Cadott Village Board - Subdivision requirements will be cut and dried

Cadott Village Board

By Ginna Young There’s been some back-and-forth about what subdivisions should look like in Cadott, and at the village board meeting, Feb. 17, an ordinance review was held, to show the progress toward that. Josh Miller, Cedar Corp., was present to discuss the changes to the subdivision ordinance, which will be approved at a later date, after a public hearing.

“This has been a long overdue project,” said Miller. A lot of the changes to the ordinance are based on Chapter 236 of state statutes.

For example, Miller wants to clarify that subdivisions are considered to be anything five acres or less.

“Right now, if it’s over an acre and a half, you really don’t have that option,” he said.

Cedar Corp. also cleaned up the timeline agreement and the village can require design standards for public improvements, even for a Certified Survey Map (CSM).

“The confusion comes in, when you have a CSM and it’s just a couple lots,” said Miller. “You can waive them (standards) if you want, but you can require them, as well.”

The village can also require developer to pay for the project, unless they are within a TIF district and it is in the interest of the village.

“All these things could be waived, we’re just giving flexibility,” said Miller.

Another thing Cedar Corp. looked at, is the village’s A-1 Agricultural zoning, spelling out what a hobby farm consists of and being consistent with how the state views it. Currently, the village regulations say there is no livestock allowed in the A-1 zoning, but the village is going to amend that to say limited livestock.

“It seems kind of odd that you have an agricultural district, and you can’t even have a couple of goats or a horse, essentially,” said Miller.

The board also agreed to upgrading to a used county plow truck, at the end of the winter season, which saves a considerable amount, instead of buying a new one to the tune of $250,000. Public works director Jeremy Kenealy promised to look into purchasing some identifying stickers for the fleet, as well.

Also approved, contingent on some needed information, was to upgrade electrical meters to drive-by auto reads, which will be purchased from Rice Lake Utilities. Rice Lake is charging the village $10/per meter, as opposed to around $260 each, if they bought them new.

“Plus, they’re going to give us 50 free ones, they said, in case there are any problems with the ones we buy,” said Kenealy.

Switching out the meters should be a quick installation, but the village does have to upgrade the reading system.

Also approved, was the hire of Sara Shadis, deputy clerk/treasurer, who will learn the ropes to take over for Janice Christie, who is retiring.

Sara Shadis sat in on her first Cadott Village Board meeting, Feb. 17, after being selected as the new deputy clerk/treasurer. Shadis is still learning the ropes, but is picking up things quickly, as she trains to take over for retiring Janice Christie.

Photo by Ginna Young