer questions about the policy. 
  7. Phone for Town Hall – options – ATT and Richland Grant phone options provided. Motion made by Supervisor Don Stanke to get phone service from Richland Grant, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson, motion Carried.
  8. Cleaning and Trash for Town Hall – Discussion resulted in agreement that we need to pursue hiring cleaning person.  Board members will provide options at the next meeting. Add to agenda.
  9. Pay by Credit Card option for regular monthly bills – Discussion to pay bills using the credit card auto pay for regular monthly bills resulted in the need to increase amount of credit on the card. Motion to increase the limit on the town credit card from $1,000 to $5,000 made by Supervisor Don Stanke, seconded by supervisor Joe Halverson, motion carried. 
  10. Status of Treasurer – Clerk Diane Parduhn will set up a meeting between The Town Board and Treasurer Judy Shadewald to discuss appointment of deputy treasurer till her return to work. 
  1. Meeting schedule – time – Motion by Supervisor Don Stanke to move the regular meeting time to one half hour earlier, from 5:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson, motion carried. 

Adjourn – Motion made by Supervisor Don Stanke, seconded by Supervisor Joe Halverson to adjourn the meeting, motion carried.

Approved by Orion Town Board on