Minutes: October 8, 2008

Village of Plain

Village Board Proceedings of October 8, 2008

The Regular Monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Plain was held at the Municipal Building on October 8, 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: Erik Henningsgard of General Engineering; Wayne Dearborn; Mary Jayne Liegel; Nancy Ringelstetter; Steve Biggers; Gary Ilminen of the Home News; 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, October 6, 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.

Kraemer motioned to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2008 Regular Meeting. Meise seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Liegel then motioned to approve the minutes of the September 11, 2008 Special Meeting. The motion was seconded by Neuheisel and it carried with Buchanan abstaining. Finally, Meise motioned to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2008 Special Meeting. The motion was seconded by Riek and it carried unanimously.

Mary Jayne Liegel addressed the board regarding the stone wall left at the base of the Old Franklin Town Hall with the demolition of the Well House today. The Historical Society wants it removed. Erik Henningsgard of General Engineering stated that it is going to be removed. A phone call later in the evening from Jason Jackson of General Engineering, Architect for the Well House Project, disagreed with Henningsgard’s statement and concluded that the intent was to leave the wall standing. The Town of Franklin will be contacted.

Steve Biggers questioned the board if the new Well House was going to be paid from tax dollars. The Well House will be paid for by the recent water rate increase. Nancy Ringelstetter then expressed concern regarding her water bill doubling and asked about the new fixed rate. Trustee Liegel explained that it is based on fire hydrants and feet of water lines in the Village. The entire amount used to be on property taxes, but it was decided that the increased amount be a fixed charge on the water bills so exempt properties have to pay a portion as well.

Nancy Ringelstetter then spoke on behalf of Steve Biggers regarding his ordinance violation of not installing a driveway at his mother’s new home in the time allotted. The fine issued to Jan Biggers is in line with recent fines issued regarding building violations. Biggers continued to aggressively plead his case and refused to pay the fine. He confirmed that he intends to get an extension on his permit. All further correspondence should be directed to him and not his mother.

Erik Henningsgard of General Engineering addressed the board regarding soil boring for the anticipated TIF Amendment property. Wetland Delineation and a study to fill within the floodplain were also items that the Village may want to have completed at this time. Henningsgard was directed to obtain estimates for the soil boring to present at the next board meeting.

Trustee Riek read Ordinance 160-08, an ordinance to adopt the Comprehensive Plan of the Village of Plain, Sauk County, Wisconsin. Buchanan motioned to approve Ordinance 160-08. The motion was seconded by Riek and it carried unanimously.

The Planning and Development Commission recommended to the board that the recently annexed territory by the ratification of Ordinance 158-08 be assigned zoning of Industrial District and Agriculture District. Neuheisel made the motion to assign zoning of Industrial District and Agriculture District. The motion was seconded by Riek and carried unanimously.

Public Works Department Report

Nick Ruhland updated the board regarding the Well House construction. Sewer will be dug in tomorrow. The water will be dug in next week. If everything goes well, the foundation should be poured by next Wednesday. Less power will be needed, so the electrical service was downgraded from the original plan. The only thing the Village will take care of on the Old Franklin Town Hall is restoring the white siding. The stone wall removal addressed earlier was discussed. Removal of this wall will make their structure weaker. A call to General Engineering staff confirmed that it is not in the plan to remove that wall.

The excavation of the sewer main on Cedar Street will not be done this fall. After some of the engineering was completed, there were elevation issues with manholes. Instead it is being discussed to have Visu-Sewer line the sewer main from 950 Cedar Street to Highway B at $36.00 a foot. Laterals would cost more. The two manholes, where the elevation can’t be changed could be rehabilitated with a strong seal system liner. The cost would be $100 per foot, $1,000 for a 10 foot manhole. This process would make it easier in repairing a backyard problematic sewer main from 815 Park Avenue south to Cedar Street. 

The batting cage has been completed. Kraemer Brothers donated the labor and The Kraemer Company donated aggregate. The Ed Paulus family donated the batting cage. The fence needs to be extended along the third baseline so ball players do not run into the batting cage.

Committee Reports

Water & Sewer  - Liegel

Water Pumpage for September:

Well No. 1:        0

            Well No. 2:   2,812,000

Total for September: 2,812,000gallons, which was 577,000 gallons more than last year.

