For the past two months we have been holding abbreviated Board meetings and no Planning Commission meetings. Now that the Safer at Home order has been lifted statewide, we will once again be conducting full meetings but with certain safeguards in place in order to practice social distancing. For the Board meetings, there will be the usual three Board members as well as Debbie Collins, Curt Fredrich, Sheriff Deputy Shaw and Bob Collins. In addition, we will allow up to 12 residents to attend on a first-come basis with priority given to individuals or couples with issues pending before the Board. Chairs are currently spaced around the meeting room at six-foot intervals, however couples may sit together and will be counted as one individual.

Planning Commission meetings will be similarly conducted with a quorum of Commission members and two Board members in attendance. Additionally, up to 12 residents will be allowed to attend with priority given to individuals or couples with an issue before the Commission. If a quorum is not reached (at least 4 of the 7 Commission members) no meeting will be held and any pending issues will be deferred to a later date.

On a different note, our Town Hall is now 135 years old and is definitely showing its age. Nine years ago we performed a number of repairs and modifications that not only made the building conform to the Americans With Disabilities Act, but helped prolong its useful life. It now needs more repairs, if even possible, and as recent meetings have shown, is inadequate to hold all the potential meeting attendees. It is time to think about replacing it with a new building better suited to today’s requirements. If done correctly, it can be accomplished without raising taxes.

Later this year, when people are more comfortable moving around and mingling, the Town Board would like to appoint an investigative body of residents to look into the feasibility and potential costs of a new town hall to be built some time in the next few years. This is something the Chairman would normally be expected to do, but my term ends next April and I don’t want to start a project I won’t be around to bring to fruition. It would not be fair to my successor. With Board elections next April, we don’t know who will still be in office; therefore, in order to maintain continuity with this project, it is important it be conducted by a separate body.

I ask that interested residents, for now, consider being a member of this body and be ready, when asked, to contact the Town Hall and include any personal information that may aid the Board in selecting applicants. To maintain objectivity, no Board members or Planning Commission members will be part of this body. The Board will select residents at a future meeting and appoint a task force of perhaps 4 to 6 residents to look into a new town hall.

Now that the state is opening up, it is still a good idea to maintain social distancing and be mindful of other people’s personal space. Stay safe, stay healthy and enjoy the spring and summer.

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE #8

As of this writing, there is an election scheduled for April 7. This will be a presidential primary as well as final elections for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Walworth County Supervisor, and local school boards. The Town Hall has been receiving a number of inquiries regarding precautions being taken to prevent the potential spread of the Covid-19 virus. Our current plan is to give each voter a pen when they present their ID to vote. This pen will be used to sign the poll book and mark the ballot and can then be taken with the voter.

We will regularly sanitize the voting booths, door handles, restrooms and all flat surfaces in the voting area.

There is the possibility that Governor Evers will postpone the election for a period of time, however, that would be problematic since the State and County terms of office expire in April and newly-elected officers need to be sworn into office in a timely manner in order to provide a seamless transition. A further possibility might be if the Governor decreed all voting to be by means of absentee ballots. If either of these scenarios come to pass, we’ll advise you as soon as possible.

I personally find it heartening to see so many residents taking an interest in Town government by attending the Planning Commission meetings and Town Board meetings. At the present time, I don’t intend to suspend either of the next two meetings because town business still has to go on. In the interim, I would strongly urge you to not attend either meeting unless you have a vested interest in the subjects being considered, at least until this current health issue abates.

As the whole Covid-19 virus continues to spread throughout the state, we should all refrain from unnecessary assemblies, if at all possible. If any important business or decisions are made, we will advise you by means of these updates and by posting minutes on the Town website in order to keep you informed.

For now, stay healthy, wash your hands often, avoid crowds and try to enjoy Spring.