Minutes: March 10, 2010
Village Board Proceedings of
The Regular Monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the
Roll Call: Raymond Ellenbolt, President; David Buchanan; Robert Jewell; James Liegel; Duane Meise; Robert Neuheisel; and, Merry Lynn Riek, Trustees.
Others present: Chief Kevin Wilkins; Officer Chuck Schreiber; Jeni Kast; and, Nick Ruhland, Public Works Director.
Notice of this meeting, along with the agenda, was posted at the following locations in the
Meise motioned to approve minutes from the February 10, 2010 Regular Board meeting with the addition of (Review of records at a later date showed that Library lump sum bonuses were given in late 2007 & early 2009) to other business. This was seconded by Jewell and carried unanimously.
Police Department Report
Chief Kevin Wilkins informed the board that a digital camera has been purchased. With the help of a radio grant, a new Kenwood portable radio is now in use. The Motorola mobile radio has been received. Officers Gunderson and Prem have the knowledge to do the install and will charge only the normal hourly rate. The Plain squad car center console may need to be replaced to fit the new mobile radio better. The cost would approximately be $300. There were five tickets issued the month of February.
Chief Kevin Wilkins addressed the board regarding the Joint Municipal Court. The Spring Green board unanimously voted to proceed with the first reading of the Joint Municipal Court ordinance. The Chief and Police Clerk Jeni Kast addressed many aspects regarding the Joint Municipal Court. The start up cost is minimal. Costs will most likely be proportioned by population with Plain having 800 residents and Spring Green having 1500 residents. The majority of the costs are for staff. Monthly, the Judge earns $225 and the Court Clerk earns $175. The monies of the two communities will be kept separate. In comparison to Plain’s current system with the county, the Village will make significantly more money on each citation because of the additional fees the county charges. Fines are considerably lower through a Municipal Court, which makes citations easier for the Officers to write. Offenders are less likely to contest a less expensive fine, which in turn would decrease Village attorney fees.
The Municipal Judge would be shared. The Judge has a two year term. Qualifications for a Judge are no felonies and 18 years old. The Judge has more digression for cases which is fair and effective. Court is one night a month at 5:30 p.m. With court being in Spring Green rather than Baraboo, time and money is saved when an officer has to be in court. Officer Andy Kurek is designated court officer. Cliff Bobholz from Boardman Law Firm will be the Attorney for the Joint Municipal Court. He is the current court attorney for the Village of Plain court cases.
Regardless of what happens in the future for the Plain Police Department, staying with Spring Green or going independent, it will not affect the Joint Municipal Court.
Because of understaffing at the Sauk County District Attorney’s office, they will be prosecuting less criminal charges to lessen their work load. If an individual is charged for disorderly conduct, the D.A. will not take it. Serious offences will still go to the Sauk County District Attorney’s office.
The Police Committee met at an early date and recommends to the Village Board to try the Joint Municipal Court. The Joint Municipal Court ordinance is complete. It has to be identical to Spring Green’s ordinance. Meise motioned to accept the Joint Municipal Court offer. Riek seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The first reading will be in April and the second reading in May.
Public Works Department Report
Ruhland informed the board about a problem with the roof at the Municipal Building. There has been considerable leaking from roof on the exterior of the building. A professional needs to look at the problem. Public Works does not know where it is coming from.
Three filters at the Wastewater Treatment Plant were sandblasted and painted. Also, Public Works has completed pump maintenance at the WWTP. They are now starting to work on the maintenance of equipment. Visu-Sewer will be doing the annual televising for inspection and cleaning of 3,000 feet of sanitary sewer. This year will include the alley between Oak Street and Clover Street and also a line from St Luke’s Avenue to Nachreiner Avenue, coming from Oak Street.
Committee Reports
Building & Swimming Pool – Buchanan
The Pool Committee is currently accepting applications for lifeguards. The deadline for the applications is March 19, 2010.
Building Committee Chairman Buchanan drafted guidelines for building permits to be published in the local paper.
Police – Meise
No Police Committee report
Golf & Parks & Emergency Government – Neuheisel
The Parks Committee met. Three applications for the Rec Director position have been received. The deadline is March 19, 2010. After that, the ad for the Assistant Rec Director will be published. Coaches have volunteered for the 5-8 year old teams. The Committee is looking at having someone help the kids with the golf course. Sign up for the summer Rec Program will be in mid-April. Co-ed teams will be charged $500 again. Nick will be putting a cap on the left field fence that was installed last summer. The right side dugout needs to be re-shingled. The Pavilion roof is in need of a new roof. It is a 700-800 square foot building. There is no current leakage. South side shingles are in rough shape. The estimate is $16,000 to reroof entire building with labor. If the Village had volunteer labor, just materials would be $6,000 for shingles or a steel roof for $8,400. Insurance needs to be investigated for volunteer labor. There is nothing in the 2010 budget for roofing the pavilion. A few balls land on the roof each year; this could be an issue with a steel roof. This project should be put it in the budget for next year unless there are extra funds available this fall.
