Another vote needed on transportation budget
By Robert Cloud
Dayton will hold a special meeting to ask citizens to approve raising the town’s transportation budget.
The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at the Dayton Town Hall.
At the annual budget hearing in November 2014, Dayton citizens voted to cut $345,000 from the town’s proposed $1.28 million transportation budget for 2015.
Dave Armstrong, Dayton’s new town chairman, found that Dayton is on course to spend more than $1.1 million on transportation expenses for this year, leaving the town with a nearly $172,000 deficit.
“I don’t see a problem here,” Armstrong said at a May 19 town board meeting.
He noted that Dayton expects to receive $541,000 in state and county transportation grants once work is completed this summer on three bridges.
“If the projects get done in late August, we’ll file the paper and get paid in September or October,” Armstrong said.
He said the town should see a surplus of $369,000 after the grant funds are received.
However, the town’s electors must approve a change in the town’s transportation budget at the June special meeting.
Armstrong also updated citizens on the ongoing litigation involving Dayton, Waupaca County and area residents.
Armstrong said he spoke with Eric Hendrickson, the town’s attorney, about two lawsuits that are still pending.
“I asked that he please try real hard not to create any more victims,” Armstrong said.
“Diligent efforts are being undertaken to conclude all of the litigation, and it is hoped that this will take place in the near future,” Hendrickson said in a memo to Armstrong. “Final arrangements are up to the insurance companies and are the subject of the current discussions.”
The Dayton Town Board is also recruiting members to three citizen advisory committees.
Supervisor John Miller will lead a committee to review the town’s ordinances.
Supervisor Jane Haasch will lead a committee to help the riparian property owners on the former Little Hope Mill Pond.
“We’re trying to open up communication with the county and make sure the people living there have their needs heard,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong will lead a committee that will look at the town’s policies and methods for cutting trees along road right-of-ways.
Dayton residents interested in participating in these committees may go online to http://town-dayton.com/ and find phone numbers and email addresses for the town board members.