TOWN OF BELL BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Following the Special Town Meeting -Budget
at the Community Center
The meeting was called to order at 7:13 p.m. Board members present were Matt Lazorik, Jackie Eid, James Kaseno, Gordon Anderson , Paul Ehlers, MaryBeth Tillmans and Janice Olson.
-Board Meeting Minutes-
J.Eid made a motion to approve the Oct 10, 2023 Regular Board Meeting minutes and G.
Anderson 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.
J.Eid made a motion to approve the Budget Meeting minutes and P. Ehlers 2nd the motion.
Unanimous decision. Approved.
-Treasurer’s Report –J. Eid made a motion to approve the reports and G. Anderson 2nd the
motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.
Board Comments –
- Eid – An email was received. She reminded everyone that public input is taken as a
courtesy.
Correspondence– Shannon Behzer- Letter was read with comments on the Short Term
Rental Ordinance.
Committee Reports-Reviewed
Sanitary District –The new sanitary pond is in the planning stages. They have budgeted
$200,000 for project engineering. With this amount budgeted, they have a $138,000
deficit. The DNR will loan them money for the project. They said that they will
forgive some of the debt.
Public Comments
Shawn Mcelhatton- Working on senior housing in Cornucopia. He will be asking the
Bayfield County Housing Authority to work with the Cornucopia Housing
Committee.
Eve Erickson-Recommended approval of the Short Term Rental Ordinance
Susan Keachie-Questions the consecutive days in the Short Term Rental Ordinance.
Judy Kerr- Provided Census data.
Lacy Lueth- Concerns about the consecutive days in the Short Term Rental Ordinance.
Jayne Norton – Concerns about the consecutive days in the Short Term Rental
Ordinance.
Phil Moye-Supports the Short Term Rental documents as submitted.
John Anderson – Supports the Short Term Rental Ordinance.
Kathleen Russell-Approves adoption of ordinance.
Old Business
- Town Assessor vacancy- discussion and possible decision
M. Lazorik is looking into finding someone different. One person has sent a quote
and there are two more coming.
- Town financial audit- discussion and possible decision
Mark Ehlers reached out to three firms in Duluth and received no response.
He said that a self audit could be done. He could recommend procedures.
This is something that Oulu does. A committee could be set up with volunteers
from the public. M. Ehlers will continue to look for quotes from more areas.
- Short Term Rental Ordinance #2023-01- discussion and possible decision
The reply from the town attorney was reviewed. She said the language was
acceptable. A few changes that were suggested were restrictions on campers
and RVs, and more uniform quiet hours. P. Ehlers made a motion to accept the
ordinance as written with the exceptions of the attorney’s comments. G. Anderson
2nd the motion. J. Kaseno abstained from voting. Unanimous decision Approved.
New Business
- Picnic license for the Cornucopia fire department turkey dinner- discussion and possible decision
P. Ehlers made a motion to approve the Picnic license for the Cornucopia fire
turkey dinner on Sun., Nov. 19th and J. Kaseno 2nd the motion. Unanimous decision.
Approved.
- Adoption of the 2024 Budget- discussion and decision
J. Eid made a motion to adopt the 2024 budget and J. Kaseno 2nd the motion.
Unanimous decision. Approved.
- Advertise for proposals for a new pickup truck and plow- discussion and decision
J. Eid made a motion to advertise for a new pickup truck and plow. G. Anderson
2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.
- Advertise for proposals for a new dump truck and plow- discussion and decision
G. Anderson made a motion to advertise for a new dump truck and plow. J. Eid
2nd the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.
- McCowan: Class A Special Use Short Term Rental- discussion and possible decision
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the McCowan permit.
J. Eid made a motion to recommend approval of the permit and P. Ehlers 2nd
the motion. Unanimous decision. Approved.
- Marsh: Conditional Use- discussion and possible decision
The permit is to make a room above their garage. It will not be used as
a short term rental. Unanimous decision. M. Lazorik abstained from voting.
Approved.
Public Comment
Susan Keachie – Concerns about the Short Term Rental Ordinance
Bruce Ehlers – Questions about how the town is going to enforce the Short Term
Rental Ordinance.
Eve Erickson – Question about budget.
At 8:41 p.m., J. Eid made a motion to adjourn the meeting and G. Anderson 2nd the motion. Approved.
Respectfully submitted,
MaryBeth Tillmans – Clerk