CALL TO ORDER: A regular village board meeting by President Crubaugh.
PRESENT: Chris Hodges, Stephanie Wojtowicz, Rich Stuczynski, Bob Rausch, Rebecca Roberts, Dave Crubaugh, Jodi Patoka & Travis Stuczynski
EXCUSED: Pat Strelitzer ALSO PRESENT: Brian Swan
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MINUTES DECEMBER 10, 2024: Approved as presented.
PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: N/A
PAYMENT OF BILLS: M/S Stuczynski/Wojtowicz approve payment of the bills including the add’l list. Roll call vote. Ayes all. M/C
PARKING PASS FOR VILLAGE HIVE BAKERY: M/S Hodges/Roberts approve the parking pass for Abigail Hamm at the Village Hive Bakery. Ayes all. M/C.
SEWER CREDIT ADJUSTMENT FOR 341 PACKER AVE: M/S Roberts/Hodges approve the sewer credit adjustment as presented. Ayes all. M/C.
ACTION REGARDING THE 2025 BUDGET FOR SEWER AND WATER: Action on the sewer & water budgets was delayed at the December 2024 meeting until we could get further clarification on the depreciation of $80,000 in the sewer budget and $28,000 in the water budget. After talking to Amber at CLA, both of these depreciation line items need to stay in the budgets. The water budget is $33,083.56 over budget for 2025 and the sewer budget is $113,736.76 over budget for 2025. The water dept. has a money market account of over $37,000 and the sewer dept. has a money market account of over $296,000. The board felt it was best to take the shortage from the money market accounts rather than take a loan out. If either the water or sewer dept needs a major repair or purchase, then the village could borrow for it. The budgets should be reflected to show that the money needed to cover the shortage is being pulled from the money market accounts. M/S Roberts/Rausch approve the 2025 water and sewer budgets with the change of pulling the shortage from the money market accounts of each. Ayes all. M/C.
RESOLUTION TO BORROW $45,000 FOR SKID STEER PURCHASE: Staff have found a used skid steer in Antigo for $30,000. The board did approve a $45,000 purchase/loan in the general fund budget for 2025. The add’l $15,000 will allow staff to purchase attachments for the skid steer. M/S Rausch/Roberts approve the borrowing resolution for $45,000 for the purchase of used skid steer. Ayes all. M/C.
SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AT 432 S. MAIN ST: The property owner is turning the 3-bedroom residential home into a tourist rooming house. The property is zoned General Business, with this zoning classification, a tourist rooming house is not allowed this is why a public hearing is needed. The Plan Commission committee recommend approval of the conditional use permit. Crubaugh set the public hearing for Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. Patoka will mail notification of the public hearing to neighboring property owners.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS CONTRACT FOR ANNUAL SIREN INSPECTION & MAINTENANCE: This contract would be for 5 years and would lock in the pricing. The annual cost is $475.00. The previous contract price as $397.00. M/S Hodges/Roberts approve the contract as presented. Ayes all. M/C.
TEMPORARY BEER & WINE LICENSE – JENSEN COMMUNITY CENTER, FEBRUARY 1, 2025: M/S Stuczynski/Wojtowicz to approve the temporary beer & wine license for the Jensen Center on 2/1/2025 for the Willie Porter concert. Ayes all. M/C.
HYDROCORP – CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL RENEWAL AGREEMENT: Hydro Corp inspects the village businesses yearly to be sure that contaminated water does not back flow into the village water system. Village staff perform cross connection inspections on residential properties. The monthly cost of the new contract is $254.96. As part of the Hydro Corp contract, they will also review the village’s cross-connection ordinance (if available). The current contract is a 2-year contract. The village has the option to sign a 5-year contract with Hydro Corp and a 4% escalator would be added year-to-year. M/S Rausch/Roberts to approve the contract with Hydro Corp for a 5-year period that includes a 4% yearly escalator. Ayes all. M/C. *Update the budget to reflect the change for 2026 and a 4% escalator.
SLUDGE SPREADING AGREEMENT FOR 2025: Per Chad Ostrowski, he would like to add a charge of $200 per occurrence for spreading the recycling pile from the WWTP site to the sludge spreading agreement. Ostrowski did not ask for any other changes to the current contract. M/S Roberts/Hodges approve the 2025 sludge spreading agreement with the addition of a charge of $200 per occurrence for spreading the recycling pile from the WWTP site. Ayes all. M/C.
BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE 2024 GENERAL ACCOUNT BUDGET: This item is postponed because all the bills for the Freddie’s Home Plate project have not been submitted yet.
FREDDIE’S HOME PLATE CONCESSION STAND AGREEMENT: The Orsund Foundation has reviewed the agreement and is in agreement with it. Regarding Item #10, Crubaugh will talk to the Orsund about whether or not they need to carry liability insurance. M/S Hodges/Wojtowicz to approve the Freddie’s Home Plate Concession Stand Agreement. Ayes all. M/C.
GREENWOOD CEMETERY ACQUISITION: This item is postponed as the village is still waiting to hear from the State of WI Cemetery Board to see if they approve of the transfer.
POTENTIAL BUSINESS PARK FUTURE ROAD: T. Stuczynski went over the details of the potential new road in the business park. The bids that Stuczynski received from Stuczynski Trucking & American Asphalt were for the road construction and paving of the new road. If Cahoots decide they would like to move forward with the purchase of a lot in the business park, the road would be a 2026 project.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Plan Commission:
- Portage County Bike/Pedestrian Workshop at the Jensen Community Center Thursday, January 16, 2025, 6-8pm. Interactive survey available also. Portage County is looking to update The Amherst Mill Pond Lake Management Plan. Anyone interested should reach out to Rebecca Roberts.
Utility:
- Well #1 & #2 Upgrades – working on getting bids to repair the pump in well #1.
- Met with CBS2 about Phosphorus reporting
- Septage receiving at WWTP – going to discuss rates and rules at future meeting
- Meter installs have started in Quadrant #2 plus residential cross connection inspections
Safety:
- Junked vehicles at 378 N. Main St. – email sent to homeowner on 12/10/24, no response as of today.
- Had a few vehicles parked on the street during the recent snowfall. Cars were called into the sheriff’s office.
Finance:
- Need to discuss reimbursing the village for the staff’s time (wages & benefits) on the Freddie’s Home Plate project
Personnel:
Administrative:
- There will be a Spring Primary on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
- New LED lights were installed in the board/meeting room
Public Works:
- Freddie’s Home Plate update
- New locks have been purchased for the Hall at Guyant Park
Tree Board:
Library:
- The LinkCat System is up and running. New library cards are being handed out.
- The final total raised from the December 2024 fundraiser was $3,659. The library received $3,000 in donations in December.
Fire District:
M/S Stuczynski/Roberts to adjourn at 6:57 p.m. Ayes all. M/C
Respectfully submitted,
Jodi Patoka
Clerk/Treasurer