TOWN OF BELL BOARD MEETING Tuesday, February 10, 2026 7:00 p.m. at Town of Bell Community CenterThe meeting was called to order at 7: 00 p.m. Board members present were Matt Lazorik, Gordon Anderson, James Kaseno, Paul Ehlers, Ken Roman and Janice Olson. MaryBeth Tillmans was present virtually. -Board Meeting Minutes – P. Ehlers made a motion to approve the Jan. minutes. G. Anderson 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved. Treasurer’s Report – P. Ehlers made a motion to approve the reports and J. Kaseno 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved. Board Comments P. Ehlers- The DNR has approved the Town of Bell as an E-Recycling Wisconsin elector registered site. A web camera has been installed at the airport. It will be linked to a YouTube channel and available on the town website. Correspondence-None Committee Reports-None Sanitary District The Sanitary District is compiling new data about how much waste is coming in from other townships. M. Ehlers spoke with their attorney. They are looking at options to get funding for their project. A few of the options are adding an assessment charge up to 5% to the current sanitary district, issue a bond, change the user fee ordinance so that when people apply for a sanitary permit from Bayfield County a fee is added. At least 2.1 million dollars are need for the project. Agenda - Funding for senior meals, discussion and possible decision
M. Lazorik read the request from the Bayfield Co. Senior Meals Program, to replace money that is no longer being provided by the state. They had three suggested options: 1. Replace the cancelled state funding of the Senior Meals $2500. 2. A lump sum donation of $1500, based on the 2026 projected number of qualifying meals served, which would be 1000 meals at $1.50 increase of cost per meal. 3. They would submit a monthly statement that would reflect the actual number of qualifying meals served each month, which would be a donation of a $1.50 per meal. P. Ehlers made a motion to replace the cancelled state funding of the Senior Meals Program $2500. K. Roman 2nd the motion. Discussion was held. The Senior Meals Program has not looked to other funding resources. Vote: (0 Yes-4 No). J. Kaseno abstained from voting. Motion failed. - Installing additional streetlights, discussion and decision
J. Kaseno made a motion for two new street lights on Michigan Ave. and the replacement of a power pole at the cost of $200.00. G. Anderson 2nd the motion. Vote:(4-Yes, 1 No) Yes – M. Lazorik, J. Kaseno, G. Anderson and K. Roman. No-P. Ehlers. Motion passed. New Business - Parking for potential ice cave visitors, discussion and possible decision
The National Park Service is looking at opening the Ice Caves soon. When they do, no parking will be allowed at Meyers Beach or the highway. People will need to be shuttled in. Parking will be at the Town of Bell, the Sand River Gravel Pit or the Red Cliff Casino. People will need to be shuttled. Bart Bus will be providing the service and the cost for the shuttles will be $5.00 each way. The town has plowed two areas for parking. One would be behind the Community Center and the other at the lakefront. Only passenger vehicles will be allowed to park. No trailers will be allowed. An electronic form of payment for parking was looked into by M. Lazorik. Whitney Olson and Brett were present to explain the system. Pricing would be set by the town. A price of $10 was suggested from their research. QR code signs would be placed at the parking areas for payment to be received electronically. M. Lazorik received estimates for port-o-potties at the parking areas. It is estimated that a fee of $10 for parking would be needed to cover the cost. M. Lazorik made a motion to approve the plowed areas at the rear of the Community Center and the lakefront as designated parking lot areas. J. Kaseno 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Motion passed. P. Ehlers made a motion to charge a $10 fee at the designated parking areas. G. Anderson 2nd the motion. Discussion was held. M. Lazorik received costs for port-o-potties from No 2 Septic System. The cost per unit would be $110 per unit with a $65 charge per unit per service. After calculations of factors the $10 charge would cover the costs of plowing and port-o-potties. Unanimous decision. Motion passed. M. Lazorik made a motion to accept the electronic system proposal presented with a cost of $750, plus .50 per transaction, with the QR code for the parking. G. Anderson 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Motion passed. P. Ehlers made a motion to put the QR signs on the town streets. G. Anderson 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Motion passed. There will be no parking Erie Ave to Ash St. and Ash St to Michigan Ave and Michigan Ave to Ash St., to allow fire department access. M. Lazorik made a motion that Bell Marina Road, Lost Creek Road and Siskiwit Falls Road be closed to parking, while the Ice Caves are open and P. Ehlers 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Motion passed. P. Ehlers made a motion to have at least four port-o-potties for parking locations and be prepared to get four more. G. Anderson 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Motion passed. - UDC inspection cost update, discussion and decision
The town’s UDC inspector Rob has reached out with a proposal for increased costs for inspections of 1 & 2 family dwellings. It has been 20 years since there have been increases. M. Lazorik gave a brief overview of the cost increases. G. Anderson made a motion to approve the new costs for inspections and K. Roman 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Motion passed. - Renewal of MOU with Bayfield Area Trails, discussion and possible decision
Parks and Lands recommended approval of the renewal of the MOU with Bayfield Area Trails. Peter Roth is the town representative. K. Roman made a motion approve the renewal for the five-year period. P. Ehlers 2nd the motion. Vote:(4 Yes- 1 No) Yes – G. Anderson, P. Ehlers, J. Kaseno and K. Roman and No – M. Lazorik. Motion passed.Public Comment Period G. Anderson – Nancy Moye is heading the Cornucopia Sign Committee. They actively working on the design and placement of the sign. At 8:04 p.m., P. Ehlers made a motion to adjourn the meeting and G. Anderson end the motion. Unanimous decision. Motion passed. Respectfully submitted, MaryBeth Tillmans – Clerk |