CALL TO ORDER: A regular village board meeting by President Crubaugh.
PRESENT: Rebecca Roberts, Bob Rausch, Pat Strelitzer, Rich Stuczynski, Stephanie Wojtowicz, Chris Hodges, Dave Crubaugh, Jodi Patoka & Travis Stuczynski
ALSO PRESENT: Matthew Carlson, Scott Carlson & Brian Swan.
Mike & Jacob Marcott entered at 6:25 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MINUTES FEBRUARY 25, 2025: Approved as presented
PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: N/A
PAYMENT OF BILLS: M/S Strelitzer/Stuczynski approve payment of the bills including the add’l list. Roll call vote. Ayes all. M/C.
UTILITY ADJUSTMENTS FOR 241 WASHINGTON ST: After discussing the credit of $314.25 being credited to property owner’s water only account, it was realized that property owner’s monthly bill is typically only $4.00 a month, sometimes a little more depending on if the outside faucet is used for watering. It would take approximately 6+ years to use up the credit which was not a feasible option. Per PSC rules, if a credit is going to be given, the check must be written out to the account holder who is the tenant. In speaking to the property owner, we explained to her that the check will be written out to her tenant and then the tenant will sign the check over to her. This amount would come from the sewer account because the PSC does not regulate the sewer account. The check can’t be written to Lea as she has a water-only meter on her account and does not get charged any sewer charges. Lea was ok with this proposal.
The board needs to rescind the vote from the 2/25/2025 village board meeting so that the above action can take place. M/S Wojtowicz/Rausch to rescind the motion from the 2/25/25 village board meeting to give property owner Shawn Lea a check for $314.00. Ayes all. M/C
M/S Hodges/Wojtowicz to cut a check from the sewer account to tenant Stacy Suchowski for $314.00 who will then sign it over to property owner, Shawn Lea. If the tenant does not sign the check over to Lea, the check will be destroyed. Ayes all. M/C
Since there was not an ask from the other tenant to forgive the extra charges to their water/sewer account, no formal action will be taken.
COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX: There is still uncollected money owed from several businesses for delinquent uncollected personal property taxes owed in 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 totaling $5,612.44. Several notices have been sent to these business owners to try and collect these funds with no success. The village could pursue legal action with these property owners but the cost of pursuing these uncollected funds with an attorney could cost more than the money due plus some of these businesses are no longer in business. The personal property tax is now exempt beginning 1/1/2024 per Wisconsin Department of Revenue. M/S Stuczynski/Hodges to suspend collection of delinquent personal property taxes due from 2021- 2024. Ayes all. M/C.
BID FOR REPAVING WASHINGTON ST: Had bid opening today. Received two bids, one from American Asphalt for $99,780 with a possible deduction of $995 if the performance bond is waived. Also received a bid from Northeast Asphalt $137,310 with a possible deduction of $500 if performance bond is waived. The Public Works Committee is recommending the board approve the bid from American Asphalt. $125,000 was budgeted in 2025 for the Washington St. project plus the village will be receiving $15,830.49 in LRIP funds for this project. M/S Roberts/Rausch to accept the bid from American Asphalt for $99,780 with the possible deduction of $995 if the performance bond is waived. Ayes all. M/C. There may be other smaller projects that staff would like to complete connected with the Washington St. project that can be done in 2025 since the repaving bid came in more $25,000 less than the budgeted amount. The Public Works committee will be meeting to review those other projects and make recommendations to the board.
CHARGE FOR USE OF VILLAGE TRUCK: Currently residents can use one of the village trucks for a charge of $10/load for getting rid of yard waste, branches, etc. Staff drop off the truck, the resident calls when the truck is full and staff will empty it. This is a service that is provided to village residents but there are times when more than just yard clippings and tree branches are loaded, and the resident may ask to have the truck emptied several times in one day. The committee is recommending that the charge be increased to $25 per load. Strelitzer and T. Stuczynski will be drafting a policy for use of the village truck. M/S Strelitzer/Roberts to increase the charge for use of the village truck to $25 per load. Ayes all. M/C.
SIDEWALK COMMITMENT FOR BUSINESS PARK: Cahoots would like to move their business to the business park, but they need a commitment from the village that a sidewalk will be installed from the business park down Washington St. to connect to the Allen St. sidewalk so that their customers can easily and safely walk into town. This would be a budget item for 2026. This is a requirement from the federal government for Cahoots to get their funding. The approximate cost would be $10,000. M/S Strelitzer/Roberts to commit to installing a sidewalk along Washington St. from the business park to the Allen St. sidewalk for not more than $10,000. Ayes all. M/C.
NEW SAVINGS ACCOUNT – SAFE DRINKING WATER LOAN REQUIREMENT: As a part of the Safe Drinking Water Loan requirement, any interest the village earns from these loan advances needs to go into a separate savings account. M/S Roberts/Hodges to open a new savings account under the village’s name as part of the Safe Drinking Water Loan requirements. Ayes all. M/C.
JENSEN COMMUNITY CENTER – TEMPORARY BEER LICENSE, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025 – TWITTY & LYNN CONCERT: M/S Stuczynski/Roberts approve the temporary beer license for 5/3/25 for the Jensen Center. Ayes all. M/C.
JENSEN COMMUNITY CENTER – TEMPORARY BEER LICENSE, SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2025 – PURSE BINGO: M/S Hodges/Roberts approve the temporary beer license for 5/10/25 for the Jensen Center. Ayes all. M/C.
BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE 2024 GENERAL ACCOUNT BUDGET: M/S Roberts/Wojtowicz approve the budget amendment for the 2024 general account as presented. Ayes all. M/C.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Plan Commission:
- The committee did not meet in March
Utility:
- Storage capacity study
- Utility operations: Well #1 & #2 Upgrades
- Received the lab results of PFAS testing for the village’s wastewater
- Report from CBS2 has been completed, now in the review process
Safety:
- Junked vehicles at 378 N. Main St. – received a phone call from property at the village hall. Owner should be home in the next 6 months, he is overseas now. He is in the process of selling most items.
Finance:
- Future Treasurer’s Reports – Patoka is working with the auditors to simplify the treasurer’s reports and start using Work Horse for the monthly reconciliation. It may take a couple of months to transition everything over so there will be a delay in getting future treasurer’s report.
- Board members would like to see a quarterly budget report or a mid-year update now that the budget is in an electric format.
Personnel:
- n/a
Administrative:
- Amplified sound/music ordinance
Public Works:
- Freddie’s Home Plate update – would like to meet with POB to go over final numbers for the project. Reach out to POB via email to set up a time to meet.
- Greenwood Cemetery acquisition
- Looking into the drainage issues on Roark Way
- Hall at Guyant Park was recently broken into. There were two guns stolen from the VFW side and some blank ammunition. A police report has been filed. Asked the VFW to remove all guns from the building. May need to add cameras.
Tree Board:
- Meeting, Wednesday, March 12, 2025 – 4:30pm – Arbor Day planning
- Arbor Day will be Friday, April 25, 2025, starting at school at 1:30pm.
Library:
- Roberts attended the library meeting to talk about the DNR grant and the story walk project and the native plantings. Ruggles will be attending the library directors conference April 8-10, 2025. Discussed getting a tax id for the “Friends of the Library” so that they can put their savings account under their own tax id not the village’s. Mary Loberg will be resigning from the library.
Fire District:
- n/a
M/S Stuczynski/Roberts to adjourn at 6:47 p.m. Ayes all. M/C.
Respectfully submitted,
Jodi Patoka
Clerk/Treasurer