Committee meetings 9-9-25

TOWN OF STEPHENSON               MARINETTE COUNTY             TOWN HALL

COMMITTEE MEETINGS            

             

September 9, 2025

ORDINANCE COMMITTEE

Supervisor McCabe opened the meeting at 6:30 pm with Chairman Kudick, Supervisors Belanger, Stradal, and Van De Walle, Clerk Olson, and 6 others in attendance. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Ordinance Title 10 Chapter 4 – ATV and Off-Road Motor Vehicle Use was discussed. Several changes were suggested as follows:

                                    10-4-2(b)(3)(f) – remove current verbiage and replace with verbiage for 25 MPH on LaPlante

       10-4-2(4) – remove

       10-4-2(4)(d) – remove current verbiage and replace with “All town roads are authorized 365 days a year.”

       10-4-2(4)(1) – remove entirely

       10-4-2(4)(2)(b) – remove “All ATV operators” replace with “ Operators born January 1, 1990 and forward”

       10-4-2(4)(2)(c) and 10-4-2(4)(2)(e) – remove entirely

Supervisor McCabe would like to submit a request to Marinette County to have part of the trail that is on LaPlante moved to County Road W. These suggestions will be taken to the Board meeting.

Ordinance 8-1-2 - Public Safety and Health Hazards was discussed for unkept properties. The biggest issue was 8-1-2(c) – the 500 feet verbiage. After discussion, the Committee doesn’t propose a change.

Ordinance 10-1-3 – Official Traffic Signs and Control devices: Prohibited Signs, Signals and Markers was next on the agenda. There were concerns about signs in the town right-of-way. The Committee believes the Ordinance should remain as is. The town does have a right to remove signs in their right-of-way. The Committee would like to see a policy for removal set.

The Variance process actually falls under the set-backs of the Building Ordinance. Supervisor McCabe would like to see the process updated. He proposes an applicant would be go to the Building Inspector. If the requested variance doesn’t meet the uniform dwelling code, then the Building Inspector can discuss with the applicant, whether their request will be allowed. If it is, the application would be filled out and discussed with the Building Inspector for clarity. Then the Clerk would receive all the paperwork and payment and schedule the hearing, send out notifications, and do all necessary postings and publications. The hearing would then be conducted and properly documented on a new form that will be filled out by each Board member. The new forms will give the applicant and the town more information than the current form.

Chairman Kudick looked at the proposed form and stated that the verbiage ”General Zoning” needs to be removed. He further stated that “hardship” is a grey area when looking at a variance. Supervisor McCabe stated that the new process would be up to State standards and protect the town if there was a challenge. He would like to take it to the Board to adopt the new forms with better instruction and information This will we taken to the Board for discussion and possible decision.

An Ordinance for “Wake Boats” was put on hold until more information can be obtained. The Committee would like to see some of the Ordinances from other municipalities. Nick Vento offered to help with getting information and the ordinance process when the Committee decides to move forward.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine Olson, Clerk