VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
October 6, 2014
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Monday, October 6, 2014.
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 Lloyd Waite, Shane Trott, Mark Zimmer, Jim Doke, Bobbi Jo Fillion and John Manosky. Both Clerks attended also.
Newman announced there were three building permit applications to be added to the Agenda for approval.
Motion by Waite, seconded by Zimmer to approve the Agenda with the three additional building permits, carried.
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Trott to dispense of the reading and approve the minutes of the September 2, 2014 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Fillion, seconded by Manosky to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.
EMPLOYEE’S REPORT: Darlene Wundrow reported the new compressors were delivered and have been installed in the lift station on Sorensen Avenue. She purchased thirty-six new water meters for $1,830.00 and has received them. The estimates for material to replace the roof on the ambulance garage came in at $1,448.77 for asphalt shingles including tar paper and supplies needed to install it and $1,797.65 for a metal roof. No labor costs are included in either estimate. Darlene reported the workers are crack sealing streets in the Village and will be painting the crosswalks near Main Street & Arthur Avenue this month.
PETITIONERS-CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS:
North Main Street Reconstruction Project-Status Report: Newman reported he spoke to Bob Parmley and plans are being finalized for the North Main Street Project. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Trott to table the “North Main Street Reconstruction Project” issue until the November, 2014 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were none.
APPLICATIONS:
Building Permits: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to approve a building permit for Darlene Wundrow to re-shingle her house at 508 W. Railroad Avenue, carried.
Motion by Waite, seconded by Fillion to approve a building permit for Michael Newman to re-shingle his house at 620 N. 2nd Street, carried.
Motion by Trott, seconded by Doke to approve a building permit for Jaclyn Dolan to remodel and replace two windows at a house at 123 W. River Avenue, carried.
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to approve a building permit for John Baker, Jr. to replace the siding on his house at 906 N. Blackburn Street, carried.
Motion by Waite, seconded by Trott to approve a building permit for Randy Kopras to re-roof Ryan Kopras’s house at 625 N. 2nd Street, carried.
Motion by Manosky, seconded by Zimmer to approve a building permit for Rita Benik to install a new garage door and replace the floor of her garage at 921 N. 3rd Street, carried.
Motion by Waite, seconded by Doke to approve a building permit for Gerald Czyscon to build a storage shed at 226 S. Coleman Street, carried.
Motion by Trott, seconded by Fillion to approve a building permit for Eldon Skogen to replace the siding on his house at 1038 N. 1st Street, carried.
Motion by Waite, seconded by Doke to approve a building permit for John Manosky to install a fence on the property at 621 N. Blackburn Street, carried.
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to approve a building permit for Barry Frisinger to build a shed on his property in River Bend Acres (Parcel # 106-00309-0000), carried.
Motion by Waite, seconded by Trott to approve a building permit for Barry Frisinger to build a lean to shed on his commercial building at 760 W. Arthur Avenue, carried.
Demolition Permit: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to approve a demolition permit for Gerald Czyscon to demolish a collapsed pole shed at 226 S. Coleman Street, carried.
New Operators License: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Doke to approve a regular operator’s license for Jessica C. Grunewald, carried.
Bow Hunting Permit: Motion by Waite, seconded by Fillion to approve a bow hunting permit for Richard Christianson to hunt deer with a bow on Village owned property, carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Public Safety:
Notification from State Commissioner of Railroads of Wisconsin Central Ltd. Petition for Closure of 1st Street and Blackburn Street Crossings: Newman reported the Village has received a letter from the Commissioner of Railroads stating that the North 1st Street railroad crossing will be permanently closed. The Village has to install temporary barriers and road closed signs by October 15th. Wisconsin Central Ltd. is responsible for removing the crossing surface and has to obliterate the roadway within its right-of-way for the crossing at-grade of 1st Street with its tracks in the Village of Bruce after October 15th and before November 15, 2014.
Motion by Waite, seconded by Zimmer to approve tabling the “Notification from State Commissioner of Railroads of Wisconsin Central Ltd. Petition for Closure of 1st Street and Blackburn Street Crossings” issue until the November, 2014 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
Utility:
Garbage Service Contract-Waste Management: The Board approved the five year garbage service contract with Waste Management at the August 4, 2014 meeting. The contract is ready to be signed and will commence January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2019. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Doke to approve authorizing the Village President to sign the five year garbage service contract with Waste Management, carried. Motion by Trott, seconded by Zimmer to remove the “Garbage Service Contract” issue from the Agenda, carried.
Public Welfare:
Abatement Issue: Newman reported he spoke to the County Treasurer regarding the status of the property at 202 W. Railroad Avenue. The property is in the process of be taken back by the county for tax deed. Options on what to do with the property were discussed and no action was taken. More information will be available at a later date. Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to table the “Abatement Issue” until the November, 2014 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
ATV Routes in the Village: Newman reported there was a committee meeting last month and Dave Williams from the Rusk Riders ATV Club attended and gave suggestions regarding the ATV routes in the Village and the possibility of connecting to the trails outside the Village limits. The Committee came up with changes to the current route adding several areas. Williams attended the meeting to answer questions the Board had. The Board reviewed the changes and discussion was held on whether to open all streets to ATV use. Motion by Waite, seconded by Fillion to approve the revised ATV route to include the alley behind the businesses on Main Street from River Avenue to Arthur Avenue, the alley in front of the old grocery store, changing where the route crosses to Blackburn Street instead of 1st Street, all of Railroad Avenue (enabling ATV’s to get to the dump by going up 2nd Street or 3rd Street to Washington Avenue), and North 2nd Street to Trails End Avenue, carried. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to refer the “ATV Routes in Village” issue to Committee to discuss the possibility of opening all streets in the theVillage to ATV travel in the future, carried.
