Minutes: June 11, 2008

Village of Plain

Village Board Proceedings of June 11, 2008

The Regular Monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Plain was held at the Municipal Building on June 11, 2008.  The following members were present: Raymond Ellenbolt, President; David Buchanan; Kevin Kraemer; James Liegel; Duane Meise; Robert Neuheisel; and, Merry Lynn Riek, Trustees.

Others present: Michael Leist; Karna Hanna; Mary Frances Nachreiner; Mary Jayne Liegel; Mike Spude; Karl Kraemer; Chris Raught; Gary Ilminen of the Home News; Travis Richard; Wendy Gruber; Shari Meyer; Tom Meyer, Chief of Police; and, Nick Ruhland, Public Works Director.

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, June 9, 2008.  Notice was emailed to the Home News and the Baraboo News Republic on the same date.

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

Liegel motioned to approve the minutes of the May 14, 2008 Regular Meeting. Kraemer seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Kraemer then motioned to approve the minutes of the May 21, 2008 Board of Review. The motion was seconded by Meise and it carried unanimously. Finally, Liegel motioned to approve the minutes of the May 21, 2008 Special Meeting. The motion was seconded by Meise and it carried with Buchanan abstaining.

Kraemer motioned to approve the original application of a Class “B” Beer and Class “B” Liquor license for the period from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 to Aces Entertainment, LLC, Michael D. Leist, agent. This was seconded by Neuheisel, and then carried unanimously.

Karna Hanna presented the Sauk County Development Corporation (SCDC) 2007 Annual Report, the 2007-2010 SCDC Strategic Plan and the Sauk County Travel Planner. She reported that in 2007 the Sauk County economy remained fairly solid with the exception of the soft housing market and flat consumer spending. The unemployment rate was 4.6% in 2007, up from 4.5% in 2006. SCDC promotes available commercial and industrial properties on their website at www.scdc.com. SCDC facilitated a restaurant feasibility study with the Village of Plain. Karna thanked the board for the continuing support of SCDC and President Ellenbolt’s participation on the SCDC board.

Public Works Department Report

Nick Ruhland updated the board on flood related issues. There is street damage at the intersection of St. Luke’s Avenue and Cherry Street. Water got underneath the street. The street is expected to drop where the gravel was pushed out. There is a storm sewer problem at Spruce Street and Greenleaf Avenue to Highway 23 from Thursday’s storm.

The ball diamond is unplayable because of silt build-up. The concession stand reached 18” of standing water. The pavilion was underwater and had silt throughout the entire shelter. Both buildings have been cleaned and bleached. The dugout was 36” underwater. Most items stored in the dugout are ruined. The new pitching machine was in the dugout. Ruhland is hoping it is salvageable. The grass area in the park is full of silt and water and cannot be walked on. The St. Luke’s Parish Festival is this weekend and Mike Spude will be arriving later to discuss the situation at the park. The St. Luke’s ball diamond had a lot of wash out, but it is usable.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant secondary filter pump room was flooded. Three pumps were under water most of Sunday night. They are not designed to be underwater. They are running at this time. L.W. Allen is scheduled to examine them to see if they need to be overhauled or replaced. The RBC room was flooded for the second time in four days. The shaft bearings and the gear reducer were under water. Ruhland serviced it and it’s up and running but it does not sound very good.  That will be looked at by experts in a week or two.

The library was covered with sewage. Kraemer Brothers is helping with clean up. 

The golf course hole #9 is silt covered and the rest is still water covered. Early projections are with perfect weather it could open in two weeks and hole #9 in a month. The bridge on the #6 tee box was lost. The tees will need to be moved across the creek. The bridge at hole #8 which was affected last August is completely gone. The bridge at hole #1 had some washout and is unusable. The ditch line along fairway #5 is no longer a ditch line. Members are starting to ask if memberships will be refunded. The Golf Course Committee will need to meet to discuss. The DNR permit for the Bridge on #8 has come through.

The baby pool was bleached because of debris but pH is low after refilling it. It was drained again. Ruhland is hopeful to have it usable before the weekend. The big pool is fine.

The pump at Well House #1 was inspected and it is not repairable and needs to be replaced.

Ruhland stated that he needs more assistance immediately in flood clean-up efforts. Employees must be at least 16 years old. Kraemer motioned to give Ruhland authority in hiring whoever he deems necessary temporarily for flood clean-up. This was seconded by Meise and carried with Riek abstaining.

Committee Reports

Water & Sewer  - Liegel

Trustee Liegel gave recognition to the excellent job Nick and John have done during the past week of flooding. Nick has been at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the middle of the night. Also, the help from the fire department and local businesses were commended.

Water Pumpage for May:

Well No. 1:        0

            Well No. 2:   2,786,000

Total for May: 2,786,000 gallons, which was 108,000 gallons less than last year.

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

            Monthly fluoride average: 1.34 p.p.m.

Wastewater Report for May:

            Influent Monthly Average B.O.D.:    160 mg/l

            Effluent Monthly Average B.O.D.:    10        Limit: 15 mg/l

            Influent Monthly Average T.S.S.:      279  mg/l

            Effluent Monthly Average T.S.S.:      11        Limit: 20 mg/l

Monthly Average Nitrogen Ammonia:  .492 mg/l     

Limit: 20.0 mg/l Monthly

            29.0 mg/l  Daily

            Total gallons treated: 3,749,700

Police & Golf Course – Meise

No Golf Course Report.

The Police Committee presented the Case Report for May.

Parks & Streets– Neuheisel

The Streets Committee decided that the crosswalks on Highway 23 will be done in blocks instead of diagonal lines. The bids are still being requested. The Street Sweeper will come in after the next rain event.

