Minutes: March 14, 2007

Village of Plain

Village Board Proceedings of

March 14, 2007

 

The Regular Monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Plain was held at the Municipal Building on March 14, 2007.  The following members were present: William Gruber, President; David Buchanan; Kevin Kraemer; Gary Leeck; James Liegel; Harold Murry; and, Philip Studnicka, Trustees.

 

Others present: Kerry Knutson and Richard Vogt of Westbrook Associated Engineers; Rob Roth and Erik Henningsgard of General Engineering; Maureen Palmer, representing the Home News; Tom Meyer, Chief of Police; Nick Ruhland, Public Works Director; and, John Ruhland, Public Works Assistant.

                                                                                                                                               

Notice of this meeting, along with the agenda, was posted at the following locations in the Village of Plain: the Municipal Building; the Plain Post Office; and, The Peoples Community Bank on Monday, March 12, 2007.  Notice was faxed to the Home News and the Baraboo News Republic on the same date. 

                                                                       

The meeting was called to order by President Gruber at 7:30 p.m. 

 

Murry motioned to approve the minutes of the February 14, 2007 regular meeting. Liegel seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.  

 

Kerry Knutson and Richard Vogt of Westbrook Associated Engineers presented an application for a Land Use Permit for adding fill to floodplain zones in the TIF District.  Mr. Vogt explained to the board that fill added to this area will not affect adjacent property owners in regards to the floodplain according to a study done by Westbrook Associated Engineers.  Mr. Vogt also explained the significance of adopting the report and map of a hydraulic study done on the area in 1997.  This study is adopted by an ordinance amendment to Section 20.02, Paragraph 7 of the municipal code.  A CLOMA application for Kraemer Brothers was also presented to the board.  Upon Village Board approval, Kraemer Brothers can apply to be exempt from flood insurance through FEMA by showing proof that the newly constructed building is out of the floodplain.

 

Leeck motioned to approve the signing of the CLOMA application.  Buchanan seconded, and the motion carried with Kraemer abstaining.  Leeck then motioned to approve the Land Use Permit for filling in the area.  This was seconded by Murry and carried with Kraemer abstaining.

 

Kraemer read the first reading of Ordinance 155-07 to adopt the Village of Plain, Industrial Park 100 Year-Floodway Analysis Report dated November 24, 1997 and Village of Plain, Industrial Park Hydraulic Analysis map, accepting flood elevation profiles listed as existing, dated December 4, 1997.  Buchanan motioned to accept.  Murry seconded and it carried unanimously.  This ordinance amendment needs to be published and posted.  The second reading and passage will be at the next regular monthly board meeting. 

 

Rob Roth and Erik Henningsgard of General Engineering presented plans and estimates to the board for the public improvements of the TIF District.  The estimates provided insight on TIF eligible project costs versus entire project costs in conjunction with the Willow Street and Park Avenue upgrades.  The difference would be the Village’s responsibility.  The Village may be able to implement the special assessment process for the curb & gutter replacement.  Bids for the project will be opened in April.  Murry motioned to approve the plans as presented.  Buchanan seconded, and carried with Kraemer abstaining.

 

Next General Engineering discussed quotes from Alliant Energy for gas and electric lines for the TIF District.  These project costs were not identified in the TIF creation budget as a line item.  However estimates were high and should encompass the cost.  Roth stated that it is typical for the cost of these utilities to be paid for by the municipality that created the TIF.  Having all utilities readily available will benefit other properties yet to be developed.

 

A preliminary final draft of the Development Agreement was presented to the board by General Engineering.  The attorneys need to review the document a final time and it will be completed. 

 

 

Public Works Department Report

 

Nick Ruhland informed the board that the window installation at the Wastewater Treatment plant has been completed.  Also, the flow meters are scheduled to be replaced by the end of the month.  

 

 

Police Department Report

 

Chief Meyer presented the Case Report for February. The new squad car was scheduled to be manufactured last week. 

 

 

Committee Reports 

 

Streets - Studnicka

 

The Oak Street, Reservoir Avenue, and Cedar street curb & gutter and sidewalk bids are in.  Two bids were received.  Meise Construction’s bid totaled $52,395.00 for all projects.  Mega Concrete Construction’s total bid was $47,202.00.  However, Mega had an addendum stating if 16 inches of blacktop was taken out and replaced instead of 6 feet then the bid could be decreased by $10,290.00.  Mega has the low bid, however the addendum was appealing to the board.  Buchanan motioned to accept Mega Concrete Construction’s bid of $36,912.00, per the addendum.  This was seconded by Studnicka and it carried unanimously. 

 

 

Water & Sewer and Cable TV - Liegel

 

No Cable TV report.

 

The Utilities Committee recommends to the board to replace the sanitary sewer lines of Willow Street and Park Avenue.  Some of these extra costs will be paid for out of the Utilities Funds. 

 

Water Pumpage for February:

 

Well No. 1:      292,200

            Well No. 2:   1,599,500

 

Total for February: 1,891,700 gallons, which was 111,700 gallons more than last year.

 

Two bacteria samples and two well samples were sent to the State Lab.  All samples tested safe.

 

            Monthly fluoride average: 1.11 p.p.m.

