Minutes: April 9, 2008
Village Board Proceedings of April 9, 2008
The Regular Monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Plain was held at the Municipal Building on April 9, 2008. The following members were present: Raymond Ellenbolt, President; David Buchanan; Kevin Kraemer; Gary Leeck; James Liegel; and, Duane Meise, Trustees. Trustee Robert Neuheisel was absent.
Others present: Merry Lynn Riek; Gary Ilminen of the Home News; Edward Liegel; Jeff Nachreiner; Lori Edwards; 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 Friday, April 4, 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.
Trustee Buchanan proclaimed that Chief Meyer would like “Chief Meyer has a difference of opinion with him working weekends. The Police Committee feels he should work some weekend hours and he disagrees.” removed from the Police Committee report because Chief Meyer feels this was taken out of context and is not true. This is contested by Chief Meyer. However, since this was stated at the Village Board meeting, the sentence will not be removed from the minutes. Liegel motioned to approve the minutes of the March 12, 2008 Regular Meeting. Meise seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.
Edward Liegel addressed the board regarding selling beer at Home Talent League games to financially help the team. There would be 11 total games during the summer. Trustee Meise informed Mr. Liegel that the Police Committee would recommend using wrist bands to prevent underage drinking at the park. Mr. Liegel has no problem issuing wrist bands. The Village attorney needs to be consulted to establish what would be the best way to set up this liquor license.
Jeff Nachreiner was present to discuss snow removal at his building located at 1190 Main Street. He has minimal space to discard snow and wondered if he could pay the Village to remove the snow if he pushes it into the street. It is against Village ordinance to push the snow into the street. Mr. Nachreiner was told that he should hire a professional to remove the snow for him if he is having a problem. He then complained about snow being plowed onto his property by the Village. He was informed that the Village has easement rights to push the snow onto every resident’s property.
Public Works Department Report
Strand Engineering was in the park surveying today.
The batting cage was received from the Ed Paulus memorial donation. The Village is waiting to see the Park Master Plan before it is installed.
Badger Swim Pools is scheduled to arrive in May to set up the new equipment at the pool that was purchased at the end of last year.
Committee Reports
Water & Sewer - Liegel
The Water Utility has an April 30, 2008 teleconference hearing scheduled with the Public Service Commission regarding the water rate increase. The fire public protection charge is increasing from roughly $44,000 to $59,000. The Utilities Committee decided that the extra amount should be charged as a fixed charge on utility bills instead of levying taxes for the amount. Doing it this way will make tax exempt properties liable also. This fixed charge will depend on the size of their service. The rate increase would assumingly go into affect on July 1st which would affect the September 30th billing.
L.W. Allen is working on one of the pumps at the lift station. It is not calibrated properly and the other is working twice as hard as the other.
Water Pumpage for March:
Well No. 1: 0
Well No. 2: 2,375,000
Total for March: 2,375,000 gallons, which was 186,500 gallons more than last year.
Two well samples were sent to the State Lab. Both samples tested safe.
Monthly fluoride average: 1.16 p.p.m.
Wastewater Report for March:
Influent Monthly Average B.O.D.: 139 mg/l
Effluent Monthly Average B.O.D.: 11 Limit: 15 mg/l
Influent Monthly Average T.S.S.: 176 mg/l
Effluent Monthly Average T.S.S.: 15 Limit: 20 mg/l
Monthly Average Nitrogen Ammonia: 0.5024 mg/l
Limit: 20.0 mg/l Monthly
29.0 mg/l Daily
Total gallons treated: 3,487,400
Police & Golf Course – Meise
The Case Report was presented for March. There have been complaints regarding people riding in the squad car with officers while on duty. Chief Meyer said it is called Citizens Ride Along and is recommended. The possibility of restructuring the number of part-time officers was explained to Chief Meyer. He would then have to work weekends. Chief Meyer said he is working on weekends. He puts out a schedule one month in advance and he doesn’t schedule himself for weekends. His time sheets will be reviewed. The Police Committee suggested that he work weekends and take a couple of days off during the week. Chief Meyer said if he does that, the schedule will be messed up and the Village would forgo coverage during the week. It was explained to Chief Meyer that Sauk County would then be able to respond the same as if he were on vacation.
Trustee Neuheisel met with the Police Committee regarding painting hash marks in the crosswalks on Highway 23 for the safety of children crossing the highway. Hiring a professional company to paint the hash marks has many benefits including durability, it would be more visible and in compliance with legal standards. Buchanan motioned for Public Works to find a professional to paint the hash marks. Kraemer seconded the motion and carried unanimously.
Also discussed at the Police Committee meeting was a lower speed limit on Highway 23 entering the Village from the South. The speed limit does not decrease until close to the Cenex gas station. The speed limit and the entrance from the North also needs to be moved to the top of the hill.
Trustee Neuheisel also discussed at the Police Committee meeting changing Nachreiner to a one way street. He would like a survey sent to those residents to find out which way traffic should flow. The board feels construction on Nachreiner Avenue is not in the near future.
Also discussed were cars parking in front of the church during school hours. The buses are then unable to park next to the curb and the kids are running between cars to get to the buses. The buses drop kids off in the morning by the playground. They should be informed to park there when picking up the kids as well.