Two well samples were sent to the State Lab.  Both samples tested safe.

            Monthly fluoride average: 1.31 p.p.m.

Wastewater Report for September:

            Influent Monthly Average B.O.D.:    131 mg/l

            Effluent Monthly Average B.O.D.:    6          Limit: 15 mg/l

            Influent Monthly Average T.S.S.:      136  mg/l

            Effluent Monthly Average T.S.S.:      7          Limit: 20 mg/l

Monthly Average Nitrogen Ammonia:  .3763 mg/l   

Limit: 20.0 mg/l Monthly

            29.0 mg/l  Daily

            Total gallons treated: 3,509,400

We are in the application process for financing the Well House.

The Utilities Committee met with Visu-Sewer and would like to contract with them to televise a set number of sewer lines annually. To pay for this in the sewer budget, it is being recommended by the Utilities Committee to increase sewer rates slightly. The quarterly charge would increase from $22.75 to $23.75. The usage rate would increase 20¢ per 1,000 gallons, from $4.55 to $4.75. Sewer increases are done by Ordinance. The Utilities Committee is trying to maintain break-even. Meise made the motion to proceed with the sewer rate increase. The motion was seconded by Kraemer and carried unanimously.

Police & Golf Course – Meise

A ditch was constructed along fairway #5, donated by Meise Construction. Fill is currently being brought into fairway #9. The Golf Course Committee has agreed not to increase rates to build moral and to bring golfers back.

No Police Committee report.

Parks & Streets– Neuheisel

Westbrook Engineering inspected the Westbrook Drive road bridge and the decking is deteriorating. They are recommending putting an overlay on the bridge deck. This cost could be $20,000-$25,000. A bid should be obtained so the project can be budgeted for.

The Parks Committee met to discuss the Park Master Plan. Another meeting is scheduled for early December to discuss again.

Finance – Kraemer

The Finance Committee met on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 with the other Committees to present their budgets. All the Committees did very well on stream-lining their budgets. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 to review figures and discuss salaries.

Ordinance & Library Liaison – Riek

The Library submitted their budget to the Finance Committee. The sewer back-flow preventer was installed today.

Building & Swimming Pool – Buchanan

No Pool Committee report.

The Building Committee is reviewing a fence building permit for Bill Gruber. Biggers complained about his fine. Fines are given out fairly across the board.

Other Business

Riek read the second reading of Ordinance Number 159-08, an Ordinance correcting the parking language at the Municipal Building. Riek motioned for to approve Ordinance Number 159-08. This was seconded by Neuheisel and carried unanimously.

Following the reading of the preamble and resolutions, Trustee Liegel motioned to adopt Resolution 2008-07, authorizing the borrowing of $340,000.00 for the demolition and reconstruction of Well House #1.  This was seconded by Trustee Kraemer.  The results of a roll-call vote were as follows: Ellenbolt - aye; Buchanan - aye; Kraemer - aye; Liegel - aye; Meise - aye; Neuheisel - aye; and, Riek - aye. The unanimous vote was in favor, and the resolution was adopted.

Riek motioned to donate $100.00 to the 2009 River Valley High School yearbook.  This was seconded by Neuheisel, and then carried unanimously.

Buchanan motioned to set the hours for Halloween trick-or-treating on Friday, October 31, 2008 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Seconded by Liegel, and carried unanimously.

Kraemer motioned to set the annual Budget Hearing for Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.  This was seconded by Meise, and then carried unanimously.

Trustee Liegel proposed that a team be established to meet with potential businesses interested in purchasing land in the Industrial Park. It would be respectable to be consistent with each presentation. The Village needs to be prepared for future prospects.

Trustee Riek informed the board that the Town of Franklin intends to do landscaping which includes a horse-drawn grader with a flag pole through the hitch in their front yard on Highway B. They want it completed before the November election.  No permit is needed for landscaping.

Correspondence  

No Correspondence.

Review and Audit of Invoices:

Liegel motioned to pay Voucher #10542 payable to RBC Services in the amount of $2,964.40 from the Sewer Parts Replacement Fund.  This was seconded by Meise, 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.

Liegel motioned to adjourn at 9:32 p.m.  This was seconded by Buchanan, and then the motion carried unanimously.

Sheila Tafs

Clerk/Treasurer