VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
September 8th, 2025
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Monday, September 8th, 2025.
Village President Shane Trott presided and called to order the meeting at the Village Hall facility at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were Galen Brainerd, Darlene Wundrow, Tim Dolan, Jim Johnson & Mark Zimmer. Kim Grasley was absent. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Hayes and Deputy Nicole Frisinger attended also.
– PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve the August 4th, 2025 Regular Monthly Board Meeting Minutes, carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.
EMPLOYEE’S REPORT:
Casey Gudis attended the meeting to report to the Board that the crew has been busy patching around town. They have installed a meter pit at the cemetery to track water more efficiently for PSC reporting purposes. There was a water leak on S. Alvey St. The road had to be dug up so patching will need to be completed. TJ Electric has the bulbs on order for the streetlights that have been out.
Private Well Ordinance: Gudis reported that the sanitary survey conducted by the DNR every three years has been completed with a grade of 100%. The DNR stated that the Village’s Private Well Ordinance needed to be reviewed and revised. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to schedule a committee meeting to do so, carried.
Garbage Building Upgrades: With winter approaching, Gudis asked what the Board would like to do with the building as far as insulation and heat. Gudis stated that the crew could complete the work. The Board asked him to obtain quotes for materials and a furnace, as well as a quote for an outside company to complete the work. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to schedule a committee meeting to discuss further, once Gudis obtains the quotes, carried.
Dolan asked Gudis about the pillars at the cemetery needing to be fixed as they are deteriorating. He stated that Stew Towers had approached him and stated he would be willing to do the work if the Village purchased the materials. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Brainerd to approve Stew Towers to complete the work, carried.
PETITIONERS-CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS:
PUBLIC COMMENTS: (Please state your name – Limited to 5 minutes per person)
Brad Frisinger attended the meeting to ask how many businesses/residents were added to collection services when the Village started their own collection in January, 2025. He was informed there were roughly seventeen/eighteen accounts. He also asked if his cart is not up to the alley on collection days, if the crew would come to the building to collect. Gudis stated that would not be an issue.
APPLICATIONS:
Building Permits:
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve a building permit to David Rosolowski to build a garage on his property located at 321 E. Feller Avenue, upon approval by the building inspector, carried.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to approve a building permit to Pam Wundrow to enclose her patio located at her property at 1211 N. 2nd St., carried.
Operator’s Licenses:
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve an operator’s license for Sarah I. Umphrey, carried.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to approve an operator’s license for Tiphanie L. Copeland, carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Utility:
Committee Meeting 8/13/25 Report/Minutes: A committee meeting was held on August 13th, 2025. Below are the minutes from that meeting:
The committee met with Chad Koehler of Waste Management to discuss fines that have been imposed on the Village for contamination of the recycling by residential customers. Koehler stated that most of the contamination charges are from residents recycling plastic bags. Koehler stated that no plastic bags of any kind are allowed to be recycled. All recycled items would need to stay loose in the bin.
The committee discussed the pros and cons of the idea of discontinuing curb side recycling pick up and having the dump open twice a month for residents to drop off their recycling to avoid continued fines from Waste Management.
The committee is recommending posting links/flyers on the Village website and Facebook for information on what is and is not allowed in the recycling carts as well as sending out a mass mailing explaining to residents the rules and regulations.
Public Works:
Alley Paving: Nothing new to discuss this month. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to table the ‘Alley Paving’ item until the October, 2025 Regular Monthly Meeting, carried.
Resolution 25-02-A – Final Resolution Regarding the Discontinuance of a Public Way: Final Resolution 25-02-A was presented at the Public Hearing held at 5:00 p.m. prior to the meeting. Motion by Dolan, seconded by Johnson to approve Resolution 25-02-A, a resolution discontinuing a public way, carried. A full script of the resolution can be obtained at the Village Hall, Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Committee Meeting 8/26/25 Report/Minutes: A committee meeting was held on August 26th, 2025. Below are the minutes from that meeting:
The committee met at the school with representatives of the school and also the engineer for the referendum project that is planned to start in 2026. The engineer asked that if Xcel Energy approved moving a power pole, if the Village would have any objections to have the alley widened. There would be no objection. There would be no cost to the Village for the work.
Public Welfare:
Bruce Park Concession Stand/Contract between Bruce School & Village Discussion: Nothing new to discuss this month. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Wundrow to table the ‘Bruce Park Concession Stand/Contract between Bruce School & Village Discussion’ item until the October, 2025 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
2026 Library Budget Approval: The 2026 Bruce Library Budget was presented by Director Trevor Richards. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Dolan to approve the 2026 Bruce Library budget of $62,471.00, carried.
CORRESPONDENCE: A letter was submitted by resident Van Bundgaard requesting a bicycle lane be made for an eight-mile loop from Railroad Avenue to 2nd St., Quade Road to the Trails End loop and back. Discussion was had on the right-of-way on those streets. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to deny the request due to right-of-way issues, carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to pay vouchers and electronic payments totaling $58,433.19, carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Bruce Community Farmer’s Market: Every Friday thru the end of October, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Bruce Park
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Wundrow to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 6:05 p.m.
Jessica Hayes
Clerk/Treasurer