by John McLoone

While some townships are struggling with how to hold their annual meeting, it was business as usual for the Township of Diamond Bluff Thursday night.

With the Mighty Mississippi rolling by outside the town hall, the board met for its monthly business meeting with its annual meeting following.

Board members social distanced themselves, spread out along the front of the room at the head table. Attendance was less than at a normal monthly meeting, with just two people and this reporter in attendance.

Board business started with clerk Todd Mehrkens reading March minutes.

Business at that meeting included proposed building ordinance changes suggested by All-Croix Inspections, which were compared to the current ordinance.

“Board members determined that the proposed ordinance did not represent the residents of Diamond Bluff as well as the current ordinance and therefore did not adopt the proposed ordinance.”

The proposed contract for inspection services with All-Croix was reviewed and improved. The board also reviewed a proposed Application to Delegate Commercial Building Code Enforcement “as suggested by All-Croix Inspections and determined to continue having the State Inspectors inspect commercial buildings and therefore took no action on said Application.”

The approval to pay claims was presented by Mehrkens. Notable expense was a winter maintenance charge for Jan. 26-Feb. 22 to Pierce County Highway Department for $3,181.50. The board also OK’d paying 2020-21 dues to the Wisconsin Towns Association for $669.60.

The board talked about some town hall repairs, including a new lock being needed on the front door, as well as removing railings on the approach to the door. It was reported that the next board meeting will be May 26.

Also, several local townspeople were meeting Saturday morning to clean 290th Street.

At the annual meeting following that first 20-minute meeting, it was reported that Diamond Bluff’s Fourth of July celebration is obviously “up in the air,” Chairman Jeff Holst said. Treasurer Mark Place reviewed financial matters. Total taxes in the budget are $588,635.78, with $558,199.33 being local real estate and personal property taxes.

Notable tax disbursements in 2019 went to Chippewa Valley Technical College ($24,251.79), Ellsworth School District ($104,778.17), Prescott School District ($199,742.44) and Pierce County ($181,953.75). The net total of taxes retained by the town for its levy was $77,909.63.

In the 2019 budget, road repairs totaled $107,575.43, well up from the budgeted amount of $63,000. Snow plowing was more than $38,000, about $8,000 over budget. Tree trimming came in at $8,007.57 and was budgeted at $3,500.

Total expenditures were $231,754.80.

A review of town operations from April 2019-April 2020 was presented.

Highlights taken from the report include:

•In May, citizens requested Township designation of ATV/UTV routes. The finalized ATV/UTV ordinance was approved in September for a trial period of two years for 410th and 290th.

•The township applied for LRP State Funds for road improvement. Funding is expected due to the Township being first in line this year in Pierce County.

•Winter road maintenance proposal were considered from Big River Dirt Works and the Pierce County Highway Department, with the Board ultimately deciding to continue contracting with Pierce County due to lower per hour and total costs.

•The Township received an offer by Vic Langer to donate the Ol’ Man River Vista Park, a piece of riverfront property adjacent to the Town parking lot. The Board gratefully accepted this future gift from the Victor and Karon Langer Estate, committing to future maintenance and appropriate acknowledgement signage.”

•Three new housing units were built in 2019.