Plan Commission Minutes 12/8/09

Minutes of the Plan Commission meeting held on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at city hall pursuant to notice duly given.

1. Meeting called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Mayor Nerenhausen.
2. Roll call: Mayor Nerenhausen, Kale Proksch, Bob Mommaerts, Tom Fulton and Mike Werner. Excused/Absent: Bob Bake and John Matravers. Also present: Ron Banach and Linda Belongia, Administrator and as recording secretary.
3. Moved by Werner seconded by Fulton to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes
4. No correspondence or public input.
5. Moved by Proksch seconded by Werner to accept and place on file as typed the minutes from the 11/3/09 meeting.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes
6. Discussion/recommendation/action on:
a. Tom Tilleman and Mike Frewerd from DOT present to discuss outdoor signs allowed per DOT standards; handouts provided and placed on file;
also present for the discussion: Pete Stark, Dick Doeren, and Rod Barta;
area must be zoned business commercial or industrial; sign must be
minimum of 100’ from taper of all cross routes; 1200 sq ft/side; discussion
on off premise signs; the Welcome to Oconto signs are an example of
DOT allowed official signs or signs that promote downtown, but cannot list a “business” on the sign; directional sign examples would be for a
museum…nationally ore regionally known; needs approval through the
Madison office; no signs are allowed in the ROW; can have directional
signs on agricultural zoned property; signs cannot be within a mile of each
other; discussion on historical signs; Stark stated he has been working
with Frewerd regarding signage; Doeren questioned reader board signs;
Frewerd stated those types of signs cannot advertise businesses, i.e., if
it’s a Walmart fishing derby the sign can only sign fishing derby; reader
board signs cannot be flashing…have time limits on message changing;
Tilleman stated those signs can only be 150 sq ft and have to be off the
ROW; no further discussion, Mayor thanked Mr. Tilleman and Mr. Frewerd
for attending and the good discussion.

b. Discussion on use of the multi-modal trail near McDonald St/Mill
St/Copper Culture State Park. Mayor stated the ATV club would like to
get from STH 22 to Van Dyke and have this designated as an ATV
trail…will allow for access to the trailhead; Stark questioned if the trail from
McDonald to Mill and Copper Culture Park will be for snowmobiles?
Mayor stated that trail was not designed for snowmobiles or ATV’s, it has
a different surface than the other trail, so it will not be designated;
Proksch questioned who will police and maintain the trails, especially with
use by ATV’S? Mayor stated we will work with the clubs on this, getting
their participation on maintenance; Mommaerts stated that the trail out by
Van Hecke is already showing wear from the vehicles and use it’s getting;

Moved by Werner seconded by Fulton to recommend to Com of the Whole that the intent of the Plan Commission is to establish and approve of an
ATV trail from the existing railroad ROW (going to Stiles) through the
Underpass at the trailhead on Van Hecke Avenue, then south along Van
Hecke to the railroad ROW (going to Cook Avenue) then along the railroad
ROW to Cook Avenue, then along Cook Avenue to C.T.H. Y.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes


c. Discussion on request from Bob Mommaerts to change Johnson Street to Logtown Road; Mommaerts stated Johnson Street only goes from
Cook to Gallon Road…the north half is Logtown Road which creates a
problem for signage. Mayor agreed.
Moved by Fulton seconded by Werner to recommend to Com of the Whole to change Johnson Street to Logtown Road.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

7. Next meeting, January 5th, 2010 and one issue on the agenda will be creating a draft ordinance on usage of the multi-modal trail(s).


8. Moved by Fulton seconded by Werner to adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.


Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia,
Administrator