TOWN OF ANGELICA NEWSLETTER  ~  MARCH OF 2011

 

For General Information, Agendas and Minutes of Meetings go to the Town’s Website ~ www.townofangelica.com

 

 

FINANCIAL ISSUES:  It is anticipated that the town will receive cuts in our Wisconsin State Shared Revenues, Transportation Aids and Recycling Grant under the proposed State biennium budget for 2012-2013.   As of this date we do not know specifics in regard to possible cuts.  We do know that there will be no relief “as advertised” by the State because of the changes in employee benefits because the town does not provide any benefits for its employees or officers.

 

In the past we have continued to reconstruct our town roads by widening them from three to four rods and providing a safer ditchway.  Our goal had always been to reconstruct two miles of road every year but in the past three years this has decreased to one mile a year because of increasing reconstruction and asphalt costs.  However, the town is concerned about the safety of our roads and every year has done road reconstruction.  Hopefully we will be able to continue doing this until all town roads are widened to four rods.  There are approximately eight miles of three-rod roads left that need to be widened.

 

In 2007/2008 the town did a major remodeling to our town hall to bring it up to handicap accessibility and other building codes after having budgeted money to set aside for that purpose for several years prior to doing that remodeling.

 

In 2010 the town entered into a five-year contract with a new provider for garbage and recycling pickup that was approximately 30% less than our previous contract.

 

For the past five years the town has been under a State imposed tax levy freeze that allows an increase in the town’s tax levy that is related to only the amount of increased growth in the town in the past year or three percent, whichever is greater.

 

At this time the town is hopeful that it will be able to continue providing all the services they have been providing in the past even with the cuts in State aids and while still being under a tax levy freeze.  As you will note, this year’s Annual Financial Report and all previous Annual Financial Reports have shown a positive balance for the end of the year and the town has lived within its budget.

 

SHAWANO COUNTY ZONING CODE REWRITE:  The present zoning code was originally adopted in 1967. A new Zoning Code Rewrite has been recommended for approval by the Shawano County Planning & Zoning Committee and will come before the March 23, 2011 County Board meeting for final approval.  Some of the changes in the Zoning Code that would affect the Town of Angelica are as follows:

 

·         There will be a new OAR Open Lands, Agriculture, and Residential District with two development options:  one that reflects current A-290 rules and a second option that allows housing at a density of 1 house per every 10 acres in clustered and large-lot forms.

·         The present A-G General Agriculture district will be discontinued and will be replaced with new OAR and A-R Agricultural-Residential districts as two options to meet similar intent.

·         There will be a new H Hamlet zoning district which would allow a mix of small-scale residential, commercial, and institutional uses with modest setbacks and other standards.

·         The code will contain specific reference to the County livestock siting ordinance, and there will be specific standards and limitations for keeping farm animals on smaller lots in rural areas.

 

The revised zoning code and associated maps are available through on the County’s website.  Go to:      www.co.shawano.wi.us.

 

TOWN OF ANGELICA’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:  The Town of Angelica’s Comprehensive Plan was completed and adopted in August of 2008 and will be included in the Shawano County Comprehensive Plan.  Recommendations in these two plans will be incorporated into the Shawano County Zoning Code Rewrite.

 

DRIVEWAYS ON COUNTY ROADS:  Shawano County recently passed Ordinance 1-11 ~ Establishing a County Highway Access Policy.   This ordinance has design standards for all new driveways on county roads and a permit that is approved by the Shawano County Highway Commissioner is required before construction of a new driveway.  Go to the County’s website at:  www.co.shawano.wi.us  where you can download a copy of the permit.  The ordinance also has regulations pertaining to existing driveways.  One item is as follows:

 

The county shall not be liable for injury to persons or property due to headwalls or riprap at the ends of driveway culverts.  This type of construction is not permitted under this policy and existing conditions should be removed by the property owner.

 

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION:   Permits are required for construction of homes, additions to buildings and other buildings in the Town of Angelica.  Detailed information was provided in the December 2010 Town Newsletter, is posted on the town’s website or can be obtained by contacting the town clerk.

 

BUILDING INSPECTION REQUIRED:  New construction of one and two-family dwellings and alterations and additions to one and two-family dwellings in excess of $10,000.00 require a Uniform Dwelling Code permit and inspection in addition to the Town Building Permit.  Town Building Inspector Tom Smith, Tom Smith Inspections LLC, Phone:  920-655-1735 is the building inspector for the town who issues the UDC permit and does the UDC inspections.  There are forfeitures of not less than $25.00 nor more than $1,000.00 for each day of noncompliance.