 

 

Wastewater Report for February:

 

            Influent Monthly Average B.O.D.:         243 mg/l

            Effluent Monthly Average B.O.D.:         12        Limit: 15 mg/l

           

            Influent Monthly Average T.S.S.:          258 mg/l

            Effluent Monthly Average T.S.S.:          12        Limit: 20 mg/l

           

Monthly Average Nitrogen Ammonia:  0.949 mg/l        

Limit:    20.0 mg/l  Monthly

            29.0 mg/l  Daily

 

            Total gallons treated: 1,755,600

 

The website is now on the Wisconsin state municipal directory of Cities, Villages and Towns for more exposure.  Key words were also added so outsiders could do searches for specific topics and the Village of Plain website would come up on their search.  People need to be alerted that up-to-date pool closings will be on the website.

 

 

Building & Swimming Pool – Buchanan

 

The Pool Committee met on Sunday to interview for the leadership positions.  Also, the committee is still waiting on the diving board variance paperwork.  The state will take approximately 30 days to review.

 

The new building permit procedure has been used.  The Clerk/Treasurer will send the application to Building Committee Chair Buchanan.  He will then forward it onto the other 2 seats on the Committee for group approval.

 

Buchanan has also reviewed the Building Code Ordinances.  According to Chapter 17, Sections 4, 22 and 25, there will be a warning sign if procedure is followed properly. If anyone is changing their structure that would go against their zoning district, the Building Committee would realize this before it occurs and the property owner would have to follow the Village procedure before proceeding.

 

The interpretation of building permit issuance on remodeling residential structures was discussed.  Buchanan brought up that there was some confusion last week regarding a remodel building permit.  The ordinance states that permits need to be issued for “alterations” of homes built after June 1, 1980.  Previous boards had taken the context of “alterations” in the building ordinance to mean changing the footprint of the house.  After intense discussion it was decided that the assumed meaning of “alterations” should be worked out at a committee level and then brought back to the board.

 

 

Finance & Ordinance – Kraemer

 

No Finance Committee report.

 

The Ordinance Committee met and agreed to adopt the Village of Plain, Industrial Park 100 Year-Floodway Analysis Report dated November 24, 1997 and Village of Plain, Industrial Park Hydraulic Analysis map, accepting flood elevation profiles listed as existing, dated December 4, 1997. 

  

 

Police & Library Liaison – Leeck

  

The Library received 100% of the nonresident usage fee from Sauk County.  The Community Room experience heavy usage in February for several large groups.  An annual report was sent into the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

 

No Police Committee report.

 

  

Parks & Golf Course - Murry

 

Parks Committee met to discuss the Recreation Program Director and the Assistant Recreation Director positions.  Interview for those positions will be held in early April.  Also, sign up for the 5-8 year olds baseball teams will be done at the Village office beginning the 1st of May.

 

The Personnel Committee met to review the Village of Plain’s brief Policy and Procedures and compared them to nine other Villages and Cities.  A conference call is scheduled with the Village attorney to discuss this issue.

 

No Golf Course Committee report.

 

 

Other Business

 

Trustee Kraemer motioned to adopt Resolution #2007-02, the preliminary resolution for the Special Assessment district with the inclusion of the area on Reservoir Avenue.  This was seconded by Leeck, and carried unanimously. 

 

The board set the Public Hearing for the Oak Street and Reservoir Avenue Special Assessment districts for April 4, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Trustee Buchanan motioned to recommend Jean Stauffacher for the position of Special Events Coordinator, Chelsey Kraemer for the position of Head Lifeguard, and Nicole Bettinger for the Assistant Head Lifeguard position.  This was seconded by Murry and it carried unanimously.

 

 

Correspondence  

 

Postmaster Resa Norland sent a letter to the Village asking permission to set up cluster mailboxes in the Village.  The ordinances do not include language concerning cluster mailboxes.  The board has no objections and directed Nick Ruhland to discuss this further with the Postmaster.

 

A Smart Growth Vision Session is scheduled for Thursday March 22, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Kraemer Library and Community Center.  The entire Village received an invitation to attend this meeting.

 

President Gruber received correspondence from an Oak Street residence asking to be exempt from the scheduled curb & gutter and sidewalk construction project.  He has been told to attend the Public Hearing.

 

 

Review and Audit of Invoices:

 

Murry motioned to pay Voucher #9074 payable to General Engineering, Co. in the amount of $225.00 from the Sewer Parts Replacement Fund.  This was seconded by Buchanan, and then carried unanimously.

 

A motion to pay the monthly invoices as presented was made by Buchanan.  Liegel seconded, and then the motion carried unanimously.

 

General Fund:             $44,376.54                                Water Utility:              $ 3,702.26

Library Fund:               $  3,631.42                                Sewer Department:  $ 5,762.78

Debt Services:            $22,328.54                               Golf Course:               $    149.53

T.I.F. #2:                      $15,904.00                             

 

Wages and Reimbursements: $14,386.59

 

Buchanan motioned to adjourn to closed session at 10:05 p.m.  This was seconded by Kraemer, and then the motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

 

Sheila Tafs 

Clerk/Treasurer