Town of Coon Newsletter – Spring 2007

Town of Coon Newsletter – Spring 2008


Calendar of events –
April 1 - Election Day (Polls open 7AM to 8PM)
April 8 - Monthly Board Meeting (1PM)
April 10 - Annual Meeting (7:30PM)
April 18 & 19 - Spring Clean Up (8AM to 5PM daily)

We were fortunate –
2007 was a year to remember – the flood. We also managed to get the sand and salt shed built. The shed was filled in late November. It was followed by a good, long winter. As I write this letter spring seems to be coming. Temperatures are climbing into the 40’s and the talk is of rain instead of snow.
I say we were fortunate because the storm and resulting flood could have been worse. It was worse not very far away. With the long winter many municipalities ran out or were very short on sand and salt. We could still have ice this spring but even if we do there is enough sanding material.

Flood of 2007 –
Last fall was a real challenge to do up all the necessary road repairs and get ready for winter. There are some jobs to finish this year. Rip rap next to a couple bridges along with leveling and seeding of washed out areas will be taken care of this spring. Some of the washouts may require more material. Mud slides that were too wet last fall will also be cleaned up and seeded. We did receive about $38,000 from FEMA and when everything is done should get about $7,000 more from the state.

Town Hall & Shop Site –
With the addition of the sand and salt shed last year and the removal this winter of the old rental house there is some landscaping that needs to be done this year. Open areas and the bank by the shed will be seeded. We also have to do some blacktopping between the shed and the shop.

Seal coating for 2008 –
This year begins the fourth rotation of seal coating roads. At the budget meeting last fall the proposed highway expenditure budget was cut by $40,000. Road maintenance will change to make up the difference. The road plan for seal coating has been changed to a six-year plan. Under this plan we will seal coat about 9 miles per year. Later this month or in early April Supervisor Craig Storm and Patrolman Dale Haugrud will check the roads on our list. Those roads are : Gjefle Lane, Nerison Road, Jothen Lane, Bakkestuen Lane, Strangstalien Valley Road, Strangstalien Lane, Cut-A-Cross Road, and Old Line Road.
Maintenance is very important. We reconstructed the roads in the mid 90’s and it would be nice to keep them in shape as long as possible. The cost will obviously continue to rise.


Fire Association News –
The next important investment for the members of the Coon Creek Fire Fighting Association is an addition to the station. There is a need for more space. We kept the old crew van. It has been outside this winter. This vehicle will be used to transport an ATV. The ATV will be used to transport men and equipment to difficult to reach areas – whether it is a brush fire or a residence on a hill.
The Village of CoonValley owns the fire station. They will have to do the addition and related loan. The Association will pay more rent to cover the cost of this loan over a 20 to 30 year period. This means the fire department will stay where it is for a long time to come.

Zoning Issues –
Two new ordinances were adopted last fall. The wind tower ordinance and the driveway ordinance are both now on the town web site at www.tn.coon.wi.gov.
There also was a concern about animal units listed in our Town of Coon Zoning Ordinance. It turned out that when our ordinance was updated the animal unit number was set at 250. In dairy cattle this means a variance would be required for new dairies or additions of 180 cows or more.
The large hog operation that caused concern at the county level is still being contested. It looks like the courts will have the final say on this.

Sincerely,
Town of Coon Board
Orlan D. Bakkum – Chairman 452-3370 Craig Storm – Supervisor 634-4135
Leon Minor – Supervisor 452-3685 Jan Ihle – Treasurer 452-3548
Lorraine Bakkestuen – Clerk 452-3308 Town Shop – 634-3624
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