VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
January 2, 2018
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.
Village President Mike Newman presided and called to order the meeting at the Village Hall facility at 7:00 p.m. Board members present were Shane Trott, Gayanne Skogen, Bobbi Jo Fillion, Mark Zimmer, John Hoiby and Galen Brainerd. Terry Hegeholz attended also.
Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to approve the Agenda, carried.
Motion by Trott, seconded by Zimmer to dispense of the reading and approve the minutes of the the December 4, 2017 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.
EMPLOYEE’S REPORT: Darlene Wundrow attended the meeting and reported the frost depth is a little less than four feet. She will contact residents if they should begin running water to avoid freeze up. A part has been ordered and should be in soon for the sweeper that the employees use to clear snow off the sidewalks. Steve Golat has a water pipe thawing machine called a Magicist, for sale for $1,500.00. Wundrow stated the Village has rented it from him before to thaw water lines. The machine has an extension spool that is included in the cost. It is a recirculating machine that sends heated water down the line to try and thaw it when frozen. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Brainerd to approve purchasing the water pipe thawing machine from Steve Golat for $1,500.00, carried. Wundrow reported to the Board that she has researched a company and its products for replacing the obsolete residential water meters used in the Village. The ultrasonic smart water meters by Kamstrup last twenty years. It can tell you the ambient air temperature around the meter, the temperature of the water flowing through the meter, if there is any tampering, measures high water usage, among others things. They are a little more expensive than the other meters she had presented at the August 7, 2017 Board Meeting, but the starter package is considerably less. The meters are drive by read instead of manually reading them. They integrate to a tower, but Wundrow stated that isn’t necessary in Bruce. An electronic tablet or cell phone will be used to collect the data. The starter package for $10,405.00 includes the antenna, software to read meters, 30 meters and software installation by the company. The meters will cost $184.00 each. The Workhorse software program that the Clerks use for the utility system is very compatible with the proposed product also. A yearly maintenance fee of $495.00 will be part of the cost to convert the meter system.
PETITIONERS-CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
APPLICATIONS: None
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Utility:
Water Rate Increase Approval Effective 4/1/2018: Motion by Fillion, seconded by Brainerd to approve a 3% increase for the water rates effective April 1, 2018, carried. Customers will first see the increase on their July 1st, 2018 quarterly bill.
Water Meter Program & Equipment Purchase Approval: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Trott to rescind the August 7, 2017 motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to approve purchasing thirty new water meters for $120.00 each and a hand held reader for approximately $400.00 contingent on the PSC ‘s approval, carried.
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to approve purchasing a starter package for $10, 405.00 from Kamstrup for software, equipment and 30 electronic meters, carried.
Public Works:
Potential New Village Shop: Newman reported Larry Gotham will attend the February Board Meeting to give an update on the status of the plans for the new Village Shop building. Motion by Zimmer seconded by Trott to approve tabling the “Potential New Village Shop” issue until the February 2018, Regular Board Meeting, carried.
2018 General Transportation Aids: The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has issued the final figures for the 2018 General Transportation Aids. The amount for 2018 is $20,694.71. The Village will receive quarterly payments of approximately $5,173.67.
Public Welfare:
Park Playground Equipment: Newman reported The Bruce Kiwanis has donated $2,000.00 towards the Park Playground Equipment Fundraiser through a grant they received. The current total raised is approximately $24,000.00. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Trott to table the “New Playground Equipment at the Village Park” issue until the February, 2018 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
Continue to Pursue Legal Action of Clean Up on E. Washington Avenue Property: Newman reported we are continuing to seek legal counsel regarding any action taken to clean up the property on E. Washington Avenue. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Trott to table the “Continue to Pursue Legal Action of Clean Up on E. Washington Avenue Property” issue until the February, 2018 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
Continue to Pursue Legal Action to Raze Building on W. Railroad Avenue: Newman reported a new owner has purchased the property on West Railroad Avenue. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to table the “Approve Continuing to Pursue Legal Action to Raze a Building on a Property on W. Railroad Avenue” issue until the February, 2018 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
Administration:
Update Ordinances: A Committee meeting will be scheduled in January to continue to examine the current Ordinances for possible updates. Motion by Trott, seconded by Zimmer to table the “Update Ordinances” issue until the February, 2018 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
NEW BUSINESS: None
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to pay vouchers and electronic tax payments totaling $52,038.81, carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
2018 Caucus-was held on January 2, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. at the Village Hall, 100 W. River Avenue, Bruce, WI 54819.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to adjourn, carried. Adjournment
was at 7:29 p.m.
Terry Hegeholz
Clerk/Treasurer