VILLAGE OF BRUCE
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
February 2nd, 2026
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a scheduled monthly meeting of the Village Board was held on Monday, February 2nd, 2026.
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, Tim Dolan, Jim Johnson, Mark Zimmer & Darlene Wundrow. Trustee Kim Grasley was absent. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Hayes and Deputy Nicole Frisinger attended also.
– PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –
Trott entertained a motion to amend the provided agenda to include a Picnic License request from the Blue Hills Trailblazers. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to amend the agenda to include a Picnic License for the Blue Hills Trailblazers, carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion by Johnson, seconded by Zimmer to approve the January 5th, 2026 Caucus Minutes, carried.
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Zimmer to approve the January 5th, 2026 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 give an update to the Board.
Kurt Will has returned to work on light duty after his shoulder injury in November. The backhoe has been fixed and returned after the accident. An insurance claim has been filed.
The crew has been checking frost depths and water temps over the last couple weeks.
All of the streetlights on Main Street are up and running other than the one by Express Mart. An application has been submitted to Xcel Energy to install the light pole across the street from its current location. Karen Hanson had approached Gudis asking permission to install an overhead light on her business sign to light up the corner and for better visibility for drivers since the streetlight is currently out. The Board agreed that it would not be an issue. Trott stated that the pole by the Legion Hall is still out.
The interior work on the garbage building has been on hold due to Will’s injury.
PETITIONERS-CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS:
Trevor Richards – Library Update: Richards attended the meeting to give the Board an update on recent Library activities. There is a display sponsored by Embrace for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month with flyers and information available to patrons.
There are three more virtual Author Talks events scheduled this month, with Michael Perry on the list for April.
March 14th is PI Day. The Friends of the Library are planning a pie sale fundraiser and possibly a pie judging competition.
Summer reading planning is underway. Richards attended a workshop with attention to the annual report that is due in March. He will supply the Board with a copy once filed.
APPLICATIONS:
Operator’s Licenses:
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Brainerd to approve an operator’s license to Sara E. Wilke, carried.
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Zimmer to approve an operator’s license to Lora M. Gallagher, carried.
Temporary Class ‘B’ Picnic License:
Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Johnson to approve a Temporary Class ‘B’ Picnic License to the Blue Hills Trailblazers for their ‘Brat Feed Fundraiser’ scheduled for February 21st at the Bruce Fire Hall, carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Utility:
Utility Account-Customer Dispute Charge: A dispute charge with a resident’s utility account was brought to the Board. Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Wundrow to wave the disputed amount, with Dolan and Brainerd opposing, the motion carried.
Public Works:
Alley Paving: An invoice for the work completed was received from Russ Thompson with a few discrepancies. The Board will hold off on paying this invoice until the discrepancies are resolved. Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Wundrow to table the ‘Alley Paving’ item until the March, 2026 Regular Monthly Meeting, carried.
LRIP (Local Road Improvement Program) Funds: Nothing to report this month. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wundrow to table the ‘LRIP (Local Road Improvement Program) Funds’ issue until the March, 2026 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Public Welfare:
Bruce Park Concession Stand/Contract between Bruce School & Village Discussion:
Discussion was had on the park pavilion needing a new roof as well as the schools’ interest in updating the score boards at the school and possibly using the older models at the park and/or pricing new options. Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Johnson to table the ‘Bruce Park Concession Stand/Contract between Bruce School & Village Discussion’ item until the March, 2026 Regular Monthly Board Meeting, carried.
Administration:
Ordinance 2-1-4 Amendment Approval: Motion by Brainerd, seconded by Dolan to approve the amendments to Ordinance 2-1-4, carried. A full text of the ordinance can be obtained at the Village Hall.
Ordinance 2-1-5 Amendment Approval: Motion by Wundrow, seconded by Zimmer to approve amendments to Ordinance 2-1-5, carried. A full text of the ordinance can be obtained at the Village Hall.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Dolan to pay vouchers and electronic payments totaling $306,709.94 carried.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Dolan to adjourn, carried. Adjournment was at 6:01 p.m.
Jessica Hayes
Clerk/Treasurer