CALL TO ORDER: A regular Village Board Meeting by President Crubaugh.
PRESENT: Chris Hodges, Stephanie Wojtowicz, Rich Stuczynski, Pat Strelitzer, Bob Rausch, Rebecca Roberts, Dave Crubaugh, Jodi Patoka & Travis Stuczynski
ALSO PRESENT: James Bussian, Eric Miller, Mark Kryshak, Michael & Meggie Schumacher
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MINUTES JANUARY 14, 2025: Approved with corrections
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
TREASURER’S REPORTS FOR NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2024: M/S Hodges/Strelitzer approve the Treasurer’s Report for November. Ayes all. M/C. Patoka will have the Treasurer’s Report for December 2024 ready for the 2/11/2025 meeting.
OPERATOR’S LICENSE: JAMES BUSSIAN – DS ALE MART: M/S Hodges/Rausch approve the operator’s license for James Bussian. Ayes all. M/C. Exit James Bussian at 6:05 p.m.
PUBLIC SPACE PERMIT FOR PAVILION BY AMBROSIA’S: AMHERST HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL BRAT FRY, SUNDAY, FEB. 9, 2025, 7AM-3PM: M/S Wojtowicz/Strelitzer approve the public space permit as presented. Ayes all. M/C.
APPOINT NEW ELECTION INSPECTORS: JIM STEPHANI & JOSH STEVENS: M/S Hodges/Roberts approve the appointment of Jim Stephani and Josh Stevens as election inspectors. Ayes all. M/C.
APPOINT DAVE NATZKE, PLAN COMMISSION MEMBER: M/S Hodges/Wojtowicz approve the appointment of Dave Natzke as a Plan Commission member. Ayes all. M/C.
RE-APPOINT LETTIE JENSEN LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS: DIANA BOHMAN, CHRIS HODGES AND CARLA STRUBLE: M/S Wojtowicz/Hodges to reappoint Lettie Jensen Library Board members, Diana Bohman, Chris Hodges & Carla Struble. Ayes all. M/C.
FHP – REIMBURSEMENT OF STAFF WAGES FROM DONATIONS: As a requirement of the grant, we do need to show the village staff wage’s from the FHP Project as an in-kind donation. We do not have to take the staff wages from the project donations but are required to report the staff’s wages. This item is tabled until all the bills from FHP are in and the other projects that were part of the grant application are complete.
BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE 2024 GENERAL ACCOUNT BUDGET: At this time, there is only one budget amendment ready to present to the board which moves all the bills paid for the Freddie’s Home Plate Project to a new account starting with account #260. M/S Roberts/Rausch to approve the budget amendment that moves all the bills for Freddie’s Home Plate from various different account numbers to a new fund starting with account #260. Ayes all. M/C.
GREENWOOD CEMETERY ACQUISITION: Received an email from the DSPS stating they want a written request/email from the President of the Greenwood Cemetery Association stating that they wish to transfer the cemetery association to the village. Greenwood Cemetery Association President, Butch Pomeroy sent an email to the DSPS on Friday, January 24, 2025, requesting the transfer. As of today, there is no further instruction from the DSPS.
POTENTIAL BUSINESS PARK FUTURE ROAD: Crubaugh will reach out to Laurie Jakusz at Cahoots to see if she has plans to move forward with the purchase of a lot in the business park.
PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:15PM – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR 432 S. MAIN ST: Crubaugh adjourned the village board meeting at 6:14 p.m. & reconvened the public hearing at 6:14 p.m. Property owner, Erik Miller submitted an application for a Tourist Rooming House at 432 S. Main St. The county does not require a permit until the property owner makes at least $2,000 on the rental. The house will be able to accommodate 6-8 people. Crubaugh adjourned the public hearing at 6:16 p.m. and reconvened the village board meeting.
ACTION REGARDING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR 432 S. MAIN ST: M/S Stuczynski/Hodges approve the Conditional Use Permit for Erik Miller at 432 S. Main St. Ayes all. M/C. Exit Erik Miller, Michael & Meggie Schumacher at 6:17 p.m.
SEPTAGE RECEIVING RULES AND RATES: Staff would like to start accepting septage at the WWTP again to help the plant run better and recoup some revenue that will be lost because of the brewery’s new filter. The brewery recently installed a filtration system that helps them reduce their BOD which in turn helps them reduce their atypical fees. The BOD’s are needed at the WWTP because this helps reduce phosphorus at the plant. By taking septage, the BOD’s from septage will help reduce the phosphorus. Staff would like to start taking septage on a trial basis during the winter months to see how the plant operates. The utility committee recommends charging septage companies $45 per 1,000 gallons of septage and $15 per 1,000 gallons of holding water. The utility committee needs to decide if an ordinance is needed or can there simply be operating rules. M/S Rausch/Strelitzer approve accepting septage at $45 per 1,000 gallons of septage and $15 per 1,000 gallons of holding water. Ayes all. M/C.