Visits to both schools by Chief Meyer are scheduled for April 18th and April 21st. The Chief will talk to students about topics corresponding to their age groups.
Golf Course Starters will be hired again this year. Their hours will be increased from 25 to 30 per week. The Golf Course is in need of equipment upgrades. This will have to be looked into during budget time. A bridge replacement was agreed upon. The bridge will be a beam bridge that is nice looking.
Lori Edwards alerted the board to problems with golf balls flying at her 1060 Oak Street home. She would like trees replanted on the golf course where Poplar trees were recently removed because they had died. Ms. Edwards was instructed to discuss with the Public Works Director to work out the best situation to help prevent golf balls from entering her property.
Parks – Neuheisel
In Trustee Neuheisel’s absence, Trustee Liegel presented his reports.
The summer sign-up on April 2nd had 11 girls and 18 boys sign up for the 5-8 year old baseball. Forty kids signed up for the Rec Program. Anyone else interested can still sign up at the Clerk’s office. The Village is still accepting Assistant Rec Director applications until April 18th. The Parks Committee is also trying to find a time frame on the ball diamond for a new co-ed slow pitch softball league being organized by Cody Pulvermacher. Wednesday nights are being looked into for the league. Mr. Pulvermacher has also expressed interest in beer being sold at their games. A fee needs to be determined for this new league as well. Other leagues should be called so the Village is aware of what a standard fee would be.
Finance & Ordinance – Kraemer
No Finance Committee report.
No Ordinance report.
Streets & Library Liaison – Leeck
The library is looking into a security system similar to the Municipal Building.
Bids for American Legion Drive will be opened on April 14, 2008. Nick is expecting three companies to submit bids.
Building & Swimming Pool – Buchanan
The Pool Committee has a recommendation for lifeguards. The summer sign-up on April 2nd had a turnout of 50-60 families. The special events for the summer are being organized which will include a Kid Olympics and a possible water volleyball league.
One building permit has been issued since the last meeting for a deck. A meeting needs to be organized to discuss when to get a permit and adding a demo permit.
Other Business
Thank you to Gary Leeck for his many years of service.
Welcome to Merry Lynn Riek and re-elected Trustees James Liegel and David Buchanan.
Discussed next was numerous complaints of the unsightliness at 1055 Wachter Avenue. The property is in violation of Chapter 9 Section 9 of the Municipal Ordinance. Trustee Buchanan had warned the resident to clean up the property and Chief Meyer was also instructed to advise them regarding this problem. It is unsightly from Highway 23 in the front and the Medical Clinic doesn’t have a pleasant view from the rear either. A letter needs to be sent to the property owner giving them a time frame to clean up the property. There is also a problem at Cenex/Nachreiner Auto Care with junk vehicles parked for an extended period of time. This would be the first warning and it should be verbal. President Ellenbolt will visit the mechanic to discuss the situation.
Trustee Buchanan motioned to hire Chelsey Kraemer for the position of Head Lifeguard, and Tori Alt, Chelsea Diehl, Courtney Kraemer, Caitlin Straka and Brooke Stephens for the Lifeguard positions. This was seconded by Liegel and it carried unanimously.
Liegel motioned to hire Angela Straka for the Recreation Program Director position. This was seconded by Kraemer and it carried unanimously.
Liegel motioned to hire Nyada Baldeh for the Public Works Summer Helper position. The motion was seconded by Meise and it carried unanimously.
Lori Edwards asked the boards permission to turn on the lights at the tennis court at 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for an exercise boot camp she has organized. The board had no objections.
The Board of Review was confirmed for Wednesday, May 21, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Trustee Buchanan addressed concerns he has with the current Village Assessor. He met with the Assessor during the reassessment regarding his properties assessment and he felt his questions were not answered. He wanted to know the formula regarding how the assessment was arrived at and she did not have it with her. Trustee Kraemer stated that after Board of Review process the situation can be evaluated.
Trustee Buchanan would like to schedule another Park Master Plan meeting with Strand Engineering. He is looking at Wednesday April 30th at 7:00p.m. The board had no objections.
Correspondence
Schluter Construction wrote the Village a letter asking what measures the Village will be taking to divert water from overflowing on their lot next to the water reservoir when the water tanks are flushed. The Village sent a letter back to clarify some issues and to inform them of development costs for that lot and to state that water can be diverted.
President Ellenbolt would like to move forward on legal proceedings against Sauk County regarding their wall on Main Street. The Village Attorney believes there is a case because Sauk County made Bob Eberle sign off on his wall just outside of the Village in order for him to keep it. Trustee Buchanan would like to establish that the Village has a say in what is done and how it looks. Meise motioned to move forward with legal proceedings. This was seconded by Buchanan and it carried unanimously.
Review and Audit of Invoices:
Liegel motioned to pay Voucher #10034 payable to Energenecs, Inc. in the amount of $870.50 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. Leeck seconded, and then the motion carried unanimously.
General Fund | $47,413.35 | Water Utility | $5,445.70 | ||
Library Fund | $5,531.73 | Sewer Department | $7,386.03 | ||
Golf Course | $1,929.50 | ||||
Wage Reimbursements: | $11,601.97 | ||||
Liegel motioned to adjourn to closed session at 9:30 p.m. This was seconded by Buchanan, and then the motion carried unanimously.
Sheila Tafs
Clerk/Treasurer