VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
August 3, 2015
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Monday, August 3, 2015.
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, Jim Doke, Gayanne Skogen,
Bobbi Jo Fillion and Jim Moore. Both Clerks attended also.
Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to approve the Agenda, carried.
Motion by Doke, seconded by Fillion to dispense of the reading and approve the minutes of the July 6, 2015 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Fillion, seconded by Doke to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.
EMPLOYEE’S REPORT: Darlene Wundrow reported she received a letter from the DNR regarding a recent inspection of the wood burning facility. Improvements must be made by
September 15, 2015 and the work will be done this week. She is still looking for a plow truck to replace the aging one the workers use to plow snow. There are two available at Barron County and she will contact them for more information.
PETITIONERS-CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS:
Bob Hauser, DNR Forester from Ladysmith: Bob Hauser attended the meeting and informed the Board there are several red pine trees in the Village Park that are infected with a red pine pocket disease. Testing was done on some trees in the Park earlier this summer and the disease is present. It will slowly affect more trees over the next several years and action should be taken to remove them before they become a safety issue to the public. The trees he recommended removing this year are west of the playground equipment near the slide. Hauser stated there is funding available through an Urban Forestry Grant to help with the cost of removing the trees and provided the information to the Board. It is 50/50 grant and the deadline for application is October 1, 2015. The Village would have to fund the costs and after the project is completed the state would reimburse fifty percent of it. The Board should consider a long range plan to remove and replace trees that are affected in the Park. Darlene has been in contact with Urban Forester Don Kisinger to discuss the issue and will work with him through the grant application process. Newman and Wundrow will meet with him this fall to mark the trees that need to be removed and to discuss options available. The board thanked Hauser for attending the meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were none.
APPLICATIONS:
Building Permits:
Motion by Doke, seconded by Fillion to approve a building permit for Fred Nenneman to re-roof his house at 623 N. 4th Street, carried.
Motion by Doke, seconded by Trott to approve a building permit for Kerry Miller to re-roof his commercial building at 718 N. Main Street, carried.
Motion by Trott, seconded by Fillion to approve a building permit for Winnie Hopkins to re-roof a house she owns at 320 E. River Avenue, carried.
Motion by Doke, seconded by Trott to approve a building permit for Jack Clough who is replacing windows, siding & re-roofing Brad Wester’s house at 410 S. Richard Lane, carried.
Motion by Trott, seconded by Doke to approve a building permit for Oaks Management to re-roof, replace siding, soffit and fascia on a house they own at 631 N. Alvey Street, carried.
Operator’s License: Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to approve an operator’s license for Alison M. Kempen, carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Public Works:
Committee Meeting July 16, 2015 Report: Newman reported on several topics that were discussed at the Public Works Committee Meeting on July 16th. Discussion was held on the following topics;
Purchase Proposal for property at 339 S. Main Street: No action was taken. Motion by Fillion, seconded by Doke to remove the “Purchase Proposal for property at 339 S. Main Street” issue from the Agenda, carried.
Potential New Village Shop: Newman reported a survey map has been completed by Rusk County Surveying for the property the Village owns where the current Village Shop is. There is ample room to construct a new building there in the future. Many other aspects will be considered and discussed before any decision is made to move forward with a new shop building. Motion by Doke, seconded by Fillion to refer the “Potential New Village Shop” issue to Committee, carried.
Newman also reported that he and Jim Wester traveled to several dealerships and communities to look at trucks that were available for purchase to replace the existing Village plow truck.
Public Welfare:
Drainage Ditch at Village Park: Wundrow reported someone came to look at the drainage ditch at the Village Park and she is waiting for him to submit a price for the improvements. Motion by Doke, seconded by Fillion to approve tabling the “Drainage Ditch at Village Park” issue until the September, 2015 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
ATV Routes Signage: Dave Williams and volunteers from The Rusk Riders ATV Club are installing signs for the ATV routes in the Village. Once all signs are installed, the routes will be officially open for use. Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to table the “ATV Routes Signage” issue until the September, 2015 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
Committee Meeting July 16, 2015 Report: Newman reported unsightly properties were inspected and letters were sent to property owners that are in violation of Village Ordinances. Improvements have been made on some properties since the last inspection but more work is needed on others. The Committee will continue to monitor the progress.
Administration:
Employee Wage Negotiations: Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to approve referring the “Employee Wage Negotiations” issue to Committee and have employees submit written requests by August 17, 2015, carried.
Employee Rehire: Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to refer the “Employee Rehire” issue to Committee and to table the issue until the September, 2015 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
Finance:
Plow Truck Purchase: Newman reported that he and Jim Wester traveled to several dealerships and communities to look at trucks that were available for purchase to replace the existing Village plow truck. Motion by Doke, seconded by Fillion to approve authorizing the Village President, representing the Village Board, to purchase a plow truck if one becomes available, and authorizing up to $80,000.00 for the purchase, carried. Motion by Fillion, seconded by Doke to table the “Plow Truck Purchase Issue” until the September, 2015 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Kiwanis Playground Equipment Grant Donation-Arlene Knops: Newman will contact Arlene Knops. Motion by Fillion, seconded by Doke to approve tabling the “Kiwanis Playground Equipment Grant Donation” issue until the September, 2015 Regular Board Meeting, carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Holiday Conflict with September’s Regular Board Meeting: Motion by Fillion, seconded by Trott to approve setting the date for the September Board Meeting for Tuesday, September 8, 2015, at 7:00 p.m., carried.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Doke, seconded by Fillion to pay vouchers and electronic tax payments totaling $47,837.31, carried.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Village received a Thank You from The Bruce Historical Society for a recent donation.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Doke, seconded by Fillion to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 7:55 p.m.
Terry Hegeholz
Clerk/Treasurer