REVIEW BIDS FOR REPAIR OF WELL #1 PUMP: Staff found out that the issue may have been the VFD (variable frequency drive) overheating not the pump itself. Had CTW do some maintenance work on the VFD and discovered the fan was not working. Did get the fan working again but ordered a new fan as the old one was making a lot of noise. It seems to be functioning properly now. Will wait to see if the fan takes care of the problem.
CONTRACT WITH CBS2 TO WRITE THE 2025 FINAL COMPLIANCE ALTERNATIVES PLAN: Staff had a Zoom meeting with DNR Wastewater Rep, Nick Lindstrom to review the requirements of the report, Nick said that most municipalities hire an engineering firm to write this report. This is a new test on everyone’s permit, the village is currently meeting it phosphorus limits. Did get an extension to 2/28/2025 to submit the required report. Staff reached out to Jesse Haas at WRWA with assistance in writing this report. Haas said he doesn’t feel comfortable writing this report and recommended CBS2. The initial quote from CBS2 was $2,500 to write this report. After reviewing the requirements of the report, CBS2 believes the cost to write the report will be closer to $10,000. This will be an annual report required by the DNR. Staff will reach out to AECOM to get a quote as well. Staff will also reach out to Nick Lindstrom to see if he will grant another extension for the report due date. This is not a budgeted item, so need to find $10,000 in the sewer budget. This money will most likely come from the sewer money market funds.
PROPOSAL FROM LANE TANK TO PAINT THE WATER TOWER: This is a budgeted item for 2025. M/S Roberts/Hodges to approve the proposal from Lane Tank to paint the water tower. Ayes all. M/C.
VISU-SEWER PROPOSAL FOR JETTING & TELEVISING: This is a budgeted item for 2025. This is considered routine maintenance so will not publicly bid this project. M/S Roberts/Hodges to accept the bid from Visu-Sewer for jetting and televising. Ayes all. M/C.
WATER COMMUNICATION AGREEMENT WITH B&M TECHNICAL SERVICES: This is a budgeted item for 2025. Going to be doing Phases A & B in 2025. M/S Roberts/Hodges to approve the agreement with B&M Technical Services for Phases A & B for the water communication upgrade. Ayes all. M/C. Phases C & D will be in the 2026 budget.
UV TREATMENT AGREEMENT WITH MULCAHY SHAW WATER: This is also a budgeted item for 2025. M/S Roberts/Hodges to approve the UV Treatment Agreement with Mulchay Shaw Water. Ayes all. M/C.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Plan Commission:
- n/a
Utility:
- Minutes of January 21, 2025
- Storage capacity study
- Utility operations: Well #1 & #2 Upgrades
- Had a water main break on N. Main Street on January 23, 2025. WRWA brought a “stethoscope” to determine were the break was. Repair went well.
Safety:
- Junked vehicles at 378 N. Main St. Crubaugh will follow up with Maureen Daniels letting her know that we have reached out to the property owner but haven’t received a response.
Finance:
- Auditors from CLA will be at the village hall the week of February 24th to do the final fieldwork for the 2024 audit review.
Personnel:
- n/a
Administrative:
- There will be a spring primary on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. ES&S will be here in May to service the voting equipment for the Village of Amherst, Town of Amherst, Village of Amherst Jct., Town of Lanark and Village of Nelsonville. The Amherst Village Hall will serve as the main hub for the above-mentioned municipalities.
Public Works:
- Freddie’s Home Plate update: The concession stand agreement has been signed with the Orsund Foundation.
- Several scout leaders & VFW leaders have been in to sign the new agreement for the Hall at Guyant Park. The locks at the Hall at Guyant Park will be changed after February 1, 2025.
- Purchased a skid steer and a 4-wheeler this week which were both budgeted items for 2025.
Tree Board:
- The Tree City USA application has been tentatively approved.
Library:
- Next meeting is Monday, February 3, 2025
Fire District:
- n/a
M/S Hodges/Strelitzer to adjourn at 7:04 p.m. Ayes all. M/C.
Respectfully submitted,
Jodi Patoka
Clerk/Treasurer