VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
August 7th, 2023
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Monday, August 7th, 2023.
Village President Shane Trott presided and called to order the meeting at the Village Hall facility at 7:00 p.m. Board members present were Galen Brainerd, Darlene Wundrow, Tim Dolan, Kim Grasley and Jim Johnson. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Hayes and Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Nicole Frisinger attended also. Mark Zimmer was absent.
– PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Dolan, seconded by Grasley to approve the July 10th, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting Minutes, carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Grasley, seconded by Johnson to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.
EMPLOYEE’S REPORT: The water line dig across Highway 8 on E. Arthur Avenue is completed. Monarch paving was here and looked at patches that need to be completed throughout town. Monarch will complete those when they are in town for the Highway 8 project. They will be submitting a quote soon for the blacktopping that will need to be done on Walnut Avenue.
APPLICATIONS:
Building Permit:
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to approve a building permit to Chris Carlton of Carlton Child Care to install a driveway at his property located at 125 W. Sorenson Avenue, carried.
Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Grasley to approve a building permit to Jacqueline Johnson to build a patio attached to her house located 411 S. Jeffrey Lane, carried.
Operator’s Licenses:
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve an Operators’ License to John H. Weinert, carried.
Class ‘B’ Picnic License: Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Grasley to approve a Class ‘B’ Picnic License to the Bruce Belters, carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Utility:
Garbage Contract Discussion: Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Garbage Contract Discussion’ item until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Committee Meeting 7/19/23 Report/Minutes: A committee meeting was held on July 19th, 2023 to discuss the sewer line replacement on East Arthur Avenue/S. Main Street. Below are the minutes from that meeting:
The committee is recommending the following:
– Having Haas give a quote for the work. If under $25,000.00 to go ahead with the work and if over $25,000.00, have the Village order the materials and pay Haas for the labor.
– Recommends assessing at the same rate as the current project (Filtration Project) and to divide the footage by thirds. Bill by the foot accordingly.
– Recommends having property owners sign easements as there are no easements in place currently
** Property owners will be responsible for the pipe from their buildings to the sewer main.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to approve the committee’s recommendations from the July 19th, 2023 Utility committee meeting, carried.
Sewer Main Replacement on East Arthur /S. Main St.: The project will begin as soon as easements are signed by property owners. The project will take about a day-day and a half to complete. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Sewer Main Replacement on East Arthur/S. Main St.’ item until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Public Works:
Veteran’s Memorial Park Site: Several more applications have been sent in to the artist for the second location. The artist would be able to complete all mural paintings within a year. Framework for the next location will begin in the Spring of 2024. The current location should have electricity for lighting completed within the month. Motion by Grasley, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Veteran’s Memorial Park Site’ item until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Sewer Line Project on W. River Avenue: The sewer line is installed and completed. The Village is currently waiting for approval from the DNR to include this portion of work in with the Filtration Project. The grant amount would not be increased but the portion would be an add on and included with the DNR funding. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Sewer Line Project on W. River Avenue’ item until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Meeting, carried.
LRIP (Local Road Improvement Program) Funds: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to table the ‘LRIP (Local Road Improvement Program) Funds’ item until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Committee Meeting 7/11/23 Report/Minutes: A committee meeting was held on July 11th, 2023 to do a follow up regarding unsightly properties. Below are the minutes from that meeting.
The committee met to do a second review of unsightly properties in the Village. Several properties have cleaned up what the Village requested but there were a few properties that need a follow up letter before fines would be imposed. The committee is recommending having the Clerk send out second notice letters to the property owners and if after that, the properties are not cleaned up, fines will be imposed with the 3rd notice letter.
Water Filtration Project – Corrective Work on Village Wells & River Avenue:
-DISCUSSION & ACTION-
Morgan & Parmley Ltd. – Invoice Payment Approval: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to pay the invoice in the amount of $16,542.45 to Morgan & Parmley, Ltd. for engineering work on the Filtration Project, completed thru June 30th, 2023, carried.
Morgan & Parmley, Ltd. – Invoice Payment Approval: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to pay the invoice in the amount of $10,090.00 to Morgan & Parmley, Ltd. for engineering work on the Filtration project, completed thru July 31st, 2023, carried.
Haas Sons, Inc. – Invoice Payment Approval: Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Dolan to approve paying the invoice from Haas Sons, Inc. in the amount of $586,161.88 for work completed on the Filtration project thru July 27th, 2023, carried.
Cooper Engineering – Invoice Payment Approval: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to approve the invoice in the amount of $1,292.50 to Cooper Engineering for Grant Administration for the Filtration Project thru July 29th, 2023, carried.
Resolution #23-04 to Endorse the Principal of Fair Housing: Per CDBG guidelines for the Filtration project, a resolution to endorse fair housing guidelines was read aloud by Trott. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Wundrow to approve Resolution #23-04, Endorsement of the Principal of Fair Housing, carried. A full copy of the Resolution can be found posted at the Village Hall, Bruce Area Library & Bruce Post Office. A copy of the Resolution can be obtained at the Village Hall Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
USDA/Rural Development Grant Funds Received: Information only. The USDA/Rural Development Grant was received from Rural Development in the amount of $78,000.00 for costs incurred from the Filtration Project.
