March 18 2015 Draft Board Minutes
TOWN OF LIBERTY GROVE. MARCH BOARD MEETING MINUTES. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015. AT THE
TOWN HALL.
DRAFT
Agenda:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Call to order
Declaration of quorum followed by pledge of allegiance
Approve agenda
Minutes: 2/18/15 Sp. Board, 2/18/15 Board
Treasurer report
Approve payment of bills
Public input
Door County bicycle tourism loops—request for signage
Consider vehicle electric charging stations in Town
Consider Heritage Road promotion—Phil Hansotia
Consider request to treat invasive species in Fitzgerald Park
Consider class B beer and liquor license application—Lauren Schar,
agent dba Fireside Restaurant at 11934 Hwy 42
Consider Plan Commission recommendations:
A. Variance—additions to building within setbacks from a town
road and side lot line, Kevin and Laura Carter Maloney at 10490
South Appleport Ln (recommendation is to not support)
B. Conditional use permit—agricultural visitation facility, parcels 01801-30312832D, 32E, 33A: John Wehling, 9511 Townline Drive (recommendation is to
support)
C. Variance—construct patios and paths within high water mark setback, David Barnes at
11379 Beach Road(rec is to support)
Consider implementing drug collection program
Consider application to modify Rowleys Bay launch ramp
Consider establishment of electronic newsletter
Consider approval of launch pass applications
Consider approval of operator license applications
Correspondence
Future meetings
Adjourn
Chairman Lowry called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Also attending: Supervisors H. Mulliken, F.
Forkert, N. Goss, L. Covotsos, Clerk/Administrator Kalms, Treasurer Johnson and about 12 citizens,
including Attorney Jim Smith of the Pinkert Law Firm. The pledge of allegiance was recited.
Lowry/Goss to approve the agenda as amended with #9 deleted. Carried 5-0.
Lowry/Forkert to approve the 2/18/15 Special Board minutes as presented. Carried 5-0.
Goss/Lowry to approve the 2/18/15 Board minutes as presented. Carried 5-0.
Treasurer report by Janet Johnson:
Checking
Municipal Checking
Money Market Account
Utility District
Total 2/28/15
$ 916,680.49
324,287.53
577,461.52
572,247.86
2,390,677.40
Lowry/Forkert to approve the Treasurer’s report as presented. Carried 5-0.
Lowry/Goss to pay bills as presented. Carried 5-0.
Public Input. Goss and Lowry have met with Mary Pat Carlson, Dave Studebaker and NWTC personnel
regarding the commercial kitchen at NWTC. NWTC may offer mobile learning sessions at the Town Hall.
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March 18 2015 Draft Board Minutes
Goss said NWTC staff seem to be aware of the frustration existing in the northern Door Co. area with
paying large amounts of tax dollars to NWTC in relation to what is received in return.
Bicycle tourism loops. County Highway Commissioner John Kolodziej explained the attempt to
implement the bicycle plan, one concept being a “Bike the Door” tourism loop; the Board of Realtors are
obtaining a grant to fund signage; the first step is getting authorization to install signage on the Town
route; the Town would absorb future maintenance costs of the signs. A Board concern was the steepness
of the Garrett Bay hill. Lowry moved, Goss second to approve this request for signage for the Bike the
Door loop in Liberty Grove. Carried 5-0.
Heritage Road promotion. Phil Hansotia said Town board members approached him to consider
promotion of the Heritage Road program in the Town; the effort is to encapsulate the attractiveness of
Town roads through paintings, poems, and photos. Lowry moved, Goss second to accept the Hansotia
report and art work. Discussion-Covotsos: contact Door North to market; keep the concept vibrant.
Carried 5-0.
Invasive Species in Fitzgerald park. Mike Schneider of the Clearing has identified autumnolive at
Fitzgerald Park and offered to cut and treat the invasive. Kalms wondered about being certified to apply
the proposed herbicide. Lowry moved, Covotsos second to accept Schneider’s offer of treating
autumnolive pending the determination of certification for application of the herbicide. Carried 5-0.
Class B beer & liquor license. Lowry moved, Goss second to approve the Class B license for beer and
liquor for Lauren Schar, agent for the Fireside Restaurant. Carried 5-0.
Plan Commission recommendations. Maloney variance. Goss gave reasons why the Plan Commission
voted to recommend denial: felt a porch addition was a “want”; a better design would keep the additions
within the building envelope, negating the need for a variance; minimum relief should be granted;
hardship not shown. The recommendation of non-support was passed on a 3-2 vote. Covotsos gave the
minority opinion, feeling the intent of the zoning ordinance would not be impinged by granting the
variance. Attorney Smith displayed the site plan: no variance is from the high water mark; the building is
screened on the north and south by cedars; not huge variances; if the addition is moved north, many
trees would come down; an objecting neighbor is selling to the Land Trust, so any building on her land
would ot be affected; case law shows that if you have a restricted lot and could apply for a variance, a
future owner could also apply for a variance which would mean any hardship is not self-imposed.
Designer Elliott Goettleman spoke, noting that environmental impact is very important to Maloney; best
to keep the garage where the trees are cleared already; the porch is to protect that side of the home ref;
aesthetic value. Goss moved, Covotsos second that the Board support the Maloney variance at 10490
South Appleport. Motion carried 3-2, Goss and Mulliken nay.
Wehling conditional Use Permit. Goss noted the completeness of Wehling’s application and various
testimonials by neighbors and veterinarians regarding his projects; the Plan Commission gave its
unanimous support. Mulliken moved, Goss second to send a letter of support to Door Co. Planning
regarding the Wehling CUP application. Carried 5-0.
Barnes Variance. Goss noted the unique property limitations were met with the grade of this parcel; will
be removing about 7,000 square feet of asphalt; it meets the no harm to the public interest factor;
hardship was the limiting issue. After much consideration on the hardship issue, the Commission decided
that granting the variance would serve an overriding public interest, even though the three criteria may
not have been met. One condition asked for was that patio #2 be moved back into the area that was/is
covered with asphalt. Goss moved, Covotsos second that the Town Board send a letter of support for the
Barnes variance with the limitation of placing patio #2 within the currently paved area, as the variance
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March 18 2015 Draft Board Minutes
meets steep slope criteria, no harm to the public interest, and granting the variance will serve an
overriding public interest. Carried 5-0.
Drug Collection Program. The Town has been approached regarding implementing a program for
collection of unused/unneeded drugs at periodic intervals. Lowry instructed administrative assistant
Johnson to pursue this issue.
Rowleys Bay Ramp Permit. Kalms noted that ramp improvements will be a priority when the Town
begins managing the Rowleys Bay shoreline; to do this, the first step is to obtain a permit from the DNR
so grant funding can be pursued. Covotsos moved, Lowry second to allocate funds from the Rowleys Bay
budget in the amount of $303 to obtain a permit for the Rowleys Bay ramp. Carried 4-1, Mulliken nay.
Electronic Newsletter. Johnson reported that a newsletter to property owners costs about $2,200. Lowry
thought a quarterly newsletter could be part of the website. Covotsos wished it to be more than just a
bulletin board.
Launch Pass Applications. Lowry moved, Mulliken second to approve commercial launch pass
applications for Beacon, Lake Shore and Bay Shore Outfitters. Carried 5-0.
Operator Licenses. Goss moved, Lowry second to approve the operator license application of Lauren
Schar. Carried 5-0.
Lowry/Forkert to adjourn. Carried 5-0. 8:47 PM.
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