The Golf Course Committee will meet on March 24, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the status of the clubhouse with the American Legion. Also, an ordinance needs to be passed to establish a fine for golfers not paying for playing. Membership increases are on the Agenda. The Golf Course Committee has not raised membership fees in four years. The Village Board has to intervene. Liegel motioned to raise memberships to the presented rates. Jewell seconded the motion with Buchanan voting no. The motion carried. New membership fees are as follows with sales tax included: Resident-Single $160.00; NonResident-Single $200.00; Resident-Husband/Wife $210.00; NonResident- Husband/Wife $250.00; Resident-Family $250.00; NonResident- Family $295.00; Student (Under 18) $80.00.
The Plain Lion’s Club will be donating to two benches with concrete pads and an outfield fence to the St. Luke’s ballpark.
Finance & Library Liaison – Riek
No Finance Committee report.
Usage at the Library is increasing.
Water & Sewer - Liegel
Water Pumpage for February:
Well No. 1: 388,000
Well No. 2: 1,441,000
Total for February: 1,829,000 gallons, which was 373,000 gallons less than last year.
Two bacteria samples and two well samples were sent to the State Lab. Both samples tested safe.
Monthly fluoride average: 1.07 p.p.m.
Wastewater Report for February:
Influent Monthly Average B.O.D.: 171 mg/l
Effluent Monthly Average B.O.D.: 9 Limit: 15 mg/l
Influent Monthly Average T.S.S.: 194 mg/l
Effluent Monthly Average T.S.S.: 8 Limit: 20 mg/l
Monthly Average Nitrogen Ammonia: .930 mg/l
Limit: 20.0 mg/l Monthly
29.0 mg/l Daily
Total gallons treated: 2,148,300
Streets & Ordinance – Jewell
Streets Committee needs to meet soon to discuss Honey Creek Drive and Parkview Avenue. Catch basins need to be reviewed as well.
The Ordinance Committee met. The new sidewalk snow removal ordinance will be read at the April & May meetings. The board will hold a Public Hearing for an Adult Orientated Businesses ordinance previous to the April Village Board meeting. The Joint Municipal Court will be read at the April & May board meetings.
Development & Planning and Green TTEC Advisory – Ellenbolt
The Development & Planning Commission met for a Michael Zander presentation regarding the Biogas Digester locating in Plain.
A group is going to the Burlington Career Academy to tour the facility on March 22, 2010.
Other Business
The Chief Legal Counsel for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, as written in a letter to Brown County in 2005, states that the Library Board’s exclusive control of the expenditures of all moneys collected, donated, or appropriated for the library fund includes the authority of the Library Board to carry forward unexpended funds from one year to the next. The Village only appropriates the Village tax levy for the library. They have to at least get a three year average. Ellenbolt motioned to rollover unused library funds from one year to the next. Meise seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
Lighting in the Clerk/Treasurer’s office is insufficient. It’s the original lighting from when the Municipal Building was built. Liegel motioned to get a quote. Buchanan seconded the motion and carried unanimously.
Buchanan motioned to set the 2010 Board of Review for June 2, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Neuheisel seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
Correspondence
No Correspondence.
Review and Audit of Invoices:
Liegel motioned to pay Voucher #11816 payable to L.W. Allen, Inc. in the amount of $2,161.08 and Voucher #11822 payable to Nachreiner Plumbing, Heating & Air, Inc. in the amount of $203.10 from the Sewer Parts Replacement Fund. This was seconded by Jewell, and then carried unanimously.
A motion to pay the monthly invoices as presented was made by Meise. Neuheisel seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
General Fund | $41,935.97 | Water Utility | $30,777.62 | ||
Library Fund | $13,389.82 | Sewer Department | $5,868.87 | ||
Debt Services | $22,328.54 | Golf Course | $762.24 | ||
Wage Reimbursements: | $12,155.30 | ||||
Buchanan motioned to adjourn to at 9:01 p.m. This was seconded by Meise and carried unanimously.
Sheila Tafs
Clerk/Treasurer