                       

Any structural changes or major changes to mechanical systems that involve extensions shall require permits if over the $10,000.00 thresholds.  Restoration or repair of an installation to its previous code-compliant condition as determined by the building inspector is exempted from permit requirements.  Residing, re-roofing, window replacement, finishing of interior surfaces and installation of cabinetry shall be exempted from permit requirements. 

 

ZONE CHANGES ~ CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS ~ VARIANCE REQUESTS:  In all cases, contact the Shawano County Planning, Development and Zoning Department at 715-526-6766 as a  Preliminary Consultation  form has to be filled out before proceeding with any of these requests.

 

BURNING POLICY IN THE TOWN OF ANGELICA:  Individuals/private citizens may burn lawn and garden debris and small quantities of clean-untreated wood.  Clean paper waste that is not recyclable may also be burned.  Before burning, please obtain a copy of the Town of Angelica’s policy on open burning.  It is available on the town’s website or by contacting the Town Clerk.  If you anticipate any large amount of smoke, notify the Pulaski Tri-County Fire Department at 920-822-5392 and the Shawano County Sheriff at 715-526-3111 (non-emergency 24-hour phone number) to inform them of the planned burning.  When planning any burning, please keep in mind that the town has an ordinance whereby the property owner or resident will be billed the actual cost incurred by the town for fire protection and/or alarm responses and that passerbys with cell phones could call the fire department when they see smoke or fire.  It is important that the fire department and the Shawano County Sheriff  Department be made aware of any planned burning.

 

DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS:  Under no circumstances is the burning of materials from demolition of buildings allowed.  Check with the DNR in regard to burying of stone/cement foundations to see if this is allowed in your circumstance.  Call:  DNR Waste & Materials at 920-662-5170.

 

BUSINESSES:  Please note that businesses may not do any open burning without a wood burning facility license that can be obtained from the DNR.

 

DOG TAGS:   It is important that dog license tags be attached to your dog’s collar.  We have had a number of instances when the town’s Animal Control person has had to pick up a lost dog and it  had no identification on it.  If the dog tags or another form of identification are on the dog it can more easily be returned to its owner and in addition the dog tags confirm that the dog has had its required rabies shots.  The town’s animal control person is Herbert Rusch who can be reached at 715-758-8203.  Also as a reminder, a listing of people who have not obtained a dog license for their dog or dogs will be sent to the Shawano County District Attorney.  The deadline to obtain a license before being placed on this list is April 1, 2011.

 

SERVICES FOR THE AGED AND DISABLED:  The Shawano County Department of Social Services administers various programs in regard to Nutrition, Senior Services and Transportation for those people who are over 60 or are disabled.  For more information call: 715-526-4700 or Toll Free at 1-866-526-2130.

 

PAYMENT OF SECOND INSTALLMENT OF TAXES:  Please note that the second installment of taxes due July 31, 2011 are not to be paid to the Town Treasurer but are to be paid to the Shawano County Treasurer, Kay Schroeder, Shawano County Court House,  911 Main Street, Shawano  WI  54166.

 

KRAKOW PARK PAVILION:  The Town of Angelica Park in Krakow would be a perfect place to have a family reunion, graduation party or birthday party.  The pavilion building has a small kitchen area behind a serving counter with running water and electrical outlets.  For rental information contact either Grant Wery at 920-822-3619 or Steve Effert at 920-899-3644 of the Krakow Advancement Association.  Rental of the pavilion for town residents is $40.00 which includes the picnic tables located in the shelter area of the pavilion.

 

GARBAGE/RECYCLING PICKUP SCHEDULE:  An updated Garbage/Recycling Pickup Schedule for the remainder of 2011 is included with this newsletter. 

 

UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN 2011:             April 5, 2011 ~  SPRING ELECTION

                                                                                                  For Town Officials and School Board members

                                    

Polls at the Town of Angelica Town Hall will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 

OPEN BOOK AND BOARD OF REVIEW:   The town’s Assessor, Accurate Appraisal, will be holding Open Book at the town hall on Monday, July 11, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.   Board of Review is scheduled for Thursday, July 28, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 

UPCOMING MEETINGS;                     ANNUAL MEETING ~ Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

 

TOWN BOARD MEETINGS, 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Town of Angelica Town Hall

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS , 1st Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Town of Angelica Town Hall

 

 

Your cooperation in all these matters is greatly appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

 

The Angelica Town Board