Drainage Ditch at Village Park-Committee Meeting October 7, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.: A meeting will be held Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the problems with the drainage ditch at the Village Park. Travis Holt from the DNR will attend the meeting to help with possible solutions to the poor drainage problem at the south end of the park. The area is considered a navigable stream. He will help with any permits that may be needed to complete the project. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Doke to approve tabling the “Drainage Ditch at Village Park” issue until the November, 2014 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
Administration:
Employee Wage Negotiations: The committee met on September 11th and September 16th to review the 2015 employee wage requests. The committee recommended that a one percent increase be approved for Darlene Wundrow, Bob Weinert, Toby Kostick, Terry Hegeholz, Jessica Hayes and Peggy Weinert and seventy-five cents an hour increase for Kurt Will for 2015 wages. Will has completed the requirements to be a certified operator. Time and a half paid to employees working Saturday for Spring & Fall clean-up was also recommended for approval. Sick days for employees are capped at 70 days with a maximum of 60 days payable upon retirement. The hours employees are eligible for sick pay are determined by the worker’s typical work day. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Doke to approve the recommended 2015 employee wage increase of one percent for workers and seventy-five cent an hour increase for Will, time and a half for employees working Saturday for Spring & Fall clean-up and capping sick days at 70 days with a maximum of 60 days payable upon retirement, carried
Finance:
All Committees Recommendations for 2015 Budget Workshop, October 13, 2014, at 4:00 p.m.: There will be a workshop on Monday, October 13, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. at the Village Hall for the 2015 Budget. Board members are asked to attend and give recommendations. The village auditor and board members will be available to answer questions regarding the proposed budget.
Industrial Site: Doke reported he went with representatives from the sheep dairy board to a meeting in Chippewa Falls. The meeting was held to try to find a way to market their current products in a better manner to help increase their amount of revenue. Information from the meeting will be analyzed by several individuals that were at the meeting to help with marketing the products and their recommendations will be sent to the sheep dairy board in time for their meeting later this week. The sheep dairy board continues to work towards the possibility of having a building in the Village’s industrial park to process their products.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Rusk County Comprehensive Plan: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Fillion to table the “Rusk County Comprehensive Plan” issue until the November, 2014 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Bruce Area Library Teen Program-Request to use library after hours: Patti-Jo Bertelsen attended the meeting and informed the Board that the library board approved the use of the library for a teen program after hours if the Village Board approved it also. She explained the program is being created to allow teens to participate in activities at the library from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., two times a month. The age group being considered for the program is fifth through twelfth graders. Bertelsen explained there would be three or four adult volunteers monitoring the activity and the security of the building throughout the hours they would be open for the program. Motion by Waite, seconded by Zimmer to approve allowing the use of the library for a supervised teen program from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. two times a month, carried. A written agreement will be drafted and Bertelsen will submit it to the Board for approval before any activities are scheduled.
Ambulance Garage Roof Replacement Estimate: Wundrow provided estimates to the board for supplies to re-roof the ambulance garage building. Discussion was held on possibly getting volunteers to help with the re-roof. Motion by Waite, seconded by Manosky to approve purchasing supplies to install a metal roof on the ambulance garage for approximately $1,797.65 and having the Village workers install it, carried.
Facebook Page: Discussion was held on establishing a Facebook page for the Village. Motion by Trott, seconded by Fillion to approve starting a Facebook page for the Village, carried. John Manosky will set it up and Jessica will help maintain it at the Village Hall.
Christmas in Bruce Celebration: The annual Christmas in Bruce Celebration will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2014. Many events are being scheduled and more details will be reported next month.
Fire/Security Monitoring System Proposal: The fire monitoring system that was installed when the Village Hall was built in 2002. It is not working and needs to be replaced. The Board reviewed a proposal from Polk Burnett Monitoring System. Motion by Manosky, seconded by Fillion to approve scheduling a meeting with a representative from the Polk Burnett Security Services to discuss the details of the work to be done on the fire/security monitoring system for the Village Hall, carried.
Bruce Business Meeting, October 21, 2014, at 7:00 a.m.at Village Hall: Local business owners and individuals from the community have been contacted to attend a meeting on Tuesday, October 21st at 7:00 a.m. at the Village Hall to discuss attracting more businesses to the area. Board members and Andy Albarado will be in attendance. It will be advertised on the Village’s website at www.villageofbruce.org and in the Ladysmith News.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Waite, seconded by Fillion to pay vouchers and electronic tax payments totaling $40,532.85, carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Donation Received for Softball Field Dugout Project: No donations were received this month.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Fall Clean Up-October 10th, & 11th, 2014. An attendant will be on duty at the collection site from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Curbside Pick-Up will be on Monday, October 13th, 2014. For those unable to haul their own refuse please call the Village Hall at 868-2185 by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 10th to arrange for pick-up.
Flu Vaccine Clinic: Lakeview Medical Center will hold a flu vaccine clinic at the Village Hall Thursday, October 16, 2014, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $25.00 per vaccine. Most insurance is accepted including Medicare and Medicare Supplement, Medicaid & BadgerCare. Please call Alisa Lammers at 715-236-6439 with any questions regarding the clinic.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Waite, seconded by Fillion to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 8:30 p.m.
Terry Hegeholz
Clerk/Treasurer