Public Welfare:
Bruce Park Concession Stand Discussion: Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Dolan to table the ‘Bruce Park Concession Stand Discussion’ item until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Meeting, carried.
Park Dugout Update: The dugout is completed. Affordable fencing will complete the fence and backstop within the next couple months. A four-foot overhang for an additional $500.00 would be added. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to add the additional four-foot overhang for $500.00, carried. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Grasley to table the ‘Park Dugout Update’ item until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Approval of contract between Bruce School & the Village on Park Use: Nothing new to report this month.Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to send the item to committee and to table the ’Approval of contract between Bruce School & the Village on Park Use’ item until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Administration:
Maintenance Position Hire: Nothing further to discuss at this time. Motion by Grasley, seconded by Wundrow to table the ‘Maintenance Position Hire’ item until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Committee Meeting 7/14/23 Report/Minutes: A committee meeting was held on July 14th, 2023. Below are the minutes from that meeting:
The committee met with Hayes and Nelson to discuss Hayes’s medical leave. Hayes will be out of work for approximately 6-8 weeks. The committee discussed with Nelson that she will need to train with Hayes for the next 4 weeks before her leave will start. Documentation of items completed and items trained on will be signed off by both employees.
Marlys Javener will stop in to talk with Hayes on if she is interested in helping out on Tuesdays and Thursdays at $14.00 per hour.
The committee asked Nelson if she had any questions or concerns regarding the matter and Nelson responded no, she did not.
Committee Meeting 7/28/23 Report/Minutes: A committee meeting was held on July 28th, 2023. Below are the minutes from that meeting:
The committee met to discuss the vacant Deputy position. The former Deputy resigned as of July 31st, 2023. With the Clerk going on medical leave, the position needs to be filled asap.
The committee met with Nicole Frisinger who was extremely interested in the position. Due to the emergency circumstances in hiring someone to get trained in before the Clerk’s leave, the committee hired Nicole Frisinger at $18.00 per hour, starting July 31st, 2023, Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a six-month probationary period.
Discussion on future hours and time worked for the position will be discussed when the Clerk is back from leave.
Marlys Javener will be here Tuesdays and Thursdays to help out as well.
The committee will discuss employee wage negotiations at a later date.
Motion by Grasley, seconded by Brainerd to approve the committee’s recommendations from the July 28th, 2023 Administration committee meeting, carried.
Committee Meeting 8/2/23 Report/Minutes: A committee meeting was held on August 2nd, 2023 to discuss employee wage negotiations for 2024. Below are the minutes from that meeting:
The committee met with Gudis & Hayes to discuss employee wages for 2024.
With the new maintenance position employee starting in the winter/spring at $20.00 per hour with the possibility of moving to $25.00 within one year once all licenses are obtained, Gudis proposed moving Kurt Will up to $26.00 after working here for 15 years. That would be a $3.22 increase from his current wages. The committee is recommending a $3.22 raise for Hayes, Gudis and Will, effective January 1st, 2024. No other benefits would change. No other raises and/or benefits for any other employees were recommended to be changed.
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Brainerd to approve the committee’s recommendations from the August 2nd, 2023 committee meeting for 2024 wages, carried.
Employee Wage Negotiations: A motion by Johnson, second by Brainerd to approve the committee’s recommendations from the August 2nd, 2023 committee meeting was made and carried. Motion by Grasley, seconded by Brainerd to remove the item from the agenda, carried.
Revision of Deputy Clerk Position & Potential Modifications to Benefits: Motion by Grasley, seconded by Brainerd to remove the item from the agenda, carried.
Finance:
Rusk County Sheriff’s Department Contract Discussion & Action: Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Dolan to table the ‘Rusk County Sheriff’s Department Contract Discussion & Action’ item until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Ambulance Garage Building Discussion & Action: Nothing new to report this month. No payments were received from any neighboring Townships this month. With no movement on the item, motion by Grasley, seconded by Dolan to remove the item from the agenda, carried.
Delinquent Bill from Village Owned Property Damage: Paperwork has been filed by the Village’s attorney against the individual for small claims court. There is a judgement granted by the courts against the individual. Nothing further to report at this time. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Dolan to table the ‘Delinquent Bill from Village Owned Property Damage’ issue until the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Resolution #23-05 – Resolution Disallowing Claim: A claim was served on the Village for an accident that occurred on N. Hwy 40. The accident did not involve the Village employees or equipment but rather the County. A resolution was drafted by the Village’s attorney. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to approve Resolution #23-05, a resolution disallowing the claim, carried.
NEW BUSINESS: Schedule September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Grasley to hold the September, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting on September 11th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Grasley to pay vouchers and electronic payments totaling $52,898.25, carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Cruise Nights-Classic Auto Collision Center has set the calendar for Cruise Night in the parking lot at 705 N. Main Street in Bruce, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. August 15th. Contact Classic Auto Collision Center at 715-868-CARS or classicauto@brucetel.net for more details.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Grasley, seconded by Brainerd to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 7:36 p.m.
Jessica Hayes
Clerk/Treasurer