Minutes: Special Mtg April 29, 2009
Special Village Board Meeting of April 29, 2009
A special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Plain was held at the Municipal Building on April 15, 2009. The following members were present: Raymond Ellenbolt, President; David Buchanan; Robert Jewell; James Liegel; Duane Meise; Robert Neuheisel; and, Merry Lynn Riek, Trustees.
Others present: Gail Towers MacAskill of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce; Kevin Wilkins, Police Chief for SGPD; SGPD Officer Andy Kurek; William Gruber; Robert Kraemer; Richard Marino; Robert Schweiss; Lisa Ruhland; Nick Ruhland, Public Works Director; and, Gary Ilminen of the Home News.
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, April 27, 2009. Notice was emailed to the Home News and the Baraboo News Republic.
The meeting was called to order by President Ellenbolt at 7:00 p.m.
The Police Committee recommends an agreement with the Spring Green Police Department. Police services will be a flat fee of $25.00 per hour for a three month trial. They can start tomorrow, working approximately 40 hours a week. Spring Green has room in their garage for the squad car. The officers will be driving the squad to and from Spring Green. Meise motioned to approve the agreement with the Spring Green Police Department. This was seconded by Liegel, and the motion carried unanimously.
Trustee Riek read the second reading of Charter Ordinance 54 to amend Charter Ordinance 37 and Ordinance Chapter 4 to permit the employment of an Officer-in-Charge in lieu of a Chief of Police. Meise motioned to approve Charter Ordinance 54. This was seconded by Buchanan, and then the motion carried unanimously.
Liegel motioned to approve Resolution #2009-01, a resolution to apply for a DNR grant under the Stewardship Local Assistance Program. This was seconded by Meise, and carried unanimously.
Meise motioned to approve Resolution #2009-02, declaring the Village’s intent to exercise special assessment powers for curb and gutter replacement on Cedar Street east of Wachter Avenue. This was seconded by Neuheisel, and then the motion carried unanimously.
The board discussed board meeting packets going electronic next. Trustee Meise is the only trustee without email; therefore he would still be mailed a board packet. Liegel motioned to go electronic for board meeting packets for those who have email access. This was seconded by Buchanan and carried with Meise voting nay.
Tom Kraemer sent a letter to the Village board regarding his concerns about the Village not proceeding with the dredging. President Ellenbolt did explain to Mr. Kraemer that the project couldn’t be started until after May 15th and EKS is still being pressured to come forward with a donation so the Village can proceed.
Jay Schluter of Schluter Construction confronted President Ellenbolt regarding the Village draining water on their lot by the water reservoir. They do not want this to continue unless the Village buys the lot for $5,000. Ruhland stated that he could check it more often when he is overflowing the reservoir annually. He can be there when it starts to overflow and it can be shut off immediately. It will then not reach the Schluter Construction lot.
Josh Straka of Strand Associates sent a letter regarding an additional Stewardship application for the development of the floodplain land in the business park. The development would need to be done within two years if it was obtained. The board agreed that there is not a benefit to develop this area at the present time. There is a Park Master Plan for the existing park that should be considered first.
Gail Towers MacAskill of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce-DOC was present to inform the board about an addition to the Economic Development Administration-EDA grant application for infrastructure in the Business Park to include a LEEDS Energy Innovation Training Center/Career Academy Lab. She is assisting communities that were impacted by the 2008 flood. Sauk County is typically too wealthy to receive EDA funds. These flood funds are EDA 75% and local match is 25%. These is not flood recovery funds, it is so the community will have a stronger outlook in the future. EDA’s criteria requirements are innovation, competitiveness, global perspective in the workplace, and involvement in the international market.
The Village of Plain has a business park that is in the beginning stages of development. Plain was originally overlooked because of its rural locale. Gail then brought the EDA Chicago-based representative to see Plain. With the cluster of large construction companies he then saw the potential, but something creative needs to be added to the application. The DOC is looking for energy related progressive concepts with industrial parks with DOC stimulus funds for economic development.
Gail worked on a previous grant through the Association of General Contractors-AGC with a workforce development initiative. It was a career academy in Burlington and there is another grant to expand on that concept. It is to train people in the construction trade. Bob Barker from the AGC was working with River Valley and other local schools to do a consortium of multiple area school districts to do a LEED career academy.
Because of the strength and presence of Kraemer Brothers, Gail wanted them aware of the parameters of this grant and what it would entail. This facility would be a public facility. It would not be dedicated to any one company. It would be dedicated to advancing green construction jobs. This facility would focus on high school students, vo-tech students, LEED certification center and construction companies for continuing education for their employees.
The Village has a lot of planning to do as the owner of the building. Sustainability would need to be evaluated. User fees for the administration and maintenance costs need to be formed. The 25% local match needs to be calculated. The local match could be DOC grants, in-kind training from the schools from their teachers, in-kind donation of materials by a local construction company or land donation by the Village. Any addition funds needed by the Village would be TIF eligible.
The project would be up for bid. The Village of Plain business park needs to be competitive, if Plain doesn’t do it someone else in the area would. LEED certification is where industrial development is going. If the Village does nothing, we have nothing. The future potential is immense.
The building needs to be a LEED certified building in itself. Letters of commitment need to be obtained from organizations for in-kind contributions. The Village of Plain would be signing the assurances.
The previous career academies have been successful. The DOC funds the AGC for these programs because of the success. With all these people visiting Plain for training this would spark other new business to accommodate the significant volume of people; for example a hotel and restaurants.
There is an EDA grant requirement, approximately 20 years, for the building to continue its intention of a LEED career academy. The initial two year period of this facility a person would be hired to design, coordinate and develop sustainability for the building.
Gail would like to have the fine tuning done in two weeks to turn in the EDA. She would still be involved for an additional 4-6 weeks. It will go through an approval process regionally and in Washington DC. It will be 3-4 months before an award is made. Roughly six months to completion. It needs to meet federal standards. Costs incurred before the grant is awarded, are considered cost of doing business.
Meise motioned to proceed with the EDA grant with the inclusion of the LEED Career Academy. This was seconded by Jewell and carried unanimously.
Buchanan motioned to adjourn to closed session at 8:25 p.m. This was seconded by Meise, and then the motion carried unanimously.
Sheila Tafs
Clerk/Treasurer