December: Regular Monthly Board Meeting Minutes

VILLAGE OF BRUCE

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

December 5th, 2022

Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Monday, December 5th, 2022.

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, Mark Zimmer and Jim Johnson. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Hayes attended also. Kim Grasley and Loren Beebe were absent.

– PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve the November 7th, 2022 Public Budget Hearing Minutes, carried.
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Wundrow to approve the November 7th, 2022 Regular Monthly Board Meeting Minutes, carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Brainerd to approve the Treasurer’s report as given, carried.

EMPLOYEE’S REPORT: Casey Gudis attended the meeting to report that the Veteran’s Mural is built and murals installed.
A sewer line at 127 E. Arthur Avenue is in need of replacement. There are several tree roots obstructing the line causing the line not to work efficiently. Wundrow stated that this replacement is not the responsibility of the Village but yet the homeowner’s. The Board recommended discussing the issue further with an engineer and possibly having a committee meeting to look in to the issue further.
Lastly, the new backhoe will tentatively be here on February 3rd, 2023.

APPLICATIONS:
Operator’s License: Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve an operator’s license for Sylana R. Smith, carried.

Bow Hunting Permit:
Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Brainerd to approve a bow hunting permit for Joe Vojtasek to hunt with a bow on Village owned property, carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Utility:

Discussion and Action Regarding Corrective Work on Village Wells: Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Wundrow to table the ‘Discussion and Action Regarding Corrective Work on Village Wells’ issue until the January, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Sewer Rate Increase:
Nothing new to report this month. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Wundrow to table the ‘Sewer Rate Increase’ issue until the January, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Public Works:
Veteran’s Memorial Park Site: The mural wall has been built and murals installed. The Board wished to thank Vern Chandler for volunteering his time to dig the holes for the posts as well as Jim Lee, Tom Michaud, Jim Blazek, Jeff Grasley, Jesse Hayes and especially to Kurt Will and Casey Gudis for all their help installing the mural. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Veteran’s Memorial Park Site’ issue until the January, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.

North Main Street Reconstruction Project:
        -DISCUSSION-

The project is complete. The clerk is working on finalizing all paperwork with the DNR & CDBG. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Brainerd to table the ‘North Main Street Reconstruction Project Discussion’ item until the January, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.

Water Filtration Project:
Authorization to Bid the Water Filtration Project:
Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to approve putting the water filtration project out for bids and to table the ‘Water Filtration Project Discussion’ item until the January 4th, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.

Public Welfare:
Bruce Park Concession Stand Discussion: Nothing new to discuss at this time. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Zimmer to table the ‘Bruce Park Concession Stand Discussion” item until the January 2023, Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.

Administration:
Committee Meeting 11/17/22 Minutes:
A committee meeting was held on November 17th, 2022 to discuss employment of a current employee. The committee is recommending the following to the Board:
– Having Robert Ewald only work 18 hours a week mowing unless authorized by Trott for more
– Keeping Ewald on call for hauling of snow in the winter months
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to approve the committee’s recommendations, carried.
Appointment of Election Board Members:
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to approve Chris Hamel, Bev Burnap, Judy Mattheis, Martha Aponte and Marlys Javener as Election Board Members, carried.
Finance:
Rusk County Sheriff’s Department Contract Discussion & Action:
Nothing new to report at this time. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Brainerd to table the ‘Rusk County Sheriff’s Department Contract Discussion & Action’ item until the January, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Ambulance Garage Building Discussion & Action:
Discussion was had on the townships that have yet to pay their portion of the ambulance garage expenses. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to assess the townships a 1% late fee charge per month on the balances due and to table the ‘Ambulance Garage Building Discussion & Action’ item until the January, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.

Industrial Site:
Blue Hills Dairy, LLC:
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to remove the ‘Blue Hills Dairy, LLC’ issue from the agenda, carried.

NEW BUSINESS:
Set 2023 Caucus Date: Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to hold the 2023 Caucus on January 4th, 2023 at 6:30 p.m., carried.

APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Brainerd to pay vouchers and electronic payments totaling $90,786.09, carried.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Christmas in Bruce: December 10th, 2022

Village Hall Christmas Holiday Hours: The Village Hall will be closed Friday, December 23rd, 2022 and Monday December 26th, 2022 for Christmas 

January, 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting: The January 2023 Regular Monthly Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 4th, 2023.

‘The Giving Tree’ – There will be a Christmas tree at the Village Hall supplied with a child’s information and needs for the holiday season. Come grab a card off the tree and be the person who makes a child smile this Christmas!

ADJOURNMENT:  Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Johnson to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 7:57 p.m.

Jessica Hayes
Clerk/Treasurer