Mike Spude was present to ask for guidance regarding the St. Luke’s Festival scheduled for this weekend. He is working on two plans. If the park were to still be used people would have to be kept off the grass. A fence barricade would need to be put up. The alternative plan is to use the large parking lot behind the church. The liquor license would need to be transferred.

The park is in tough shape. It is contaminated with silt from surrounding fields. It is not safe for serving food. The board believes it needs time to air out and the sun to kill bacteria. There is also a safety issue with anyone having cuts. There is sewage out there and it should not be considered part of the plan with tomorrow’s significant rain weather forecast.

A generator has been donated by a local business if needed to transfer the festival to the church. There would be additional costs with tents and port-a-potties. The board had no objection for the pavilion picnic tables to be used at the church location.

Riek motioned to transfer all liquor licenses to St. Luke’s property from the park. This was seconded by Buchanan, and then carried unanimously. Next, Buchanan motioned to transfer all previously approved conditions for the park to St. Luke’s property. This was seconded by Liegel and carried unanimously.

Finance – Kraemer

No Finance Committee Report.

Ordinance & Library Liaison – Riek

The Library security system is scheduled to be set up on Friday. It is unknown at this time if it will still be installed as planned.  Circulation was up .14% in April from April of 2007. All was running well until a few days ago.

No Ordinance Committee Report.

Building & Swimming Pool – Buchanan

A letter was issued to Vic Brey regarding his second shed. He has applied for a variance. A building permit was issued to Ben Ring for an attached garage. His variance was approved last month.

The Pool is up and running. All the events are starting. Swim Team is underway and there is a special event on Monday the 16^th of June. It is a start to summer party.

Other Business

Riek read the second reading of Ordinance Number 158-08, an Ordinance annexing territory to the Village of Plain. The three parcels totaling 59.61 acres located in the Town of Franklin are owned by Randy and Linda Liegel. A motion to approve the ordinance was made by Liegel. Kraemer seconded, and then the motion carried unanimously.

The Park Master Plan was discussed next. A special meeting should be planned to review the plan in detail. This was tabled for future review.

A revaluation of assessed property for 2010 was discussed next. This process wouldn’t need to be started until 2009. The Board of Review has the power to correct any mistake they feel an Assessor would make. There hasn’t been anyone at the Board of Review the past few years which is a good indication. Trustee Kraemer stated that the emotion that existed with the last revaluation existed because of the cards that were dealt to Wendorff Assessing. The previous Assessor let the ratio fall so low that the state was close to coming in to do the reassessment. President Ellenbolt called attention to a survey of other municipalities showing that Wendorff Assessing has a good price. Trustee Buchanan believes that there is more to it than just the costs. During the 2005 reassessment a lot of people came in to challenge their assessment. Buchanan said that she was not able to explain on paper how she came up with some of her assessments. A lot of people walked out very frustrated. A formula could not be explained. Buchanan motioned to request bids for Assessors once the Village is ready to start the revaluation process. This was seconded by Neuheisel and carried unanimously.

Meise motioned to approve the updated Chief of Police contract and give authorization to President Ellenbolt and Attorney Steve Zach to make minor changes that do not alter the intent of the contract. Buchanan suggested that following existing personnel policies be added to the contract. This motion was seconded by Kraemer and carried unanimously.

A lot of money is spent on part-time police officer training and there is not very much protection in return.  Meise motioned to reduce the Police Department staffing levels, leaving the Police Department consisting of the Chief of Police and one part-time officer; the one part-time officer to remain on staff will be the most senior of the part-time officers; and to eliminate the other positions, effective immediately. This motion was seconded by Liegel and carried unanimously.

Nick Ruhland presented a quote from Qual Line Fence for a 12’ swing gate at The Kraemer Company yard to access a manhole to clean that section of sewer line. The quote seemed a little high. Meise suggested looking for other quotes. The matter was tabled.

Liegel motioned to adopt Resolution #2008-03, concerning the Compliance Maintenance Annual Report.  This was seconded by Buchanan, and carried unanimously.

Buchanan motioned to adopt Resolution #2008-04, increasing Village fees and fines, with changing the presented price for the park use permit to $250.00 per day.  This was seconded by Neuheisel, and carried unanimously.

Meise motioned to approve the contract with Consumers Co-op Oil Company for propane delivery for the period July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.  This was seconded by Neuheisel, and the motion carried unanimously.

A motion to grant approval for operator’s licenses was then made by Liegel and seconded by Meise.  The motion carried unanimously.  All licenses are for the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. 

Kraemer motioned to approve a temporary Class B Retailer’s License, the temporary operator’s licenses, a fireworks display permit and the extended hours permit for the Fire Department and E.M.S. Three-Day Celebration. This was seconded by Riek, and then carried unanimously.

Trustee Buchanan suggested that the Village of Plain build a case and re-approach the DNR regarding dredging Honey Creek below the Wastewater Treatment Plant using the recent flood as ammunition. The time is now to get this done. The golf course is loosing revenue and there are major expenses to the Village generated from the flooding. This was supposed to be taken care of years ago. The Wastewater Treatment Plant cannot continue to be under water with every rainfall. The Village has done their part and the DNR has to take ownership of what’s causing the problem outside of the Village. They should be challenged on what their strategy is. The Townships need to get involved with this problem and should be contacted.

Correspondence  

No Correspondence.

Review and Audit of Invoices:

Liegel motioned to pay Voucher #10221 payable to RBC Services in the amount of $2,964.40 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 Meise.  Buchanan seconded, and then the motion carried unanimously.

Meise motioned to adjourn to closed session at 9:23 p.m.  This was seconded by Riek, and then the motion carried unanimously.

Sheila Tafs

Clerk/Treasurer